Debugging A Window System Service in C#

Question

I get the error "Cannot start service from the command line or a debugger. A Windows Service must first be installed (using installutil.exe) and then started with the ServerExplorer, Windows Services Administrative tool or the NET START command.

So, is there not a way to run or test the Windows Service without installing it? Should I build my project in a Console Application, then transfer the code to a Windows Server project after it has been tested?

Thanks.

gregwhitaker · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-16T19:40:27.230

I tend to add a static Main method to my service class so that it can be invoked as a console application for debugging, but installed and ran as a service as well.

Something similar to the following:

    public partial class ControllerService : ServiceBase
    {

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            ControllerService service = new ControllerService();

            cmdLine = CommandLineParser.Parse(args);

            if (Environment.UserInteractive)
            {
                switch (cmdLine.StartMode)
                {
                    case StartMode.Install:
                        //Service Install Code Here
                        break;
                    case StartMode.Uninstall:
                        //Service Uninstall Code Here
                        break;
                    case StartMode.Console:
                    default:
                        service.OnStart(args);
                        consoleCloseEvent.WaitOne();
                        break;
                }
            }
            else
            {
                ServiceBase.Run(service);
            }
        }

        protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
        {
             //Do Start Stuff Here
        }

        protected override void OnStop()
        {
            if (Environment.UserInteractive)
            {
                consoleCloseEvent.Set();
            }
        }
   }

I think I have to try this approach, looks a lot better than the one I'm using — chhenni, Nov 16 '11 at 19:21
@gwhitake how would you access service.Onstart its not accessible due to its protection level. — ClearLogic, Nov 16 '11 at 19:32
@ClearLogic - service.OnStart() is accessible because you are calling it from inside the service class. — gregwhitaker, Nov 16 '11 at 19:35

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 16 '11 at 19:07

2

You could try to keep the code that performs the actual work in a separate assembly, and call that code from the service or a console application for testing.

answered Nov 16 '11 at 19:07

chhenni

1,127
9
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score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Jul 30 '12 at 19:53

0

there are two approaches you can use.

Create separate windows form application and call that code from the windows form project.
in the calling method, please use:
```
 #if Debug
 Debugger.Launch()
 #endif
```

I hope it helps.

edited Jul 30 '12 at 19:53

sloth

99,095
21
171
219

answered Nov 16 '11 at 19:50

VRK

400
2
5

Debugging A Window System Service in C#

3 Answers3