The document discusses Windows services, which are long-running executable applications that run without a user interface and can start automatically when Windows restarts. It describes how to manage services through the Services console and covers alternatives like Windows Task Scheduler. The document also introduces several frameworks for developing Windows services like Topshelf and Quartz.NET and provides examples of automated backup, event logging, SMS reminders, and using OneNote through a service.

1. Fun with Windows
Services
Michael Melusky –Tuesday November 18, 2014 (central penn .net)
https://twitter.com/mrjavascript
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2. What is a Windows Service?
▪ A long running executable application that runs in its own Windows
Session
▪ Can be started automatically upon Windows restart, can be paused
and stopped
▪ No user interface is shown

3. When to use Windows Services?
▪ Your program accepts incoming requests and connections (e.g. mail
server, FTP server, et al.)
▪ If you need to do processing without an active user logged in
▪ Monitoring queues, file systems

4. Managing Windows Services:
▪ In Windows 8.1, hit WIN key and type “services.msc”
▪ In Windows 7/XP, Run -> “services.msc”

5. Managing Windows Services:
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Chart Title
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4
Series 1 Series 2 Series 3

6. Windows Service Details
▪ Manage Startup Type
▪ Manage Service Status
▪ Manage Description
▪ Manage Security

7. Goal of Windows Service Development?

8. Alternatives to Windows Services:
▪ Windows Task Scheduler:
– Ideal for nightly FTP retrieval
– Hourly backup
– Weekly Defrag
▪ Example (“Hello World”)

9. Building Services with Visual Studio
▪ Can be built using the “Windows Service” project type in Visual
Studio
▪ Built with either C# or VB.NET
▪ Example (“File Creator”)

10. Topshelf
▪ http://topshelf-project.com/
▪ Easier approach for developing Windows Services
▪ Can convert a Windows Console application into a Service (easy for
debugging!)
▪ NUGET:
– PM> Install-Package Topshelf
▪ Example (“File Creator Redux”)

11. Quartz.NET
▪ http://www.quartz-scheduler.net/
▪ Enterprise Job Scheduler ported from the famous Java framework
– Jobs implement the IJob interface
– Jobs can be scheduled using Triggers
– Jobs and triggers can be stored in a data store (e.g. relational database)
▪ NUGET:
– PM> Install-Package Quartz

12. log4net
▪ http://logging.apache.org/log4net/
▪ Enterprise logging framework built off of the famous Java framework
log4j
▪ NUGET
– PM> Install-Package log4net

13. Example #1
▪ Automated Backup

14. Example #2
▪ Event Viewer

15. Example #3
▪ Automated SMS Resource Reminder

16. Example #4
▪ Fun with OneNote

17. Example #5
▪ SQL Server Job Store