Make my desktop application communicate over the web...

[lidds]

I have developed a desktop application that connects to a MS SQL server over a network. One of my clients wants a third party company to be able to use my desktop application but connect to the MS SQL database in my client’s office. Obviously my client could open the ports to the SQL server to make this accessible from the web, but this is a huge security issue and obviously not one I want to even recommend. Is there a way that I can make my desktop application securely communicate over the web to the SQL database?

I know probably making my application web based would be the most common answer however this would be a huge amount of development and also my client needs this relatively quickly.

Any help and advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Simon

[honeybee]

Use webservices.

Webservices using SOAP authentication receiving necessary parameters and returning exactly the required information would help you in this problem.

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[lidds]

honeybee,

Just a quick question with regards to SOAP, I have read a bit about it (and need to read more) but I have images saved in my SQL database, is all datatype e.g. images/blob able to be transfered via SOAP?

Thanks

Simon

[honeybee]

Images/blobs would have to be transported using byte arrays, which should be problem by itself, except for the size. If the images are huge, and you are on http, it may consume a lot of bandwidth. Other than that I don't see the image/blob types giving any problem.

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[lidds]

Another quick question so I can understand the concept.

1) Install my desktop application and a my webservice (called clientService)
2) Then on the server that has the SQL database install another custom webservice (called serverService)
3) When a command is executed in my desktop application it must communicate to the clientService which intern needs to communicate with the serviceService over the internet to execute the SQL command. Then the serverService sends the data back to my clientService and then to my desktop application.

I guess this is the way that it would work?

Or does my Desktop application just connect to the serverSerive directly using a http:\\myWebsite\serverService.asmx etc..

As you can tell I have never looked at Web Services before and any advise / info would be appreshiated

Thanks

Simon

[honeybee]

Or does my Desktop application just connect to the serverSerive directly using a http:\\myWebsite\serverService.asmx etc..

That is how things would work. You typically don't have to install the webservice on the client machine, which defeats the purpose of using a webservice.

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[ConfusedAgain]

Hi Simon,

I will need to be doing the same thing very very soon. If you document the process can I have a copy. That would be very useful.

Thanks.