Python Standard Library

The SocketServer Module

The SocketServer module provides a framework for various kinds of socket-based servers. The module provides a number of classes that can be mixed and matched to create servers for different purposes.

Example 7-35 implements an Internet Time Protocol server using this module. Use the timeclient script to try it out.

Example 7-35. Using the SocketServer Module

File: socketserver-example-1.py

import SocketServer
import time

# user-accessible port
PORT = 8037

# reference time
TIME1970 = 2208988800L

class TimeRequestHandler(SocketServer.StreamRequestHandler):
    def handle(self):
        print "connection from", self.client_address
        t = int(time.time()) + TIME1970
        b = chr(t>>24&255) + chr(t>>16&255) + chr(t>>8&255) + chr(t&255)
        self.wfile.write(b)

server = SocketServer.TCPServer(("", PORT), TimeRequestHandler)
print "listening on port", PORT
server.serve_forever()

connection from ('127.0.0.1', 1488)
connection from ('127.0.0.1', 1489)
...