Classic ASP to WCF using the Service Moniker

Question

I am trying to consume a WCF logging service from classic ASP without deploy a Com wrapper. I found a method of doing so here. Here is the vb script, simplified.

Dim addr
addr = "service:mexAddress=""net.pipe://localhost/Services/Logging/LoggingManager/Mex""," _
& "address=""net.pipe://localhost/Services/Logging/LoggingManager/classic/""," _
& "contract=""ILoggingManagerClassic"", contractNamespace=""http://Services.Logging.Classic/""," _
& "binding=""NetNamedPipeBinding_ILoggingManagerClassic"", bindingNamespace=""http://Services.Logging.Classic/"""

set objErrorLogger = GetObject(addr)
Dim strError : strError = objErrorLogger.LogError("blahblah")

This works on Server 2008, but fails with this error on Server 2003.

Failed to do mex retrieval:Metadata contains a reference that cannot be resolved: net.pipe://localhost/Services/Logging/LoggingManager/Mex..

Only when running through ASP does it fail, a sample VBS file on the same machine using the same code works fine.

I think it may be permission related, but don't know where to begin. Anyone have any ideas?

EDIT - let me clarify that the WCF host is a windows service running as NETWORK SERVICE.

If this belongs on server fault, a moderator can move it. I have an account there as well.

Answer 1

You are using WCF with net pipe binding.

Windows 2003 does not support net pipes.

Update:

WCF net pipe uses windows Activation Serices (WAS) which is included in Windows 2008

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc163357.aspx

Net pipes works on windows 2003, but not WCF net pipes

EDIT

Your comments are right that when you are running the WCF as a windows service and not in IIS, it should work on winows 2003.

Having said that, it must be related to the call coming from the ASP web site. One place to start is, are there any errors in your event log.