How to run console application from Windows Servic

Question

I have a windows service, written in c# and I need to run a console application from it. Console application also written in c#.

Console application is running fine when it is run not from windows service. When it is ran from ws it doesn`t do anything it should and as it should work for 10-20 seconds I see in debug code is executed at once.

I`m starting my console app with the following code:

proc.Start(fullPathToConsole, args);
proc.WaitForExit();

the path to console is right and when I`m trying to run it from the cmd or just in explorer (without args) it works fine. But after running with the service I see no effect.

I already tried to go to service properties and give it access to desktop and run under both system and my user (also specified in service properties). All remains the same.

ADDITION: I know service do not have ui and I don't want one. I want service to run console application. No need to get any data from it or use this console like ui, just run it to do it`s job.

UPDATE I: discovered, that running calc or any other windows app is easy. But still can`t run cmd or any console app. Actually I need to run it on XP SP2 and Windows 2003 Server. So do not need to interact with Vista in anyway.

Would be glad to any comments!

Answer 1

Running in Windows Services any application like for example ".exe" is weird to do because the algorithm is not that effective.

Answer 2

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
    {
        static string strPath = @"D:\";
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            string strServiceName = "WindowsService1";
            CreateFolderStructure(strPath);
            string svcPath = @"D:\Applications\MSC\Agent\bin\WindowsService1.exe";
            if (!IsInstalled(strServiceName))
            {
                InstallAndStart(strServiceName, strServiceName, svcPath + " -k runservice");                
            }
            else
            {
                Console.Write(strServiceName + " already installed. Do you want to Uninstalled the Service.Y/N.?");
                string strKey = Console.ReadLine();

                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(strKey) && (strKey.StartsWith("y")|| strKey.StartsWith("Y")))
                {
                    StopService(strServiceName);
                    Uninstall(strServiceName);
                    ServiceLogs(strServiceName + " Uninstalled.!", strPath);
                    Console.Write(strServiceName + " Uninstalled.!");
                    Console.Read();
                }
            }
        }

        #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(Exception ex)
            {
                // ...
            }
        }

        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);

        /// <summary>
        /// Takes a service name and tries to stop and then uninstall the windows serviceError
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="ServiceName">The windows service name to uninstall</param>
        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);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Accepts a service name and returns true if the service with that service name exists
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="ServiceName">The service name that we will check for existence</param>
        /// <returns>True if that service exists false otherwise</returns>
        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);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Takes a service name, a service display name and the path to the service executable and installs / starts the windows service.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="ServiceName">The service name that this service will have</param>
        /// <param name="DisplayName">The display name that this service will have</param>
        /// <param name="FileName">The path to the executable of the service</param>
        public static void InstallAndStart(string ServiceName, string DisplayName,
        string FileName)
        {
            IntPtr scman = OpenSCManager(ServiceManagerRights.Connect |
            ServiceManagerRights.CreateService);
            try
            {
                string strKey = string.Empty;
                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);
                    ServiceLogs(ServiceName + " Installed Sucessfully.!", strPath);
                    Console.Write(ServiceName + " Installed Sucessfully.! Do you want to Start the Service.Y/N.?");
                    strKey=Console.ReadLine();
                }
                if (service == IntPtr.Zero)
                {
                    ServiceLogs("Failed to install service.", strPath);
                    throw new ApplicationException("Failed to install service.");
                }
                try
                {
                    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(strKey) && (strKey.StartsWith("y") || strKey.StartsWith("Y")))
                    {
                        StartService(service);
                        ServiceLogs(ServiceName + " Started Sucessfully.!", strPath);
                        Console.Write(ServiceName + " Started Sucessfully.!");
                        Console.Read();
                    }
                }
                finally
                {
                    CloseServiceHandle(service);
                }
            }
            finally
            {
                CloseServiceHandle(scman);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Takes a service name and starts it
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="Name">The service name</param>
        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)
                {
                    ServiceLogs("Could not open service.", strPath);
                    throw new ApplicationException("Could not open service.");
                }
                try
                {
                    StartService(hService);
                }
                finally
                {
                    CloseServiceHandle(hService);
                }
            }
            finally
            {
                CloseServiceHandle(scman);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Stops the provided windows service
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="Name">The service name that will be stopped</param>
        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)
                {
                    ServiceLogs("Could not open service.", strPath);
                    throw new ApplicationException("Could not open service.");
                }
                try
                {
                    StopService(hService);
                }
                finally
                {
                    CloseServiceHandle(hService);
                }



}
            finally
            {
                CloseServiceHandle(scman);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Stars the provided windows service
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="hService">The handle to the windows service</param>
        private static void StartService(IntPtr hService)
        {
            SERVICE_STATUS status = new SERVICE_STATUS();
            StartService(hService, 0, 0);
            WaitForServiceStatus(hService, ServiceState.Starting, ServiceState.Run);
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Stops the provided windows service
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="hService">The handle to the windows service</param>
        private static void StopService(IntPtr hService)
        {
            SERVICE_STATUS status = new SERVICE_STATUS();
            ControlService(hService, ServiceControl.Stop, status);
            WaitForServiceStatus(hService, ServiceState.Stopping, ServiceState.Stop);
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Takes a service name and returns the <code>ServiceState</code> of the corresponding service
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="ServiceName">The service name that we will check for his <code>ServiceState</code></param>
        /// <returns>The ServiceState of the service we wanted to check</returns>
        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);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the service state by using the handle of the provided windows service
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="hService">The handle to the service</param>
        /// <returns>The <code>ServiceState</code> of the service</returns>
        private static ServiceState GetServiceStatus(IntPtr hService)
        {
            SERVICE_STATUS ssStatus = new SERVICE_STATUS();
            if (QueryServiceStatus(hService, ssStatus) == 0)
            {
                ServiceLogs("Failed to query service status.", strPath);
                throw new ApplicationException("Failed to query service status.");
            }
            return ssStatus.dwCurrentState;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Returns true when the service status has been changes from wait status to desired status
        /// ,this method waits around 10 seconds for this operation.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="hService">The handle to the service</param>
        /// <param name="WaitStatus">The current state of the service</param>
        /// <param name="DesiredStatus">The desired state of the service</param>
        /// <returns>bool if the service has successfully changed states within the allowed timeline</returns>
        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 < 1000) dwWaitTime = 1000;
                else if (dwWaitTime > 10000) dwWaitTime = 10000;

                System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(dwWaitTime);

                // Check the status again.

                if (QueryServiceStatus(hService, ssStatus) == 0) break;

                if (ssStatus.dwCheckPoint > dwOldCheckPoint)
                {
                    // The service is making progress.
                    dwStartTickCount = Environment.TickCount;
                    dwOldCheckPoint = ssStatus.dwCheckPoint;
                }
                else
                {
                    if (Environment.TickCount - dwStartTickCount > ssStatus.dwWaitHint)
                    {
                        // No progress made within the wait hint
                        break;
                    }
                }
            }
            return (ssStatus.dwCurrentState == DesiredStatus);
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Opens the service manager
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="Rights">The service manager rights</param>
        /// <returns>the handle to the service manager</returns>
        private static IntPtr OpenSCManager(ServiceManagerRights Rights)
        {
            IntPtr scman = OpenSCManager(null, null, Rights);
            if (scman == IntPtr.Zero)
            {
                try
                {
                    throw new ApplicationException("Could not connect to service control manager.");
                }
                catch (Exception ex)
                {
                }
            }
            return scman;
        }

        #endregion

        #region"CreateFolderStructure"
        private static void CreateFolderStructure(string path)
        {
            if(!System.IO.Directory.Exists(path+"Applications"))
                System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(path+ "Applications");
            if (!System.IO.Directory.Exists(path + "Applications\\MSC"))
                System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(path + "Applications\\MSC");
            if (!System.IO.Directory.Exists(path + "Applications\\MSC\\Agent"))
                System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(path + "Applications\\MSC\\Agent");
            if (!System.IO.Directory.Exists(path + "Applications\\MSC\\Agent\\bin"))
                System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(path + "Applications\\MSC\\Agent\\bin");
            if (!System.IO.Directory.Exists(path + "Applications\\MSC\\AgentService"))
                System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(path + "Applications\\MSC\\AgentService");

            string fullPath = System.IO.Path.GetFullPath("MSCService");
            if (System.IO.Directory.Exists(fullPath))
            {
                foreach (string strFile in System.IO.Directory.GetFiles(fullPath))
                {
                    if (System.IO.File.Exists(strFile))
                    {
                        String[] strArr = strFile.Split('\\');
                        System.IO.File.Copy(strFile, path + "Applications\\MSC\\Agent\\bin\\"+ strArr[strArr.Count()-1], true);
                    }
                }
            }            
        }
        #endregion

        private static void ServiceLogs(string strLogInfo, string path)
        {
            string filePath = path + "Applications\\MSC\\AgentService\\ServiceLogs.txt";            
            System.IO.File.AppendAllLines(filePath, (strLogInfo + "--" + DateTime.Now.ToString()).ToString().Split('|'));
        }
    }
}

Answer 3

Does your console app require user interaction? If so, that's a serious no-no and you should redesign your application. While there are some hacks to make this sort of work in older versions of the OS, this is guaranteed to break in the future.

If your app does not require user interaction, then perhaps your problem is related to the user the service is running as. Try making sure that you run as the correct user, or that the user and/or resources you are using have the right permissions.

If you require some kind of user-interaction, then you will need to create a client application and communicate with the service and/or sub-application via rpc, sockets, or named pipes.