Multiple connections on one socket? (Java)

smoothdogg00 · 04-09-2006, 06:46 PM

I am trying to create an instant messenger server that accepts multiple connections over one socket. The server accepts multiple connections and maintains them, but it only allows communication with one client at a time. Is there some way to check incoming information from all connected clients?

This is my connection thread:

Code:

public void run(){
  try{
    myServerSocket = new ServerSocket(Integer.parseInt(Server.port));	
    while(true){
      communicationSocket = myServerSocket.accept();
				
      out = communicationSocket.getOutputStream();
      in = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(
		communicationSocket.getInputStream()));
				
      prints = new PrintStream(out);
    }
  }
  catch(IOException e){
    System.out.println("IOException: " + e.getMessage());
  }
}

This is continuously being performed for each client that tries to connect.

FLLinux · 04-09-2006, 08:33 PM

I know you can get the IP address and the port number from communicationSocket so you can check to see what IP address has connected to the server. Is that what you are looking for?

Also if this is the code it looks like there is only one socket connection used anyway and it is going to be set to whom ever was the last client to connect to the server. Is that what you what or do you want to have an array of client sockets?

Or do you want only one connection to be active at a time to the server?

djgerbavore · 04-09-2006, 09:15 PM

hey, i dont know much about sockets in java, but if you want multiple clients on the same socket, you need to fork off process ( in java, create a new thread)

for example (psuedo code)

Code:

server.c

/*set up the connection */

for(;;) {

       /*waits for new connection */
       socket = accept();
       int pid = fork();
       if(pid == 0) {
              //new process or thread
              setup_steams(socket);  /* setup your streams and send data */
       } else {
             //the parent process
             //dont need the socket - the new thread has it
             close(socket);
             continue;
       }
}

hope this helps

djgerbavor3