Zero Configuration Networking: The Definitive Guide

Description

It used to be that two laptops, sitting side by side, couldn't communicate with each other; they may as well have been a thousand miles apart. But that was then, before the advent of Zero Configuration Networking technology. This amazing cross-platform open source technology automatically connects electronic devices on a network, allowing them to interoperate seamlessly-without any user configuration. So now you don't have to lift a finger! Needless to say, it has completely changed the way people connect to devices and programs for printing, file sharing, and other activities.

Zero Configuration Networking: The Definitive Guide walks you through this groundbreaking network technology, with a complete description of the protocols and ways to implement network-aware applications and devices.

Written by two Zero Configuration Networking experts, including one of Apple's own computer scientists, the book covers more than just file sharing and printing. Zero Configuration Networking also enables activities such as music and photo sharing and automatic buddy discovery on Instant Messaging applications. In fact, Zero Configuration Networking can be used for virtually any device that can be controlled by a computer. And this handy guide has the inside scoop on all of its capabilities-and how you can easily apply them in your own environment.

For the technically advanced, Zero Configuration Networking: The Definitive Guide examines the three core technologies that make up Zero Configuration Networking: Link-Local Addressing, Multicast DNS, and DNS Service Discovery. It also reviews a series of APIs, including C-API, Java API, CFNetServices, and Cocoa's NSNetServices.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

1. Introduction to Bonjour and Zeroconf

     Service Discovery with Zeroconf

     Replacing the AppleTalk Name Binding Protocol

     Summary

2. IP Addresses Without DHCP

     Obtaining an IP Address

     Claiming a Link-Local IP Address

     Summary

3. Names Without DNS

     A Brief Tour of DNS

     The Zeroconf Namespace

     Multicast DNS

     Claiming Your Local Name

     The Structure of the Multicast DNS Message

     Summary

4. Browsing for Services

     Zero Configuration Operation

     Finding Services, Not Devices

     Knowing the Protocol

     Building on DNS

     Late Binding

     DNS-SD TXT Records

     Summary

5. Service Discovery Beyond the Local Link

     Domain Enumeration

     Advertising Static Services

     Wide-Area Preference Settings

     Dynamic DNS Updates

     DNS Long-Lived Queries (DNS-LLQ)

     NAT Port Mapping Protocol (NAT-PMP)

     Summary

6. Getting Started with Bonjour/Zeroconf

     Working with Bonjour/Zeroconf

     The Command-Line Tool

     Summary

7. Using the C APIs

     Asynchronous Programming Model

     Event Handling with a select( ) Loop

     Using the DNSServiceDiscovery APIs

     Event Handling with Cocoa RunLoop or Core Foundation CFRunLoop

     Event Handling with Microsoft Windows GetMessage( ) Message Loop

     Event Handling with Microsoft Windows MFC

     Event Handling with Independent Threads

     Summary

8. Using the Java APIs

     Understanding the APIs

     Using the APIs

     An Extended Example: Tic-Tac-Toe

9. Using the CFNetwork and Cocoa APIs

     Using the CFNetServices API

     Using the NSNetServices API in Cocoa

     A Cocoa Bonjour Extended Example

10. Ruby, Python, and Other Languages

     Ruby

     Python

     Embedded Responders

Index