**Webclient and SSL**

[Ron]

Hi. I have a webserver which executes the following code:
m_webclient = New WebClient
Dim byteArray As Byte()
byteArray = m_webclient.Dow nloadData(url)

This actually retrieves an XML document which I parse.
This code works perfectly, up to now. However, we
recently installed SSL on the web server (a Unix box) and
while everything else works OK, when this code is
executed, I get "connection closed. Unable to establish a
connection." After some research, I discovered this was
due to the certificate. So, I wrote this code:

Private Class MyPolicy Implements ICertificatePol icy

Public Function CheckValidation Result(ByVal srvPoint As
ServicePoint, _
ByVal cert As X509Certificate , ByVal request As
WebRequest, _
ByVal certificateProb lem As Integer) _
s Boolean Implements
CertificatePoli cy.CheckValidat ionResult

'Return True to force the certificate to be accepted.
Return True
End Function
Public Function AcceptAllCertif icatePolicy() As Boolean
Return True
End Function
End Class

and modified my webclient code this way:

ServicePointMan ager.Certificat ePolicy() = New MyPolicy
m_webclient = New WebClient
Dim byteArray As Byte()
byteArray = m_webclient.Dow nloadData(url)

++++++++
this works perfectly, but I don't understand why. That is
to say, if I change the return values of the functions
to 'false' this code still works (I can connect and
download). If I put breakpoints in the functions, they
don't get hit. So...how does this work? I've searched the
web, to no avail.

Thanks.

RON