A few quick refresher questions about Windows Services

[B. Chernick]

I wrote one Windows Service app under dot net 1.1 about 5 years ago, as part
of my web services cert. I've just been told to write a Windows Service
program in VB, Dot Net 2.0. (Business as usual So refresh my memory:

1. The installutil program is the only way to install a windows service?

2. It will probably be necessary to make it possible for a non-programmer to
change a few settings. So far as I know, what I'll probably have to do is
write a separate windows app to edit whatever sort of config file is used.
If there's a better way to do this, please let me know.

3. To the best of my knowledge, this service is intended to monitor a
directory and ftp any xml file that shows up to another computer. I have
never done anything like this either, (I have never done anything with FTP
in a Microsoft environment) although the code I've looked at seems simple
enough. If there are any examples out there that do approximately that,
please point them out.

Thanks.

 

[rhaazy]

I wrote one Windows Service app under dot net 1.1 about 5 years ago, as part
of my web services cert.  I've just been told to write a Windows Service
program in VB, Dot Net 2.0.   (Business as usual  So refresh my memory:

1. The installutil program is the only way to install a windows service?

2. It will probably be necessary to make it possible for a non-programmerto
change a few settings.  So far as I know, what I'll probably have to dois
write a separate windows app to edit whatever sort of config file is used..  
If there's a better way to do this, please let me know.

3. To the best of my knowledge, this service is intended to monitor a
directory and ftp any xml file that shows up to another computer.  I have
never done anything like this either,  (I have never done anything withFTP
in a Microsoft environment)  although the code I've looked at seems simple
enough.  If there are any examples out there that do approximately that,
please point them out.

Thanks.

1. Yes
2. no comment
3. Look into the filewatcher object that is part of .net

 

[B. Chernick]

Thanks, but let me re-phrase my first question: I get the impression from my
cert manuals that programming windows services is almost an afterthought in
Dot Net, something that is not often done. Is it possible to create a custom
install project for a Windows Service or is deploying a WS strictly an ad-hoc
manual affair? Can a 'Setup' type project be used?

 

[rhaazy]

Thanks, but let me re-phrase my first question:  I get the impression from my
cert manuals that programming windows services is almost an afterthought in
Dot Net, something that is not often done.  Is it possible to create a custom
install project for a Windows Service or is deploying a WS strictly an ad-hoc
manual affair?  Can a 'Setup' type project be used?  






- Show quoted text -

When you create a windows service project the project is added to a
solution.
Right click your solution, and add a new "setup project"
Then you add the primary output of your service to your startup
project.
There are lots of examples of this, go to google and type in adding
start up project to windows service in (programming language of choice)

 

[B. Chernick]

Thanks. I found a fairly straightforward example over on support:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/317421

It's beginning to make sense...