WebServiceHost vs ServiceHost

WCF in .NET Fx 3.5 introduces several types that simplify the creation of services that use the protocols of the web (read REST/Syndication/JSON). Among these are two hosting types: WebServiceHost and WebScriptServiceHostFactory. These types serve the same function as the ServiceHost and ServiceHostFactory type, but they are tailored for the web. For example, WebServiceHost automatically adds the right behavior and does some error checking to ensure http is the transport. Likewise, the WebScriptServiceHostFactory does similar error checking and adds a behavior that sets up the JSON messaging stack.

The WebScriptServiceHostFactory means that developers can setup an .svc file with no config (via directives), and the WebServiceHost means that web developers do not have to muck about with WCF behaviors.

These types automate with work one would otherwise have to do with the ServiceHost type. If, for some reason, you do not want to or cannot use these new types, you can always use the ServiceHost.

The code below shows how to expose a REST endpoint with both the ServiceHost and the WebServiceHost types:

 

 sealed class Program : ISomeContract {

    static void Main(string[] args) {
        
        Uri baseAddress = new Uri("https://localhost:8000");

        HostWithServiceHost(baseAddress);

        HostWithWebServiceHost(baseAddress);
    }

    private static void HostWithServiceHost(Uri baseAddress) {
        
        ServiceHost host = new ServiceHost(typeof(Program), baseAddress);
        WebHttpBinding binding = new WebHttpBinding();

        ServiceEndpoint endpoint = host.AddServiceEndpoint(typeof(ISomeContract), binding, "ServiceHost");
        WebHttpBehavior httpBehavior = new WebHttpBehavior();
        endpoint.Behaviors.Add(httpBehavior);

        host.Open();

        Console.WriteLine(@"go to https://localhost:8000/ServiceHost/SomeOperation to test");
        Console.ReadLine();

    }

    private static void HostWithWebServiceHost(Uri baseAddress) {
        
        WebServiceHost host = new WebServiceHost(typeof(Program), baseAddress);
        WebHttpBinding binding = new WebHttpBinding();
        host.AddServiceEndpoint(typeof(ISomeContract), binding, "WebServiceHost");
        host.Open();

        Console.WriteLine(@"go to https://localhost:8000/WebServiceHost/SomeOperation to test");
        Console.ReadLine();
        host.Close();
    
    }

    public String SomeOperation(String input) {
    
        String reply = "You said: " + input;
        Console.WriteLine(reply);
        return reply;
    
    }
}

[ServiceContract]
interface ISomeContract {
    [OperationContract]
    [WebGet(UriTemplate="SomeOperation/{input}")]
    String SomeOperation(String input);
}

Comments

• Anonymous
  September 04, 2007
  In my previous post, I showed how to use the DataContractSerializer with the classes generated by the

• Anonymous
  October 27, 2007
  If I enter the Rrl in my browser I get : Endpoint not found.

• Anonymous
  October 27, 2007
  http://localhost:8000/ServiceHost/SomeOperation/hello works. Thanks!

• Anonymous
  April 03, 2008
  A question popped up on an internal email distribution list today about how to expose a WCF service using

• Anonymous
  September 23, 2009
  Hi! Thanks for the example! However, when I run the code, I get "Endpoint not found" no matter what method I try to run. I have added the Someoperation as you had: [OperationContract] [WebGet(UriTemplate = "SomeOperation/{input}")] String SomeOperation(String input); The code is almost exactly the same as above, just different name on the Interface. So, it doesnt matter what I write in the URL. I can even remove everything, so that the base URL is the only thing there (http://localhost:8000/) Any ideas?

• Anonymous
  September 23, 2009
  Hey, I might add that I created a project (console) and copied your code EXACTLY as above (in Program.cs), and I still get the same error: Endpoint not found. Hmm...

• Anonymous
  February 09, 2011
  Justin uses WebGet(UriTemplate="SomeOperation/{input}") . So you request should be in that format. http://localhost:8000/ServiceHost/SomeOperation/hello

• Anonymous
  January 17, 2012
  The WebServiceHost creates its own default endpoint so I decided to use that.  After getting the same "Endpoint not found" error as described above I added a call to the AddDefaultEndPoints() method and it started working. WebServiceHost host = new WebServiceHost(typeof(Program), baseAddress); host.AddDefaultEndpoints(); host.Open();