SOAP/HTTP(S) web services

Web services support the HTTP transport protocol. HTTP embodies a client-server model in which an HTTP client opens a connection and sends a request message to an HTTP server. The client request message is to invoke a web service. The HTTP server dispatches the message containing the invocation and closes the connection.

The connector's SOAP/HTTP and SOAP/HTTPS protocol listeners make use of the HTTP client-server and the Request/Response models when handling client requests to a collaboration exposed as a web service. However, the SOAP/HTTP listener is not intended to function as an HTTP server-- proxy, intermediary, or otherwise. Rather the SOAP/HTTP listener functions as an endpoint for use within an enterprise and behind a firewall. Accordingly, a separate web server or gateway must be deployed in the firewall to route client requests to the listener. For further information, see Overview of the connector.

The SOAP/HTTP and SOAP/HTTPS protocol listeners expose a collaboration as a SOAP/HTTP(S) web service. The connector uses the SOAP/HTTP-HTTPS protocol handler to invoke SOAP/HTTP(S) web services.

Synchronous SOAP/HTTP(S) web service

From the perspective of connector processing, a synchronous HTTP web service is one that follows a Request/Response path. If the SOAP/HTTP or SOAP/HTTPS protocol listener successfully processes an HTTP request message, the body will contain the web service response and an HTTP status code of 200 OK. If a fault is returned, then the body contains the fault message and a status code of 500.

Asynchronous SOAP/HTTP(S) web service

From the perspective of connector processing, an asynchronous HTTP web service is one that follows a request-only path. If the SOAP/HTTP or SOAP/HTTPS protocol listener successfully receives and processes a request-only web service operation, an HTTP status code of 202 Accepted is generated. If a fault occurs, an HTTP status code of 500 is generated. There is no response, although a fault body may be returned.

Copyright IBM Corp. 1997, 2003