HOWTO: Running as a Windows Service

Last modified 6/08/2005.

This document describes how you can run CourseForum or ProjectForum under Windows as a Service, so that it is automatically started when your system starts, without anyone needing to be logged in. This is in contrast to the normal method of running with a user interface, and may make more sense in some environments.

Windows Services are available under Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.

Note: Bundled service support is only available starting with version 4.1. Another method was used in earlier versions.

Using the Service Version

On the download pages for ProjectForum and CourseForum, you'll see two different versions for Windows. The normal one, and the Windows service/console version. Make sure you download the correct version, which will be downloaded as either pfconsole.exe or cfconsole.exe.

When you run the installer for the service/console version, it will ask if you want to install the software as a Windows service. If you just want to use it from the command line, you can just say no, and run the installed executable manually.

If you do choose to allow the installer to install it as a Windows service, it will be automatically added to the system and started. As with other services, it will continue to be available after you logoff, reboot, etc.

The service can be started and stopped using the Services control panel. It can also be started and stopped using the supplied winserv.exe command line tool, using "winserv start ProjectForum" or "winserv stop ProjectForum" (or CourseForum).

If you've started out using the normal (GUI) version and want to switch to the service version, simply exit the normal version, and then install and start the service version. All of your existing data will be picked up.

Upgrading: Be very careful when upgrading to a new version. As always, you'll have to make sure you shut down the old version before installing the new one. It's worthwhile verifying both in the Services control panel and in Task Manager (look for pfconsole.exe or cfconsole.exe) that the service has stopped running. If you are having trouble getting the service to stop, see this FAQ entry.

Service support is handled using a free third party tool called winserv, which is bundled with our software. Please see their website for additional information.