Port Question

[Dar Scott]

On Friday, February 6, 2004, at 03:16 PM, Scott Rossi wrote:

> What's to prevent one of the Rev apps acting as a server?  What would 
> the
> "server app" need to do to appear on the net as a server?

Yes one can.  The best choice is one that has a permanent public IP.  
It does need a public IP.

The reason one might not be is the potential load on the server.  Also, 
a server might not need to be upgraded as fast as games.


>
>
>> The method least likely to cause trouble with firewalls might be to
>> make bonafide http connections from inside to outside.
>
> So could the Rev apps be set up to use the post command to post data 
> to each
> other?  Or does the data need to be "written down" somewhere first 
> before
> being accessible by clients on the net?

I think POST would work.

I don't know how to make an http server push information.  Some http 
expert might have an idea.  Otherwise a client might need to poll.

This is why I suggested that http might be the lowest common connection 
to the server.  A tcp connection more tuned to your game might be tried 
first and, if that does not work, then the http.  Even in those cases 
in which the tcp to "the tm game port" is blocked, it will be an easy 
thing to ask an admin for.  I'd set up a particular web page that folks 
can give admins to explain what port is needed to be opened.

The server might need to be a little bit smart, but this can be done at 
a simple level.

There is some sort of SOAP that comes with Revolution, but it might be 
easier to just roll your own.  For the simple cases for your game, the 
server shouldn't be that bad.

Dar Scott