Apple releases Rendezvous SDK for Windows

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Apple has released a preview version of its Rendezvous technology for Windows 2000 and XP. Rendezvous (also known as zero-configuration networking), enables automatic discovery of computers, devices, and services on IP networks. "This preview release includes full link-local support, allowing Windows machines to discover advertised HTTP and FTP servers using Internet Explorer. It also includes a printer setup wizard which allows Windows machines to print to Rendezvous networked printers, including USB shared printers connected to the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express Base Stations. With the included Rendezvous SDK, Windows and Java developers can begin the process of adding Rendezvous service discovery to their applications." Apple has also posted information on Rendezvous for Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD, and Java Clients.

Download: Redezvous Windows SDK

Download: Rendezvous Linux, Solaris and FreeBSD SDK

Download: Rendezvous Java SDK

View: Apple Redezvous Developer Site

News source: MacMinute

*Added for EU comparison; it appears its not just the UK getting ripped off.

(1 reply) #1 Gooey on 30 Jun 2004 - 17:36

Yeah, but is it .Net or not? The Apple site didn't seem to say...

#1.1 bovineone on 30 Jun 2004 - 20:57

The Windows SDK only includes a C .h header file (lots of comments) and a C .lib link library for their DNSSD.DLL. It also includes a Java class interface that uses a JNI DLL to call their DNSSD.DLL

#2 StaticFish on 30 Jun 2004 - 18:08

naa it wouldnt be dot net

rendevous has been around for an age on the apple... dunno what they code in for that.. something easier to port that .net i assume

(1 reply) #3 timdorr on 30 Jun 2004 - 19:27

I assume they use some sort of COM object, which you can get at with .Net pretty easily.

#3.1 bovineone on 30 Jun 2004 - 20:48

No COM interface, but their DNSSD.DLL exports 15 APIs which you can call. With P/Invoke you should be able to call them from .NET

Their installer also installs a system service that runs all the time to handle the name server advertisements and lookups.

#4 DJ Specs on 30 Jun 2004 - 19:54

Intresting.. but Im scared to try it.

(3 replies) #5 Zelpus on 30 Jun 2004 - 20:54

Didn't they steal this from someone without asking?

#5.1 bovineone on 30 Jun 2004 - 21:02

Their library and service daemon just implement the Zeroconf RFC (at http://www.zeroconf.org/). It's basically just an implementation of the DNS protocol that broadcasts to the entire subnet instead of only to your configured DNS server. Any workstation that is listening on the subnet that knows the hostname that is being asked for can respond to the request.

NetBIOS name resolution for standard Windows workgroups has similar goals of doing name resolution without a central server, but is more complex (involving browse masters, nominating who should be the browse master, and such).

#5.2 alexchu2643 on 01 Jul 2004 - 03:00

Are you sure you're not thinking of the legal battle over the name and not the technology itself?

#5.3 aristotle-dude on 01 Jul 2004 - 19:53

QUOTE (#5.0)

You are thinking of the legal battle over the name.

#6 CrimandEvil on 01 Jul 2004 - 11:38

I wondering how long before it works with Firefox.

#7 mihir on 03 Jul 2004 - 08:10

easy now, can't wait for my airport express to arrive.

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