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Connect WebVI to WebSocket Echo Server

Connect WebVI to WebSocket Echo Server Connect WebVI to WebSocket Echo Server

This example uses the Web Module WebSockets API to connect to the WebSocket Echo Server hosted by https://websocket.org/. The WebVI connects to the server, sends a message, and receives the same message from the server.

On the diagram, this WebVI uses WebSocket VIs to open a connection to the echo server, send messages, read received messages, and close the connection. The WebVI also formats sent and received strings to display on the Messages indicator.

Screenshot of Demo

Dependencies

  • LabVIEW NXG Web Module

Setup

  1. Clone the ni/webvi-examples repository to your machine.
  2. Open ConnectWebVIToWebSocketEchoServer\ConnectWebVIToWebSocketEchoServer.lvproject
  3. Open index.gviweb and click the Run button.
  4. Build the web application.
    a. Open WebApp.gcomp.
    b. On the Document tab, click Build.

Note: To view the build output on your machine, click Locate Directory in Windows Explorer on the Document tab once your application finishes building. You can automatically launch and view the Web application locally by going to System Designer >> Web Server >> right-click WebApp.gcomp >> Run

Hosting

You can manually the move the build output found at \ConnectWebVIToWebSocketEchoServer\Builds to any web server. This project also includes a Distribution (WebApp.lvdist) that can be used to build a package (.nipkg). Packages utilize NI Package Manager to automated the process of installing, upgrading, or removing the web app. A package is also a requirement for hosting a Web application on SystemLink Cloud.

SystemLink Cloud Web App Hosting

The following steps can be used to host the web app on SystemLink Cloud

  1. Open ConnectWebVIToWebSocketEchoServer.lvproject.
  2. Open WebApp.lvdist.
  3. Click the build icon in the top command bar of this distribution document
  4. Open a Web browser and navigate to https://systemlinkcloud.com/
  5. Click the Choose nipkg button and select the nipkg built in step 3.
  6. When the upload is complete, click on your newly uploaded Web app from your list of Web apps

Local Hosting

The following steps can be used to host the web app on a local web server

Hosting on the NI Web Server with a nipkg

  1. Open ConnectWebVIToWebSocketEchoServer.lvproject
  2. Open WebApp.lvdist.
  3. Click the build icon in the top command bar of this distribution document
  4. Double-click the nipkg and follow the on screen instructions
  5. Open a web browser and navigate to http://localhost:9090/JSLI%20WebSocket%20Echo/

Hosting on the NI Web Server by manually moving files

  1. Open C:\Program Files\National Instruments\Shared\Web Server\htdocs
  2. Copy the WebApp_Web Server directory into the htdocs directory
  3. Open a web browser and navigate to http://localhost:9090/WebApp_Web%20Server/

Hosting on the LabVIEW 2009-2017 Web Server

  1. Open C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\Shared\NI WebServer\www
  2. Copy the WebApp_Web Server directory into the www directory
  3. Open a web browser and navigate to http://localhost:8080/WebApp_Web%20Server/

Details

The WebSockets are a bidirectional communication protocol that allow interaction between the user's browser and a server. It is defined in Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) RFC 6455 — The WebSocket Protocol. Most modern browsers support WebSockets.

This example connects to a public echo server hosted by https://websocket.org/. To connect to the echo server, the WebVI uses the WebSocket Open VI and passes in the server URL. This example only allows one connection to the Echo server.

Open WebSocket Connection

Once a connection is established, the user sends messages with the Write String VI, and the echo server responds with the same message. The WebVI polls every 50 ms for new messages with the Read String VI. The Read String VI is configured to timeout if no message becomes available to read after 50 milliseconds.

Additionally, the WebVI does not call Write String VI if Message is empty. Sent and received messages are formatted in the SubVIs and displayed on the Messages indicator.

Send and Read Messages
Send and Read Messages

Once the session is completed, the user disconnects from the server.

Close Connection

Related Links

LabVIEW NXG WebSockets API Documentation