How to access start addresses of a Content Source programatically ?

Question

How can we get a list of start addresses added in a Sharepoint content source programatically ? The code which need to achieve this will be running on different server than where sharepoint is installed so i am looking for a solution where we can query sharepoint database to get this list.

Answer 1

Never query the sharepoint database directly. Even a simple select statement an cause a read lock, potentially creating havoc in your farm.

By using the database directly you are NO LONGER SUPPORTED, meaning that if it does go belly up and you call microsoft for support, they'll send someone from consulting ($$$$) or ask you to go back to the last known good configuration (i.e. a backup of your sharepoint databases from before the point you started accessing the database directly...)

Create a web service that uses the sharepoint object model to get this list, then deploy it to the sharepoint machine, then have your external app use that service.