Max number of HTTP sessions in Xenta 5/7/9xx functionality

[Product_Support]

Issue

In XBuilder there is a setting called "Max number of HTTP sessions" that can also be found using the web interface by navigating to Configuration > Servers > HTTP Server. What does this setting do? Does it limit the number of users who can log in simultaneously?

Environment

• Xenta Server
• Xenta 511, 527, 555, 701, 711, 721, 731, 913
• XBuilder

Cause

This setting is somewhat vague and is sometimes believed to be a limit on the number of simultaneously logged-in users.

Resolution

The Max. number of HTTP sessions is set to a default value of 15 and can be set to anywhere from 10-20. This setting does not limit the number of simultaneously logged in users, however.

The TAC Xenta Server - TAC Networks Technical Manual explains this setting as follows:

HTTP
The Xenta Server is an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) server. Several users can view the web pages at the same time, but they are limited by the number of HTTP sessions allowed.

• Max. simultaneous HTTP sessions, choose a number from the list. The default setting is 15. Several users can view files at the same time.

What is an HTTP Session?
Internet Explorer is an HTTP client, sending requests to the Xenta Server. The HTTP server in the Xenta Server receives the request and, following any necessary processing, the requested file is returned. An HTTP session is the connection that exists during data communication between the web browser and the Xenta Server. The session ends when all the data has been received.

Rules of Thumb
Each web page (values page, alarm page, and the graphics page), sets up a full HTTP session.
When loading a web page, a number of sessions may be used simultaneously, depending on the number of sessions available.