RPCGen Manual

1) Define the RPC Interface in a .x file

struct aTypeStruct {
    int i;
    double d;
};
typedef struct aTypeStruct aType;
program MyRPCService {
    version ThisVersion {
        aType function_foo(int) = 1;
        int function_bar(aType) = 2;
    } = 1;
} = 34567;

Here, we defined an RPC interface with program number 34567, and two procedures function_foo and function_bar. Save this to a file named MyRPCService.x.

2) Use RPCGen to compile the .x file

rpcgen MyRPCService.x

Type the command "rpcgen MyRPCService.x" at the command prompt. This will produce the following files:

• MyRPCService.h - The common header file for the RPC
• MyRPCService_xdr.c - XDR routines for struct aType (used by both client and server)
• MyRPCService_cln.c - Generated client stub
• MyRPCService_svc.c - Generated server stub
• MyRPCService_imp.tmp.c - Server implementation template
• MyRPCService.hpp - C++ class for the client
• MyRPCService.mak - Makefile (needs editing)

3) Code the server implementation

The MyRPCService.h file includes declarations for two functions function_foo_svc() and function_bar_svc(). The RPC server programmer must implement these functions to do the real work.

Rpcgen generates a server implementation template file that you can copy and fill in the details.

4) Build and run the server

Compile the MyRPCService_xdr.c, MyRPCService_svc.c and MyRPCService_imp.c files. Make sure the include/ directory of the Netbula ONC RPC SDK is in the include path. Link with the pwrpc32.lib import library.

When running the built RPC server/client, make sure pwrpc32.dll can be found by the application.

The ONC RPC SDK contains a makefile template which can be easily modified for this sample application.

To run the RPC server, first start the portmapper (pmapsvc or portmap.exe), then start your MyRPCService server.

5) Write a client

The client code looks like this:

int i;
aType a, *ap;
CLIENT *cl = clnt_create("server_host_name", program_number, version_number, "tcp");
ap = function_foo_1(&i, cl);
i = function_bar_1(&a, cl);

RPCGEN also generates C++ code for the client. View C++ client example.