subject: Short Explanation About Winsock Lsp [print this page] Winsock LSP is a DLL file which can be used when Winsock is being ran. LSP can be used to intercept functions and perform tasks when the developer is using Winsock for connections. The tasks can be arranged by the developer and installed into LSP for use.
Much like this program, there are numerous technologies which could also be considered. However, these are not quite as versatile or offer the specific functions that LSP is capable of. Comparable technologies would be passthru, protocol, WFP, NDIS, and TDI.
This DLL program would most likely best be used by a developer that needs to work with stream level communications. Because LSP is already working at the user level, there is a TCP stream that is ready during use. This differs from NDIS and TDI because the developer would still have to create their own TCP stream in order to make use of these technologies.
It is important to know that this program doesn't work for packet level programming yet. Any application that will need packet level inspection should not be ran with LSP in consideration of this. Also, the program is not capable of intercepting TDI communications that have been created with any program other than Winsock. This issue is something that will have to be improved in other versions.
As with any program, there are flaws to LSP. This can be expected. With LSP, the issues tend to vary between the types of Windows operating systems that are being used. In the future, this will probably not be so much of an issue and may be improved with other versions of LSP that are released.
For developers that are looking for a different approach for Winsock, the use of Winsock LSP can be a reasonable answer. This can add to the overall programming experience of the developer and allow them to focus more specifically. This program has a great amount of potential.
