WebClient download string (a few chars page) is so slow

Question

I am trying to download a string from an URL. Unfortunately, it is very slow.

Here is my code:

    // One of these types for two bad solutions anyway
    // byte[] result = new byte[12];
    // string result;
    using (var webClient = new System.Net.WebClient())
    {
        String url = "http://bg2.cba.pl/realmIP.txt";
        //result = webClient.DownloadString(url); // slow as hell
        //webClient.OpenRead(url).Read(result, 0, 12); // even slower
    }

It takes about 4-5 seconds, which seems very inappropriate to me...

Content of this url is IP

 XX.YYY.ZZ.FF

Have you used Wireshark or something similar to see where the time is going? — Jon Skeet, Dec 22 '14 at 13:12
I Just tested your code, it seems to work as fast as it should. Do you have a firewall or something in the middle ? — Bongo, Dec 22 '14 at 13:21

score 11 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 22 '14 at 13:37

11

Fixed, sorry for putting this question here I guess, but... here is working code

string result;
using (var webClient = new System.Net.WebClient())
{
    webClient.Proxy=null;
    String url = "http://bg2.cba.pl/realmIP.txt";
    result = webClient.DownloadString(url);
}

Just set Proxy to null

answered Dec 22 '14 at 13:37

Bartłomiej Sobieszek

2,692
2
25
40

use `GlobalProxySelection.GetEmptyWebProxy()` instead of null. read my answer for more details – giammin Dec 23 '14 at 17:18
I had to use " client.Proxy = null; " to make my code work faster. (C#) – nolimits Dec 24 '19 at 23:15
webClient.Proxy=null; this is working for me – Sunil Dabhi Apr 27 '21 at 10:49

giammin · Answer 2 · 2014-12-23T17:17:44.513

4

It is clearly a problem with you line/pc/firewall

You can test it online:

http://goo.gl/XRqLjn

it takes about 500 milliseconds

enter image description here

UPDATE after your own answer

If you want to use no proxy you should use GetEmptyWebProxy() as stated on msdn:

webClient.Proxy=GlobalProxySelection.GetEmptyWebProxy();

edited Dec 23 '14 at 17:17

answered Dec 22 '14 at 13:41

giammin

18,620
8
71
89

Note: Even though `GlobalProxySelection.GetEmptyWebProxy()` has become deprecated, this is the only way I was able to speed up the WebClient requests. If anyone knows any non-deprecated way of achieving the same behavior, please let me know. – Elad Nava Oct 01 '15 at 20:23
1

they recommend to set .Proxy to "null" now – hanzolo Aug 15 '18 at 19:38

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 22 '14 at 13:37

I tried your code and added some output to it.

        using (var webClient = new System.Net.WebClient())
        {
            Stopwatch timer = Stopwatch.StartNew();
            String url = "http://bg2.cba.pl/realmIP.txt";
            timer.Stop();
            TimeSpan timespan = timer.Elapsed;
            String tex1 = String.Format("{0:00}:{1:00}:{2:00}", timespan.Minutes, timespan.Seconds, timespan.Milliseconds / 10);


            timer = Stopwatch.StartNew();
            String result = webClient.DownloadString(url); // slow as hell
            timespan = timer.Elapsed;
            String tex2 = String.Format("{0:00}:{1:00}:{2:00}", timespan.Minutes, timespan.Seconds, timespan.Milliseconds / 10);


            timer = Stopwatch.StartNew();
            Stream stream = webClient.OpenRead(url);
            timespan = timer.Elapsed;
            String tex3 = String.Format("{0:00}:{1:00}:{2:00}", timespan.Minutes, timespan.Seconds, timespan.Milliseconds / 10);

            timer = Stopwatch.StartNew();
            byte[] result2 = new byte[12];
            int val = webClient.OpenRead(url).Read(result2, 0, 12); // even slower
            timespan = timer.Elapsed;
            String tex4 = String.Format("{0:00}:{1:00}:{2:00}", timespan.Minutes, timespan.Seconds, timespan.Milliseconds / 10);

            textBox1.Text = result;
            t1.Text = tex1;
            t2.Text = tex2;
            t3.Text = tex3;
            t4.Text = tex4;
        }

with the following Result

enter image description here

Your code seems to be okay. Check your Firewall and all the stuff that is involved

WebClient download string (a few chars page) is so slow

3 Answers3

Linked