Smart Clients Deployment With Microsoft Windows Forms
- 1. Smart Client Deployment Smart Client Deployment With Microsoft With Microsoft® ® Windows Windows® ® Forms Forms Ammar Abuthuraya Ammar Abuthuraya Developer & Platform Lead Developer & Platform Lead Microsoft Microsoft® ® Arabia Arabia
- 2. What We Will Cover What We Will Cover What is the smart client? What is the smart client? What is no-touch deployment? What is no-touch deployment? What are the advantages of Windows What are the advantages of Windows Forms—client caching? Forms—client caching? Calling Web services from Windows Calling Web services from Windows Forms client applications Forms client applications
- 3. Agenda Agenda What is the smart client? What is the smart client? Web service architecture Web service architecture Web integration Web integration Self-updating applications Self-updating applications Advanced tools Advanced tools
- 4. What Is the Smart Client? What Is the Smart Client? History of the Smart Client History of the Smart Client Pre-1980’s Pre-1980’s Computers were large server oriented Computers were large server oriented Server-based computing—dumb terminals Server-based computing—dumb terminals 1980’s 1980’s Dawn of the PC—first smart clients Dawn of the PC—first smart clients ‘ ‘Fat’ client computing took center stage Fat’ client computing took center stage 1990’s 1990’s Dawn of the Internet Dawn of the Internet Dumb browsers talking to powerful servers Dumb browsers talking to powerful servers
- 5. What Is the Smart Client? What Is the Smart Client? Smart Client Considerations Smart Client Considerations System impact System impact Will the install of application 2 break Will the install of application 2 break existing application 1? existing application 1? Initial installation Initial installation Installation of applications on every client Installation of applications on every client Application update Application update Need to updated every client with changes Need to updated every client with changes to the application to the application Investment in current Web applications Investment in current Web applications
- 6. What Is the Smart Client? What Is the Smart Client? Smart Client Consideration Answers Smart Client Consideration Answers .NET applications are isolated .NET applications are isolated Private deployment by default Private deployment by default Applications are self-describing—no Applications are self-describing—no central registry central registry Multiple versions of an application can Multiple versions of an application can coexist coexist Shared components are controlled and Shared components are controlled and explicit explicit Applications use the included assembly Applications use the included assembly versions they were built with versions they were built with Different versions of the .NET Framework Different versions of the .NET Framework can live side-by-side can live side-by-side
- 7. What Is the Smart Client? What Is the Smart Client? Smart Client Consideration Answers Smart Client Consideration Answers How we can avoid sending an install to How we can avoid sending an install to each client each client Avoid the application install altogether Avoid the application install altogether Run the application without touching the Run the application without touching the client client About management software About management software Ex. SMS, Microsoft Ex. SMS, Microsoft® ® IntelliMirror™ IntelliMirror™ Can extend our reach by placing Can extend our reach by placing applications on the client applications on the client Can also use traditional MSIs to create Can also use traditional MSIs to create installed application footprint installed application footprint
- 8. What Is the Smart Client? What Is the Smart Client? Smart Client Consideration Answers Smart Client Consideration Answers Automate the update of the application Automate the update of the application Don’t need to touch client to update application Don’t need to touch client to update application If running from a URL, nothing is installed If running from a URL, nothing is installed What about applications with a footprint? What about applications with a footprint? Load assemblies from a Web server Load assemblies from a Web server Application downloads its components at runtime Application downloads its components at runtime Update server assemblies to update Update server assemblies to update application application No-touch application update No-touch application update
- 9. What Is the Smart Client? What Is the Smart Client? Smart Client Consideration Answers Smart Client Consideration Answers Existing Web applications can be Existing Web applications can be leveraged leveraged Web services are the glue Web services are the glue Run on the same server as browser Run on the same server as browser applications applications Can share the context of the browser Can share the context of the browser application application Can share the data of the browser Can share the data of the browser application application
- 10. What Is the Smart Client? What Is the Smart Client? Smart Client Deployment Smart Client Deployment No-touch deployment No-touch deployment Application isolation is the default Application isolation is the default No registration required No registration required Deployment is simple Deployment is simple Copy exe onto client Copy exe onto client Run from a file share Run from a file share Click on a link in the browser Click on a link in the browser
- 11. What Is the Smart Client? What Is the Smart Client? Smart Client Deployment Smart Client Deployment Stored in the download cache Stored in the download cache Not the GAC Not the GAC Per user layer “on top of” WinInet cache Per user layer “on top of” WinInet cache Maintains URL for security Maintains URL for security Configurable cache size Configurable cache size Scavenged base on a LRU algorithm Scavenged base on a LRU algorithm Application “trickles” onto the client Application “trickles” onto the client Components are downloaded when Components are downloaded when referenced at runtime referenced at runtime
- 12. What Is the Smart Client? What Is the Smart Client? Smart Client Deployment Smart Client Deployment MyApp.exe MyApp.exe Web server Web server Internet Internet Explorer Explorer Download Download cache cache MyApp.exe MyApp.exe .NET .NET Framework Framework Managed Managed Exe? Exe? HTTP HTTP Update Update cache? cache? Client Client runs runs app app Smart client Smart client
- 13. Demonstration 1 Demonstration 1 Deploying a Smart Client Deploying a Smart Client Application Application Reviewing a simple Windows Form Reviewing a simple Windows Form Deploying the Windows Form Deploying the Windows Form application application
- 14. Agenda Agenda What is the smart client? What is the smart client? Web service architecture Web service architecture Web integration Web integration Self-updating applications Self-updating applications Advanced tools Advanced tools
- 15. Web Service Architecture Web Service Architecture Smart Client Challenges Smart Client Challenges Copied applications are semi-trusted Copied applications are semi-trusted Think Web pages in the browser Think Web pages in the browser Permission to exchange data with the Permission to exchange data with the server, but not for access to the local client server, but not for access to the local client Strong names Strong names Can be used to achieve a higher security Can be used to achieve a higher security level level Security-based assembly signature Security-based assembly signature Challenging to implement and maintain Challenging to implement and maintain
- 16. Web Service Architecture Web Service Architecture Database Connectivity Database Connectivity Attempting to use database connection Attempting to use database connection requires elevated permissions requires elevated permissions Can grant permission, but that means Can grant permission, but that means bypassing the security model bypassing the security model Web services located at the same base Web services located at the same base URL as the application are available URL as the application are available Communicate with same site from which Communicate with same site from which code is acquired code is acquired Use a business tier in the application to Use a business tier in the application to maintain overall system security maintain overall system security
- 17. Web Service Architecture Web Service Architecture Web Services Web Services Internet-enabled software that follows Internet-enabled software that follows SOAP standards of communication, and SOAP standards of communication, and may manage state may manage state A Web service is similar to a component A Web service is similar to a component Defines a specific interface for exchanging Defines a specific interface for exchanging request and responses request and responses Web service definition language (WSDL) Web service definition language (WSDL) Similar to traditional component interface Similar to traditional component interface definition language (IDL) definition language (IDL) Describes method calls and parameters Describes method calls and parameters
- 18. Web Service Architecture Web Service Architecture Basic Web Service Security Basic Web Service Security Authentication is supported Authentication is supported NTLM and Basic authentication are NTLM and Basic authentication are available available Use: System.Net.NetworkCredential() Use: System.Net.NetworkCredential() Authentication does not protect data Authentication does not protect data Can use SSL for encryption Can use SSL for encryption Modify <service>.url property to include Modify <service>.url property to include ‘https://’ ‘https://’ Custom encryption—such as DES, Custom encryption—such as DES, TripleDES TripleDES
- 19. Web Service Architecture Web Service Architecture Web Service Design Web Service Design Consider the type of data to be returned Consider the type of data to be returned DataSet is natural for .NET but not open DataSet is natural for .NET but not open XML is more open but may be slower XML is more open but may be slower Think of services as containing objects Think of services as containing objects Initially expose objects Initially expose objects Over time, business processes become Over time, business processes become services services Several objects available via a service Several objects available via a service
- 20. Web Service Architecture Web Service Architecture Managing Complexity Managing Complexity Business Business componen componen t t Business Business compone compone nt nt Business Business componen componen t t Business Business componen componen t t Business service Business service Business service Business service MyApp.exe MyApp.exe HTTP HTTP HTTP HTTP
- 21. Demonstration 2 Demonstration 2 Using a Web Services Using a Web Services Architecture Architecture Updating the Windows Form to use both Updating the Windows Form to use both ADO.NET and Web services ADO.NET and Web services Issues with running ADO.NET from a Issues with running ADO.NET from a smart client smart client
- 22. Agenda Agenda What Is the smart client? What Is the smart client? Web service architecture Web service architecture Web integration Web integration Self-updating applications Self-updating applications Advanced tools Advanced tools
- 23. Web Integration Web Integration Goal Goal Replace client script languages Replace client script languages Difficult to debug Difficult to debug Throw unseen errors Throw unseen errors Need to provide advanced UI Need to provide advanced UI Users expect interactive applications Users expect interactive applications ActiveX has security issues ActiveX has security issues ASP.NET introduces event-based server- ASP.NET introduces event-based server- side logic side logic
- 24. Web Integration Web Integration Extending Web Applications Extending Web Applications Business Business componen componen t t Business Business compone compone nt nt Business Business componen componen t t Business Business componen componen t t Business service Business service Business service Business service MyApp.exe MyApp.exe Internet Internet Explorer Explorer HTTP HTTP HTTP HTTP Web application Web application HTTP HTTP
- 25. Web Integration Web Integration Enhanced User Interface Enhanced User Interface Windows Forms browser controls Windows Forms browser controls Contained in the Web page Contained in the Web page Replace ActiveX Replace ActiveX Similar TCO to URL activation Similar TCO to URL activation Improved security Improved security Limited system access is a plus Limited system access is a plus Operate within the .NET environment Operate within the .NET environment Can be synchronized with the Web Can be synchronized with the Web application application
- 26. Web Integration Web Integration Network Communications Network Communications Web application Web application Internet Internet Explorer Explorer Windows Forms Windows Forms HTML: HTML: data and display data and display XML: XML: data only data only
- 27. Web Integration Web Integration Less Network Traffic Less Network Traffic Data can be cached on the client Data can be cached on the client Only updated data needs to be sent to Web Only updated data needs to be sent to Web service service Web service can be used to poll for other Web service can be used to poll for other updates updates The UI elements are only sent once The UI elements are only sent once Web applications transfer the entire page Web applications transfer the entire page on every round trip on every round trip Windows Forms controls only need to Windows Forms controls only need to transfer the data transfer the data
- 28. Demonstration 3 Demonstration 3 Using the Smart Client to Using the Smart Client to Complement a Web Complement a Web Application Application Examine a Web application that also Examine a Web application that also has a Windows Forms component has a Windows Forms component Keeping a Web application and Keeping a Web application and Windows Forms application in sync Windows Forms application in sync
- 29. Agenda Agenda What is the smart client? What is the smart client? Web service architecture Web service architecture Web integration Web integration Self-updating applications Self-updating applications Advanced tools Advanced tools
- 30. Self-Updating Applications Self-Updating Applications Definition Definition What it is What it is A .NET assembly that can automatically A .NET assembly that can automatically connect to a server and download the latest connect to a server and download the latest components used as part of the assembly components used as part of the assembly Provides a footprint on the client, but relies Provides a footprint on the client, but relies on server-based assemblies on server-based assemblies Enabling technologies Enabling technologies Application isolation Application isolation .NET Framework class libraries .NET Framework class libraries System.Reflection namespace System.Reflection namespace
- 31. Self-Updating Applications Self-Updating Applications Assembly.LoadFrom Assembly.LoadFrom System.Reflection namespace supports System.Reflection namespace supports loading remote assemblies loading remote assemblies Use Assembly.LoadFrom() Use Assembly.LoadFrom() Downloads and caches the assembly Downloads and caches the assembly Automatically checks for newer versions Automatically checks for newer versions Permissions based on where the assembly Permissions based on where the assembly came from came from
- 32. Self-Updating Applications Self-Updating Applications Limitations Limitations Expects connectivity Expects connectivity Not an application installer Not an application installer Ex… can’t register file types Ex… can’t register file types Security sandboxed Security sandboxed Updates only once per application run Updates only once per application run On-demand download is great On-demand download is great But requires careful thought on application But requires careful thought on application design design
- 33. Self-Updating Applications Self-Updating Applications Runtime Deployment Runtime Deployment MyApp.exe MyApp.exe Web server Web server Download Download cache cache MyApp.exe MyApp.exe HTTP HTTP Update Update cache? cache? Smart client Smart client AppStub.exe AppStub.exe
- 34. Demonstration 4 Demonstration 4 Self-Updating Applications Self-Updating Applications What code is needed to create a self- What code is needed to create a self- updating application updating application A self-updating application in action A self-updating application in action
- 35. Agenda Agenda What is the smart client? What is the smart client? Web service architecture Web service architecture Web integration Web integration Self-updating applications Self-updating applications Advanced tools Advanced tools
- 36. Advanced Tools Advanced Tools UDDI Services UDDI Services Universal Description Discovery and Universal Description Discovery and Integration (UDDI) Integration (UDDI) Previously was published for general public Previously was published for general public by large providers by large providers Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003 Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003 supports UDDI within the enterprise supports UDDI within the enterprise Central server lookups Central server lookups Use UDDI server to define not only where Use UDDI server to define not only where services exist, but where the application services exist, but where the application code is stored code is stored
- 37. Advanced Tools Advanced Tools Web Service Extensions Web Service Extensions Going beyond the basic Web services Going beyond the basic Web services Security Security Reliability (routing) Reliability (routing) Attachments Attachments Web Services Enhancements (WSE) 2.0 Web Services Enhancements (WSE) 2.0 recently released recently released Provide a way to extend your Web service Provide a way to extend your Web service interfaces from your client interfaces from your client
- 38. Session Summary Session Summary Smart client fits the Internet model Smart client fits the Internet model Can rely on HTTP/HTTPS protocol Can rely on HTTP/HTTPS protocol Leverage Web services Leverage Web services Improved scalability—display refresh Improved scalability—display refresh Smart clients can auto-deploy and auto- Smart clients can auto-deploy and auto- update update Launch applications from a Web site Launch applications from a Web site Internet deployment with Web services Internet deployment with Web services Automatically download updates Automatically download updates
- 39. For More Information… For More Information… MSDN Web site at MSDN Web site at msdn.microsoft.com msdn.microsoft.com Windows Forms Windows Forms www.windowsforms.net www.windowsforms.net Windows Forms information at: Windows Forms information at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/using/ http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/using/ building/windows/default.aspx building/windows/default.aspx White Paper on smart client development White Paper on smart client development with version 1.1 of the .NET Framework with version 1.1 of the .NET Framework http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/using/ http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/using/ building/windows/analystreports/smartclient.aspx building/windows/analystreports/smartclient.aspx
- 40. © 2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. © 2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, the Windows logo, MSDN, Visual Studio, SQL Server, MSN, Windows Server, Visual Basic, Visual C#, JScript, and Microsoft Press are either registered Microsoft, Windows, the Windows logo, MSDN, Visual Studio, SQL Server, MSN, Windows Server, Visual Basic, Visual C#, JScript, and Microsoft Press are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. trademarks of their respective owners.