BorlandTalk.com Borland discussion newsgroups   Archives   FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Register   Profile   Log in to check your private messages   Log in  Is it possible to transfer file via HTTP?          BorlandTalk.com Forum Index -> Delphi Internet Winsock View previous topic :: View next topic   Author Message Christopher Guest Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 2:26 am    Post subject: Is it possible to transfer file via HTTP? Hi Is there a way on how to transfer file using HTTP rather than FTP? If yes, how? Which is a better and more efficient method HTTP or FTP? Which uses less resources on the server? Please advice. Thanks Chris Back to top Francois PIETTE [ICS - Mi Guest Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 7:29 am    Post subject: Re: Is it possible to transfer file via HTTP? Quote: Is there a way on how to transfer file using HTTP rather than FTP? If yes, how? Yes, easy. Simply use a HTTP client component such as Indy or ICS. Using ICS ([url]http://www.overbyte.be)[/url], the code looks like this: HttpCli1.URL := 'http://www.yourserver.com/files/myfile.zip'; HttpCli1.RcvdStream := TFileStream.Create('myfile.zip', fmCreate); HttpCli1.Get; HttpCli1..RcvdStream.Free; if HttpCli1.StatusCode <> 200 then ShowMessage('Failed ' + HttpCli1.ReasonPhrase) else ShowMessage('Done'); Quote: Which is a better and more efficient method HTTP or FTP? Which uses less resources on the server? There is basically not much difference. Both use a TCP stream to transfert data. Performance and load merely depends on a particular server implementation. HTTP is more proxy/firewall friendly. Note that ICS not only has client components, but has also server components for both HTTP and FTP. ICS is freeware. Full source code and lot of sample from http://www.overbyte.be -- Contribute to the SSL Effort. Visit http://www.overbyte.be/eng/ssl.html -- [email]francois.piette (AT) overbyte (DOT) be[/email] The author for the freeware multi-tier middleware MidWare The author of the freeware Internet Component Suite (ICS) http://www.overbyte.be Back to top Ben Hochstrasser Guest Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 7:33 am    Post subject: Re: Is it possible to transfer file via HTTP? Christopher wrote: Quote: Is there a way on how to transfer file using HTTP rather than FTP? Of course it is. I use it every time I download a file from somewhere. Quote: If yes, how? You need a http server, of course (instead of an FTP server). Quote: Which is a better and more efficient method HTTP or FTP? HTTP is more firewall-friendly as it uses only one port. The transfer speed is roughly the same, ie it is determined by line speed, not CPU Quote: Which uses less resources on the server? I don't think there's a relevant or measurable difference, provided you pick the files directly off the file system (and not out of a database). -- Ben Back to top Christopher Guest Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:31 pm    Post subject: Re: Is it possible to transfer file via HTTP? Hi Ben Actually, i will be having 600 clients running 24 hrs a day. I will have a program to invoke the clients to download the file from the server. I have actually done that using FTP method. The result is that some of the clients will not have the files and some would have but not the actual size when all 600 clients connect to the server at the same time. Would i have the same problem with HTTP file transfer? My colleague told me that using HTTP would be less constraint on the server as compared to FTP because FTP requires the use of kernel when the user logs in and logs out. However does using HTTP requires logging in and out? thanks chris "Ben Hochstrasser" <bhoc@tiscali123^H^H^H.ch> wrote Quote: Christopher wrote: Is there a way on how to transfer file using HTTP rather than FTP? Of course it is. I use it every time I download a file from somewhere. If yes, how? You need a http server, of course (instead of an FTP server). Which is a better and more efficient method HTTP or FTP? HTTP is more firewall-friendly as it uses only one port. The transfer speed is roughly the same, ie it is determined by line speed, not CPU Which uses less resources on the server? I don't think there's a relevant or measurable difference, provided you pick the files directly off the file system (and not out of a database). -- Ben Back to top Ben Hochstrasser Guest Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 2:43 pm    Post subject: Re: Is it possible to transfer file via HTTP? Christopher wrote: Quote: Actually, i will be having 600 clients running 24 hrs a day. I will have a program to invoke the clients to download the file from the server. I have actually done that using FTP method. The result is that some of the clients will not have the files and some would have but not the actual size when all 600 clients connect to the server at the same time. Would i have the same problem with HTTP file transfer? A properly implemented HTTP server causes no less and no more load than a properly implemented FTP server. What FTP server are you using? (I am using BRS WebWeaver for both FTP and HTTP on my personal box) Quote: My colleague told me that using HTTP would be less constraint on the server as compared to FTP because FTP requires the use of kernel when the user logs in and logs out. It all depends where the server (ftp or http) checks the credentials against. Flat File? SQL DB? Active Directory? LanManager? The only thing where FTP is "heavier" is that it has to build up a return connection to the client (hence the "firewall unfriendliness"). With HTTP, the connection is already there. That surely saves some overhead. Quote: However does using HTTP requires logging in and out? I'd certainly password-protect the site in question. It's not necessary though. In order to guarantee data integrity I warmly recommend to supply a checksum (md5sum comes to mind) for each file to be downloaded. This way the client can check the integrity and re-download if necessary. My personal advice: Don't waste too much time on the server. Waste some thoughts on the robustness of the clients. -- Ben Back to top Francois PIETTE [ICS - Mi Guest Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 4:58 pm    Post subject: Re: Is it possible to transfer file via HTTP? Quote: Actually, i will be having 600 clients running 24 hrs a day. I will have a program to invoke the clients to download the file from the server. No problem with HTTP. It will even impose less load on the server since HTTP use only one socket per client while FTP use two. Quote: I have actually done that using FTP method. The result is that some of the clients will not have the files and some would have but not the actual size when all 600 clients connect to the server at the same time. You have a bug somewhere then. What are you using as server and as client ? Quote: Would i have the same problem with HTTP file transfer? Defenitely not. btw: You should not have it neither with FTP ! Quote: My colleague told me that using HTTP would be less constraint on the server as compared to FTP because FTP requires the use of kernel when the user logs in and logs out. However does using HTTP requires logging in and out? That's a wrong assumption. HTTP login is not mandatory and may or may not use more CPU that FTP (several authentification methods are supported by HTTP). -- Contribute to the SSL Effort. Visit http://www.overbyte.be/eng/ssl.html -- [email]francois.piette (AT) overbyte (DOT) be[/email] The author for the freeware multi-tier middleware MidWare The author of the freeware Internet Component Suite (ICS) http://www.overbyte.be Back to top Christopher Guest Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 12:40 am    Post subject: Re: Is it possible to transfer file via HTTP? Hi Ben Quote: A properly implemented HTTP server causes no less and no more load than a properly implemented FTP server. What FTP server are you using? (I am using BRS WebWeaver for both FTP and HTTP on my personal box) I was using the Microsoft FTP Server on Windows 2000 Server. It seems that it cannot handle many simultaneous connection. What good HTTP would u recommend for linux? Apache? Quote: In order to guarantee data integrity I warmly recommend to supply a checksum (md5sum comes to mind) for each file to be downloaded. This way the client can check the integrity and re-download if necessary. How do u perform a checksum? When i was using FTP, i have to get the file size of the file first before downloading. After downloaded the file, it will check the file size again. Could u explain in detail how to do a checksum? Thanks Chris Back to top Ben Hochstrasser Guest Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 8:38 am    Post subject: Re: Is it possible to transfer file via HTTP? Christopher wrote: Quote: I was using the Microsoft FTP Server on Windows 2000 Server. It seems that it cannot handle many simultaneous connection. What good HTTP would u recommend for linux? Apache? As I said, I am using BRS WebWeaver (free). Dunno about how many connections it'd handle. Apache certainly isn't a bad choice either. You could as well use the IIS that comes with Win2000, but make sure you security-patch and tune it. Quote: In order to guarantee data integrity I warmly recommend to supply a checksum (md5sum comes to mind) for each file to be downloaded. This way the client can check the integrity and re-download if necessary. How do u perform a checksum? When i was using FTP, i have to get the file size of the file first before downloading. After downloaded the file, it will check the file size again. Could u explain in detail how to do a checksum? I recommend the widespread md5sum algorithm. There are Delphi implementations, there are GNU ports of it etc. Alternatively you can use CRC-32, again google for a delphi implementation of it. -- Ben Back to top Christopher Guest Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 2:02 am    Post subject: Re: Is it possible to transfer file via HTTP? Hi all I managed to use the idHTTP component to get the file and to save it to a location. Is it possible to monitor the progress of download? Is it possible to get the file size before download? thanks chris "Francois PIETTE [ICS - MidWare]" <francois.piette (AT) overbyte (DOT) be> wrote in message news:4319d73c (AT) newsgroups (DOT) borland.com... Quote: Actually, i will be having 600 clients running 24 hrs a day. I will have a program to invoke the clients to download the file from the server. No problem with HTTP. It will even impose less load on the server since HTTP use only one socket per client while FTP use two. I have actually done that using FTP method. The result is that some of the clients will not have the files and some would have but not the actual size when all 600 clients connect to the server at the same time. You have a bug somewhere then. What are you using as server and as client ? Would i have the same problem with HTTP file transfer? Defenitely not. btw: You should not have it neither with FTP ! My colleague told me that using HTTP would be less constraint on the server as compared to FTP because FTP requires the use of kernel when the user logs in and logs out. However does using HTTP requires logging in and out? That's a wrong assumption. HTTP login is not mandatory and may or may not use more CPU that FTP (several authentification methods are supported by HTTP). -- Contribute to the SSL Effort. Visit http://www.overbyte.be/eng/ssl.html -- [email]francois.piette (AT) overbyte (DOT) be[/email] The author for the freeware multi-tier middleware MidWare The author of the freeware Internet Component Suite (ICS) http://www.overbyte.be Back to top Francois Malan Guest Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 7:43 am    Post subject: Re: Is it possible to transfer file via HTTP? Christopher wrote: Quote: Hi all I managed to use the idHTTP component to get the file and to save it to a location. Is it possible to monitor the progress of download? Is it possible to get the file size before download? Read the HTTP headers first. Var HTTP : IdHTTP; ..... HTTP.Head( URL ); // some error checking if (HTTP.ResponseCode <> 200) then begin if (HTTP.ResponseCode >= 500) then Result := dlrServerError else if (HTTP.ResponseCode >= 400) then Result := dlrFileNotFound; end; Now the size of the file is in the property HTTP.Response.ContentLength Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         BorlandTalk.com Forum Index -> Delphi Internet Winsock All times are GMT Page 1 of 1   Jump to: Select a forum C++ Builder Newsgroups----------------C++ BuilderC++ Builder (ActiveX)C++ Builder (Announcements)C++ Builder (Command Line Tools)C++ Builder DatabasesC++ Builder Databases (ADO)C++ Builder Databases (Desktop)C++ Builder Databases (InterBase Express)C++ Builder Databases (Multi-Tier)C++ Builder Databases (SQL Servers)C++ Builder (Graphics)C++ Builder (IDE)C++ Builder (Internet)C++ Builder (Internet Socket)C++ Builder (Internet Web)C++ Builder (Jobs)C++ Builder (Language)C++ Builder (Language C++)C++ Builder (Compatibility with MFC)C++ Builder (Native API)C++ Builder (Non-Technical)C++ Builder (Students)C++ Builder (Third Party Tools)C++ Builder (Upgrade)C++ Builder (VCL)C++ Builder (VCL Components Usage)C++ Builder (VCL Components Development)C++ Builder (VCL Usage)C++ Builder (WinAPI)C++ Builder Installation Delphi Newsgroups----------------Delphi (General)Delphi ActiveX Controls UsageDelphi ActiveX Controls DevelopmentDelphi As400Delphi DatabasesDelphi Databases (ADO)Delphi Databases (dbExpress)Delphi Databases (Desktop)Delphi Databases (InterBase Express)Delphi Databases (Multi-Tier)Delphi Databases (SQL Servers)Delphi DeploymentDelphi GraphicsDelphi IDEDelphi InternationalizationDelphi InternetDelphi Internet Isapi-WebBrokerDelphi Internet WebSnapDelphi Internet WinsockDelphi JobsDelphi Language BASMDelphi Language ObjectPascalDelphi Model Driven Architecture (General)Delphi Model Driven Architecture (Third Party)Delphi MultimediaDelphi Native APIDelphi Non-TechnicalDelphi ObjectPascalDelphi OLE AutomationDelphi OO designDelphi OpenToolsAPIDelphi Reporting-ChartingDelphi RTLDelphi StudentsDelphi TeamSourceDelphi Thirdparty ToolsDelphi Thirdparty Tools (General)Delphi Thirdparty Tools (IntraWeb)Delphi Thirdparty Tools (RaveReports)Delphi UpgradeDelphi VCLDelphi VCL ComponentsDelphi VCL Components UsingDelphi VCL Components WritingDelphi WebServices SOAPDelphi WinAPIDelphi XMLDelphi Installationcomp.lang.pascal.delphi.components.misccomp.lang.pascal.delphi.components.usagecomp.lang.pascal.delphi.components.writingcomp.lang.pascal.delphi.databasescomp.lang.pascal.delphi.misccomp.sources.delphi JBuilder Newsgroups----------------JBuilderJBuilder AnnouncementsJBuilder Applet IssuesJBuilder As400JBuilder CompilerJBuilder CORBA/RMIJBuilder DatabasesJBuilder DB SwingJBuilder DebuggerJBuilder DeploymentJBuilder DocumentationJBuilder EnterpriseJBuilder HandheldJBuilder IDEJBuilder JavaJBuilder JavaAPIJBuilder Java LanguageJBuilder Java SwingJBuilder Java BeansJBuilder Java Beans UsageJBuilder Java Beans DevelopmentJBuilder JBCLJBuilder JDataStoreJBuilder JobsJBuilder LinuxJBuilder MacintoshJBuilder & MobileSetJBuilder MultiLingual AppsJBuilder Non-TechnicalJBuilder OpenToolsJBuilder Servlets (JSP)JBuilder StudentsJBuilder Team DevelopmentJBuilder Thirdparty ToolsJBuilder UpgradeJBuilder Installation InterBase Newsgroups----------------InterBaseInterBase Bug DiscussionInterBase GeneralInterBase IBConsoleInterBase OpenSourceInterBase ReplicationInterBase SQLInterBase ThirdpartyInterBase Installation Miscellaneous Borland Newsgroups----------------AppCenterAppServerEnteraVisiBroker  You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2006 phpBB Group SEO toolkit © 2004-2006 webmedic.