Java - Javaservice - Creation of a Windows Service

On Windows, when the machine fails and/or is rebooted, your application is unavailable for remote commands until a user logs in and starts it.

As an solution, you can configure your process :

• as a Windows service that will run automatically when the machine boots.
• as a scheduled task.

The most common method used is to install it as service with JavaService.

JavaService (Windows NT Service Daemon) commands:-

        -version
        -licence
        -install service_name jvm service_options...
        -queryconfig service_name
        -status service_name
        -uninstall service_name
        -help
        -help topic

But you have more options that you can found on this page JavaService installation parameters.

You can redirect for instance the log file with this parameters:

• -out out_log_file (optional) - A file into which System.out will be redirected. If this parameter is not specified, System.out will not be redirected.
• -err err_log_file (optional) - A file into which System.err will be redirected. If this parameter is not specified, System.err will not be redirected.

Download the open source tool named JavaService.exe from http://javaservice.objectweb.org/ which can create Windows Services for Java Programs.

Adjust the path and execute the following command:

javaservice ^
    -install "My Service Service" "PathToJDK32Bit\jre\bin\client\jvm.dll" ^
    -XX:MaxPermSize=128m ^
    -Xmx512m ^
    "-Djava.class.path=PathToYouJar/app.jar" ^
    -start theMainClass ^
    -out "pathToTheOutStreamLog.txt" ^
    -err "pathToTheErrorStreamLog.txt" ^
    -description "App description"

Ref: Metalink

HKLM\SYSTEM\CONTROLSET001\Services

If you receive this error during the installation, be careful with the order of the parameters. The description must be at the end of the command for instance.

Unrecognised or incorrectly-ordered parameters for install command
The last 2 parameters (from '-description') were not recognised
JavaService install command parameters not valid, or incomplete

If you receive this error during the start of the service (check the Application/Event Viewer)

The LoadLibrary function failed for the following reason: LoadLibrary is not a valid Win32 application.

It's because in 64 bit, you must use a 64 java version and not a 32 bit.

If you receive this error during the start of the service (check the Application/Event Viewer)

The LoadLibrary function failed for the following reason: The specified module could not be found.

It's because the path that you have specified during the installation are not good. You deinstall the service with the uninstall.bat file or you can modify them in the registry.

Answer from the Oracle OC4J FAQ, only for 32 Bit machines

How can I start OC4J standalone as a service in NT ?

In Oracle9iAS Release 2, OC4J is started as a managed process by Oracle Process Management Notification (OPMN). This provides automatic startup, shutdown and death detection functionalities for OC4J processes. For environments which require the use of OC4J as a service, Oracle9iAS should be used.

Optionally, you can set OC4J as a service in Windows as follows:

• Create a command file to start OC4J as follows:

set PATH=c:\java1.3\bin;%PATH
cd \oracle\ias\j2ee\home
java -jar oc4j.jar

• Create a service for the this command file using NT/Win2k Resource Kit. You can use the following Microsoft article how to create a service: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q137/8/90.asp

This solution is only good for 32bit machine because Windows do not support srvany.exe (in the ressource Toolkit on a Windows 2003 64-bit machines.