SRVANY.exe

[Roald]

Hi Sub,
In Windows its possible to make (almost) any application run as a service using srvany.exe. When i use it on gbpvr/mvp mode is shows an error in a log file:
===
21-7-2004 09:07:29.500 ERROR [2] It is invalid to show a modal dialog or form when the application is not running in UserInteractive mode. Specify the ServiceNotification or DefaultDesktopOnly style to display a notification from a service application.
21-7-2004 09:07:29.515 ERROR [2] at System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.ShowCore(IWin32Window owner, String text, String caption, MessageBoxButtons buttons, MessageBoxIcon icon, MessageBoxDefaultButton defaultButton, MessageBoxOptions options)
at System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show(String text)
at ak..ctor(String directPlayFileName, Boolean mvpMode)
at ak.Main(String[] args)
===

Can you check this out? It would be great if gbpvr can run as a service.

[sub]

Sorry, I dont have any easy solution for you at this stage. The MVP server doesn't work as a service. When I get time, I'll look at this again in the future.

[jeffcora]

Hi Roald,

I run a 4 instances of GBPVR MVP as 4 services on XP that start automatically. I find this makes it easier to restart them if needed, to start them automatically etc. It all works fine. How have you set this up? I used srvany.exe also. What registry entries have you added manually onto the service e.g
Under the Service name I have:
Description REG_SZ whatever
DisplayName REG_SZ whatever
ImagePath REG_EXPAND_SZ C:\PF\devnz\GBPVR\srvany.exe
+other standard entries

Under 'Parameters' I have:
(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
Application REG_SZ C:\PF\devnz\GBPVR\GRPVR.exe
AppParameters REG_SZ -mvpmode

Does it look like you have a similar setup?

Rob

[jeffcora]

Quote[/b] ]21-7-2004 09:07:29.500 ERROR [2] It is invalid to show a modal dialog or form when the application is not running in UserInteractive mode. Specify the ServiceNotification or DefaultDesktopOnly style to display a notification from a service application.

Arh, I've just looked at your errors and think it maybe the following:

You need to go into the service under control panel, go to the service properties, then the 'Log On' tab, make sure you have Log On as: Local System account and 'Allow service to interact with desktop'. Seem to remember I had to set this to get it to work.

If this isn't set, try that and restart the service.

[sub]

Yes, I think jeffcora is right.

[Guest]

Could someone explain the advantage of running GB-PVR MVP client as a service.

I typically have two clients running all the time, but in the future I plan on having more running. The machine that they are running on is a dedicated PC, used as a A/V server. It's only runs GB-PVR and a home automation package. The HA package already runs as a service.

Thanks.

[jeffcora]

I could be wrong, but I think the only advantage is that it provides more control. If you want to start a number of instances automatically on startup then obviously just set the startup as "automatic". If you need to restart the application then you can easily do so using 'net stop' or 'net start' etc. or go into Services and click restart etc. It's also eaiser to write batch files to (re)start or stop a number of instances. I know there are other ways but I personally find it easier doing it this way. You won't see any type of performance or resource improvements, it's just another way of starting up the application to me.

[sub]

I think the key reason people would prefer it to be a service is so that they dont have to have the machine logged in.

[Roald]

Jeffcora is right indeed. 'Allow service to interact with desktop' did the job.
Besides having more control, it would have been nice if the gbpvr/mvp control box was hidden.