Web Connection User's Guide
In order to use the Web Connection feature, you must set up your Web server
to run programs in response to client requests. The Web Connection
feature receives requests from the Web server software and returns results, in
the form of an HTML data stream, through the server back to client
browsers.
VisualAge Web Connection can use any of several Web server
interfaces:
- The Servlet Interface. The Servlet interface works with
any Web server that supports Java Servlets. For information on setting
up your server to handle servlets, refer to the documentation for your HTTP
server software.
- VisualAge Server Smalltalk. If you have a license for
Server Smalltalk, you can use use Smalltalk as a Web server with your Web
Connection parts.
- The Common Gateway Interface (CGI). CGI, which is
supported by most Web servers, is the most common interface that defines how
HTTP servers can run external programs. CGI supports running
stand-alone executable programs in response to client requests. For
information on setting up your server to handle CGI requests, refer to the
documentation for your HTTP server software.
- The IBM Internet Connection API (ICAPI). ICAPI is a
shared-library-based interface supported by the IBM Internet Connection Server
and Lotus Go Webserver.
- The Netscape Server API (NSAPI). NSAPI is supported by
the Netscape Web server software. Instead of running stand-alone
programs, NSAPI uses shared libraries to extend the server software's
capabilities.
- The Microsoft Internet Server API (ISAPI). ISAPI is a
shared-library-based interface supported by Microsoft Web server
software.
Generally speaking, the server-specific interfaces that use shared
libraries offer several advantages over CGI. Most importantly, they
typically offer better performance and more efficient use of system
resources. If you are using the IBM, Netscape, or Microsoft server
software, you should probably use the corresponding interface. For
other HTTP servers that support servlets, use the Servlet interface.
Otherwise, use CGI.
For more information on setting up your Web server to run external
programs, refer to the documentation for your Web server software.
[ Top of Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Table of Contents | Index ]