Setup and Run PowerSync Server as an NT Service

PowerSync Server contains two executable files. One is the engine ( pwrsync.exe ) and the other is the scheduler (pssched.exe ). Using the Microsoft utilities SRVANY.EXE and INSTSRV.EXE you can run pssched.exe as an NT Service. It will then call the engine as required. This will provide the following advantages to the user.

1. Allows the program to survive Logoff / Logon sequences saving the overhead of stopping and starting the program.
2. Allows the program to service requests when no users are logged on.
3. Allows the program to perform tasks in an account other than the currently logged on user account.
4. Once defined, a service rarely requires attention.

The steps to setup pssched.exe to run as an NT service are defined below.

Important Note for All PowerSync RTS Users

The service must be set to Automatic startup, the shortcut to pssched.exe must be removed from the startup folder and the system restarted at the end of this procedure. After the restart, pssched.exe will be running as a service. It is very important that you never run pssched.exe as an application again. If you do, the service will become unreliable and errors will occur. An example of how this might occur is that the user stops the pssched.exe service, and starts pssched.exe up as an application from the Programs menu (Auto-Sync). After some period of time the user exits the instance of pssched.exe running as an application and restarts the service. Random errors will now occur because pssched.exe must never have run as an application since the last system restart if it is to run reliably as a service.

End of Note for All PowerSync RTS Users

Important Note for PowerSync 4.X Users

After Auto-Sync™ is set up to run as a service the Icon will not appear in the tray. When you create and save a new Auto-Sync™, or edit and save an existing one, the Icon will now appear in the tray. You must double click the Icon to open the Auto-Sync window and from the File Menu select Exit. This will remove the Icon from the tray. This procedure is necessary because whenever the Icon appears in the tray you have two instances of Auto-Sync running. One is running as the background service and the other is running as an application. The Icon in the tray is the application instance and must be closed.

End of Note for PowerSync 4.X Users

Warning: This procedure should only be attempted by a person that is completely familiar with modifying the NT Registry. You can destroy the operating system’s ability to restart!

Files

SRVANY.EXE ( Required )

INSTSRV.EXE ( Required )

SRVANY.WRI ( Tutorial )

These files are included in the NT Resource Kit and are available on the Internet.

Before Starting: Close Auto-Sync (in the tray) and remove the Shortcut to it from your Startup folder.

The path to the Startup folder will depend on the version of PowerSync you are using.

If drive C is not the system drive, replace C with correct drive lette

For version 4.X, it will be:

C:\WINNT\Profiles\Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

For Version 5.X, it will be:

C:\ WINNT\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.

Procedure

(This procedure assumes PowerSync is installed in the C:\pwrsync directory. )

1. Make the directory C:\Tools
   
   
2. Copy SRVANY.EXE and INSTSRV.EXE into the C:\Tools directory.
   
   
3. Go to the DOS Command Console prompt and transfer to the C:\Tools directory
   
   
4. Enter the following command: INSTSRV ASync C:\Tools\SRVANY.EXE
   
   
5. Exit the DOS Command Console.
   
   
6. Go to Start – Run and enter REGEDT32. Click OK
   
   
7. In REGEDT32, navigate to the sub-key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\ASync
   
   
8. Double-click the sub-key ASync and leave it highlighted. (Selected)
   
   
9. Choose EDIT from the menu and select ADD KEY.
   
   
10. The Add Key dialog box will be displayed. In the Key Name text box enter Parameters. No entry is required in the Class text box. Click OK.
    
    
11. Highlight the Parameters sub-key, choose EDIT and select Add Value.
    
    
12. In the Add Value dialog box, enter Application in the Value Name text box. From the Data Type list box select REG_SZ. Click OK. The String Editor Dialog box will open up. Enter the following: C:\pwrsync\pssched.exe Click OK
    
    
13. With the Parameters sub-key still selected, choose EDIT and Add Value. In the Add Value dialog box enter AppDirectory in the Value Name text box. From the Data Type list box select REG_SZ. Click OK. The String Editor Dialog box will open up. Enter the following: C:\pwrsync Click OK
    
    Note: This completes the modifications to the Registry. Close Regedt32.
    
    
14. Go to the Control Panel and double-click Services. Scroll to the ASync line and double-click it. A dialog box will open up. If the server that you are setting this service up on and all the servers that you will synchronize with or replicate to or from are in the same domain, follow procedure A. If they are in different domains follow procedure B.

 Procedure A
"Startup Type" Set to Automatic
"Log On As" Set to System Account
"Allow Services to Interact with Desktop" Do not check this option.

Procedure B
Create a new account in the domain where PowerSync is executing and in all domains that you will synchronize with or replicate from or to. These new accounts must have the same user name and password in all domains. Additionally they must be in the administrator group and have the full privileges of that group.
"Startup Type" Set to Automatic
"Log On As" Set to This Account (Use the new account you just created)
"Allow Services to Interact with Desktop" Do not check this option

Click OK

Close the Services Applet and the Control Panel.
Edit all Auto-Syncs and check "Run Minimized" and "Quit when sync complete."  All "Confirmations" should be unchecked for automatic operation.

Restart your System

You should now be able to run Auto-Sync as a service on your Windows NT 4.0 Server.

Remove A Service

To remove the service created above, perform the following steps.

1. Go to the Control Panel and double click Services.
2. Scroll down to ASync and select it. Click Stop.
3. Close Services and the Control Panel
4. Go to a DOS Command Console prompt and transfer to C:\Tools.
5. Enter the following command: INSTSRV ASync REMOVE
6. Add a Shortcut to C:\pwrsync\pssched.exe to your Startup directory.

Restart your System