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root/i-scream/projects/cms/documentation/specification/protocols.txt
Revision: 1.8
Committed: Tue Feb 27 18:45:15 2001 UTC (23 years, 9 months ago) by tdb
Content type: text/plain
Branch: MAIN
Changes since 1.7: +11 -0 lines
Log Message:
Added a feature to send the FQDN of the connected host.

File Contents

# User Rev Content
1 ajm 1.1 i-scream Protocols
2     ==================
3    
4     Contents
5     --------
6     - Conventions
7    
8     - Host Connection Protocol
9     - Host Heartbeat Protocol
10     - Host Data Protocol
11    
12     - Client Control Protocol
13     - Client Data Protocol
14    
15     Conventions
16     -----------
17     All protocols in this document assume a valid connection of
18     the appropriate type has been made, and that data streams
19 tdb 1.2 are already available. All strings should, and will be,
20 ajm 1.1 terminated with a \n (newline character) to indicate the end
21     of the message. All messages are sent as ASCII Strings.
22    
23     Fixed protocol messages will appear in [] brackets, if there
24 tdb 1.2 is a variety of options they will be separated with the |
25 ajm 1.1 character. For example:
26    
27     [OK|ERROR]
28 tdb 1.6
29 ajm 1.1 Indicates that the message "OK" OR the message "ERROR" will
30     be sent depending on the result of the last action.
31    
32     Data messages will appear in {} brackets, where the name in
33     the brackets indicates the type (as in kind, not data type)
34     of data that will be returned. For example:
35    
36     {lastmodified}
37    
38 tdb 1.6 Indicates that data for use as 'last modified' will be
39     returned.
40 tdb 1.2
41 tdb 1.6 If [ERROR] is sent back at any time, this indicates that all
42 tdb 1.2 communication is over. EXCEPT where otherwise specified!
43 ajm 1.1
44     Host Connection Protocol
45     ------------------------
46     The initial connection of a host to the i-scream server is
47     through the FilterManager. A Host gets its configuration
48 tdb 1.2 and then gets assigned a Filter to connect to and start
49 ajm 1.1 sending data.
50    
51 tdb 1.2 The port number of the FilterManager is fully configurable,
52 ajm 1.1 however the default at this time is 4567.
53    
54     Host (direction) Server Comment
55     ------------------------------------------------------------
56     [STARTCONFIG]----------> Requests to start
57     receiving config
58     information
59 tdb 1.6
60 ajm 1.1 <---------- [OK|ERROR] If the server ok's
61     the request or not
62    
63     [LASTMODIFIED]----------> Asks when the config
64     was last modified
65     (used when checking
66 tdb 1.2 if the config has
67 ajm 1.1 changed)
68 tdb 1.6
69 ajm 1.1 <---------- [{lastmodified}Returns a long int
70 tdb 1.2 |ERROR] time since epoch
71 ajm 1.1 eg, 123456789
72 ajm 1.5 To indicate what
73     format this is in,
74     I quote from the
75     Java 1.3 JDK API
76     "measured in milli
77     -seconds since the
78     epoch"
79 tdb 1.6
80 ajm 1.1 [FILELIST] ----------> Asks the server for
81     the list of files
82     that were used to
83     build the config
84     (used when checking
85     if the config has
86     changed)
87 tdb 1.6
88 ajm 1.1 <---------- [{filelist} Returns a semi-colon
89 tdb 1.2 |ERROR] separated list of
90 ajm 1.1 filenames
91     eg,
92     a.conf;b.conf;c.conf
93    
94 tdb 1.8 [FQDN] ----------> Asks the server to
95     send the FQDN (fully
96     qualified domain
97     name) of the
98     connecting host.
99    
100     <---------- [{fqdn} Returns the FQDN of
101     |ERROR] the connected host,
102     or error if it can't
103     be looked up.
104    
105 ajm 1.1 ********** LOOP START **********
106     This loop reads configuration
107     properties from the config
108    
109     [{property}] ----------> Sends the name of a
110     property to be
111     retrieved from the
112     config file
113     eg, UDPUpdateTime
114 tdb 1.6
115 ajm 1.1 <---------- [{value}|ERROR]Returns the value of
116     the requested config
117     property
118     eg, 120
119     If it is unable to
120 tdb 1.2 find the requested
121 ajm 1.1 property it returns
122     ERROR to indicate
123 tdb 1.6 that fact, but
124     communication still
125 tdb 1.2 proceeds
126 tdb 1.6
127 ajm 1.1 ********** LOOP UNTIL **********
128     The loop continues until the host
129     sends the following message
130 tdb 1.6
131 tdb 1.2 [ENDCONFIG] ----------> Indicates that the
132 ajm 1.1 host requires no
133     more config
134 tdb 1.6
135 ajm 1.1 ********** LOOP END **********
136     Communication continues
137 tdb 1.6
138 ajm 1.1 <---------- [OK] Indicates that the
139     server is ready to
140     proceed
141 tdb 1.6
142 ajm 1.1 [FILTER] ----------> Asks the server to
143     send it the host
144 tdb 1.2 information of a
145 ajm 1.1 filter that it
146     should connect to
147 tdb 1.6
148 ajm 1.1 <---------- {filter} Returns a semi-colon
149 tdb 1.2 separated list of
150 ajm 1.1 FQDN hostname, UDP
151     port number and TCP
152 tdb 1.2 port number that a
153 ajm 1.1 configured Filter is
154     running on and
155 tdb 1.2 assigned to the
156 ajm 1.1 calling host
157     eg,
158     raptor.ukc.ac.uk;
159     1234;5678
160    
161     [END] ----------> Indicates to the
162     server that the host
163     has finished an will
164     disconnect
165 tdb 1.6
166 ajm 1.1 <---------- [OK|ERROR] Indicates that the
167     server is either ok
168     or that it thought
169     there was an error
170 ajm 1.3 ------------------------------------------------------------
171 tdb 1.6
172 ajm 1.1 Host Heartbeat Protocol
173     -----------------------
174     When a host is configured after it has connected it should
175     obtain a property TCPUpdateTime. This indicates how often
176 tdb 1.2 a host should send a "Heart Beat", which is a pro-active
177 ajm 1.1 connection to the server by the host to indicate that it is
178     still alive. This "Heart Beat" also allows a host to see
179 tdb 1.2 its configuration has changed and act accordingly. In a
180 ajm 1.1 well written host this should just be a case of dropping out
181     of a loop and heading back to the start (connecting to the
182     filter manager).
183    
184     Host (direction) Server Comment
185     ------------------------------------------------------------
186     [HEARTBEAT] ----------> Starts the
187     heartbeat protocol
188     off
189 tdb 1.6
190 ajm 1.1 <---------- [OK|ERROR] Indicates that the
191     server is ok or not
192    
193     [CONFIG] ----------> Indicates that the
194     host wants to check
195     its config
196    
197     <---------- [OK|ERROR] Indicates that the
198     server is ok or not
199    
200     [{filelist}] ----------> Send a semi-colon
201 tdb 1.2 separated list of
202 ajm 1.1 filenames
203     eg,
204     a.conf;b.conf;c.conf
205     This should be
206     identical to the one
207 tdb 1.2 received in the
208 ajm 1.1 connection protocol
209    
210     <---------- [OK] Indicates that the
211     server is ok
212    
213     [{lastmodified}]----------> Returns a long int
214 tdb 1.2 time since epoch
215 ajm 1.1 eg, 123456789
216     This should be
217     identical to the one
218 tdb 1.2 received in the
219 ajm 1.1 connection protocol
220 ajm 1.5 To indicate what
221     format this is in,
222     I quote from the
223     Java 1.3 JDK API
224     "measured in milli
225     -seconds since the
226     epoch"
227 ajm 1.1
228     <---------- [OK|ERROR] The server then
229     checks all the files
230     in the file list to
231     see if they have
232     been modified more
233     recently than the
234 tdb 1.2 lastmodified value.
235     If they HAVE that
236 ajm 1.1 indicates that the
237     configuration has
238     changed and the host
239     should re-configure,
240     thus it sends ERROR.
241     If the files remain
242     unchanged the server
243     will return OK to
244     indicate the host
245     should continue as
246     before
247    
248     [ENDHEARTBEAT] ----------> Indicates to the
249     server that the host
250     has finished an will
251     disconnect
252 tdb 1.6
253 ajm 1.1 <---------- [OK|ERROR] Indicates that the
254     server is either ok
255     or that it thought
256     there was an error
257 ajm 1.3 ------------------------------------------------------------
258 ajm 1.1
259     Host Data Protocol
260     ------------------
261     The UDP data packets that are sent by the host contain
262     simply XML data. For information on the format of this
263     data see the XML via UDP specification document at:
264    
265 ajm 1.4 http://www.i-scream.org.uk/cgi-bin/docs.cgi?doc=specification/xml_via_udp.txt
266 ajm 1.1
267     Client Control Protocol
268     -----------------------
269    
270 ajm 1.3 The client control protocol channel is opened by the client
271     and allows a variety of actions to be carried out by the
272     client at anytime. Unlike previous protocols, this is NOT
273 tdb 1.6 sequential, all of the requests can be carried out in
274 ajm 1.3 any order.
275    
276     All client protocols are backwards compatible, and the
277     version is shown by the protocol identifier.
278    
279     There are three sections to this protocol.
280    
281     1) Initialise (sent only at start)
282     2) Send command(s) - unlimited number in any order
283     3) Disconnect (sent only at end)
284    
285     If at anytime the client sends something the server does
286     not understand, an [ERROR] will be sent
287    
288     All are indicated with <> brackets.
289    
290     v1.0 - Protocol identifier: "PROTOCOL 1.0" (without quotes)
291     Supported commands:
292     STARTCONFIG
293     STARTDATA
294     STOPDATA
295    
296     Host (direction) Server Comment
297     ------------------------------------------------------------
298     <initialise>
299     <---------- [{protocol}] The server sends the
300     protocol identifier
301 tdb 1.6
302 ajm 1.3 [{name}] ----------> The client sends its
303     "name". This name
304     is used to identify
305     the type of client
306     to the system and
307     obtain its config
308     eg, Conient
309 tdb 1.6
310 ajm 1.3 <---------- [OK] Indicates the server
311     is ok to proceed
312 tdb 1.6
313 ajm 1.3
314     <command #1> (allows client to obtain its configuration)
315     [STARTCONFIG]----------> Tell the server we
316     want to start this
317     command
318 tdb 1.6
319 ajm 1.3 <---------- [OK] Indicates the server
320     is ok to proceed
321 tdb 1.6
322 ajm 1.3 ********** LOOP START **********
323     This loop reads configuration
324     properties from the config
325    
326     [{property}] ----------> Sends the name of a
327     property to be
328     retrieved from the
329     config file
330     Clients can obtain
331     host information
332 tdb 1.6 eg,
333 ajm 1.3 Host.UDPUpdateTime
334     Otherwise it must
335     prefix requests
336     with "Client."
337     All other requests
338     will be ignored as
339     if it was unable to
340 tdb 1.6 retrieve the
341     property
342    
343 ajm 1.3 <---------- [{value}|ERROR]Returns the value of
344     the requested config
345     property
346     eg, 120
347     If it is unable to
348 tdb 1.6 find the requested
349 ajm 1.3 property it returns
350     ERROR to indicate
351     that fact
352 tdb 1.6
353 ajm 1.3 ********** LOOP UNTIL **********
354     The loop continues until the client
355     sends the following message
356 tdb 1.6
357     [ENDCONFIG] ----------> Indicates that the
358 ajm 1.3 client requires no
359     more config
360 tdb 1.6
361 ajm 1.3 ********** LOOP END **********
362     Communication continues
363 tdb 1.6
364 ajm 1.3 <---------- [OK] Indicates that the
365     server is ready to
366     proceed
367    
368     <command #2> (tells the server to start the data link)
369     [STARTDATA] ----------> Tell the server we
370     want to start this
371     command
372 tdb 1.6
373 ajm 1.3 <---------- [{portnumber} The server then sets
374     |ERROR] itself listening for
375     a connection on its
376     data link socket for
377     this client. It
378     returns the port no.
379     that it is listening
380     on eg, 12367
381     If the data link is
382 tdb 1.6 already started the
383     server will return
384     ERROR
385    
386     <---------- [OK] Indicates the client
387     has successfully
388     connected to the
389     data socket.
390 ajm 1.3
391     <command #3> (tells the server to stop the data link)
392     [STOPDATA] ----------> Tell the server we
393     want to start this
394     command
395     The server then
396 tdb 1.6 shuts down the
397 ajm 1.3 data link to the
398     client
399    
400     <---------- [OK|ERROR] Returns OK is the
401     server is ready to
402     proceed, or ERROR
403     if the data link
404     was not open in the
405     first place
406    
407     <disconnect>
408     [DISCONNECT] ----------> Tells the server the
409     client wants to
410     close the control
411     link
412 tdb 1.6
413 ajm 1.3 <---------- [OK] The last word from
414     the server, it will
415 tdb 1.6 disappear after
416     this, and close the
417     data link if
418     required
419 ajm 1.3 ------------------------------------------------------------
420    
421     v1.1 - Protocol identifier: "PROTOCOL 1.1" (without quotes)
422     Supported commands:
423     SETHOSTLIST
424    
425     Host (direction) Server Comment
426     ------------------------------------------------------------
427     <command #4> (indicates to the server which hosts the client
428     wants data from)
429     [SETHOSTLIST]----------> Tell the server we
430     want to start this
431     command
432 tdb 1.6
433 ajm 1.3 <---------- [OK|ERROR] The server will
434     return an ERROR if
435     the data link is
436     open, as a host list
437 tdb 1.6 must ONLY be set
438 ajm 1.3 if the data link is
439     closed
440     If the server is
441     ok to proceed with
442     the command it says
443     [OK]
444    
445     [{hostlist}] ----------> This is a semi-colon
446     seperated list of
447     FQDN hostnames that
448     the client wishes to
449     recieve data from
450     eg,
451     raptor.ukc.ac.uk;killigrew.ukc.ac.uk;chalk.ukc.ac.uk
452 tdb 1.6
453 ajm 1.3 If the list is sent
454     blank (or if no list
455     is set at all) then
456     data from ALL hosts
457     will be sent to the
458 tdb 1.6 client (this is the
459     default if no
460     SETHOSTLIST is not
461     run by the client
462    
463 ajm 1.3 <---------- [OK] Indicates the server
464     is ok to proceed and
465 tdb 1.6 the host list has
466 ajm 1.3 been accepted
467     ------------------------------------------------------------
468 ajm 1.1
469     Client Data Protocol
470     --------------------
471 ajm 1.3 Once the data link has been opened by the control link, the
472 tdb 1.6 server will send XML formatted data packets separated by the
473     \n (newline) character. For information on the format of
474 ajm 1.3 this data see the XML via UDP specification document at:
475 ajm 1.1
476 ajm 1.4 http://www.i-scream.org.uk/cgi-bin/docs.cgi?doc=specification/xml_via_udp.txt
477 ajm 1.1
478     About
479     -----
480     This document was written by AJ Moore [ajm4@ukc.ac.uk] for
481     use by the team working on a 3rd year Computer Science
482     project called "i-scream". More details can be found on the
483     project website;
484    
485     http://www.i-scream.org.uk