Windows 7: Perl file (.pl) file with arguments as windows service

I am running Windows 7 32-bit. I have a perl script which i want to start everytime computer starts. Setting it as service will be a good option as i can start and restart the service from command line.



In windows XP I was using srvany.exe but that is not a good solution. Is there any way I can make this Perl Script which takes in some command line arguments as windows service. Tried using sc.exe, with that service is created but it fails to start.

To run that perl script i run on command line: .

Any help will be highly appreciated.


Thanks.

If the script is already created in services .... then right click on the service > properties > Stop the service and then on Start Parameters you can add your arguments..

Let me know.

Getting this Error:

udp_server ??? is that the one you created ??? Your perl script is trying to call on a dependent udp_server.. it has to be started before you can run your script

udp_server is just a name of Perl Script. In other words, I am trying to create a service using SC:

So udp_server is just a name and nothing else.

Generally speaking, you can't put an arbitrary executable as a Windows service (gives the error you say when starting), as it requires to call an specific interface with the OS to work as a service and respond to the service manager request, which the Perl runner obviously doesn't do. That's what srvany.exe do, provides that interface and runs your arbitrary program in turn. sc.exe is fine for creating the service entry itself.

Why you don't want to use srvany.exe?
I don't think there is another way to run a non-service .exe as a service, unless you make some other program to replace it, or modify the script to call the Windows services API (no idea if that's easy or even possible).

You can download the Windows 2003 Resource Kit from MS directly and then follow the below step

1. Copy INSTSRV (Allows you to installs and removes system services) and SRVANY (Allows any Windows application to run as a service.) to the System32 folder under Windows.

2. Run from the cmd as administrator from the C:\Windows\System32 folder

Run MS-DOS command prompt as an administrator as shown below, and run the following command:

INSTSRV <Service Name> C:\Windows\System32\SRVANY.EXE
For example: INSTRV UDP_SERVER C:\Windows\System32\SRVANY.EXE

3. Go to Services menu. and right click on your perl service and set the "Logon As" to Local System Account in the service properties.

4. Go to Regedit, then under

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Services > UDP_SERVER

Add the new Key: Parameters
Select Parameters
Add the String Value: Application
String: C:\PERL\bin\perl.exe (your path to the perl.exe program)

Add the String Value: AppParameters
String: C:\DIR_To_Perl\perl_script.pl (your path to the perl script ... this is where you add your extra arguments)

and Close REGEDIT

5. Go back to services and start your UDP_SERVER service.

Let me know if this works