Does one needs a WebServer to have a WebSErvice running?

[Guest]

Hello I am new to WebServices.
I realize WebServices utilizes HTTP and XML. I realize that user can invoke
webservice via WebBrowser (One possible way). But is it necessary to have
WebServer running. Can't the Browser point to the URI and have the SoapListener
listening on a particular port ?

Any help or direction is greatly appreciated.

[MarkN]

Depends on your definitions.

WebService - does it require the Web? Email uses the web and you could send
a SOAP message via email. A plain socket SOAP message can be sent over the
web. Typically, WebServices are thought of as using HTTP as the transport
mechanism. A browser typically talks HTTP (Using Applets, COM components
you can get it talk other ways). So you will need to have a process that
can talk using the HTTP protocol. Does this mean you need a WebServer?
Depends on what you call a web server. Do I need IIS or Apache? No. Check
out Glue at www.themindelectric.com.

Mark

"Guest" <asg61@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>Hello I am new to WebServices.
>I realize WebServices utilizes HTTP and XML. I realize that user can invoke
>webservice via WebBrowser (One possible way). But is it necessary to have
>WebServer running. Can't the Browser point to the URI and have the SoapListener
>listening on a particular port ?
>
>Any help or direction is greatly appreciated.