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Running ASP.NET within a Command-Line .exe (Outside of IIS)
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Published:
23 Oct 2003
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Abstract
This articles demonstrates a simple way to process ASP.NET requests within a command line. |
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by Scott Guthrie
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| Overview |
One of the more esoteric features of ASP.NET is its ability to run outside of IIS. Specifically, it supports a hosting framework (within the System.Web.Hosting namespace) that enables you to run it on top of other web servers, within command line exes, etc. The below sample demonstrates a simple way to process ASP.NET requests within a command line exe (MyHost.exe). When run, MyHost.exe spins of ASP.NET (threadpool and all) and interprets each parameter to the executable as a URL request to a local file. It then outputs the content back to the console window. To try this out, perform the following steps:
1) Copy The MyHost.cs and Test.aspx files to a local directory
2) Compile MyHost.exe by typing “csc MyHost.cs /r:System.Web.dll” within a command prompt in the directory
3) Type “MyHost.exe Test.aspx”
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| Code |
One interesting use of this functionality is to “pre-process” dynamic ASP.NET requests – saving the output as static .htm files that you then prop onto a server. You can do this with MyHost.exe by “pipeing” the output automatically to a static file. For example: MyHost.exe Test.aspx > Test.htm
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MyHost.cs
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using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.Hosting;
public class MyExeHost : MarshalByRefObject {
public void ProcessRequest(String page) {
HttpRuntime.ProcessRequest(new SimpleWorkerRequest(page, null, Console.Out));
}
public static void Main(String[] arguments) {
MyExeHost host = (MyExeHost)ApplicationHost.CreateApplicationHost(typeof(MyExeHost),
"/foo", Directory.CurrentDirectory);
foreach (String page in arguments) {
host.ProcessRequest(page);
}
}
}
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Test.aspx
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<html>
<body>
<h1> Hi DevLabs, 2 the time is now: <%=Now%> </h1>
</body>
</html>
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| Results |
The results of compiling and running the source files (located here) are listed in the Command window screenshot below (forgive the long path to the folder):
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User Comments
Title:
great stuff
Name:
great stuff
Date:
2012-05-30 9:13:14 AM
Comment:
Great Stuff
Timesjobsonline.com
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Title:
';
Name:
;'
Date:
2012-05-30 9:10:34 AM
Comment:
ki
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Title:
Copy Exe To Bin or it crashes
Name:
Tim
Date:
2010-03-20 2:23:49 PM
Comment:
Hi, I had to copy the exe generated into a subdirectory called bin in order for this to work. Otherwise :
System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly 'MyHost.
Otherwise, excellent demo.
Here is another example using SimpleWorkerRequest:
http://weblogs.asp.net/mreynolds/archive/2003/10/03/30383.aspx
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Title:
Invalid URI error
Name:
Sparky
Date:
2007-05-01 9:21:07 PM
Comment:
Hi, I keep getting "Invalid URI" errors when I try your example on either WinXP or Win2000. I'm struggling to find any other examples similar to yours - can you please advise why I'm getting this error?
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