VDF running as a Windows NT Service

Software running as a service on NT

Services do....

Note

Steps to Follow

• «Start-Run» SRVINSTW (Carriage Return)
• Option Install a Service
• Option Local Machine
• Give the Service a Name: i.e. vsService
• Please enter the full path for the executable: d:\projectname\programs\dfrun.exe
• Now you select the option: Service its own Process
• The next step lets you define the rights that are necessary to run the software: in your case, the VDF program
  i.e. System Account and we check the option: Allow service to interact with desktop. You can also supply a specific account and his password… You and/or the local system administrator are the best-qualified person to take this decision.
• The next step will determine the «startup» option for the service. The most interesting is the «Automatic» option.
• The service will now finish the installation of the service.
• This task has made a certain registry key that you can eventually modify. Start the «Registry» editing software. Browse towards the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE+SYSTEM+CURRENTCONTROLSET+SERVICES and look for the service name that you have defined (i.e. vsService)
• Now, you have to make some manual changes to the keys. You always have to define pathnames and stuff like that as a pointer towards local drives. We can not use any UNC coding in this stage.
• Under the above registry key, you have to change the entry of the key ImagePath towards something like "C:\ntResKit\srvany.exe"
• If you want the service to automatically load the key, Start should be 0x00000002
• Make a new sub-key under the above key. Call this one Parameters
• Under this, make a key (String Value) called Application and place directory and executable name in it. (i.e. C:\vdf\dfrun.exe"
• Under this, make a key (String Value) called AppParameters and place the optional parameters in it. (i.e. MyProject BTW this could be the key of your VDF project, or the location of your VDF-program)
• Under this, make a key (String Value) called AppDirectory and place the working directory in this one. Very important to find things back.
• The software is now defined as a service!
• Please check whether your Service Account User (Control Panel – Services – YourService) is used by the account that has the proper rights (i.e. MyDomain\Administrator) This is often a crucial element whether your service will run or not.

The next part will show you an example of the registry settings for such a service definition of a program.