Setting up Web Connection

In order to use the Web Connection feature, you must set up your Web server to run programs in response to client requests. The Web Connection feature receives requests from the Web server software and returns results, in the form of an HTML data stream, through the server back to client browsers.

VA Smalltalk Web Connection can use any of several Web server interfaces:

•	The Servlet Interface. The Servlet interface works with any Web server that supports Java Servlets. For information on setting up your server to handle servlets, refer to the documentation for your HTTP server software.

•	VAServer Smalltalk. If you have a license for Server Smalltalk, you can use use Smalltalk as a Web server with your Web Connection parts.

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The Common Gateway Interface (CGI). CGI, which is supported by most Web servers, is the most common interface that defines how HTTP servers can run external programs. CGI supports running stand-alone executable programs in response to client requests. For information on setting up your server to handle CGI requests, refer to the documentation for your HTTP server software.

•	The Microsoft Internet Server API (ISAPI). ISAPI is a shared-library-based interface supported by Microsoft Web server software.

Generally speaking, the server-specific interfaces that use shared libraries offer several advantages over CGI. Most importantly, they typically offer better performance and more efficient use of system resources. If you are using the Microsoft server software, you should probably use the corresponding interface. For other HTTP servers that support servlets, use the Servlet interface. Otherwise, use CGI.

For more information on setting up your Web server to run external programs, refer to the documentation for your Web server software.