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Multiple Installer for Windows Service written in .Net
Posted on 2014-03-20
Dear Experts,
I have a windows service that is written in vb.net/.net 4.0. This is how I use the windows service.
1. I install seven instances of the same service on multiple servers. Each service reads an application settings value called process id (one value from 1 through 7). When the service processes data, it reads data belonging to that specific process id. That way I can run seven instances of the same service independently without any instance stepping any other instance.
2. The system administrators at my company want seven different installer (.msi) files, one for each windows service. So I have seven copies of the same windows service project. Each service has its own service installer and service process installer. Also, each windows service project has its own setup project. So I set the configuration value (process id) and service name for each windows service and execute a build for each service.
As you can see, this is not the most efficient way of implementing this. So I looked at this solution:
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/21320/Multiple-Instance-NET-Windows-Service
While I was able to implement this fairly easily, I cannot use installUtil (system administrators do not want to use it). I still want to build multiple installer (.msi) files but not have to keep multiple copies of code. Also, the seven services are installed across three servers and so I cannot package all seven services in one .msi file.
Is there a way I could keep one copy of the service and generate seven (or more instances controlled by a script or configuration file) different .msi files, one for each instance of the service?
My ideal solution will be to have some kind of a script that will accept number of services as a parameter and then generate one .msi file for each instance of the service. I am leaning towards PowerShell but don't know how difficult it will be in PowerShell. Also, I'd like to keep just one copy of the windows service code.
Sorry my question's description is a bit long but I wanted to make sure I document all the facts.
Thanks for your help.
I have a windows service that is written in vb.net/.net 4.0. This is how I use the windows service.
1. I install seven instances of the same service on multiple servers. Each service reads an application settings value called process id (one value from 1 through 7). When the service processes data, it reads data belonging to that specific process id. That way I can run seven instances of the same service independently without any instance stepping any other instance.
2. The system administrators at my company want seven different installer (.msi) files, one for each windows service. So I have seven copies of the same windows service project. Each service has its own service installer and service process installer. Also, each windows service project has its own setup project. So I set the configuration value (process id) and service name for each windows service and execute a build for each service.
As you can see, this is not the most efficient way of implementing this. So I looked at this solution:
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/21320/Multiple-Instance-NET-Windows-Service
While I was able to implement this fairly easily, I cannot use installUtil (system administrators do not want to use it). I still want to build multiple installer (.msi) files but not have to keep multiple copies of code. Also, the seven services are installed across three servers and so I cannot package all seven services in one .msi file.
Is there a way I could keep one copy of the service and generate seven (or more instances controlled by a script or configuration file) different .msi files, one for each instance of the service?
My ideal solution will be to have some kind of a script that will accept number of services as a parameter and then generate one .msi file for each instance of the service. I am leaning towards PowerShell but don't know how difficult it will be in PowerShell. Also, I'd like to keep just one copy of the windows service code.
Sorry my question's description is a bit long but I wanted to make sure I document all the facts.
Thanks for your help.
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4 Comments
I don't think you would need multiple msi packages. You could prompt for the service name (which should be unique in order to install multiple service instances) through the installer and write it to the config file in your installer code.
You program always reads the service name from the configuration file as shown in the link you posted.
You program always reads the service name from the configuration file as shown in the link you posted.
Hi
How about if you make main entry and add installer to service it self ?
so that you could just share exe file and use it with parameters like
service.exe /install /4
so it will install 4 services
something like this what i use
How about if you make main entry and add installer to service it self ?
so that you could just share exe file and use it with parameters like
service.exe /install /4
so it will install 4 services
something like this what i use
Try
If args.Length > 0 Then
Select Case args(0)
Case Is = "/u", "/uninstall", "-u"
System.Configuration.Install.ManagedInstallerClass.InstallHelper(New String() {"/u", Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location})
MsgBox("Service uninstalled sucessfully!", MsgBoxStyle.Information Or MsgBoxStyle.OkOnly, "Self Installing Service")
Case "/i", "/install", "-i"
System.Configuration.Install.ManagedInstallerClass.InstallHelper(New String() {Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location})
MsgBox("Service installed sucessfully! Please start it from the Services control panel.", MsgBoxStyle.Information Or MsgBoxStyle.OkOnly, "Self Installing Service")
Case "/h", "/options", "/o", "/help", "-h"
MsgBox("parameters " & vbCrLf & "service.exe /i or /install will install serverce" & vbCrLf & "service.exe /u or /uninstall will uninstall service")
' My.Forms.ApplicationOptionsForm.ShowDialog()
Case Else
MsgBox("Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand. :Homer Simpson")
End Select
Else
Dim ServicesToRun() As System.ServiceProcess.ServiceBase
ServicesToRun = New System.ServiceProcess.ServiceBase() {New email_exporter_service}
System.ServiceProcess.ServiceBase.Run(ServicesToRun)
End If
Catch ex As Exception
MsgBox("An error occured: " & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & ex.ToString, MsgBoxStyle.Critical Or MsgBoxStyle.OkOnly, "Self Installing Service")
End Try
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