Invokable TP Written as an Application to Run as a Service

ID: Q151239

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

An autostarted Invokable Transaction Program (TP) written as a Microsoft Windows NT application can be configured to run as a Windows NT service using the Windows NT Resource Kit utility Srvany.exe. This TP can then be configured to be autostarted by SNA Server when invoked by the remote system. When you configure an application to run as a service, the application can be automatically started without a user being logged onto Windows NT. Also, the user context under which the application is run can be configured in the Services Control Panel.

NOTE: Some applications may assume that there is a logged on user in order to run properly. See the documentation for SRVANY included in the Windows NT Resource Kit for details. Some applications may not operate properly when run in this mode.

MORE INFORMATION

For a program to run as a service, the program must include a service control handler to communicate with the Windows NT Service Control Manager, so that it can respond to startup and shutdown requests.

Programs written specifically as a Windows NT service have these call in their code, whereas an application does not. The utility SRVANY acts as an intermediary between the application and Service Control Manager to allow an application to be run as a service.

Installation Instructions (adapted from Resource Kit Help file)

1. Copy SRVANY.EXE to your system and install it as a Windows NT service, 

   for example, INSTSRV MyService c:\tools\srvany.exe

   INSTSRV.EXE can be found in the Resource Kit. The service name
   "MyService" should be the TPName.
2. Configure the service (for example, "MyService") using the Services 
   applet of the Control Panel as manual or automatic. If you wish SNA
   Server to automatically start the TP when an attach request is received,
   configure the service for manual startup.
3. Set via the Services applet of the Control Panel the account for the 
   service. If you need access to the screen and keyboard, you must choose
   the LocalSystem account and click the Allow Service to Interact with
   Desktop, otherwise choose any account and specify the correct logon
   password.

   NOTE: The LocalSystem account does not have network access. Make sure
   that the account specified has rights to logon as a service.

Specify the Application to Start and its Parameters

Run the Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe):

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

1. Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MyService: 

   create a Parameters key.
2. Under the above key, create an Application value of type REG_SZ and 
   specify there the full path of your app executable (including the
   extension). For example, Application: REG_SZ: D:\Tools\Vi.exe
3. OPTIONAL: under the above key, create an AppParameters value of type 
   REG_SZ and specify the parameters for your app. For example,
   AppParameters: REG_SZ: C:\Tmp\Temp
4. OPTIONAL: under the above key, create an AppDirectory value of type 
   REG_SZ and specify the current directory to use for the application. For
   example, AppDirectory: REG_SZ: C:\Tmp

Add Registry Values to Have the Service Act as an Autostarted TP

1. Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MyService: 

   create a Linkage key
2. Under the above key, create an OtherDependencies value of type 
   REG_MULTI_SZ and specify SnaBase. For example, OtherDependencies:
   REG_MULTI_SZ: SnaBase
3. Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MyService 
   \Parameters, create the following values:

      AlreadyVerified:REG_SZ:no
      ConversationSecurity:REG_SZ:no
      LocalLU:REG_SZ:'LUAlias'  (optional)
      Parameters:REG_SZ:
      SNAServiceType:REG_DWORD:0x5   (type 5 is autostarted)
      Timeout:REG_DWORD:0xffffffff  (infinite timeout)

   NOTE: The above Invokable TP parameters are described in Chapter 2 of
   the SNA Server APPC and CPIC ?Programmer's Guides.?
These settings correspond to the fields in TPSETUP, the utility included with SNA Server for installing Invokable TPs. The SnaBase service must be stopped and started to recognize the new transaction program.

Additional query words: prodsna 

Keywords          : kbnetwork ntnetserv snaprog 
Version           : 2.0 2.1 2.11 3.0
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: April 18, 1997