fsockopen or not?

[nepenthe]

hello..I'm new in php socket programming..

 

what I want to do is to send parameters to visual basic server application running on another computer through browser.. So I can login to my website, then I will be able to control the parallel port of the server computer.

I found some example code..here it is..

<?php
$host = "localhost";
$port = 5002;
$timeout = "15";

$fp = fsockopen($host, $port, $errno,$errstr, $timeout);
if(!$fp)
{
echo $errstr . "Errno:" . $errno . "<br>";
}
else
{
echo "socket successfully opened";
$out = "command1";

fwrite($fp, $out);
while (!feof($fp)) {
echo fgets($fp, 128);
}
}
fclose($fp);
?>

my first question is : should I use fsockopen or do you suggest another method to send parameters?

second question is: I coded the vb application for this project. It listens the port 5002 and if get anything it makes the command..but when i execute the php script,the browser is on loading state.. I want to send only one parameter, is this code continiuously sending the output?

 

I hope I'm clearly explained my question..

 

thank you