windows service (c#) through proxy

[calinux]

hi

i am developing a windows application (VS 2008 - .net 3.5) which is requesting some data from a server (XML) and depends by results it is doing something

this application is using a UI for load/ save setings and a windows service which is requesting data at each 20 minutes.

i realized that the form (UI) has no problem to communicate with server (with or without proxy) but windows service is working only when is no proxy.

can somebody help me? can be an example in c# or vb.

i really appreciate it
calin

[Plater]

What do you mean by "no proxy" and with a proxy?
If your browser is using a Proxy, it does not mean your service is using the proxy too.
Or do you mean like the network that the PC with the service is attached to, has a proxy server that applies to every PC on that network, without any settings on the PCs?

If a pxoy server is indeed being the middleman for your requests, the webserver is probably going "hey, this isn't the computer/service i requested the XML data from, it must be bad data/not mine" and either ignores it or throws an error

[calinux]

Hi Plater

all time the service is trying to access DIRECT (doesn't matter if in IE is seted up a proxy)

 Dim objRequest As HttpWebRequest
 objRequest = WebRequest.Create(URL + PostData)
 Dim retProxy As WebProxy
 Dim retURI As Uri
 retURI = New Uri(URL)
 retProxy = New WebProxy(WebRequest.DefaultWebProxy.GetProxy(retURI))
 objRequest.Credentials = CredentialCache.DefaultCredentials
 objRequest.Timeout = 30000   ' 30 secs
 If retURI <> retProxy.Address Then
          objRequest.Proxy = retProxy
  End If

This code is working when is accessed from a form (working means that form is looking at IE proxy settings).. but id doesnot work when is accessed from windows service (windows service try to access DIRECT).

Thank you

[Plater]

Oh ok, let me make sure I understand this.
When you run the program as a form, the program gets the PROXY settings (via that default proxy settings) and works fine.
But as a SERVICE, the program is failing to get the proxy credentials?

I would venture that the problem is this: PROXY settings are generally on a "per user" level. When you run the program as a form, it gets the current user's proxy settings, which are configured. When run as a SERVICE, it runs as some other user (possibly some SYSTEM account) that does not have the PROXY server settings configured.
Try running the SERVICE with a specific user credentials that you know has the PROXY settings configured, and see if that helps?

[calinux]

Hi Plater

is all true what u said. the service is running like LocalSystem, but i need to be ran by localsystem. U know in vista is more complicate. for this i implemented Elevated method.

This service need to have ADMIN privileges. Any ideea how can i use default proxy in my windows service started like LocalSystem?

Thank you in advance
Calin

[Plater]

Hmm, the default proxy is the one configured by internet explorer right?
All those settings are kept in the registry.
Maybe you could find a way to either:
A) copy the registry keys over into the HKEY_LOCAL_MACH INE instead of HKEY_CURRENT_US ER
B) Read the registry entry of another user and get the settings?
C) Find a way to apply the proxy settings to "all users of the computer)

Can't say as I know how to do any of those, but it might help you find something about it?

[calinux]

Hi Plater

i tried this, but u know virtualization in Vista! registry ideea is not good.
at setup process (installation) i am writing default proxy setings in a file. when i am running the service, i am reading the proxy from that file. i thought that this will solve the problem, but appear a new one:
The <my_service_nam e>service hung on starting.

any idea?
thank u in advance!

calin

[Plater]

Can you have your service output to its own log file somewhere?
Perhaps its throwing some kind of error that is not caught by eventlog stuff?
Just make an entry into that file like "Entering function: (whatever)", "leaving function (whatever)", etc etc
Then you could find where it is stalling out?

[calinux]

yes i implemented

Public Class pcksrv
    Protected Overrides Sub OnStart(ByVal args() As String)
        ' Add code here to start your service. This method should set things
        ' in motion so your service can do its work.
        LogInfo("Stariting the service")
        myClock.Enabled = True
 
    End Sub
 
    Protected Overrides Sub OnStop()
        LogInfo("Stoping the service")
        myClock.Enabled = False
    End Sub
 
    Public Shared Sub LogInfo(ByVal sMessage As String)
        ' Write info into the event viewer
        Try
            Dim oEventLog As EventLog = New EventLog("Application")
            If Not Diagnostics.EventLog.SourceExists("NotificationService") Then
                Diagnostics.EventLog.CreateEventSource("NotificationService", "Application")
            End If
            Diagnostics.EventLog.WriteEntry("NotificationService", sMessage, _
                System.Diagnostics.EventLogEntryType.Information)
        Catch e As Exception
        End Try
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub myClock_Tick(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles myClock.Tick
        LogInfo("Tic Tac 1")
        CheckMyServer()
        LogInfo("Tic Tac 2")
    End Sub
End Class
 

but no luck, the service crashed before!

[Curtis Rutland]

Please enclose your posted code in [code] tags (See How to Ask a Question).

This makes it easier for our Experts to read and understand it. Failing to do so creates extra work for the moderators, thus wasting resources, otherwise available to answer the members' questions.

Please use [code] tags in future.

MODERATOR