When working with Bloomberg’s blpapi on Python, it is common to encounter the need for a remote server connection. In this article, we will explore three different ways to solve this problem, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Option 1: Using the blpapi.SessionOptions class

The first option involves using the blpapi.SessionOptions class to establish a remote server connection. This class provides a set of methods and properties that allow you to configure the connection parameters.

import blpapi

sessionOptions = blpapi.SessionOptions()
sessionOptions.setServerHost("remote_server_ip")
sessionOptions.setServerPort("remote_server_port")

session = blpapi.Session(sessionOptions)
session.start()

This code snippet creates a new instance of the SessionOptions class and sets the server host and port using the setServerHost() and setServerPort() methods, respectively. Then, it creates a new session object and starts the session using the start() method.

Option 2: Using the blpapi.Session constructor

The second option involves using the blpapi.Session constructor directly to establish a remote server connection. This constructor allows you to pass the server host and port as arguments.

import blpapi

session = blpapi.Session("remote_server_ip", "remote_server_port")
session.start()

This code snippet creates a new session object directly by passing the server host and port as arguments to the Session constructor. Then, it starts the session using the start() method.

Option 3: Using the blpapi.SessionOptions class with sessionOptions.setServerAddress()

The third option involves using the blpapi.SessionOptions class with the setServerAddress() method to establish a remote server connection. This method allows you to set the server address using a single string argument in the format “host:port”.

import blpapi

sessionOptions = blpapi.SessionOptions()
sessionOptions.setServerAddress("remote_server_ip:remote_server_port")

session = blpapi.Session(sessionOptions)
session.start()

This code snippet creates a new instance of the SessionOptions class and sets the server address using the setServerAddress() method. Then, it creates a new session object and starts the session using the start() method.

After exploring these three options, it is clear that the best option depends on the specific requirements of your project. Option 1 provides more flexibility in configuring the connection parameters, while Option 2 offers a more concise and straightforward approach. Option 3 strikes a balance between the two, allowing you to set the server address in a single step. Consider your project’s needs and choose the option that best suits your requirements.