Message Security with a Windows Client

This scenario shows a Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) client and server secured by message security mode. The client and service are authenticated using Windows credentials.

Message security with a Windows client

Characteristic Description

Security Mode

Message

Interoperability

WCF Only

Authentication (Server)

Mutual authentication of the server and client

Authentication (Client)

Mutual authentication of the server and client

Integrity

Yes, using shared security context

Confidentiality

Yes, using shared security context

Transport

NET.TCP

Binding

NetTcpBinding

Service

The following code and configuration are meant to run independently. Do one of the following:

  • Create a stand-alone service using the code with no configuration.

  • Create a service using the supplied configuration, but do not define any endpoints.

Code

The following code shows how to create a service endpoint that uses message security to establish a secure context with a Windows machine.

' Create the binding.
Dim binding As New NetTcpBinding()
binding.Security.Mode = SecurityMode.Message
binding.Security.Message.ClientCredentialType = MessageCredentialType.Windows

' Create the URI for the endpoint.
Dim netTcpUri As New Uri("net.tcp://localhost:8006/Calculator")

' Crate the service host and add an endpoint.
Dim myServiceHost As New ServiceHost(GetType(ServiceModel.Calculator), netTcpUri)
myServiceHost.AddServiceEndpoint(GetType(ICalculator), binding, "")

' Open the service. 
myServiceHost.Open()
Console.WriteLine("Listening ....")
Console.ReadLine()

' Close the service.
myServiceHost.Close()
// Create the binding.
NetTcpBinding binding = new NetTcpBinding();
binding.Security.Mode = SecurityMode.Message;
binding.Security.Message.ClientCredentialType =
    MessageCredentialType.Windows;

// Create the URI for the endpoint.
Uri netTcpUri = new Uri("net.tcp://localhost:8008/Calculator");

// Crate the service host and add an endpoint.
ServiceHost myServiceHost = new ServiceHost
    (typeof(Calculator), netTcpUri);
myServiceHost.AddServiceEndpoint(
    typeof(ICalculator), binding, "");

// Open the service. 
myServiceHost.Open();
Console.WriteLine("Listening ....");
Console.ReadLine();

// Close the service.
myServiceHost.Close();

Configuration

The following configuration can be used instead of the code to set up the service:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<configuration>
  <system.serviceModel>
    <services>
      <service behaviorConfiguration=""
               name="ServiceModel.Calculator">
        <endpoint address="net.tcp://localhost:8008/Calculator"
                  binding="netTcpBinding"
                  bindingConfiguration="Windows"
                  name="WindowsOverMessage"
                  contract="ServiceModel.ICalculator" />
      </service>
    </services>
    <bindings>
      <netTcpBinding>
        <binding name="Windows">
          <security mode="Message">
            <message clientCredentialType="Windows" />
          </security>
        </binding>
      </netTcpBinding>
    </bindings>
    <client />
  </system.serviceModel>
</configuration>

Client

The following code and configuration are meant to run independently. Do one of the following:

  • Create a stand-alone client using the code (and client code).

  • Create a client that does not define any endpoint addresses. Instead, use the client constructor that takes the configuration name as an argument. For example:

    Dim cc As New CalculatorClient("EndpointConfigurationName")
    
    CalculatorClient cc = new CalculatorClient("EndpointConfigurationName");
    

Code

The following code creates a client. The binding is to Message mode security, and the client credential type is set to Windows.

' Create the binding.
Dim myBinding As New WSHttpBinding()
myBinding.Security.Mode = SecurityMode.Message
myBinding.Security.Message.ClientCredentialType = MessageCredentialType.Windows

' Create the endpoint address. 
Dim ea As New EndpointAddress("https://localhost:90/Calculator")

' Create the client. 
Dim cc As New CalculatorClient(myBinding, ea)

' Begin using the client.
Try
    cc.Open()

    Console.WriteLine(cc.Add(100, 11))
    Console.ReadLine()

    ' Close the client.
    cc.Close()
Catch tex As TimeoutException
    Console.WriteLine(tex.Message)
    cc.Abort()
Catch cex As CommunicationException
    Console.WriteLine(cex.Message)
    cc.Abort()
Finally
    Console.WriteLine("Closed the client")
    Console.ReadLine()
End Try
// Create the binding.
WSHttpBinding myBinding = new WSHttpBinding();
myBinding.Security.Mode = SecurityMode.Message;
myBinding.Security.Message.ClientCredentialType =
    MessageCredentialType.Windows;

// Create the endpoint address. 
EndpointAddress ea = new
    EndpointAddress("net.tcp://machineName:8008/Calculator");

// Create the client. 
CalculatorClient cc =
    new CalculatorClient(myBinding, ea);

// Begin using the client.
try
{
    cc.Open();
    Console.WriteLine(cc.Add(200, 1111));
    Console.ReadLine();

    // Close the client.
    cc.Close();
}

Configuration

The following configuration is used to set the client properties.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<configuration>
  <system.serviceModel>
    <bindings>
      <netTcpBinding>
        <binding name="NetTcpBinding_ICalculator" >
         <security mode="Message">
            <message clientCredentialType="Windows" />
          </security>
        </binding>
      </netTcpBinding>
    </bindings>
    <client>
      <endpoint address="net.tcp://machineName:8008/Calculator" 
                binding="netTcpBinding"
                bindingConfiguration="NetTcpBinding_ICalculator"
                contract="ICalculator"
                name="NetTcpBinding_ICalculator">        
      </endpoint>
    </client>
  </system.serviceModel>
</configuration>

See Also

Concepts

Security Overview