Srvany.exe: Applications as Services Utility Topics | Previous | Next

Running an Application as a Service

To specify an application to run as a service, you must use a registry editor to add information to the Windows registry. You also have the option of setting any required startup parameters to run the application, as well as setting the working directory used by the application.

Caution

Do not use a registry editor to edit the registry directly unless you have no alternative. The registry editors bypass the standard safeguards provided by administrative tools. These safeguards prevent you from entering conflicting settings or settings that are likely to degrade performance or damage your system. Editing the registry directly can have serious, unexpected consequences that can prevent the system from starting and require that you reinstall Windows 2000. To configure or customize Windows 2000, use the programs in Control Panel or Microsoft Management Console (MMC) whenever possible.

Starting a Registry Editor

1. Click the Start button, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedt32, and click OK.

    

   

   Note

   None of the strings mentioned in the following examples are case-sensitive.

Starting an Application as a Service

• Add a new Parameters subkey in the following registry location:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\
  MyService\

In the new Parameters subkey, create an:
• Application entry with a data type of REG_SZ,
• specify the full path of the executable file for the application (including the extension). For example:
  

  Application: REG_SZ: D:\Tools\Vi.exe

Setting Start Parameters

Use one of the following to set specific start parameters.

• Start a registry editor.
• In the new Parameters subkey in the registry, create an AppParameters entry with a data type of REG_SZ, and specify the parameters for the application. For example:



AppParameters: REG_SZ: C:\Tmp\EXAMPLE

- Or -

• In Services in Control Panel, click your service, and then, in the Startup Parameters box, type the full command line required to start the application. For example:

D:\\Binp\\B.exe C:\\Tmp\\EXAMPLE

Note You must type two backslashes (\\) to specify a single backslash (\).

For more information, see "Programming Considerations,".

Setting Environment Variables

1. After installing your application as a service, run Regedt32.
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MyService\Parameters.
3. Add a key called "AppEnvironment" of type REG_MULTI_SZ.
4. Within there, adjust any of the parameters you want making sure to press ENTER after every line. When you start the service, you'll notice the specified environment variables have been added to your list.

Setting the Working Directory

Use one of the following to set a working directory.

• In the Parameters subkey in the registry, create an AppDirectory entry with a data type of REG_SZ, and specify the working directory to use for the application. For example:
  

  AppDirectory: REG_SZ: C:\Tmp


- Or -

• In Services, click the service, and then, in the Startup Parameters box, type the full command line required to start the application, and include the /D switch, as in the following example:
  /D C:\\Tmp D:\\Tools\\Vi.exe C:\\Tmp\\EXAMPLE
  

   

  

  Note

  Use Services only when the service is configured to be started manually, not when it is started by the system. If the target application is usually the same each time you run the service, specifying it in Services is less convenient than entering these parameters in the registry, because you must type the parameters each time the service is started. However, if the target application is usually different each time the service is started, using the Services method might be more convenient.