Install windows service without InstallUtil.exe

Question

I\'m trying to deploy a windows service but not quite sure how to do it right. I built it as a console app to start with, I\'ve now turned it into a windows service project

Answer 1

This is a base service class (ServiceBase subclass) that can be subclassed to build a windows service that can be easily installed from the command line, without installutil.exe. This solution is derived from How to make a .NET Windows Service start right after the installation?, adding some code to get the service Type using the calling StackFrame

public abstract class InstallableServiceBase:ServiceBase
{

    /// 

    /// returns Type of the calling service (subclass of InstallableServiceBase)
    /// 
    /// 
    protected static Type getMyType()
    {
        Type t = typeof(InstallableServiceBase);
        MethodBase ret = MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod();
        Type retType = null;
        try
        {
            StackFrame[] frames = new StackTrace().GetFrames();
            foreach (StackFrame x in frames)
            {
                ret = x.GetMethod();

                Type t1 = ret.DeclaringType;

                if (t1 != null && !t1.Equals(t) &&   !t1.IsSubclassOf(t))
                {


                    break;
                }
                retType = t1;
            }
        }
        catch
        {

        }
        return retType;
    }
    /// 

    /// returns AssemblyInstaller for the calling service (subclass of InstallableServiceBase)
    /// 
    /// 
    protected static AssemblyInstaller GetInstaller()
    {
        Type t = getMyType();
        AssemblyInstaller installer = new AssemblyInstaller(
            t.Assembly, null);
        installer.UseNewContext = true;
        return installer;
    }

    private bool IsInstalled()
    {
        using (ServiceController controller =
            new ServiceController(this.ServiceName))
        {
            try
            {
                ServiceControllerStatus status = controller.Status;
            }
            catch
            {
                return false;
            }
            return true;
        }
    }

    private bool IsRunning()
    {
        using (ServiceController controller =
            new ServiceController(this.ServiceName))
        {
            if (!this.IsInstalled()) return false;
            return (controller.Status == ServiceControllerStatus.Running);
        }
    }
    /// 

    /// protected method to be called by a public method within the real service
    /// ie: in the real service
    ///    new internal  void InstallService()
    ///    {
    ///        base.InstallService();
    ///    }
    /// 
    protected void InstallService()
    {
        if (this.IsInstalled()) return;

        try
        {
            using (AssemblyInstaller installer = GetInstaller())
            {

                IDictionary state = new Hashtable();
                try
                {
                    installer.Install(state);
                    installer.Commit(state);
                }
                catch
                {
                    try
                    {
                        installer.Rollback(state);
                    }
                    catch { }
                    throw;
                }
            }
        }
        catch
        {
            throw;
        }
    }
    /// 

    /// protected method to be called by a public method within the real service
    /// ie: in the real service
    ///    new internal  void UninstallService()
    ///    {
    ///        base.UninstallService();
    ///    }
    /// 
    protected void UninstallService()
    {
        if (!this.IsInstalled()) return;

        if (this.IsRunning()) {
            this.StopService();
        }
        try
        {
            using (AssemblyInstaller installer = GetInstaller())
            {
                IDictionary state = new Hashtable();
                try
                {
                    installer.Uninstall(state);
                }
                catch
                {
                    throw;
                }
            }
        }
        catch
        {
            throw;
        }
    }

    private void StartService()
    {
        if (!this.IsInstalled()) return;

        using (ServiceController controller =
            new ServiceController(this.ServiceName))
        {
            try
            {
                if (controller.Status != ServiceControllerStatus.Running)
                {
                    controller.Start();
                    controller.WaitForStatus(ServiceControllerStatus.Running,
                        TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10));
                }
            }
            catch
            {
                throw;
            }
        }
    }

    private void StopService()
    {
        if (!this.IsInstalled()) return;
        using (ServiceController controller =
            new ServiceController(this.ServiceName))
        {
            try
            {
                if (controller.Status != ServiceControllerStatus.Stopped)
                {
                    controller.Stop();
                    controller.WaitForStatus(ServiceControllerStatus.Stopped,
                         TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10));
                }
            }
            catch
            {
                throw;
            }
        }
    }
}

All you have to do is to implement two public/internal methods in your real service:

    new internal  void InstallService()
    {
        base.InstallService();
    }
    new internal void UninstallService()
    {
        base.UninstallService();
    }

and then call them when you want to install the service:

    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        if (Environment.UserInteractive)
        {
            MyService s1 = new MyService();
            if (args.Length == 1)
            {
                switch (args[0])
                {
                    case "-install":
                        s1.InstallService();

                        break;
                    case "-uninstall":

                        s1.UninstallService();
                        break;
                    default:
                        throw new NotImplementedException();
                }
            }


        }
        else {
            ServiceBase[] ServicesToRun;
            ServicesToRun = new ServiceBase[] 
            { 
                new MyService() 
            };
            ServiceBase.Run(MyService);            
        }

    }