Project 1 CSE 4344 Building A Simple Web Client And A Multit

Project 1 Cse 4344building A Simple Web Client And A Multithreaded W

Develop a multithreaded web server that handles HTTP GET requests and serves requested files, along with a simple web client that requests web pages from the server. The server should listen on a specified port (default 8080), handle multiple requests concurrently via threading, log request headers, and respond with appropriate HTTP status codes. The client should connect to the server, send a GET request for a specified or default page, and display the server's response content and status.

The server implementation must support concurrent processing, handle missing or invalid files with correct error responses, and be executable from the command line with optional port specification. The client must connect to the server using the server's IP or hostname, request specified files, and display the response status and page content, also supporting default page requests.

All source codes should be well-documented, including instructions for compilation and execution. The project must be submitted as a zipped file containing source code, necessary additional files, and a readme, adhering to naming conventions. No binary executable files are to be included. Proper licensing and attribution are required if external code is used.

Paper For Above instruction

The development of a multithreaded web server along with a simple web client provides an insightful understanding of socket-based client-server communication and the HTTP protocol. This project emphasizes the importance of handling multiple simultaneous requests efficiently, which is vital for scalable web applications.

Introduction

The Internet’s backbone is composed of a multitude of servers and clients communicating via protocols like HTTP, which operates over TCP sockets. Designing a web server and client entails understanding socket programming, HTTP message structure, and concurrency management. The primary goal here is to implement a multithreaded server capable of serving HTTP GET requests, and a client that can fetch web pages from this server, mimicking real-world web browsing activities.

Design and Implementation of the Web Server

The server is designed to listen on a specified port, with default port 8080, to accept incoming client connections. It employs Java’s ServerSocket or Python’s socket library to handle TCP connections. When a client connects, the server spawns a new thread to process the request, enabling concurrent handling of multiple clients. This threading model ensures the server remains responsive even under multiple simultaneous requests.

The server reads the incoming HTTP request, logs request headers for debugging, and parses the requested resource path. It performs validation on the request; if the request is malformed or the requested file does not exist, it responds with the appropriate error code—404 Not Found or 400 Bad Request. If the file is found, it responds with 200 OK and sends the file content. After servicing the request, the server closes the connection, freeing thread resources for new requests.

Client Development and Functionality

The client application connects to the server using the server's IP address or hostname and the specified port. It constructs a valid HTTP GET request for the requested file or the default "index.htm" if no filename is specified. The client then receives the server’s response, reads the response status line and headers, and extracts the body content, which it displays or logs accordingly.

This client supports command-line parameters for server address, port number, and filename, enhancing flexibility. It handles basic parsing of HTTP responses, including status codes and content length, ensuring correct display of the fetched web page.

Discussion of Challenges and Best Practices

Implementing a multithreaded server requires careful synchronization and resource management. Proper handling of socket exceptions, thread termination, and resource cleanup are critical for robustness. Logging request headers assists debugging and understanding client requests, especially when extending functionality.

On the client side, parsing HTTP responses, handling different status codes, and managing network errors are essential. Additionally, writing clean, well-documented code promotes maintainability and scalability in larger projects.

Conclusion

This project demonstrates a fundamental understanding of underlying web technologies. A multithreaded server significantly improves performance in handling multiple requests, vital for real-world web servers. The client complements this by showcasing straightforward request handling and response processing, foundational to web communication.

Such implementations prepare students to develop robust web applications, optimize server performance, and comprehend core networking protocols that underpin the internet’s ecosystem.

References

  • Stevens, W. R., Fenner, W., & Rudoff, A. (2012). UNIX Network Programming (Vol. 1, 3rd Edition). Addison-Wesley.
  • Tanenbaum, A. S., & Wetherall, D. J. (2011). Computer Networks (5th Edition). Pearson.
  • Comer, D. (2018). Internetworking with TCP/IP Volume One (6th Edition). Pearson.
  • Grinberg, M., & Sur, A. (2015). The Web Application Hacker's Handbook. Wiley.
  • Huang, J. (2018). Building a Web Server in Python. https://realpython.com/build-a-web-server-in-python/
  • Java SE Documentation. (n.d.). Java Socket Programming. https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/networking/sockets/
  • Python.org. (n.d.). Socket Programming HOWTO. https://docs.python.org/3/howto/sockets.html
  • Fielding, R. T. (2000). Architectural Styles and the Design of Network-based Software Architectures. Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Irvine.
  • HTTP/1.1 Status Code Definitions. (2014). RFC 7231. https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7231#section-6
  • Mozilla Developer Network. (n.d.). HTTP 404 not found. https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Status/404

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