querying http connection characteristics

  • Thread starter Thread starter WoodBeeProgrammer
  • Start date Start date
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WoodBeeProgrammer

Given a server and an internet client, can the server (or client) determine
the characteristics of the connection? for instance, whether it's running
through a proxy, what the connection speed is, etc?

assuming there is no "dotnet" way to do this, can it be done in any other
way?
 
WoodBeeProgrammer,

If you are using one of the higher level programming construct
(HttpWebRequest for example), then you can get a limited set of information.
This is assuming that you are using this. There is a Proxy property on the
WebRequest class that has information about the proxy that is being used, if
there is one.

However, for more specific information, the best you can do is get the
socket, and query that for information, as well as possibly the performance
counters. The problem with the performance counters is being able to link
the data to the specific instances that you want to get stats for.

Hope this helps.
 
Nicholas, thanks.

This does bring to mind another question-- why is it that RealAudio, OE,
groove etc ask the user to specify stuff about their links such speed
category and proxy server stuff. Can they not get this information
programmatically as below? or is the information intrinsically unreliable?
(or are they just lazy?)

TIA


Nicholas Paldino said:
WoodBeeProgrammer,

If you are using one of the higher level programming construct
(HttpWebRequest for example), then you can get a limited set of information.
This is assuming that you are using this. There is a Proxy property on the
WebRequest class that has information about the proxy that is being used, if
there is one.

However, for more specific information, the best you can do is get the
socket, and query that for information, as well as possibly the performance
counters. The problem with the performance counters is being able to link
the data to the specific instances that you want to get stats for.

Hope this helps.


--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- (e-mail address removed)

WoodBeeProgrammer said:
Given a server and an internet client, can the server (or client) determine
the characteristics of the connection? for instance, whether it's running
through a proxy, what the connection speed is, etc?

assuming there is no "dotnet" way to do this, can it be done in any other
way?
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