Using REBOL/IOS Without a Web Server (RMP Direct)

Document Version 1.0
IOS Version 1.0

Contents:

1. Overview
2. RMP Direct Mode
3. Link Configuration
4. Restrictions

1. Overview

As described in the REBOL/IOS Administrators Guide, IOS normally runs in conjunction with a Web server. IOS network connections tunnel through HTTP to allow IOS to be used anywhere a web browser can be used, without requiring changes to firewalls and other network configurations. However, in some cases when testing IOS, you may not desire to use a Web server, or a web server may not be available. In such cases REBOL/Link can easily be configured to directly access REBOL/Server.

2. RMP Direct Mode

The REBOL Messaging Protocol includes a direct access mode that can be used to bypass the normal Web tunnel TCP connections. When this mode is enabled, an IOS Link client can directly connect to an IOS server using port 2997 (the registered REBOL port). All other operation remains the same.

3. Link Configuration

To connect directly to an IOS server, you must edit your servers.r file on your client. Modify the server path variable (normally a cgi-bin path) to be the string "rmpdirect".

For example, if your servers.r file has a server entry such as:

[ Name: "Example" Host: "10.5.5.10" Path: "cgi-bin/rebolproxy" Root: %example/ ]

Modify it to be:

[ Name: "Example" Host: "10.5.5.10" Path: "rmpdirect" Root: %example/ ]

and restart your Link client. The connection will now be made directly to your IOS server.

4. Restrictions

RMP direct connections can only be made on port 2997. If you use a firewall and want to allow inward access on this port (e.g. to an IOS server behind the firewall), you will need to modify your firewall configuration to allow such connections.