Install a NET windows service without InstallUtil exe

Question

I have a standard  NET windows service written in C    Can it install itself without using InstallUtil  Should I use the service installer class  How should I use it   I want to be able to call the following   MyService exe -install   And it will have the same effect as calling   InstallUtil MyService exe

User · Answer

You can always fall back to the good old WinAPI calls, although the amount of work involved is non-trivial. There is no requirement that .NET services be installed via a .NET-aware mechanism.

To install:

Open the service manager via OpenSCManager.
Call CreateService to register the service.
Optionally call ChangeServiceConfig2 to set a description.
Close the service and service manager handles with CloseServiceHandle.

To uninstall:

Open the service manager via OpenSCManager.
Open the service using OpenService.
Delete the service by calling DeleteService on the handle returned by OpenService.
Close the service and service manager handles with CloseServiceHandle.

The main reason I prefer this over using the ServiceInstaller/ServiceProcessInstaller is that you can register the service with your own custom command line arguments. For example, you might register it as "MyApp.exe -service", then if the user runs your app without any arguments you could offer them a UI to install/remove the service.

Running Reflector on ServiceInstaller can fill in the details missing from this brief explanation.

P.S. Clearly this won't have "the same effect as calling: InstallUtil MyService.exe" - in particular, you won't be able to uninstall using InstallUtil. But it seems that perhaps this wasn't an actual stringent requirement for you.

User · Answer

Process QProc   new Process    QProc StartInfo FileName    cmd   QProc StartInfo Arguments    c InstallUtil          filefullPath        QProc StartInfo WorkingDirectory   Environment GetEnvironmentVariable  windir        Microsoft NET Framework v2 0 50727    QProc StartInfo UseShellExecute   false     QProc StartInfo CreateNoWindow   true  QProc StartInfo RedirectStandardOutput   true  QProc Start       QProc WaitForExit    QProc Close

User · Answer

Yes  that is fully possible  i e  I do exactly this   you just need to reference the right dll  System ServiceProcess dll  and add an installer class     Here s an example    RunInstaller true   public sealed class MyServiceInstallerProcess   ServiceProcessInstaller       public MyServiceInstallerProcess                 this Account   ServiceAccount NetworkService            RunInstaller true   public sealed class MyServiceInstaller   ServiceInstaller       public MyServiceInstaller                 this Description    Service Description           this DisplayName    Service Name           this ServiceName    ServiceName           this StartType   System ServiceProcess ServiceStartMode Automatic           static void Install bool undo  string   args        try               Console WriteLine undo    uninstalling     installing            using  AssemblyInstaller inst   new AssemblyInstaller typeof Program  Assembly  args                         IDictionary state   new Hashtable                inst UseNewContext   true              try                               if  undo                                        inst Uninstall state                                     else                                       inst Install state                       inst Commit state                                               catch                               try                                       inst Rollback state                                     catch                     throw                                    catch  Exception ex                Console Error WriteLine ex Message

User · Answer

Yes  that is fully possible  i e  I do exactly this   you just need to reference the right dll  System ServiceProcess dll  and add an installer class     Here s an example    RunInstaller true   public sealed class MyServiceInstallerProcess   ServiceProcessInstaller       public MyServiceInstallerProcess                 this Account   ServiceAccount NetworkService            RunInstaller true   public sealed class MyServiceInstaller   ServiceInstaller       public MyServiceInstaller                 this Description    Service Description           this DisplayName    Service Name           this ServiceName    ServiceName           this StartType   System ServiceProcess ServiceStartMode Automatic           static void Install bool undo  string   args        try               Console WriteLine undo    uninstalling     installing            using  AssemblyInstaller inst   new AssemblyInstaller typeof Program  Assembly  args                         IDictionary state   new Hashtable                inst UseNewContext   true              try                               if  undo                                        inst Uninstall state                                     else                                       inst Install state                       inst Commit state                                               catch                               try                                       inst Rollback state                                     catch                     throw                                    catch  Exception ex                Console Error WriteLine ex Message

User · Answer

The above examples didn t really work for me  and the link to the forum as a  1 solution is awful to dig through   Here is a class I wrote  in part   and the other bit is merged from this link I found buried somewhere  using System  using System Collections Generic  using System Linq  using System Text  using System Threading Tasks   using System ServiceProcess  using System Runtime InteropServices   namespace SystemControl       class Services     region  Environment Variables          public static string GetEnvironment string name  bool ExpandVariables true                if   ExpandVariables                     return System Environment GetEnvironmentVariable  name                  else                   return  string Microsoft Win32 Registry LocalMachine OpenSubKey    SYSTEM CurrentControlSet Control Session Manager Environment     GetValue  name      Microsoft Win32 RegistryValueOptions DoNotExpandEnvironmentNames                                     public static void SetEnvironment  string name  string value                 System Environment SetEnvironmentVariable name  value              endregion   region  ServiceCalls Native          public static ServiceController   List   get   return ServiceController GetServices                 public static void Start  string serviceName  int timeoutMilliseconds                 ServiceController service new ServiceController  serviceName                try                   TimeSpan timeout TimeSpan FromMilliseconds  timeoutMilliseconds                     service Start                    service WaitForStatus  ServiceControllerStatus Running  timeout                  catch                                                           public static void Stop  string serviceName  int timeoutMilliseconds                 ServiceController service new ServiceController  serviceName                try                   TimeSpan timeout TimeSpan FromMilliseconds  timeoutMilliseconds                     service Stop                    service WaitForStatus  ServiceControllerStatus Stopped  timeout                  catch                                                           public static void Restart  string serviceName  int timeoutMilliseconds                 ServiceController service new ServiceController  serviceName                try                   int millisec1 Environment TickCount                  TimeSpan timeout TimeSpan FromMilliseconds  timeoutMilliseconds                     service Stop                    service WaitForStatus  ServiceControllerStatus Stopped  timeout                        count the rest of the timeout                 int millisec2 Environment TickCount                  timeout TimeSpan FromMilliseconds  timeoutMilliseconds-  millisec2-millisec1                       service Start                    service WaitForStatus  ServiceControllerStatus Running  timeout                  catch                                                           public static bool IsInstalled  string serviceName                    get list of Windows services             ServiceController   services ServiceController GetServices                    try to find service name             foreach   ServiceController service in services                     if   service ServiceName  serviceName                       return true                            return false             endregion   region  ServiceCalls API          private const int STANDARD RIGHTS REQUIRED   0xF0000          private const int SERVICE WIN32 OWN PROCESS   0x00000010            Flags          public enum ServiceManagerRights               Connect   0x0001              CreateService   0x0002              EnumerateService   0x0004              Lock   0x0008              QueryLockStatus   0x0010              ModifyBootConfig   0x0020              StandardRightsRequired   0xF0000              AllAccess    StandardRightsRequired   Connect   CreateService               EnumerateService   Lock   QueryLockStatus   ModifyBootConfig                      Flags          public enum ServiceRights               QueryConfig   0x1              ChangeConfig   0x2              QueryStatus   0x4              EnumerateDependants   0x8              Start   0x10              Stop   0x20              PauseContinue   0x40              Interrogate   0x80              UserDefinedControl   0x100              Delete   0x00010000              StandardRightsRequired   0xF0000              AllAccess    StandardRightsRequired   QueryConfig   ChangeConfig               QueryStatus   EnumerateDependants   Start   Stop   PauseContinue               Interrogate   UserDefinedControl                     public enum ServiceBootFlag               Start   0x00000000              SystemStart   0x00000001              AutoStart   0x00000002              DemandStart   0x00000003              Disabled   0x00000004                    public enum ServiceState               Unknown   -1     The state cannot be  has not been  retrieved              NotFound   0     The service is not known on the host server              Stop   1     The service is NET stopped              Run   2     The service is NET started              Stopping   3              Starting   4                     public enum ServiceControl               Stop   0x00000001              Pause   0x00000002              Continue   0x00000003              Interrogate   0x00000004              Shutdown   0x00000005              ParamChange   0x00000006              NetBindAdd   0x00000007              NetBindRemove   0x00000008              NetBindEnable   0x00000009              NetBindDisable   0x0000000A                    public enum ServiceError               Ignore   0x00000000              Normal   0x00000001              Severe   0x00000002              Critical   0x00000003                     StructLayout LayoutKind Sequential           private class SERVICE STATUS               public int dwServiceType   0              public ServiceState dwCurrentState   0              public int dwControlsAccepted   0              public int dwWin32ExitCode   0              public int dwServiceSpecificExitCode   0              public int dwCheckPoint   0              public int dwWaitHint   0                      DllImport  advapi32 dll   EntryPoint    OpenSCManagerA            private static extern IntPtr OpenSCManager string lpMachineName  string lpDatabaseName  ServiceManagerRights dwDesiredAccess            DllImport  advapi32 dll   EntryPoint    OpenServiceA   CharSet   CharSet Ansi           private static extern IntPtr OpenService IntPtr hSCManager  string lpServiceName  ServiceRights dwDesiredAccess            DllImport  advapi32 dll   EntryPoint    CreateServiceA            private static extern IntPtr CreateService IntPtr hSCManager  string lpServiceName  string lpDisplayName  ServiceRights dwDesiredAccess  int dwServiceType  ServiceBootFlag dwStartType  ServiceError dwErrorControl  string lpBinaryPathName  string lpLoadOrderGroup  IntPtr lpdwTagId  string lpDependencies  string lp  string lpPassword            DllImport  advapi32 dll            private static extern int CloseServiceHandle IntPtr hSCObject            DllImport  advapi32 dll            private static extern int QueryServiceStatus IntPtr hService  SERVICE STATUS lpServiceStatus            DllImport  advapi32 dll   SetLastError   true           private static extern int DeleteService IntPtr hService            DllImport  advapi32 dll            private static extern int ControlService IntPtr hService  ServiceControl dwControl  SERVICE STATUS lpServiceStatus            DllImport  advapi32 dll   EntryPoint    StartServiceA            private static extern int StartService IntPtr hService  int dwNumServiceArgs  int lpServiceArgVectors                 lt summary gt              Takes a service name and tries to stop and then uninstall the windows serviceError              lt  summary gt               lt param name  ServiceName  gt The windows service name to uninstall lt  param gt          public static void Uninstall string ServiceName                        IntPtr scman   OpenSCManager ServiceManagerRights Connect               try                               IntPtr service   OpenService scman  ServiceName  ServiceRights StandardRightsRequired   ServiceRights Stop   ServiceRights QueryStatus                   if  service    IntPtr Zero                                        throw new ApplicationException  Service not installed                                       try                                       StopService service                       int ret   DeleteService service                       if  ret    0                                                int error   Marshal GetLastWin32Error                            throw new ApplicationException  Could not delete service     error                                                           finally                                       CloseServiceHandle service                                               finally                               CloseServiceHandle scman                                         lt summary gt              Accepts a service name and returns true if the service with that service name exists              lt  summary gt               lt param name  ServiceName  gt The service name that we will check for existence lt  param gt               lt returns gt True if that service exists false otherwise lt  returns gt          public static bool ServiceIsInstalled string ServiceName                        IntPtr scman   OpenSCManager ServiceManagerRights Connect               try                               IntPtr service   OpenService scman  ServiceName                  ServiceRights QueryStatus                   if  service    IntPtr Zero  return false                  CloseServiceHandle service                   return true                            finally                               CloseServiceHandle scman                                         lt summary gt              Takes a service name  a service display name and the path to the service executable and installs   starts the windows service               lt  summary gt               lt param name  ServiceName  gt The service name that this service will have lt  param gt               lt param name  DisplayName  gt The display name that this service will have lt  param gt               lt param name  FileName  gt The path to the executable of the service lt  param gt          public static void InstallAndStart string ServiceName  string DisplayName          string FileName                        IntPtr scman   OpenSCManager ServiceManagerRights Connect               ServiceManagerRights CreateService               try                               IntPtr service   OpenService scman  ServiceName                  ServiceRights QueryStatus   ServiceRights Start                   if  service    IntPtr Zero                                        service   CreateService scman  ServiceName  DisplayName                      ServiceRights QueryStatus   ServiceRights Start  SERVICE WIN32 OWN PROCESS                      ServiceBootFlag AutoStart  ServiceError Normal  FileName  null  IntPtr Zero                      null  null  null                                     if  service    IntPtr Zero                                        throw new ApplicationException  Failed to install service                                       try                                       StartService service                                     finally                                       CloseServiceHandle service                                               finally                               CloseServiceHandle scman                                         lt summary gt              Takes a service name and starts it              lt  summary gt               lt param name  Name  gt The service name lt  param gt          public static void StartService string Name                        IntPtr scman   OpenSCManager ServiceManagerRights Connect               try                               IntPtr hService   OpenService scman  Name  ServiceRights QueryStatus                   ServiceRights Start                   if  hService    IntPtr Zero                                        throw new ApplicationException  Could not open service                                       try                                       StartService hService                                     finally                                       CloseServiceHandle hService                                               finally                               CloseServiceHandle scman                                         lt summary gt              Stops the provided windows service              lt  summary gt               lt param name  Name  gt The service name that will be stopped lt  param gt          public static void StopService string Name                        IntPtr scman   OpenSCManager ServiceManagerRights Connect               try                               IntPtr hService   OpenService scman  Name  ServiceRights QueryStatus                   ServiceRights Stop                   if  hService    IntPtr Zero                                        throw new ApplicationException  Could not open service                                       try                                       StopService hService                                     finally                                       CloseServiceHandle hService                                               finally                               CloseServiceHandle scman                                         lt summary gt              Stars the provided windows service              lt  summary gt               lt param name  hService  gt The handle to the windows service lt  param gt          private static void StartService IntPtr hService                        SERVICE STATUS status   new SERVICE STATUS                StartService hService  0  0               WaitForServiceStatus hService  ServiceState Starting  ServiceState Run                           lt summary gt              Stops the provided windows service              lt  summary gt               lt param name  hService  gt The handle to the windows service lt  param gt          private static void StopService IntPtr hService                        SERVICE STATUS status   new SERVICE STATUS                ControlService hService  ServiceControl Stop  status               WaitForServiceStatus hService  ServiceState Stopping  ServiceState Stop                           lt summary gt              Takes a service name and returns the  lt code gt ServiceState lt  code gt  of the corresponding service              lt  summary gt               lt param name  ServiceName  gt The service name that we will check for his  lt code gt ServiceState lt  code gt  lt  param gt               lt returns gt The ServiceState of the service we wanted to check lt  returns gt          public static ServiceState GetServiceStatus string ServiceName                        IntPtr scman   OpenSCManager ServiceManagerRights Connect               try                               IntPtr hService   OpenService scman  ServiceName                  ServiceRights QueryStatus                   if  hService    IntPtr Zero                                        return ServiceState NotFound                                    try                                       return GetServiceStatus hService                                     finally                                       CloseServiceHandle scman                                               finally                               CloseServiceHandle scman                                         lt summary gt              Gets the service state by using the handle of the provided windows service              lt  summary gt               lt param name  hService  gt The handle to the service lt  param gt               lt returns gt The  lt code gt ServiceState lt  code gt  of the service lt  returns gt          private static ServiceState GetServiceStatus IntPtr hService                        SERVICE STATUS ssStatus   new SERVICE STATUS                if  QueryServiceStatus hService  ssStatus     0                                throw new ApplicationException  Failed to query service status                               return ssStatus dwCurrentState                          lt summary gt              Returns true when the service status has been changes from wait status to desired status              this method waits around 10 seconds for this operation               lt  summary gt               lt param name  hService  gt The handle to the service lt  param gt               lt param name  WaitStatus  gt The current state of the service lt  param gt               lt param name  DesiredStatus  gt The desired state of the service lt  param gt               lt returns gt bool if the service has successfully changed states within the allowed timeline lt  returns gt          private static bool WaitForServiceStatus IntPtr hService  ServiceState         WaitStatus  ServiceState DesiredStatus                        SERVICE STATUS ssStatus   new SERVICE STATUS                int dwOldCheckPoint              int dwStartTickCount               QueryServiceStatus hService  ssStatus               if  ssStatus dwCurrentState    DesiredStatus  return true              dwStartTickCount   Environment TickCount              dwOldCheckPoint   ssStatus dwCheckPoint               while  ssStatus dwCurrentState    WaitStatus                                   Do not wait longer than the wait hint  A good interval is                    one tenth the wait hint  but no less than 1 second and no                    more than 10 seconds                   int dwWaitTime   ssStatus dwWaitHint   10                   if  dwWaitTime  lt  1000  dwWaitTime   1000                  else if  dwWaitTime  gt  10000  dwWaitTime   10000                   System Threading Thread Sleep dwWaitTime                       Check the status again                   if  QueryServiceStatus hService  ssStatus     0  break                   if  ssStatus dwCheckPoint  gt  dwOldCheckPoint                                           The service is making progress                      dwStartTickCount   Environment TickCount                      dwOldCheckPoint   ssStatus dwCheckPoint                                    else                                       if  Environment TickCount - dwStartTickCount  gt  ssStatus dwWaitHint                                                   No progress made within the wait hint                         break                                                                    return  ssStatus dwCurrentState    DesiredStatus                           lt summary gt              Opens the service manager              lt  summary gt               lt param name  Rights  gt The service manager rights lt  param gt               lt returns gt the handle to the service manager lt  returns gt          private static IntPtr OpenSCManager ServiceManagerRights Rights                        IntPtr scman   OpenSCManager null  null  Rights               if  scman    IntPtr Zero                                throw new ApplicationException  Could not connect to service control manager                               return scman              endregion            To install a service  run the InstallAndStart command as follows     SystemControl InstallAndStart                                    apache                                     Apache Web Server                                        c  apache bin httpd exe   -k runservice         Make sure the account that is running the program has permission to install services  You can always  Run As Administrator  on the program   I have also included several commands for non-api access which do not install or remove services  but you can list them and control several  start  stop  restart   You really only need to elevate permissions for installing or removing services   There are a couple of commands for getting and setting environment variables as well  such as OPENSSL CONF or TEMP   For the most part  the parameters and method names should be pretty self-explanatory

User · Answer

Take a look at the InstallHelper method of the ManagedInstaller class  You can install a service using   string   args  ManagedInstallerClass InstallHelper args     This is exactly what InstallUtil does  The arguments are the same as for InstallUtil   The benefits of this method are that it involves no messing in the registry  and it uses the same mechanism as InstallUtil

User · Answer

In the case of trying to install a command line application as a Windows service try the  NSSM  utility   Related ServerFault details found here

User · Answer

Here is a class I use when writing services   I usually have an interactive screen that comes up when the service is not called   From there I use the class as needed   It allows for multiple named instances on the same machine -hence the InstanceID field  Sample Call    IntegratedServiceInstaller Inst   new IntegratedServiceInstaller      Inst Install  MySvc    My Sample Service    Service that executes something                        InstanceID     System ServiceProcess ServiceAccount LocalService          this is more secure  but only available in XP and above and WS-2003 and above   System ServiceProcess ServiceAccount LocalSystem           this is required for WS-2000   System ServiceProcess ServiceStartMode Automatic     if  controller    null          controller   new System ServiceProcess ServiceController String Format  MySvc  0     InstanceID                                           if  controller Status    System ServiceProcess ServiceControllerStatus Running                                        Start Stop Text    Stop Service                       Start Stop Debugging Enabled   false                                    else                                       Start Stop Text    Start Service                       Start Stop Debugging Enabled   true                      The class itself  using System  using System Collections Generic  using System Text  using System Diagnostics  using Microsoft Win32   namespace MySvc       class IntegratedServiceInstaller               public void Install String ServiceName  String DisplayName  String Description              String InstanceID              System ServiceProcess ServiceAccount Account               System ServiceProcess ServiceStartMode StartMode                          http   www theblacksparrow com              System ServiceProcess ServiceProcessInstaller ProcessInstaller   new System ServiceProcess ServiceProcessInstaller                ProcessInstaller Account   Account               System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller SINST   new System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller                 System Configuration Install InstallContext Context   new System Configuration Install InstallContext                string processPath   Process GetCurrentProcess   MainModule FileName              if  processPath    null  amp  amp  processPath Length  gt  0                                System IO FileInfo fi   new System IO FileInfo processPath                    String path   String Format   assemblypath  0    fi FullName                   String   cmdline     path                    Context   new System Configuration Install InstallContext     cmdline                              SINST Context   Context              SINST DisplayName   String Format   0  -  1    DisplayName  InstanceID               SINST Description   String Format   0  -  1    Description  InstanceID               SINST ServiceName   String Format   0   1    ServiceName  InstanceID               SINST StartType   StartMode              SINST Parent   ProcessInstaller                  http   bytes com forum thread527221 html             SINST ServicesDependedOn   new String      Spooler    Netlogon    Netman                  System Collections Specialized ListDictionary state   new System Collections Specialized ListDictionary                SINST Install state                   http   www dotnet247 com 247reference msgs 43 219565 aspx             using  RegistryKey oKey   Registry LocalMachine OpenSubKey String Format   SYSTEM CurrentControlSet Services  0   1    ServiceName  InstanceID   true                                 try                                       Object sValue   oKey GetValue  ImagePath                        oKey SetValue  ImagePath   sValue                                     catch  Exception Ex                                        System Windows Forms MessageBox Show Ex Message                                                      public void Uninstall String ServiceName  String InstanceID                          http   www theblacksparrow com              System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller SINST   new System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller                 System Configuration Install InstallContext Context   new System Configuration Install InstallContext  c   install log   null               SINST Context   Context              SINST ServiceName   String Format   0   1    ServiceName  InstanceID               SINST Uninstall null

User · Answer

Here is a class I use when writing services   I usually have an interactive screen that comes up when the service is not called   From there I use the class as needed   It allows for multiple named instances on the same machine -hence the InstanceID field  Sample Call    IntegratedServiceInstaller Inst   new IntegratedServiceInstaller      Inst Install  MySvc    My Sample Service    Service that executes something                        InstanceID     System ServiceProcess ServiceAccount LocalService          this is more secure  but only available in XP and above and WS-2003 and above   System ServiceProcess ServiceAccount LocalSystem           this is required for WS-2000   System ServiceProcess ServiceStartMode Automatic     if  controller    null          controller   new System ServiceProcess ServiceController String Format  MySvc  0     InstanceID                                           if  controller Status    System ServiceProcess ServiceControllerStatus Running                                        Start Stop Text    Stop Service                       Start Stop Debugging Enabled   false                                    else                                       Start Stop Text    Start Service                       Start Stop Debugging Enabled   true                      The class itself  using System  using System Collections Generic  using System Text  using System Diagnostics  using Microsoft Win32   namespace MySvc       class IntegratedServiceInstaller               public void Install String ServiceName  String DisplayName  String Description              String InstanceID              System ServiceProcess ServiceAccount Account               System ServiceProcess ServiceStartMode StartMode                          http   www theblacksparrow com              System ServiceProcess ServiceProcessInstaller ProcessInstaller   new System ServiceProcess ServiceProcessInstaller                ProcessInstaller Account   Account               System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller SINST   new System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller                 System Configuration Install InstallContext Context   new System Configuration Install InstallContext                string processPath   Process GetCurrentProcess   MainModule FileName              if  processPath    null  amp  amp  processPath Length  gt  0                                System IO FileInfo fi   new System IO FileInfo processPath                    String path   String Format   assemblypath  0    fi FullName                   String   cmdline     path                    Context   new System Configuration Install InstallContext     cmdline                              SINST Context   Context              SINST DisplayName   String Format   0  -  1    DisplayName  InstanceID               SINST Description   String Format   0  -  1    Description  InstanceID               SINST ServiceName   String Format   0   1    ServiceName  InstanceID               SINST StartType   StartMode              SINST Parent   ProcessInstaller                  http   bytes com forum thread527221 html             SINST ServicesDependedOn   new String      Spooler    Netlogon    Netman                  System Collections Specialized ListDictionary state   new System Collections Specialized ListDictionary                SINST Install state                   http   www dotnet247 com 247reference msgs 43 219565 aspx             using  RegistryKey oKey   Registry LocalMachine OpenSubKey String Format   SYSTEM CurrentControlSet Services  0   1    ServiceName  InstanceID   true                                 try                                       Object sValue   oKey GetValue  ImagePath                        oKey SetValue  ImagePath   sValue                                     catch  Exception Ex                                        System Windows Forms MessageBox Show Ex Message                                                      public void Uninstall String ServiceName  String InstanceID                          http   www theblacksparrow com              System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller SINST   new System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller                 System Configuration Install InstallContext Context   new System Configuration Install InstallContext  c   install log   null               SINST Context   Context              SINST ServiceName   String Format   0   1    ServiceName  InstanceID               SINST Uninstall null

User · Answer

Take a look at the InstallHelper method of the ManagedInstaller class  You can install a service using   string   args  ManagedInstallerClass InstallHelper args     This is exactly what InstallUtil does  The arguments are the same as for InstallUtil   The benefits of this method are that it involves no messing in the registry  and it uses the same mechanism as InstallUtil

User · Answer

Here is a class I use when writing services   I usually have an interactive screen that comes up when the service is not called   From there I use the class as needed   It allows for multiple named instances on the same machine -hence the InstanceID field  Sample Call    IntegratedServiceInstaller Inst   new IntegratedServiceInstaller      Inst Install  MySvc    My Sample Service    Service that executes something                        InstanceID     System ServiceProcess ServiceAccount LocalService          this is more secure  but only available in XP and above and WS-2003 and above   System ServiceProcess ServiceAccount LocalSystem           this is required for WS-2000   System ServiceProcess ServiceStartMode Automatic     if  controller    null          controller   new System ServiceProcess ServiceController String Format  MySvc  0     InstanceID                                           if  controller Status    System ServiceProcess ServiceControllerStatus Running                                        Start Stop Text    Stop Service                       Start Stop Debugging Enabled   false                                    else                                       Start Stop Text    Start Service                       Start Stop Debugging Enabled   true                      The class itself  using System  using System Collections Generic  using System Text  using System Diagnostics  using Microsoft Win32   namespace MySvc       class IntegratedServiceInstaller               public void Install String ServiceName  String DisplayName  String Description              String InstanceID              System ServiceProcess ServiceAccount Account               System ServiceProcess ServiceStartMode StartMode                          http   www theblacksparrow com              System ServiceProcess ServiceProcessInstaller ProcessInstaller   new System ServiceProcess ServiceProcessInstaller                ProcessInstaller Account   Account               System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller SINST   new System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller                 System Configuration Install InstallContext Context   new System Configuration Install InstallContext                string processPath   Process GetCurrentProcess   MainModule FileName              if  processPath    null  amp  amp  processPath Length  gt  0                                System IO FileInfo fi   new System IO FileInfo processPath                    String path   String Format   assemblypath  0    fi FullName                   String   cmdline     path                    Context   new System Configuration Install InstallContext     cmdline                              SINST Context   Context              SINST DisplayName   String Format   0  -  1    DisplayName  InstanceID               SINST Description   String Format   0  -  1    Description  InstanceID               SINST ServiceName   String Format   0   1    ServiceName  InstanceID               SINST StartType   StartMode              SINST Parent   ProcessInstaller                  http   bytes com forum thread527221 html             SINST ServicesDependedOn   new String      Spooler    Netlogon    Netman                  System Collections Specialized ListDictionary state   new System Collections Specialized ListDictionary                SINST Install state                   http   www dotnet247 com 247reference msgs 43 219565 aspx             using  RegistryKey oKey   Registry LocalMachine OpenSubKey String Format   SYSTEM CurrentControlSet Services  0   1    ServiceName  InstanceID   true                                 try                                       Object sValue   oKey GetValue  ImagePath                        oKey SetValue  ImagePath   sValue                                     catch  Exception Ex                                        System Windows Forms MessageBox Show Ex Message                                                      public void Uninstall String ServiceName  String InstanceID                          http   www theblacksparrow com              System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller SINST   new System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller                 System Configuration Install InstallContext Context   new System Configuration Install InstallContext  c   install log   null               SINST Context   Context              SINST ServiceName   String Format   0   1    ServiceName  InstanceID               SINST Uninstall null

User · Answer

The above examples didn t really work for me  and the link to the forum as a  1 solution is awful to dig through   Here is a class I wrote  in part   and the other bit is merged from this link I found buried somewhere  using System  using System Collections Generic  using System Linq  using System Text  using System Threading Tasks   using System ServiceProcess  using System Runtime InteropServices   namespace SystemControl       class Services     region  Environment Variables          public static string GetEnvironment string name  bool ExpandVariables true                if   ExpandVariables                     return System Environment GetEnvironmentVariable  name                  else                   return  string Microsoft Win32 Registry LocalMachine OpenSubKey    SYSTEM CurrentControlSet Control Session Manager Environment     GetValue  name      Microsoft Win32 RegistryValueOptions DoNotExpandEnvironmentNames                                     public static void SetEnvironment  string name  string value                 System Environment SetEnvironmentVariable name  value              endregion   region  ServiceCalls Native          public static ServiceController   List   get   return ServiceController GetServices                 public static void Start  string serviceName  int timeoutMilliseconds                 ServiceController service new ServiceController  serviceName                try                   TimeSpan timeout TimeSpan FromMilliseconds  timeoutMilliseconds                     service Start                    service WaitForStatus  ServiceControllerStatus Running  timeout                  catch                                                           public static void Stop  string serviceName  int timeoutMilliseconds                 ServiceController service new ServiceController  serviceName                try                   TimeSpan timeout TimeSpan FromMilliseconds  timeoutMilliseconds                     service Stop                    service WaitForStatus  ServiceControllerStatus Stopped  timeout                  catch                                                           public static void Restart  string serviceName  int timeoutMilliseconds                 ServiceController service new ServiceController  serviceName                try                   int millisec1 Environment TickCount                  TimeSpan timeout TimeSpan FromMilliseconds  timeoutMilliseconds                     service Stop                    service WaitForStatus  ServiceControllerStatus Stopped  timeout                        count the rest of the timeout                 int millisec2 Environment TickCount                  timeout TimeSpan FromMilliseconds  timeoutMilliseconds-  millisec2-millisec1                       service Start                    service WaitForStatus  ServiceControllerStatus Running  timeout                  catch                                                           public static bool IsInstalled  string serviceName                    get list of Windows services             ServiceController   services ServiceController GetServices                    try to find service name             foreach   ServiceController service in services                     if   service ServiceName  serviceName                       return true                            return false             endregion   region  ServiceCalls API          private const int STANDARD RIGHTS REQUIRED   0xF0000          private const int SERVICE WIN32 OWN PROCESS   0x00000010            Flags          public enum ServiceManagerRights               Connect   0x0001              CreateService   0x0002              EnumerateService   0x0004              Lock   0x0008              QueryLockStatus   0x0010              ModifyBootConfig   0x0020              StandardRightsRequired   0xF0000              AllAccess    StandardRightsRequired   Connect   CreateService               EnumerateService   Lock   QueryLockStatus   ModifyBootConfig                      Flags          public enum ServiceRights               QueryConfig   0x1              ChangeConfig   0x2              QueryStatus   0x4              EnumerateDependants   0x8              Start   0x10              Stop   0x20              PauseContinue   0x40              Interrogate   0x80              UserDefinedControl   0x100              Delete   0x00010000              StandardRightsRequired   0xF0000              AllAccess    StandardRightsRequired   QueryConfig   ChangeConfig               QueryStatus   EnumerateDependants   Start   Stop   PauseContinue               Interrogate   UserDefinedControl                     public enum ServiceBootFlag               Start   0x00000000              SystemStart   0x00000001              AutoStart   0x00000002              DemandStart   0x00000003              Disabled   0x00000004                    public enum ServiceState               Unknown   -1     The state cannot be  has not been  retrieved              NotFound   0     The service is not known on the host server              Stop   1     The service is NET stopped              Run   2     The service is NET started              Stopping   3              Starting   4                     public enum ServiceControl               Stop   0x00000001              Pause   0x00000002              Continue   0x00000003              Interrogate   0x00000004              Shutdown   0x00000005              ParamChange   0x00000006              NetBindAdd   0x00000007              NetBindRemove   0x00000008              NetBindEnable   0x00000009              NetBindDisable   0x0000000A                    public enum ServiceError               Ignore   0x00000000              Normal   0x00000001              Severe   0x00000002              Critical   0x00000003                     StructLayout LayoutKind Sequential           private class SERVICE STATUS               public int dwServiceType   0              public ServiceState dwCurrentState   0              public int dwControlsAccepted   0              public int dwWin32ExitCode   0              public int dwServiceSpecificExitCode   0              public int dwCheckPoint   0              public int dwWaitHint   0                      DllImport  advapi32 dll   EntryPoint    OpenSCManagerA            private static extern IntPtr OpenSCManager string lpMachineName  string lpDatabaseName  ServiceManagerRights dwDesiredAccess            DllImport  advapi32 dll   EntryPoint    OpenServiceA   CharSet   CharSet Ansi           private static extern IntPtr OpenService IntPtr hSCManager  string lpServiceName  ServiceRights dwDesiredAccess            DllImport  advapi32 dll   EntryPoint    CreateServiceA            private static extern IntPtr CreateService IntPtr hSCManager  string lpServiceName  string lpDisplayName  ServiceRights dwDesiredAccess  int dwServiceType  ServiceBootFlag dwStartType  ServiceError dwErrorControl  string lpBinaryPathName  string lpLoadOrderGroup  IntPtr lpdwTagId  string lpDependencies  string lp  string lpPassword            DllImport  advapi32 dll            private static extern int CloseServiceHandle IntPtr hSCObject            DllImport  advapi32 dll            private static extern int QueryServiceStatus IntPtr hService  SERVICE STATUS lpServiceStatus            DllImport  advapi32 dll   SetLastError   true           private static extern int DeleteService IntPtr hService            DllImport  advapi32 dll            private static extern int ControlService IntPtr hService  ServiceControl dwControl  SERVICE STATUS lpServiceStatus            DllImport  advapi32 dll   EntryPoint    StartServiceA            private static extern int StartService IntPtr hService  int dwNumServiceArgs  int lpServiceArgVectors                 lt summary gt              Takes a service name and tries to stop and then uninstall the windows serviceError              lt  summary gt               lt param name  ServiceName  gt The windows service name to uninstall lt  param gt          public static void Uninstall string ServiceName                        IntPtr scman   OpenSCManager ServiceManagerRights Connect               try                               IntPtr service   OpenService scman  ServiceName  ServiceRights StandardRightsRequired   ServiceRights Stop   ServiceRights QueryStatus                   if  service    IntPtr Zero                                        throw new ApplicationException  Service not installed                                       try                                       StopService service                       int ret   DeleteService service                       if  ret    0                                                int error   Marshal GetLastWin32Error                            throw new ApplicationException  Could not delete service     error                                                           finally                                       CloseServiceHandle service                                               finally                               CloseServiceHandle scman                                         lt summary gt              Accepts a service name and returns true if the service with that service name exists              lt  summary gt               lt param name  ServiceName  gt The service name that we will check for existence lt  param gt               lt returns gt True if that service exists false otherwise lt  returns gt          public static bool ServiceIsInstalled string ServiceName                        IntPtr scman   OpenSCManager ServiceManagerRights Connect               try                               IntPtr service   OpenService scman  ServiceName                  ServiceRights QueryStatus                   if  service    IntPtr Zero  return false                  CloseServiceHandle service                   return true                            finally                               CloseServiceHandle scman                                         lt summary gt              Takes a service name  a service display name and the path to the service executable and installs   starts the windows service               lt  summary gt               lt param name  ServiceName  gt The service name that this service will have lt  param gt               lt param name  DisplayName  gt The display name that this service will have lt  param gt               lt param name  FileName  gt The path to the executable of the service lt  param gt          public static void InstallAndStart string ServiceName  string DisplayName          string FileName                        IntPtr scman   OpenSCManager ServiceManagerRights Connect               ServiceManagerRights CreateService               try                               IntPtr service   OpenService scman  ServiceName                  ServiceRights QueryStatus   ServiceRights Start                   if  service    IntPtr Zero                                        service   CreateService scman  ServiceName  DisplayName                      ServiceRights QueryStatus   ServiceRights Start  SERVICE WIN32 OWN PROCESS                      ServiceBootFlag AutoStart  ServiceError Normal  FileName  null  IntPtr Zero                      null  null  null                                     if  service    IntPtr Zero                                        throw new ApplicationException  Failed to install service                                       try                                       StartService service                                     finally                                       CloseServiceHandle service                                               finally                               CloseServiceHandle scman                                         lt summary gt              Takes a service name and starts it              lt  summary gt               lt param name  Name  gt The service name lt  param gt          public static void StartService string Name                        IntPtr scman   OpenSCManager ServiceManagerRights Connect               try                               IntPtr hService   OpenService scman  Name  ServiceRights QueryStatus                   ServiceRights Start                   if  hService    IntPtr Zero                                        throw new ApplicationException  Could not open service                                       try                                       StartService hService                                     finally                                       CloseServiceHandle hService                                               finally                               CloseServiceHandle scman                                         lt summary gt              Stops the provided windows service              lt  summary gt               lt param name  Name  gt The service name that will be stopped lt  param gt          public static void StopService string Name                        IntPtr scman   OpenSCManager ServiceManagerRights Connect               try                               IntPtr hService   OpenService scman  Name  ServiceRights QueryStatus                   ServiceRights Stop                   if  hService    IntPtr Zero                                        throw new ApplicationException  Could not open service                                       try                                       StopService hService                                     finally                                       CloseServiceHandle hService                                               finally                               CloseServiceHandle scman                                         lt summary gt              Stars the provided windows service              lt  summary gt               lt param name  hService  gt The handle to the windows service lt  param gt          private static void StartService IntPtr hService                        SERVICE STATUS status   new SERVICE STATUS                StartService hService  0  0               WaitForServiceStatus hService  ServiceState Starting  ServiceState Run                           lt summary gt              Stops the provided windows service              lt  summary gt               lt param name  hService  gt The handle to the windows service lt  param gt          private static void StopService IntPtr hService                        SERVICE STATUS status   new SERVICE STATUS                ControlService hService  ServiceControl Stop  status               WaitForServiceStatus hService  ServiceState Stopping  ServiceState Stop                           lt summary gt              Takes a service name and returns the  lt code gt ServiceState lt  code gt  of the corresponding service              lt  summary gt               lt param name  ServiceName  gt The service name that we will check for his  lt code gt ServiceState lt  code gt  lt  param gt               lt returns gt The ServiceState of the service we wanted to check lt  returns gt          public static ServiceState GetServiceStatus string ServiceName                        IntPtr scman   OpenSCManager ServiceManagerRights Connect               try                               IntPtr hService   OpenService scman  ServiceName                  ServiceRights QueryStatus                   if  hService    IntPtr Zero                                        return ServiceState NotFound                                    try                                       return GetServiceStatus hService                                     finally                                       CloseServiceHandle scman                                               finally                               CloseServiceHandle scman                                         lt summary gt              Gets the service state by using the handle of the provided windows service              lt  summary gt               lt param name  hService  gt The handle to the service lt  param gt               lt returns gt The  lt code gt ServiceState lt  code gt  of the service lt  returns gt          private static ServiceState GetServiceStatus IntPtr hService                        SERVICE STATUS ssStatus   new SERVICE STATUS                if  QueryServiceStatus hService  ssStatus     0                                throw new ApplicationException  Failed to query service status                               return ssStatus dwCurrentState                          lt summary gt              Returns true when the service status has been changes from wait status to desired status              this method waits around 10 seconds for this operation               lt  summary gt               lt param name  hService  gt The handle to the service lt  param gt               lt param name  WaitStatus  gt The current state of the service lt  param gt               lt param name  DesiredStatus  gt The desired state of the service lt  param gt               lt returns gt bool if the service has successfully changed states within the allowed timeline lt  returns gt          private static bool WaitForServiceStatus IntPtr hService  ServiceState         WaitStatus  ServiceState DesiredStatus                        SERVICE STATUS ssStatus   new SERVICE STATUS                int dwOldCheckPoint              int dwStartTickCount               QueryServiceStatus hService  ssStatus               if  ssStatus dwCurrentState    DesiredStatus  return true              dwStartTickCount   Environment TickCount              dwOldCheckPoint   ssStatus dwCheckPoint               while  ssStatus dwCurrentState    WaitStatus                                   Do not wait longer than the wait hint  A good interval is                    one tenth the wait hint  but no less than 1 second and no                    more than 10 seconds                   int dwWaitTime   ssStatus dwWaitHint   10                   if  dwWaitTime  lt  1000  dwWaitTime   1000                  else if  dwWaitTime  gt  10000  dwWaitTime   10000                   System Threading Thread Sleep dwWaitTime                       Check the status again                   if  QueryServiceStatus hService  ssStatus     0  break                   if  ssStatus dwCheckPoint  gt  dwOldCheckPoint                                           The service is making progress                      dwStartTickCount   Environment TickCount                      dwOldCheckPoint   ssStatus dwCheckPoint                                    else                                       if  Environment TickCount - dwStartTickCount  gt  ssStatus dwWaitHint                                                   No progress made within the wait hint                         break                                                                    return  ssStatus dwCurrentState    DesiredStatus                           lt summary gt              Opens the service manager              lt  summary gt               lt param name  Rights  gt The service manager rights lt  param gt               lt returns gt the handle to the service manager lt  returns gt          private static IntPtr OpenSCManager ServiceManagerRights Rights                        IntPtr scman   OpenSCManager null  null  Rights               if  scman    IntPtr Zero                                throw new ApplicationException  Could not connect to service control manager                               return scman              endregion            To install a service  run the InstallAndStart command as follows     SystemControl InstallAndStart                                    apache                                     Apache Web Server                                        c  apache bin httpd exe   -k runservice         Make sure the account that is running the program has permission to install services  You can always  Run As Administrator  on the program   I have also included several commands for non-api access which do not install or remove services  but you can list them and control several  start  stop  restart   You really only need to elevate permissions for installing or removing services   There are a couple of commands for getting and setting environment variables as well  such as OPENSSL CONF or TEMP   For the most part  the parameters and method names should be pretty self-explanatory

User · Answer

In the case of trying to install a command line application as a Windows service try the  NSSM  utility   Related ServerFault details found here

User · Answer

Yes  that is fully possible  i e  I do exactly this   you just need to reference the right dll  System ServiceProcess dll  and add an installer class     Here s an example    RunInstaller true   public sealed class MyServiceInstallerProcess   ServiceProcessInstaller       public MyServiceInstallerProcess                 this Account   ServiceAccount NetworkService            RunInstaller true   public sealed class MyServiceInstaller   ServiceInstaller       public MyServiceInstaller                 this Description    Service Description           this DisplayName    Service Name           this ServiceName    ServiceName           this StartType   System ServiceProcess ServiceStartMode Automatic           static void Install bool undo  string   args        try               Console WriteLine undo    uninstalling     installing            using  AssemblyInstaller inst   new AssemblyInstaller typeof Program  Assembly  args                         IDictionary state   new Hashtable                inst UseNewContext   true              try                               if  undo                                        inst Uninstall state                                     else                                       inst Install state                       inst Commit state                                               catch                               try                                       inst Rollback state                                     catch                     throw                                    catch  Exception ex                Console Error WriteLine ex Message

User · Answer

You can always fall back to the good old WinAPI calls, although the amount of work involved is non-trivial. There is no requirement that .NET services be installed via a .NET-aware mechanism.

To install:

Open the service manager via OpenSCManager.
Call CreateService to register the service.
Optionally call ChangeServiceConfig2 to set a description.
Close the service and service manager handles with CloseServiceHandle.

To uninstall:

Open the service manager via OpenSCManager.
Open the service using OpenService.
Delete the service by calling DeleteService on the handle returned by OpenService.
Close the service and service manager handles with CloseServiceHandle.

The main reason I prefer this over using the ServiceInstaller/ServiceProcessInstaller is that you can register the service with your own custom command line arguments. For example, you might register it as "MyApp.exe -service", then if the user runs your app without any arguments you could offer them a UI to install/remove the service.

Running Reflector on ServiceInstaller can fill in the details missing from this brief explanation.

P.S. Clearly this won't have "the same effect as calling: InstallUtil MyService.exe" - in particular, you won't be able to uninstall using InstallUtil. But it seems that perhaps this wasn't an actual stringent requirement for you.

User · Answer

Here is a class I use when writing services   I usually have an interactive screen that comes up when the service is not called   From there I use the class as needed   It allows for multiple named instances on the same machine -hence the InstanceID field  Sample Call    IntegratedServiceInstaller Inst   new IntegratedServiceInstaller      Inst Install  MySvc    My Sample Service    Service that executes something                        InstanceID     System ServiceProcess ServiceAccount LocalService          this is more secure  but only available in XP and above and WS-2003 and above   System ServiceProcess ServiceAccount LocalSystem           this is required for WS-2000   System ServiceProcess ServiceStartMode Automatic     if  controller    null          controller   new System ServiceProcess ServiceController String Format  MySvc  0     InstanceID                                           if  controller Status    System ServiceProcess ServiceControllerStatus Running                                        Start Stop Text    Stop Service                       Start Stop Debugging Enabled   false                                    else                                       Start Stop Text    Start Service                       Start Stop Debugging Enabled   true                      The class itself  using System  using System Collections Generic  using System Text  using System Diagnostics  using Microsoft Win32   namespace MySvc       class IntegratedServiceInstaller               public void Install String ServiceName  String DisplayName  String Description              String InstanceID              System ServiceProcess ServiceAccount Account               System ServiceProcess ServiceStartMode StartMode                          http   www theblacksparrow com              System ServiceProcess ServiceProcessInstaller ProcessInstaller   new System ServiceProcess ServiceProcessInstaller                ProcessInstaller Account   Account               System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller SINST   new System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller                 System Configuration Install InstallContext Context   new System Configuration Install InstallContext                string processPath   Process GetCurrentProcess   MainModule FileName              if  processPath    null  amp  amp  processPath Length  gt  0                                System IO FileInfo fi   new System IO FileInfo processPath                    String path   String Format   assemblypath  0    fi FullName                   String   cmdline     path                    Context   new System Configuration Install InstallContext     cmdline                              SINST Context   Context              SINST DisplayName   String Format   0  -  1    DisplayName  InstanceID               SINST Description   String Format   0  -  1    Description  InstanceID               SINST ServiceName   String Format   0   1    ServiceName  InstanceID               SINST StartType   StartMode              SINST Parent   ProcessInstaller                  http   bytes com forum thread527221 html             SINST ServicesDependedOn   new String      Spooler    Netlogon    Netman                  System Collections Specialized ListDictionary state   new System Collections Specialized ListDictionary                SINST Install state                   http   www dotnet247 com 247reference msgs 43 219565 aspx             using  RegistryKey oKey   Registry LocalMachine OpenSubKey String Format   SYSTEM CurrentControlSet Services  0   1    ServiceName  InstanceID   true                                 try                                       Object sValue   oKey GetValue  ImagePath                        oKey SetValue  ImagePath   sValue                                     catch  Exception Ex                                        System Windows Forms MessageBox Show Ex Message                                                      public void Uninstall String ServiceName  String InstanceID                          http   www theblacksparrow com              System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller SINST   new System ServiceProcess ServiceInstaller                 System Configuration Install InstallContext Context   new System Configuration Install InstallContext  c   install log   null               SINST Context   Context              SINST ServiceName   String Format   0   1    ServiceName  InstanceID               SINST Uninstall null

User · Answer

Yes  that is fully possible  i e  I do exactly this   you just need to reference the right dll  System ServiceProcess dll  and add an installer class     Here s an example    RunInstaller true   public sealed class MyServiceInstallerProcess   ServiceProcessInstaller       public MyServiceInstallerProcess                 this Account   ServiceAccount NetworkService            RunInstaller true   public sealed class MyServiceInstaller   ServiceInstaller       public MyServiceInstaller                 this Description    Service Description           this DisplayName    Service Name           this ServiceName    ServiceName           this StartType   System ServiceProcess ServiceStartMode Automatic           static void Install bool undo  string   args        try               Console WriteLine undo    uninstalling     installing            using  AssemblyInstaller inst   new AssemblyInstaller typeof Program  Assembly  args                         IDictionary state   new Hashtable                inst UseNewContext   true              try                               if  undo                                        inst Uninstall state                                     else                                       inst Install state                       inst Commit state                                               catch                               try                                       inst Rollback state                                     catch                     throw                                    catch  Exception ex                Console Error WriteLine ex Message

User · Answer

Process QProc   new Process    QProc StartInfo FileName    cmd   QProc StartInfo Arguments    c InstallUtil          filefullPath        QProc StartInfo WorkingDirectory   Environment GetEnvironmentVariable  windir        Microsoft NET Framework v2 0 50727    QProc StartInfo UseShellExecute   false     QProc StartInfo CreateNoWindow   true  QProc StartInfo RedirectStandardOutput   true  QProc Start       QProc WaitForExit    QProc Close

[c#] Install a .NET windows service without InstallUtil.exe

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