Remote query push/flush - How does one allow query from remote servers?

[southbeach]

I think I wrote something to this respect a very long time ago and I now find myself with a blank stare.

The project:
I have my PHP server where people come into to do their daily operations and data entry. Now, we have the need to allow people to, manually or automated, send a query to my server (think of it as a fetch) and receive in turn the data or information pertaining to their query.

I want to think of it as a form being submitted at a remote site, my server will validate origin and once valid, process query and send back the results.

I also need to write the code that makes the query request and need to process the received data segment.

Running in LINUX servers, so may be able to put up a `cron` to do this if automated or provide users with a command (shell script) that would do it on demand.


The problem:
I figure that the receiving server (where the query is sent to), the code is pretty simple, just like processing any other query with a GET/POST method.

The originating server seems to me a bit more of a challenge. I am not sure if I should use PHP as a scripting language (and I am very tempted to) or should I use something else. I have never used PHP as a scripting language but feel as if it would be ideal for this (PHP to PHP, what could go wrong?).

My biggest problem is that I feel as if I lack direction on this and so I am reaching out to you guys, perhaps, it is so simple and obvious that I am over complicating things.

Thank you all in advance for your assistance!



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SouthBeach

http://www.fpgroups.com

The good thing about not knowing is the opportunity to learn - Yours truly, 2008.

 

[jpadie]

php _is_ a scripting language. so feel free to use that and know that it is an excellent tool.
to 'send' the data to the server from the client use file_get_contents (with an http protocol prefix) or use curl. the former does not support POST operations.

 

[southbeach]

Just reading a paper on using PHP CURL to query remote servers ...

Thanks for the suggestions, truly appreciated!!!

--
SouthBeach

http://www.fpgroups.com

The good thing about not knowing is the opportunity to learn - Yours truly, 2008.

 

[vacunita]

Maybe I misunderstood, but it seems you may want to look into creating a webservice with PHP

This would allow a remote PHP page to connect to your script and use certain functions you provide to access things and maybe submit queries and get data back.

http://www.php.net/manual/en/book.soap.php

Basically its an access point to series of methods or functions that can then use your server and do things.



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Phil AKA Vacunita
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Web & Tech

 

[southbeach]

vacunita, you did understand my original post ... except about the part of the use of "methods or functions" ... Queries will likely be done via a cron scripts or same scripts called on demand via user interface or command line.



--
SouthBeach

http://www.fpgroups.com

The good thing about not knowing is the opportunity to learn - Yours truly, 2008.

 

[vacunita]

No need for crons jobs with a webservice.

The Queries can be pre-programmed, and all the users would have to do is call the method that runs a specific query.

So if you have a query1 that reads the Db and returns data based on x or y parameters, you can set that up in a method that your users can access on demand.

That's what a webservice does.




----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Web & Tech