I want to write a
Java application to send a data
file output by a C program running on the server to a client
connecting to our web site. Once the file is downloaded to the
client machine I want to invoke a local program on the client
machine and pass the data file in as input. The
connection has to be secured. The initiation
of data transfer has to be on the server side since the client
doesn't know when the C program will finish writing the file.
I'm thinking of writing a client/server application that will
communicate through secured socket using Sun's Jsse. The client
will connect to the server and listen. When the server
gets notified via socket that the data file is ready it will
send the data to the listening client to be written out.
I'm a Java novice so I don't know whether it can be done
like this or if there's an easier altenative that I should
look into. So my questions are:
1. Is this feasible given the security issues (secured
connection, firewall)?
2. How do I notify the server from within the C program
that the file is ready to be sent?
3. Is there an easier alternative? We have
Apache Web server + SSL so if I can use the Web server's
provided support for https without using Sun's Jsse
that will be great. Is signed applet/servlet an alternative?
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. It's urgent
that I come up with a solution so any help is appreciated.