Check if WCF service exists

Question

What is the best way to check is the WCF service exists in a given ip and port? I want to check is the server exists on client installetion

Answer 1

The only way to know if the "service" "exists" is to call it.

To this purpose, many services include a "Ping" operation (or perhaps a "GetServerInformation" operation) that, when called, does little or nothing, other than prove the the service exists.

Answer 2

I know you already marked an answer here, but you might consider checking out this related thread: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/881754/how-to-check-the-availability-of-a-net-tcp-wcf-service

There is a good alternative in there using a supported WS-Discovery method that might suit your needs, depending on your access to the service itself.