ASP NET Core in process hosting

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide to the in-process hosting model in ASP.NET Core, focusing on the Kestrel server. Understanding these concepts is essential for developers looking to build efficient web applications using ASP.NET Core.

Step 1: Understanding In-Process Hosting Model

The in-process hosting model is a method where the ASP.NET Core application runs within the same process as the web server. This approach offers several benefits:

• Performance: Reduced overhead and faster request handling.
• Simplicity: Easier deployment and debugging since everything runs in the same process.
• Direct Access: Allows the application to directly access the web server's features.

Key Points:

• In-process hosting is suitable for scenarios where performance is critical.
• It simplifies the architecture by eliminating the need for a separate process for the application.

Step 2: Exploring Kestrel Server

Kestrel is a lightweight, cross-platform web server for ASP.NET Core applications. It is designed to handle requests efficiently and supports asynchronous processing.

Features of Kestrel:

• Cross-Platform: Runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
• Built-in: Comes as part of ASP.NET Core, making it easy to integrate.
• High Performance: Capable of handling thousands of concurrent requests.

Setting Up Kestrel:

To set up Kestrel in your ASP.NET Core application, follow these steps:

1. Create a New ASP.NET Core Project: Use the .NET CLI to create a new project.

   dotnet new webapp -n MyKestrelApp
   cd MyKestrelApp
   

2. Configure Kestrel in Program.cs: Modify the Program.cs file to use Kestrel as the web server.

   public class Program
   {
       public static void Main(string[] args)
       {
           CreateHostBuilder(args).Build().Run();
       }
   
       public static IHostBuilder CreateHostBuilder(string[] args) =>
           Host.CreateDefaultBuilder(args)
               .ConfigureWebHostDefaults(webBuilder =>
               {
                   webBuilder.UseKestrel()
                             .UseStartup<Startup>();
               });
   }
   

3. Run the Application: Execute the following command to run your application locally.

   dotnet run
   

   You can access the application at http://localhost:5000.

Step 3: Configuring Kestrel Options

Kestrel allows for various configurations to tailor the server to your application's needs. Here are some common configurations:

• Set the Port: To change the default port, add this line to CreateHostBuilder.

  webBuilder.UseUrls("http://localhost:5001");
  

• Configure Limits: Adjust limits on request body size, connections, etc.

  webBuilder.UseKestrel(options =>
  {
      options.Limits.MaxRequestBodySize = 1048576; // 1 MB
  });
  

Practical Tip:

Always test your application under load to ensure that your Kestrel configuration meets your performance needs.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we explored the in-process hosting model in ASP.NET Core and the Kestrel server. We discussed its benefits, set up Kestrel in a new ASP.NET Core application, and learned how to configure its options.

For your next steps, consider experimenting with different Kestrel configurations and explore how in-process hosting can benefit your specific application scenarios.