Distributed Objects Programming
- Remote Invocation
Tessfu Geteye (Ph.D.)
Department of Computer Science
School of computing
Dire Dawa Institute of Technology
Outline
Introduction to Distributed Objects
Remote Method Invocation (RMI) Architecture
RMI Programming and a Sample Example:
Server-Side RMI programming
Client-Side RMI programming
Advanced RMI Concepts
Security Policies
Exceptions
Dynamic Loading
A more advanced RMI application
Math Server
RPC and Summary
2
Introduction
We cover high-level programming models for distributed
systems. Two widely used models are:
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) - an extension of the conventional
procedure call model
Remote Method Invocation (RMI) - an extension of the object-oriented
programming model.
Applications
Remote invocation, indirect communication
Middleware
Underlying interprocess communication primitives: layers
Sockets, message passing, multicast support, overlay networks
TCP and UDP
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Request-Reply Protocol
Exchange protocol for the implementation of remote invocation
in a distributed system.
We discuss the protocol based on three abstract operations:
doOperation, getRequest and sendReply
Client Server
Request
doOperation
message getRequest
select object
(wait) execute
Reply method
message sendReply
(continuation)
4
Request-Reply Operations
public byte[] doOperation (RemoteRef s, int operationId,
byte[] arguments)
Sends a request message to the remote server and returns the reply
The arguments specify the remote server, the operation to be invoked
and the arguments of that operation
public byte[] getRequest ()
Acquires a client request via the server port
public void sendReply (byte[] reply, InetAddress
clientHost, int clientPort)
Sends the reply message reply to the client at its Internet address and
port
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Invocation Semantics
Middleware that implements remote invocation generally provides a certain
level of semantics:
Maybe: The remote procedure call may be executed once or not at all. Unless the
caller receives a result, it is unknown as to whether the remote procedure was
called.
At-least-once: Either the remote procedure was executed at least once, and the
caller received a response, or the caller received an exception to indicate the
remote procedure was not executed at all.
At-most-once: The remote procedure call was either executed exactly once, in
which case the caller received a response, or it was not executed at all and the
caller receives an exception.
Java RMI (Remote Method Invocation) supports at-most-once invocation.
It is supported in various editions including J2EE.
Sun RPC (Remote Procedure Call) supports at-least-once semantics.
Popularly used in Unix/C programming environments
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Distributed Objects
A programming model based on Object-Oriented principles for
distributed programming.
Enables reuse of well-known programming abstractions
(Objects, Interfaces, methods…), familiar languages (Java, C+
+, C#...), and design principles and tools (design patterns,
UML…)
Each process contains a collection of objects, some of which
can receive both remote and local invocations:
Method invocations between objects in different processes are known as
remote method invocation, regardless the processes run in the same
or different machines.
Distributed objects may adopt a client-server architecture, but
other architectural models can be applied as well.
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Outline
Introduction to Distributed Objects
Remote Method Invocation (RMI) Architecture
RMI Programming and a Sample Example:
Server-Side RMI programming
Client-Side RMI programming
Advanced RMI Concepts
Security Policies
Exceptions
Dynamic Loading
A more advanced RMI application
Math Server
RPC and Summary
8
Java RMI
Java Remote Method Invocation (Java RMI) is an extension
of the Java object model to support distributed objects
methods of remote Java objects can be invoked from other Java
virtual machines, possibly on different hosts
Single-language system with a proprietary transport
protocol (JRMP, java remote method protocol)
Also supports IIOP (Internet Inter-Orb Protocol) from CORBA
RMI uses object serialization to marshal and unmarshal
Any serializable object can be used as parameter or method return
Releases of Java RMI
Java RMI is available for Java Standard Edition (JSE), Java Micro
Edition (JME), and Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE)
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RMI Architecture and Components
Remote reference module (at client & server) is responsible for providing addressing to the
proxy (stub) object
Proxy is used to implement a stub and provide transparency to the client. It is invoked directly
by the client (as if the proxy itself was the remote object), and then marshal the invocation into a
request
Communication module is responsible for networking
Dispatcher selects the proper skeleton and forward message to it
Skeleton un-marshals the request and calls the remote object
client server
remote
skeleton object B
object A proxy for B Request & dispatcher
for B’s class
Reply
servant
Remote Communication Communication Remote reference
10 module module module
reference module
Invocation Lifecycle
Client Server
Client Code RMI Object
Invoke Returns Calls actual Returns
method via
stub 1 8 response method with
args 4 5
response /
exception
Stub Skeleton
Serializes Receives, Receives, Serialises
arguments, deserialises deserialises response,
transmit response arguments transmit
2 7 3 6
Network
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Outline
Introduction to Distributed Objects
Remote Method Invocation (RMI) Architecture
RMI Programming and a Sample Example:
Server-Side RMI programming
Client-Side RMI programming
Advanced RMI Concepts
Security Policies
Exceptions
Dynamic Loading
A more advanced RMI application
Math Server
RPC and Summary
12
Steps for implementing an RMI application
Design and implement the components of your
distributed application
Remote interface
Servant program
Server program
Client program
Compile source code and generate stubs
Client proxy stub
Server dispatcher and skeleton
Make classes network accessible
Distribute the application on server side
Start the application
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RMI Programming and Examples
Application Design
Remote Interface
Exposes the set of methods and properties available
Defines the contract between the client and the server
Constitutes the root for both stub and skeleton
Servant component
Represents the remote object (skeleton)
Implements the remote interface
Server component
Main driver that makes available the servant
It usually registers with the naming service
Client component
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Java RMI
Client Server
RemotObj 6. method1()
<Request over the network> RemoteObj
proxy Dispatcher/ 7. method1()
<implements
RemoteInterface> 9. Return value Skeleton
<Reply over the network>
10. Return RemoteObj
5. method1() 8. return value <implements
value
RemoteInterface>
Client Server 1. new RemoteObj()
4. Return RemoteObj proxy
2. bind(“myRO”, RemoteObj)
RMI Registry
3. lookup(“myRO”) <“myRO”, Remote Ref. to RemoteObj>
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Example application – Hello World
Server side
Create a HelloWorld interface
Implement HelloWorld interface with methods
Create a main method to register the HelloWorld
service in the RMI Name Registry
Generate Stubs and Start RMI registry
Start Server
Client side
Write a simple Client with main to lookup
HelloWorld Service and invoke the methods
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1. Define Interface of remote method
//file: HelloWorld.java
import java.rmi.Remote;
import java.rmi.RemoteException;
public interface HelloWorld extends Remote {
public String sayHello(String who) throws RemoteException;
}
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2. Define RMI Server Program
// file: HelloWorldServer.java
import java.rmi.Naming;
import java.rmi.Remote;
import java.rmi.RemoteException;
import java.rmi.server.UnicastRemoteObject;
public class HelloWorldServer extends UnicastRemoteObject implements HelloWorld {
public HelloWorldServer() throws RemoteException {
super();
}
public String sayHello(String who) throws RemoteException {
return "Hello "+who+" from your friend RMI 433-652 :-)";
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
String hostName = "localhost";
String serviceName = "HelloWorldService";
if(args.length == 2){
hostName = args[0];
serviceName = args[1];
}
try{
HelloWorld hello = new HelloWorldServer();
Naming.rebind("rmi://"+hostName+"/"+serviceName, hello);
System.out.println("HelloWorld RMI Server is running...");
}catch(Exception e){
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
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3. Define Client Program
// file: RMIClient.java
import java.rmi.Naming;
public class RMIClient {
public static void main(String[] args) {
String hostName = "localhost";
String serviceName = "HelloWorldService";
String who = "Raj";
if(args.length == 3){
hostName = args[0];
serviceName = args[1];
who = args[2];
}
else if(args.length == 1){
who = args[0];
}
try{
HelloWorld hello = (HelloWorld)Naming.lookup("rmi://"+hostName+"/"+serviceName);
System.out.println(hello.sayHello(who));
}catch(Exception e){
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
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Define Access Policy
Exaple: File HelloPolicy to contain
grant { permission java.security.AllPermission "", ""; };
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Java RMI Example
Running the Server and Client
Compile Client and Server classes
Develop a security policy file (e.g., HelloPolicy)
grant { permission java.security.AllPermission "", ""; };
Start RMI registry
rmiregistry &
Start server
java -Djava.security.policy=HelloPolicy HelloWorldServer
Run a client program
java -Djava.security.policy=HelloPolicy RMIClient
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Outline
Introduction to Distributed Objects
Remote Method Invocation (RMI) Architecture
RMI Programming and a Sample Example:
Server-Side RMI programming
Client-Side RMI programming
Advanced RMI Concepts
Security Policies
Exceptions
Dynamic Loading
A more advanced RMI application
Math Server
RPC and Summary
22
Security Manager
Java’s security framework
java.security.-
Permissions, Principle, Domain etc.
Security manager, for access control (file, socket, class load,
remote code etc)
$JAVA_HOME/jre/lib/security/java.policy
Use security manager in RMI
RMI recommends to install a security manager, or RMI may not
work properly while encountering security constraints.
A security manager ensures that the operations performed by
downloaded code go through a set of security checks.
Eg. Connect and accept ports for RMI socket and allowing code
downloading
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Security Manager (cont.)
Two ways to declare security manager
Use System property java.security.manager
java –Djava.security.manager HelloWorldImpl
Explicit declare in the source code
public static void main(String[]args){
//check current security manager
if(System.getSecurityManager()==null){
System.setSecurityManager(new SecurityManager ());
}
…
//lookup remote object and invoke methods.
}
Use customized policy file instead of java.policy
Usage
java -Djava.security.manager -Djava.security.policy=local.policy HelloWorldImpl
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File: “local.policy” contents
Specific permissions:
grant {
permission java.net.SocketPermission "*:1024-65535","connect,accept";
permission java.io.FilePermission "/home/globus/RMITutorial/-", "read";
};
Grant all permissions:
grant {
permission java.security.AllPermission;
};
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Exceptions
The only exception that could be thrown out is
RemoteException
All RMI remote methods have to throw this exception
The embedded exceptions could be:
java.net.UnknownHostException or
java.net.ConnectException: if the client can’t connect to the
server using the given hostname. Server may not be running
at the moment
java.rmi.UnmarshalException: if some classes not found. This
may because the codebase has not been properly set
Java.security.AccessControlException: if the security policy
file java.policy has not been properly configured
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Passing objects
Restrictions on exchanging objects
Implementing java.io.serializable
All the fields in a serializable object must be also
serializable
Primitives are serializable
System related features (e.g. Thread, File) are non-
serializable
How about the socket programming issues?
Where are sockets and corresponding input, output
streams?
How to handle object passing?
Who does all the magic?
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RMI Dynamic Class Loading
Ability to download bytecode (classes) from
Remote JVM
New types can be introduced into a remote
virtual machine without informing the client
Extend the behavior of an application dynamically
Removes the need to deploy stubs manually
Explicit set property to support dynamic class
load
Specify system property java.rmi.server.codebase
to tell the program where to download classes
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Outline
Introduction to Distributed Objects
Remote Method Invocation (RMI) Architecture
RMI Programming and a Sample Example:
Server-Side RMI programming
Client-Side RMI programming
Advanced RMI Concepts
Security Policies
Exceptions
Dynamic Loading
A more advanced RMI application
Math Server
RPC and Summary
29
A Simple Math Server in RMI
MathServer
(multiple operations)
User
Math Service
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Java RMI Example
Specify the Remote Interface
public interface IRemoteMath extends Remote {
double add(double i, double j) throws RemoteException;
double subtract(double i, double j) throws RemoteException;
}
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Java RMI Example
Implement the Servant Class
public class RemoteMathServant extends UnicastRemoteObject implements IRemoteMath {
public double add ( double i, double j ) throws RemoteException {
return (i+j);
}
public double subtract ( double i, double j ) throws RemoteException {
return (i-j);
}
}
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Java RMI Example
Implement the server
public class MathServer {
public static void main(String args[]){
System.setSecurityManager(new RMISecurityManager());
try{
IRemoteMath remoteMath = new RemoteMathServant();
Registry registry = LocateRegistry.getRegistry();
registry.bind("Compute", remoteMath );
System.out.println("Math server ready");
}catch(Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
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Java RMI Example
Implement the client program
public class MathClient {
public static void main(String[] args) {
try {
if(System.getSecurityManager() == null)
System.setSecurityManager( new RMISecurityManager() );
LocateRegistry.getRegistry("localhost");
IRemoteMath remoteMath = (IRemoteMath) registry.lookup("Compute");
System.out.println( "1.7 + 2.8 = ” + math.add(1.7, 2.8) );
System.out.println( "6.7 - 2.3 = ” + math.subtract(6.7, 2.3) );
}
catch( Exception e ) {
System.out.println( e );
}
}
}
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Java RMI Example
Running the Server and Client
Compile Client and Server classes
Develop a security policy file
grant { permission java.security.AllPermission "", ""; };
Start RMI registry
rmiregistry &
Start server
java -Djava.security.policy=policyfile MathServer
Start client
java -Djava.security.policy=policyfile MathClient
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Outline
Introduction to Distributed Objects
Remote Method Invocation (RMI) Architecture
RMI Programming and a Sample Example:
Server-Side RMI programming
Client-Side RMI programming
Advanced RMI Concepts
Security Policies
Exceptions
Dynamic Loading
A more advanced RMI application
Math Server
RPC and Summary
36
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) – used in C
RPCs enable clients to execute procedures in
server processes based on a defined service
interface.
client process server process
Request
Reply
client stub server stub
procedure procedure
client service
program Communication Communication procedure
module module dispatcher
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Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
Communication Module
Implements the desired design choices in terms of retransmission of requests,
dealing with duplicates and retransmission of results
Client Stub Procedure
Behaves like a local procedure to the client. Marshals the procedure identifiers
and arguments which is handed to the communication module
Unmarshalls the results in the reply
Dispatcher
Selects the server stub based on the procedure identifier and forwards the
request to the server stub
Server stub procedure
Unmarshalls the arguments in the request message and forwards it to the service
procedure
Marshalls the arguments in the result message and returns it to the client
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Summary: RMI Programming
RMI greatly simplifies creation of distributed
applications (e.g., compare RMI code with socket-
based apps)
Server Side
Define interface that extend java.rmi.Remote
Servant class both implements the interface and extends
java.rmi.server.UnicastRemoteObject
Register the remote object into RMI registry
Ensure both rmiregistry and the server is running
Client Side
No restriction on client implementation, both thin and rich
client can be used. (Console, Swing, or Web client such as
servlet and JSP)
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