Creating Windows Service in VB.Net Standard

[mark007]

I'm sure it must be doable by changing some of the settings in the project file for a console app as per creating a class library. Given class library changes are:

 

OutputType="exe"==>OutputType="library"

StartupObject = "Module1"==>StartupObject = ""

 

I'm thinking that I probably just need to change the startup object to "" and create the standard ServiceBase and installer clases needed for a service. Any thoughts?

 

I was also wondering whether there is any reason for a service to be an exe rather than dll?

 

Thanks.

 

:)

[HJB417]

services are executable that run under a different windows account.

[mark007]

Thanks for the reply though I'm not sure how that helps me...

 

I have created the code for my service - a cut down version being:

 

Public Class ETUpdaterService
       Inherits System.ServiceProcess.ServiceBase

       Private WithEvents m_timer As New System.Timers.Timer
     
       Protected Overrides Sub OnStart(ByVal args() As String)
           'this is where we start the checking for updates
           m_timer.Interval = 600000 'every 10 minutes
           m_timer.AutoReset = True
           m_timer.Enabled = True
       End Sub

       Protected Overrides Sub OnStop()
           'stop the timer
           m_timer.Enabled = False
       End Sub

       Private Sub m_timer_Elapsed(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Timers.ElapsedEventArgs) _
Handles m_timer.Elapsed
           m_timer.Enabled = False
           'check to see if there are any updates
         
           m_timer.Enabled = True
       End Sub

       Protected Overrides Sub OnCustomCommand(ByVal command As Integer)
           m_timer.Enabled = False
           If command = 255 Then
                  'force the app to download new updates
           End If
           m_timer.Enabled = True
       End Sub

   End Class

   'Now comes installation class
   <RunInstaller(True)> Public Class ServiceInstaller
       Inherits System.Configuration.Install.Installer

#Region " Component Designer generated code "

       Public Sub New()
           MyBase.New()

           'This call is required by the Component Designer.
           InitializeComponent()

           'Add any initialization after the InitializeComponent() call

       End Sub

       'Installer overrides dispose to clean up the component list.
       Protected Overloads Overrides Sub Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean)
           If disposing Then
               If Not (components Is Nothing) Then
                   components.Dispose()
               End If
           End If
           MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
       End Sub

       'Required by the Component Designer
       Private components As System.ComponentModel.IContainer

       'NOTE: The following procedure is required by the Component Designer
       'It can be modified using the Component Designer.  
       'Do not modify it using the code editor.
       Friend WithEvents ServiceProcessInstaller1 As System.ServiceProcess.ServiceProcessInstaller
       Friend WithEvents ServiceInstaller1 As System.ServiceProcess.ServiceInstaller
       <System.Diagnostics.DebuggerStepThrough()> Private Sub InitializeComponent()
           Me.ServiceProcessInstaller1 = New System.ServiceProcess.ServiceProcessInstaller
           Me.ServiceInstaller1 = New System.ServiceProcess.ServiceInstaller
           '
           'ServiceProcessInstaller1
           '
           Me.ServiceProcessInstaller1.Account = ServiceProcess.ServiceAccount.LocalSystem
           Me.ServiceProcessInstaller1.Password = Nothing
           Me.ServiceProcessInstaller1.Username = Nothing
           Me.ServiceInstaller1.DisplayName = "ETUpdaterService"
           Me.ServiceInstaller1.ServiceName = "ETUpdaterService"
           Me.ServiceInstaller1.StartType = ServiceProcess.ServiceStartMode.Manual

           '
           'ProjectInstaller
           '
           Me.Installers.AddRange(New System.Configuration.Install.Installer() _
{Me.ServiceProcessInstaller1, Me.ServiceInstaller1})

       End Sub

#End Region

   End Class

 

I created this in a windows console app for the time being. Clearly though there isn't a sub main. I would be intrigued to see the output of the vbproj file for a service to see how it is setup and if changing the relevant entries will fool vb.net standard into creating a windows service.

 

So again any ideas as to how it could be done and why it needs to be an exe. For instance if I compile it as per a library would it still install as a service with installutil? Or perhaps if I compile as an exe (ie. console app) with no code in sub main it would install and run correctly?

 

:)