Re: Possible issue on definition of Intermediaries

Hello,

FWIW, the SOAP 1.1 implementation here supports exactly the 
behavior you describe... a node may be configured to forward all 
messages received to some other node, regardless of the message 
content. This feature is useful in some applications and shouldn't 
be excluded as a possiblility.

RC

> All,
> 
> The current definition of SOAP Intermediaries in section 2.7.1 [1] takes 
> into account only the case where the forwarding of the message is 
> requested by one (or more) SOAP blocks or by the MEP.
> 
> I think that some SOAP nodes may decide to forward a SOAP message using 
> other criteria. Nevertheless, I think that those nodes MUST act in the 
> role of a SOAP intermediary. I think in particular that that might be 
> the case for active intermediaries.
> 
> For example, I could have a generic SOAP client on my machine, which 
> uses an HTTP binding to send SOAP messages. My machine is configured to 
> send all outbound HTTP requests through a proxy which happens to be not 
> only an HTTP proxy but also a SOAP node (which may be used for 
> encrypting all outbound SOAP messages). Since my SOAP client doesn't 
> know about this SOAP node, neither the MEP nor any SOAP block will 
> request this SOAP node to forward my SOAP message. However, the SOAP 
> node knows that it must forward my message.
> 
> Proposal
> ========
> 
> I think that a small change in section 2.7.1 would suffice to solve this 
> problem by making clear that any SOAP node forwarding a message must act 
> in the role of a SOAP intermediary.
> 
> <original>
> The semantics of one or more SOAP blocks in a SOAP message, or the SOAP 
> message exchange pattern used MAY request that the SOAP message be 
> forwarded to another SOAP node on behalf of the initiator of the inbound 
> SOAP message. In this case, the processing SOAP node acts in the role of 
> a SOAP intermediary.
> </original>
> 
> <proposal>
> When a SOAP node forwards a SOAP message received from another SOAP 
> node, it MUST acts in the role of a SOAP intermediary. Such forwarding 
> may be requested by the semantics of one or more SOAP blocks in the SOAP 
> message, by the SOAP message exchange pattern used or by any other means.
> </proposal>
> 
> Comments ?
> 
> Hervé.
> 
> [1] http://www.w3.org/2000/xp/Group/1/10/11/soap12-part1.html#soapinter

Received on Wednesday, 3 April 2002 10:16:41 UTC