gistfile1.rb

  def self.send(dest_url, content)
    url = URI.parse(dest_url)        
    # Code snippet on how to use Net:HTTP: http://snippets.aktagon.com/snippets/305-Example-of-how-to-use-Ruby-s-NET-HTTP 
    http_endpoint = Net::HTTP.new(url.host, url.port)

    if url.scheme == 'https'
      http_endpoint.use_ssl = true      
      http_endpoint.verify_mode = OpenSSL::SSL::VERIFY_NONE 
      #http_endpoint.verify_mode = OpenSSL::SSL::VERIFY_PEER   #verify the certificate -- not working with Avantguard, getting "OpenSSL::SSL::SSLError: certificate verify failed"          
    end        

    request = Net::HTTP::Post.new(url.request_uri)
    request.body = content
    request.set_content_type("text/xml") 
    res = http_endpoint.start do |http|
      http_endpoint.request(request) 
    end                            
    return res
  end