CODEWITHSUNDEEP
.netwindowswindows-services.net-2.0installation
Kurt
Kurt

Reputation:

Installing a Windows Service with dependencies

My installer program doesn't suppport installing services but I can run a program/command line etc so my question is how can I install a Windows Service and add 2 dependencies using the command line? The program is a .Net 2.0 app.

Thanks

Upvotes: 17

Views: 13179

Answers (5)

Kip
Kip

Reputation: 109413

This can also be done via an elevated command prompt using the sc command. The syntax is:

sc config [service name] depend= <Dependencies(separated by / (forward slash))>

Note: There is a space after the equals sign, and there is not one before it.

Warning: depend= parameter will overwrite existing dependencies list, not append. So for example, if ServiceA already depends on ServiceB and ServiceC, if you run depend= ServiceD, ServiceA will now depend only on ServiceD.

Examples

Dependency on one other service:

sc config ServiceA depend= ServiceB

Above means that ServiceA will not start until ServiceB has started. If you stop ServiceB, ServiceA will stop automatically.

Dependency on multiple other services:

sc config ServiceA depend= ServiceB/ServiceC/ServiceD

Above means that ServiceA will not start until ServiceB, ServiceC, and ServiceD have all started. If you stop any of ServiceB, ServiceC, or ServiceD, ServiceA will stop automatically.

To remove all dependencies:

sc config ServiceA depend= /

To list current dependencies:

sc qc ServiceA

Upvotes: 11

MattH
MattH

Reputation: 1975

Visual Studio Setup/Deployment projects work for this. They are not the best installer engine, but they work fine for simple scenarios.

Upvotes: 1

Chris Morley
Chris Morley

Reputation: 2426

There is a dynamic installer project on codeproject that I have found useful for services installation, in general.

Upvotes: 1

Joe Doyle
Joe Doyle

Reputation: 6383

One method that's available is sc.exe. It allows you to install and control services from a command prompt. Here is an older article covering it's use. It does allow you to specify dependencies as well.

Take a look at the article for the sc create portion for what you need.

Upvotes: 1

VolkerK
VolkerK

Reputation: 96159

You can write a self-installing service and have it set a list of services your service depends on when the installer is executed.

Basic steps:

edit: forgot to mention that you can use e.g. Installutil.exe to invoke the installer.

[RunInstaller(true)]
public class MyServiceInstaller : Installer
{
    public MyServiceInstaller()
    {
        using ( ServiceProcessInstaller procInstaller=new ServiceProcessInstaller() ) {
            procInstaller.Account = ServiceAccount.LocalSystem;
            using ( ServiceInstaller installer=new ServiceInstaller() ) {
                installer.StartType = ServiceStartMode.Automatic;
                installer.ServiceName = "FooService";
                installer.DisplayName = "serves a lot of foo.";

                installer.ServicesDependedOn = new string [] { "CLIPBOOK" };
                this.Installers.Add(procInstaller);
                this.Installers.Add(installer);
            }
        }
    }
}

Upvotes: 17

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