Services can be hosted or executed, so that it will be available to everyone accessing from the client. WCF service can be hosted by following mechanism
- IISInternet information Service provides number of advantages if a Service uses Http as protocol. It does not require Host code to activate the service, it automatically activates service code.
- Windows Activation Service(WAS) is the new process activation mechanism that ships with IIS 7.0. In addition to HTTP based communication, WCF can also use WAS to provide message-based activation over other protocols, such as TCP and named pipes.
- Self-HostingWCF service can be self hosted as console application, Win Forms or WPF application with graphical UI.
- Windows ServiceWCF can also be hosted as a Windows Service, so that it is under control of the Service Control Manager (SCM).