node-websocket-server

This is a server for the WebSocket Protocol. It currently to works with both draft75 and draft76 of the protocol specification.

Introduction

Please read the guide: ./docs/index.html

Compatibility

This module is known to work with Node.js v0.1.98. May also work on Node.js greater than v0.1.94, dependent on protocol version being used.

It has been reported that this module experiences some issues on solaris and ubuntu systems, so far these issues are unresolved, but seem to be related to the core of Node.js

Synopsis

An example of a simple server that will echo the messages received back out can be found in examples/echo-server.js, coupled with a websocket client like the examples/client.html, and you have a working websocket client/server.

Server

The server acts like a normal http server in many respects, and exposes much of node's http.Server events and methods. However, there are a few differences, and things that haven't yet been implemented.

ws.creareServer() returns an instance of ws.Server, which acts like http.Server. However, not all methods and events that act on http.Server will act on ws.Server. Your application can handle normal http requests by listening for the "request" event.

ws.createServer() and ws.Server() takes an options object as its only parameter. The options object has a these defaults:

	{ debug: false,       // Boolean:         Show debug information.
  , version: "auto"     // String:          Value must be either: draft75, draft76, auto
  , origin: "*"         // String, Array:   A match for a valid connection origin
  , subprotocol: null   // String, Array:   A match for a valid connection subprotocol.
  }

After a websocket client connects to the server, the server will emit the 'connection' event, with the ws/connection instance for the connection. This means that the connection has undertaken the necessary websocket handshaking and is now ready to send and receive data.

NOTE: Currently the origin and subprotocols are not strictly checked, this will be added in future versions.

server.listen(port, host)

The same as the http.Server listen method.

server.send(client_id, message)

Sends message to the client with id of client_id.

server.broadcast(message)

Sends message to all connected clients.

server.close()

The same as the http.Server close method.

Event: listening

function () { }

Emits when the server is ready to start accepting clients, after listen has been called.

Event: connection

function (connection) { }

Emits when a websocket client connects to the server. The connection is an instance of ws/connection.

Event: request

function (request, response) { }

Emits when a client connects using standard HTTP to the server. This is the same as the http.Server request event. Use this to handle normal http connections that won't upgrade to WebSocket.

Event: stream

function (stream) { }

The same as the http.Server stream event.

Event: shutdown

function (errno) { }

Emits when the server is closed. Proxied from http.Server

Event: close

function(connection) { }

Emits when a websocket client's connection closes. The connection is an instance of ws/connection.

ws/connection

This is an instance of a client connecting to the ws.Server, this is similar to the req on a http.Server.

connecting.getVersion()

Returns the websocket specification version that the connection is using.

connection.write(data)

Publishes a message to the client.

connection.close()

Closes the client's connection.

connection.reject(reason)

Rejects a client's connection. reason is only used when the server is in debug mode.

connection.handshake()

This carries out handshaking with a client, this method is semi-private.

Event: stateChange

function (state, previous_state) { }

Each time the connection's status changes this is emitted, the state codes are:

	0. unknown
	1. opening
	2. waiting
	3. handshaking
	4, connected
	5. closed

A state of 2 should never be reached, if it is, please do let me know.

Event: message

function (message) { }

Emits when a client sends a message to the server.

Event: close

function () { }

Emits when a connection is closes.

Event: rejected

function () { }

Emits when a connection is rejected by the server, usually for a bad handshake or version mismatch. This event is immediately followed by the close event