Hosting a WCF service

Hosting Option

Description

1

Self-Hosting

Hosting using Console Application, Win Forms, WPF Application etc.

2

Windows Service

Hosting Using a Windows Service

3

IIS – Internet Information Services

Hosting using IIS. By default, supports only HTTP Bindings. Non-HTTP bindings are not supported.

4

WAS – Windows Activation Services

Hosting using IIS and WAS supports all bindings including Non-HTTP like TCP, MSMQ etc.

Advantages

Disadvantages

· Easy Setup

· Easy Debugging

· Supports all bindings and protocols

· Easy control of lifetime of the service using the ServiceHost class

· Service is available only when service host is running.

· Does not support message based activation like in IIS

· Generally used only in development and demonstration phase.

Advantages

Disadvantages

· Can be configured to start automatically with windows

· Supports all bindings and protocols

· Can be configured to restart and recover automatically hen failure occurs

· Writing custom code for hosting.

· Difficult to debug, as the host process must be attached to debug.

Advantages

Disadvantages

· No code required to host the WCF service, the ServiceHost directive in the .svc file is responsible for creating the instance as and when required.

· Supports automatic message based activation

· Automatic process recycling, helps to restart the service when it is not healthy

· This hosting supports only HTTP bindings, when hosted in IIS 6.

Advantages

Disadvantages

· All the advantages of IIS hosting

· Supports all types of bindings

· Need to install WAS separately with WCF Non-HTTP components.