Client / Server how to?

[adrianweb]

Hello.

I've build a simple Form app. I want to find out what options do I have to make it communicate with a server.
My app does(wants to do) the following things:
1 - Log in to the server using an username and password.
2 - Send every 15 minutes the uptime of the computer and other information, like memory usage, cpu usage etc.

I'm a starter in windows programming but I've managed to build up my application to the point I have to ask for help for the comms.
First thing that got in my mind, connect to a mysql server and exchange data with it. Very unsecure. Someone can decompile my program and see what is the username and password for mysql.
Second, I thought of using PHP+mySQL on the server and just send via urls http://www.example.com/login.php?usern ame=user&passwo rd=pass. Which sounds good but I make my life to complicated.
Third, I looked for Apache Tomcat Server. Adrian != Java so it's out of the question.
Forth, sockets. I think this is the best choice. Still, I have no idea how to do that. Can you please guide me in the right direction? I would appreciate it very much. If sockets is the best options, please give me a head start.
I found this but it's too complicated for me.

Respect!
Adrian

[tlhintoq]

I found this but it's too complicated for me.

A simple chat/IMprogram is exactly where I would have sent you - and I might guess most experts here would have sent you. It shows everything you need to make two computers on a network talk to each other.

[Frinavale]

Wow you should never ever ever ever ever pass the user name and password as parameters using the Query String!

I strongly advise against this (most users use the same password for multiple sites and applications... and you would be exposing their password!)

I think your best bet would be to use sockets because then you could push the data to the clients as soon as it arrives at the server.

Failing that, maybe use a Web Service.

-Frinny