Network Programming with Windows Sockets (Bk/Disk) - Softcover

Bonner, Pat

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0132301520 ISBN 13: 9780132301527

Publisher: Prentice Hall Ptr, 1995

Synopsis

Complete information for developers designing network programs using the Windows Sockets standard. This book's easy-to-understand explanations and sample programs simplify working with the Windows Sockets API. Expert Patrice Bonner presents methods and tools for designing robust network applications, including sample stream and datagram client and server applications.

About this title

About the Author

Pat Bonner has worked as a software engineer for IBM and Hewlett-Packard.

From the Back Cover

This book presents all the skills and techniques needed to become a TCP/IP programmer in a Windows environment. This book eliminates the obscurity surrounding the Windows Sockets API (Application Programming Interface) with step-by-step explanations and a wealth of sample C programs -- both in the book and on the accompanying disk. There is a heavy emphasis on the tools and techniques needed to design industrial-strength, non-trivial applications. The book also includes coverage of TCP/IP LAN traces used in debugging Winsock applications. : Windows programmers who want to build networked applications, and UNIX programmers porting applications to the Windows environment.

From the Inside Flap

Introduction


Objectives of this Book

The purpose of this book is to provide in an easy to learn fashion all the information required to design and develop network application programs using Windows Sockets. Version 1.1 of Windows Sockets is addressed. The specification, "Windows Sockets An Open Interface for Network Programming under Microsoft Windows Version 1.1" should be used in conjunction with this book as a command reference. The focus of the book is on writing programs. Windows sockets command information is presented and immediately incorporated in sample applications.

This book is not just about using the Windows Sockets interface. It also demonstrates methods and tools for designing and developing robust network applications. Because of the complexity and asynchronous nature of network programming, writing network programs can be difficult. Usually the path to becoming a good network programmer includes many painful surprises. By using the information presented here many of the pitfalls of network programming can be avoided and you can immediately begin to design and implement robust applications. With this book information usually only gained through several years of network programming experiences is presented in a single volume.


Audience

This book is intended for anyone interested in writing Windows Sockets application software. It is not necessary to have previous networking experience. Background network information is included. For readers with previous networking experience the book is organized so that you may skip directly to Windows Sockets information. The chapter summary below and chapter 1, section 1.8 "Road Map for Reading the Book", will direct you to sections of information for specific needs. A basic level of Windows programming knowledge is assumed. However the sample applications utilize a minimum of Windows functionality.


Sample Programs

All sample programs are written in C using the Microsoft Visual C++ Professional Edition Development System for Windows. The accompanying disk includes the source code and executables organized by chapter. The executables can be run on any Windows system (Windows version 3.1 or later) with WinSock compliant TCP/IP software installed.


Chapter Summary

A brief summary of the information covered in each chapter follows:
Chapter 1 - "Networking Overview" -- Provides an overview of networking information including information on network configurations, addressing and software components. This information will establish the role and responsibilities of a network application program in the general networking context.


Chapter 2 - " Introduction to Windows Sockets" -- Describes the purpose of the Windows Sockets Specification, how it was created, and where to find it. Information on linking with a WINSOCK.DLL is included and the Windows Sockets command set is summarized.


Chapter 3 - "Introductions to Using Stream Sockets" -- Discusses commands and concepts used in establishing, transferring data and closing stream socket connections. Readers who are comfortable with BSD sockets may skip this chapter or use it as a review.


Chapter 4 - "Programming with the Windows Sockets Extensions" -- Leads up to and includes a simple stream socket client-server application. This application is written using the WSAAsyncSelect() command to handle waiting for network event completion.


Chapter 5 - "Using Blocking and Polling Socket Calls" -- Covers the blocking and polling methods of waiting for network events to complete. All readers should cover sections 5.1 - 5.4 to understand when blocking may occur and what the implications of blocking are. If you do not intend to use blocking or polling you may skip the rest of the chapter.


Chapter 6 - "Using the Database Functions" -- Describes and includes sample code for the database functions including gethostbyname() and WSAAsyncGetHostByName().


Chapter 7 - "Using Datagram Sockets" -- Includes in one chapter all the information about writing a UDP application. A sample application is included. Readers not planning to use UDP may want to skip this chapter.


Chapter 8 - "Developing Stream Socket Applications -- Describes important concepts and techniques for designing and implementing a network program including state diagrams and connection state records. A sample file transfer program illustrating the se techniques is included.


Chapter 9 - " Using Windows Sockets from a DLL" -- Discusses issues and methods for using Windows Sockets from a DLL. A partial Telnet client DLL is included.


Chapter 10 - "Analyzing LAN Traces" -- Describes and includes and example of a TCP LAN trace.


Appendix A - "Differences Between Windows Sockets and BSD Sockets" -- Itemizes all the changes that were made to BSD sockets in defining the Windows Sockets Interface. This appendix is of interest to people familiar with BSD sockets.


Appendix B - "Examples of Dynamic Runtime Import of WINSOCK.DLL" -- Usually DLLs are implicitly imported at link time by linking with the import library. However sometimes dynamic runtime import (also called dynamic linking without imports) is required. This appendix includes sample code demonstrating dynamic runtime import.


Appendix C - "Summary of the FTP protocol" -- Includes a summary of the FTP protocol information found in RFC 959.


Appendix D - "Summary of the Telnet protocol" -- Includes a summary of the Telnet protocol information found in RFC 854.


Readers new to network programming will probably want to proceed sequentially through the chapters noting the information in the above chapter summary. Readers already comfortable with BSD sockets programming can minimally use chapters 2, 4, 5 (se ctions 5.1-5.4), and 6 (section 6.4 on WSAAsyncGetHostByName) and Appendix A for specific information on using Windows Sockets. Chapter 1 section 1.8, "Road Map for Reading the Book", provides additional information on sections of this book applicable to specific needs.

Edition details

• Publisher: Prentice Hall Ptr
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0132301520
• ISBN 13: 9780132301527
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 512