WCF enables you to host your service through any managed application. This means you can use a Console application, a Windows service, a Windows Forms application, or even an application built with Windows Presentation Foundation.
Hosting a WCF Service by Using a Console Application
The Console application must specifically create and open an instance of the ServiceHost object. The ServiceHost then remains open and available until it is no longer needed.
Eg:
• Create a New Project from the File menu and select WcfServiceLibrary.
Create and Implement service.
Build the project.
• Create ConsoleApplication named ConsoleServiceHost. From the project menu select Add Reference option and select the WcfServiceLibrary1.dll. Click ok.
Write the following code in the Main function.
ServiceHost host = new ServiceHost(typeof(WcfServiceLibrary1.Service1));
host.Open();
Console.WriteLine("Service Started...");
Console.WriteLine("\nPress any key to stop...");
Console.ReadLine();
host.Close();
<configuration>
<system.serviceModel>
<services>
<service name="WcfServiceLibrary1.Service1" behaviorConfiguration="WcfServiceLibrary1.Service1Behavior">
<host>
<baseAddresses>
<add baseAddress = "http://localhost:8731/Design_Time_Addresses/WcfServiceLibrary1/Service1/" />
</baseAddresses>
</host>
<endpoint address ="" binding="wsHttpBinding" contract="WcfServiceLibrary1.IService1">
</endpoint>
<endpoint address="mex" binding="mexHttpBinding" contract="IMetadataExchange"/>
</service>
</services>
<behaviors>
<serviceBehaviors>
<behavior name="WcfServiceLibrary1.Service1Behavior">
<serviceMetadata httpGetEnabled="true"/>
</behavior>
</serviceBehaviors>
</behaviors>
</system.serviceModel>
</configuration>
Console.WriteLine("Press ENTER when the service has started");
Console.Read();
ServiceReference1.Service1Client client = new ServiceReference1.Service1Client();
Console.WriteLine(client.GetData(33));
client.Close();
Console.WriteLine("Press any key to exit");
Console.ReadLine();
Console.ReadLine();
