Secure DICOM workflows for cloud, on premise and hybrid use support@dicom.link
Knowledge Base

DICOM Router — Overview

Introduction to the DICOM Proxy/Router/PACS, its architecture, key features, and system requirements.

The DICOM Proxy/Router/PACS is an enterprise-grade healthcare imaging solution built on .NET 9.0 that provides comprehensive DICOM networking capabilities combined with modern web APIs. It bridges traditional DICOM systems and modern web-based applications, enabling seamless integration in complex healthcare environments.

Key features

DICOM network services

  • Full DICOM 3.0 compliance
  • C-STORE SCP/SCU, C-FIND SCP/SCU, C-GET SCP/SCU, C-MOVE SCU, C-ECHO SCP/SCU

DICOMweb REST APIs

  • QIDO-RS (query), WADO-RS (retrieve), STOW-RS (store)

Proxy & routing

  • Multi-PACS routing and load balancing
  • Connection pooling and management
  • Intelligent request forwarding
  • Real-time connection monitoring

Storage management

  • File-based DICOM storage with hierarchy
  • SQLite metadata indexing
  • Configurable storage quotas
  • Automatic cleanup policies

Security & enterprise features

  • TLS/SSL support for secure communications
  • AE Title authentication
  • License management system
  • Comprehensive audit logging

Architecture

┌─────────────────┐    ┌─────────────────┐    ┌─────────────────┐
│   DICOM Client  │    │   Web Client    │    │   PACS Server   │
└─────────┬───────┘    └─────────┬───────┘    └─────────┬───────┘
          │ DICOM Protocol       │ HTTP/REST            │ DICOM Protocol
          ▼                      ▼                      ▲
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   DICOM Proxy/Router/PACS                        │
│  ┌───────────────┐  ┌───────────────┐  ┌───────────────┐        │
│  │ DICOM SCP/SCU │  │   HTTP API    │  │  Storage Mgmt │        │
│  │ C-STORE/FIND  │  │ QIDO/WADO/    │  │ File System   │        │
│  │ GET/MOVE/ECHO │  │ STOW-RS       │  │ SQLite Index  │        │
│  └───────────────┘  └───────────────┘  └───────────────┘        │
│  ┌───────────────┐  ┌───────────────┐  ┌───────────────┐        │
│  │ Connection    │  │ Config &      │  │ Logging &     │        │
│  │ Pooling &     │  │ Licensing     │  │ Monitoring    │        │
│  │ Load Balance  │  │ JSON / AE     │  │ NLog / Health │        │
│  └───────────────┘  └───────────────┘  └───────────────┘        │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Quick start

  1. Extract the application and ensure .NET 9.0 Runtime is installed.
  2. Create a minimal appsettings.json:
    {
  "DicomPort": 11112,
  "HttpPort": 8080,
  "StoragePath": "C:\\DicomStorage",
  "ThisModality": { "AE_Title": "DICOMPROXY" }
}
  3. Run the service: DicomProxyRTWindows.exe
  4. Verify: echoscu localhost 11112 -aet TESTCLIENT -aec DICOMPROXY

System requirements

Minimum Recommended
OS Windows 10/11, Server 2019 Windows Server 2022
Runtime .NET 9.0 .NET 9.0 (latest)
RAM 4 GB 16 GB+
Disk 100 MB + DICOM storage SSD, RAID
Network TCP ports 11112, 8080, 8443 1 Gbps dedicated

Documentation

License

This software requires a valid license for production use. Demo mode is available for evaluation purposes (30-day trial, limited to 100 studies).