I have a windows 8 computer that i use as an access point using connectify as the hotspot software. I want to control my clients by blocking and allowing some of their applications, such as skype or any other applications accessing the Internet. I wanted to know if there is a way i can do it using vb.net - something like blocking applications by application name.
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I'm trying to make my store app communication with desktop app through websockets.
I know we can make metro app as a client and do WinRT way of communicating over.
For the desktop server part, i'm planning to write a dll that will contain server code and receive metro texts being sent over.
Can someone please tell if this is possible and how to write server code in a dll and if so should we be using winhttp for wbesockets in server side ?
Windows Store (WInRT) apps are executing in a sandbox which isolates them from network communication with other applications on the local machine (localhost). That being said, this protection can be disabled using CheckNetIsolation.exe. Visual Studio automatically does the same for debugging purposes, allowing you to call e.g. a web service on your local machine during development.
As for the desktop side; to communicate with web sockets client, you can make advantage of WinHTTP. There's a working example on MSDN.
Keep in mind, though, that any application communicating with localhost will not be certified for Windows Store and will require several additional steps to install it:
The Windows Store application package will need to be sideloaded since it won't be published in Windows Store.
Any desktop component it communicates with will need to be installed separately the same way as any other desktop application.
Using CheckNetIsolation.exe loopback exemption will need to be added for the Windows Store app.
If you can avoid it, I definitely suggest you don't try communicating directly with a desktop application from you Windows Store app.
I'm looking for a platform with Web UI access that allows me to do the following:
Maintain a list of computers and add / remove based on their IP address.
Provide the SSH information for each computer machine.
Monitor if the machines are up ( ping ? )
Restart the machines with a web UI using the ssh information on the backend of the application.
I'm close to start making such an app myself since I can't seem to find anything close to that in the internet. Any clues if such an application exists ?
You might want to take a look at MeshCentral: https://meshcentral.com/ - you can add systems that you are managing and do some remote operations.
http://info.meshcentral.com/: Meshcentral is open source and is both a peer-to-peer technology with a wide array of uses and web service that is targeted for remote monitoring and management of computers and devices. Users can manage all their devices from a single web site, no matter the location of the computers or if they are behind routers or proxies.
If you are looking for source code you could take a look at the "Open Manageabilty Developer's Toolkit" http://opentools.homeip.net/open-manageability. This tool was built for managing systems with Intel Active Management Technology, but it does a lot of what you are looking for. You can download the source and see if you can use any of it if you decide to write your own UI.
I need to integrate Skype deep into one of my Windows 8 Store application for Windows 8 Pro. We need to show the online status of the user and trace if the call was placed successfully.
We have tried to use Skype4COM but apparently, Win8 Store Apps can only access limited set of COM components.
I am not open to use to use Skype URIs as i would require to trace the status of the call also.
Any pointers or any help would be awesome!!!
At this time, the Skype API is not a Windows Runtime Component so it can't be used in a Windows Store app. Even though COM objects are similar, they don't work in Windows Store apps because they have a different interface, security model, etc.
Right now, Skype URIs are your only option for a Windows Store app. You can find more information on Skype URIs and Windows Store apps # http://dev.skype.com/skype-uri/skype-uri-tutorial-win8.
We are developing a desktop Windows 8 application, that work with WCF-service. We want enable work with Azure WCF-service and with WCF-service in local network(choosingly). Application will be publish in Windows Store.
What the best practise deploy WCF-service on local server of company?
I understand what you want. Let's pretend the Azure part is not an option. How can a Windows Store App use a local service (WCF or not)? That's the fundamental question.
Here's the answer(s):
First, a Windows Store App cannot access intranet services unless it has private network access declared in its manifest. It looks like this:
Second, in order to use private networks in your manifest and get accepted into the Windows Store, you must be a company publisher and not an individual. More on this is discussed in this SO question: Which features are allowed for company store accounts and not individual?
Third, a local service cannot be mistakenly thought of as localhost. To this end, localhost is not available to Windows Store Apps, unless they are side-loaded (which means they are manually installed and not delivered through the Windows Store at all). To access localhost, you can enable loopback, but, as I stated, this disqualifies you from the Windows Store. There's more on this here: How does Windows 8 Loop Back work?
Forth, because you are talking about a service, you might want to authenticate the user. This is accomplished using enterprise authentication (just like in number 1) only a few checkboxes higher. And it has the same restrictions as private networks.
Fifth, you are not asking this, but to be clear, local access does not mean you can speak to a local SQL server. The reason for this is because the SQL namespace is not part of WinRT or .Net for WinRT. Windows Store Apps are intended to be service-based apps.
And, that's about it. I think you are good if you follow that.
It doesn't sound like you are talking about a pure enterprise-play, but it might be interesting to you to read through some of the strategies for enterprise developers: http://blog.jerrynixon.com/2012/08/windows-8-apps-whats-enterprise-to-do.html
As for deploying WCF, there's nothing special just because a Windows Store App is accessing it. So for deployment, just use vanilla techniques you are already using. :) That's it.
Best of luck!
I am making an app for the iPhone in Xcode which needs to be able to send and receive excel data from a windows based machine. Making the app is no trouble but what would I need from a PC to access the app data?
Firstly, I wouldn't be using Excel as a data storage program. What you really should be using is a database hosted on a web server with a PHP interface etc. If you choose to go the database route, then you can easily use a Windows machine.
Though if you choose to stick with Excel, it would be theoretically be possible given that people have made apps to have full control of a computer remotely via an app. I just think that this approach is going to be very hard to set up, and will be a lot more clunky than any sort of web server set up. Don't forget that you can get free web server services if the data level is low.
As you mentioned, this PC won't have access to the internet. Assuming you aren't willing to fix that, I guess you'd be left with a Bluetooth or local wifi option. Having to plug it in would really defeat the purpose of an app, and I don't think that iPhones can even do that without mad hacks.
An alternative idea is to build an app that links in with some free web server service, then build VBA code to download it to your Excel sheet. When you plug your iPhone into your PC, use the hotspot to get internet access.