WebListener is a component in ASP.NET Core that serves as a Windows-only, high-performance web server. It is an alternative to Kestrel, the default cross-platform web server in ASP.NET Core, and is specifically designed for Windows-based hosting environments.
Here are some key points about WebListener:
Windows-only server: Unlike Kestrel, which is cross-platform and can run on various operating systems, WebListener is designed to run exclusively on Windows. It leverages Windows-specific features and optimizations to provide high performance and integration with the Windows hosting environment.
Integration with HTTP.sys: WebListener is built on top of the HTTP.sys kernel-mode driver, which is a component of the Windows operating system responsible for processing HTTP requests. By utilizing HTTP.sys, WebListener can efficiently handle incoming HTTP requests and leverage the features and performance optimizations provided by the Windows kernel.
Windows authentication and HTTPS support: WebListener provides built-in support for Windows authentication, allowing you to authenticate users based on their Windows credentials. It also supports HTTPS (HTTP over SSL/TLS) by leveraging the Windows certificate store for managing and securing SSL/TLS certificates.
Suitable for Windows-based deployments: WebListener is commonly used in scenarios where hosting ASP.NET Core applications on Windows servers is preferred or required. It integrates well with Internet Information Services (IIS) and can be used alongside IIS as a reverse proxy, allowing IIS to handle tasks like load balancing, caching, and SSL termination.
Development and production usage: While WebListener is primarily designed for Windows-based production deployments, it can also be used during development and debugging of ASP.NET Core applications on Windows machines. It provides a consistent development experience and allows developers to test their applications in an environment similar to the production setup.
It’s important to note that WebListener is not as widely used as Kestrel, which is the default web server for ASP.NET Core and is cross-platform. WebListener is specifically geared towards Windows-based deployments and offers unique features and performance optimizations for the Windows environment.
