Author Topic: Running Weatherlink as a Service?  (Read 7393 times)

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Offline Bushman

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Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« on: December 02, 2009, 06:02:26 PM »
Anyone ever try running Weatherlink  as an NT/XP service?
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Offline W3DRM

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2009, 10:53:34 PM »
I may be mistaken but I think this was discussed previously. I can't find any reference to it so it may have been in the old forum. I don't remember what the answer was so perhaps someone can dig back into their memory and give a better answer.

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Offline dalecoy

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2009, 11:31:56 PM »
I may be mistaken but I think this was discussed previously. I can't find any reference to it so it may have been in the old forum. I don't remember what the answer was so perhaps someone can dig back into their memory and give a better answer.



I found a reference from 2005:  (Accuweather)

http://forums.accuweather.com/index.php?showtopic=2110

" Oct 21 2005, 06:46 PM
Post #2
   
I run Weatherlink as a Service using FireDaemon. http://www.firedaemon.com/"

... and also a mention here:

http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=713.0

Offline Mark / Ohio

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2009, 12:13:34 AM »
Unfortunately Firedaemon discontinued their free version around the time of those posts.  I'm sure Dragonfly was running it that way.  But seems like he said he had to then go into task manager in order to shutdown the program.  Too bad he has not been around the forum for awhile.  I think I still have the installer for the free version saved somewhere.  For some reason I did not have much luck doing it but cannot remember why.
Mark 
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Offline W3DRM

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2009, 12:29:30 AM »
I see Firedaemon is now $39 so it still isn't unreasonable, if you have a need for it. I've thought about using it for WL but not sure if it really buys me anything. I run all of my Wx software under Startwatch so not sure if I could even run WL with Firedaemon anyway. VWS is the only Wx software I run that I have any problem with and Startwatch takes care of that just fine.

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Offline Bushman

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #5 on: December 03, 2009, 01:21:12 AM »
I saw Firedaemon, but was looking for free.  :)  I did find  an MS KB article about running an app as a service so I might try it this weekend.
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Offline d_l

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #6 on: December 03, 2009, 09:22:11 AM »
I did find  an MS KB article about running an app as a service so I might try it this weekend.

Isn't there a program included with XP Pro, cs.exe, that will allow an application to be run as a service?  I tried to find cs on my computer, but then I realized it wasn't in XP Home.
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Offline Bushman

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #7 on: December 03, 2009, 09:26:06 AM »
srvany.exe and Instrsrv.exe are the two snippets.  Will give it a shot this w/e.

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Offline d_l

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #8 on: December 03, 2009, 09:29:01 AM »
I saw those as well, but are they for XP Home?
--Dave--

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Offline Bushman

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #9 on: December 03, 2009, 09:32:37 AM »
For anything with an NT core.  Should work fine.  They are from the resource kit from 98 IIRC
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Offline DaculaWeather

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #10 on: December 03, 2009, 11:29:45 AM »
I guess my question is why would you do that?

Offline Bushman

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #11 on: December 03, 2009, 11:41:48 AM »
Here's an XP approach:  http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=304

As to why, well just 'cause.  :0  Seriously...

Microsoft Windows services, formerly known as NT services, enable you to create long-running executable applications that run in their own Windows sessions. These services can be automatically started when the computer boots, can be paused and restarted, and do not show any user interface. These features make services ideal for use on a server or whenever you need long-running functionality that does not interfere with other users who are working on the same computer. You can also run services in the security context of a specific user account that is different from the logged-on user or the default computer account.  Apps start before you log in, and since they run in the background that frees up resources to do other stuff.
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Offline dalecoy

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #12 on: December 03, 2009, 12:25:10 PM »
Here's an XP approach:  http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=304

As to why, well just 'cause.  :0  Seriously...

Microsoft Windows services, formerly known as NT services, enable you to create long-running executable applications that run in their own Windows sessions. These services can be automatically started when the computer boots, can be paused and restarted, and do not show any user interface. These features make services ideal for use on a server or whenever you need long-running functionality that does not interfere with other users who are working on the same computer. You can also run services in the security context of a specific user account that is different from the logged-on user or the default computer account.  Apps start before you log in, and since they run in the background that frees up resources to do other stuff.

One disadvantage can be if the application is not designed to interact with the desktop, when running as a service.  I'm not exactly sure how WeatherLink would do that. 

Offline Bushman

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #13 on: December 03, 2009, 12:26:24 PM »
This weekend I'll find out.  :)
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Offline DaculaWeather

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #14 on: December 03, 2009, 04:17:01 PM »
Here's an XP approach:  http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=304

As to why, well just 'cause.  :0  Seriously...

Microsoft Windows services, formerly known as NT services, enable you to create long-running executable applications that run in their own Windows sessions. These services can be automatically started when the computer boots, can be paused and restarted, and do not show any user interface. These features make services ideal for use on a server or whenever you need long-running functionality that does not interfere with other users who are working on the same computer. You can also run services in the security context of a specific user account that is different from the logged-on user or the default computer account.  Apps start before you log in, and since they run in the background that frees up resources to do other stuff.

I understand services... but why???  :grin: I can see doing it as an experiment, and I can see doing it for some of the reasons you stated above, but for Weatherlink?  I just can't see the benefit for that app.

Offline Bushman

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #15 on: December 03, 2009, 04:25:47 PM »
If you 'service-ify" an app, you get  the benefit of 24/7 ops without 3rd party apps.  Plus there are great tools for service monitoring.
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Offline DaculaWeather

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #16 on: December 03, 2009, 04:30:08 PM »
I don't even think running VWS as a service would make it 24/7!!!!  :lol:

Offline SLOweather

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #17 on: December 03, 2009, 05:28:14 PM »
I don't even think running VWS as a service would make it 24/7!!!!  :lol:

Mine's been running for 38 days, and 42 before that, when I needed to reboot for a software installation.

Offline DaculaWeather

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #18 on: December 03, 2009, 05:35:26 PM »
Mine's doing good now that I use p100 and Startwatch. So far it's been running for about 8 days, I did a reboot before that.

Offline Bushman

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #19 on: December 03, 2009, 05:44:52 PM »
What's P100?
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Offline DaculaWeather

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Re: Running Weatherlink as a Service?
« Reply #20 on: December 03, 2009, 05:47:30 PM »
Sorry, VWS.