What are the advantages to running application as a service?

[Bodine]

I'm installing an app on a test server here and it's giving me the option to install it as a service or not. I've seen this question a few times recently in different sfw packages.

What are the advantages and disadvantages to running an app as service?

 

[MrChad]

Services are much easier to start and stop remotely.

 

[EatSpam]

No one has to be logged in for the app to run.

 

[Bodine]

Both good answers. Thanks.

 

[NogginBoink]

A service is a program that runs when no user is logged in. Programs that run this way generally provide network services to other computers (mail servers, database servers, print servers, file servers, etc.)

A typical program is designed to be used interactively by a single user with a GUI interface.

What kind of program allows itself to be installed either way? This sounds like the work of a programmer who doesn't know what the hell he's doing.

 

[shud]

Originally posted by: NogginBoink
A service is a program that runs when no user is logged in. Programs that run this way generally provide network services to other computers (mail servers, database servers, print servers, file servers, etc.)

A typical program is designed to be used interactively by a single user with a GUI interface.

What kind of program allows itself to be installed either way? This sounds like the work of a programmer who doesn't know what the hell he's doing.

There are plenty of programs that have an option to run as a service, most frequently these programs are FTP daemons and whatnot.

 

[bsobel]

What kind of program allows itself to be installed either way? This sounds like the work of a programmer who doesn't know what the hell he's doing.

This is still common with applications which support 9x as well as the 2k+ family. On 2k+ the give a service install option (for the obvious reasons) but allow it to run just as an app in the startup group for 9x compaibility. I've got a few apps like this on my box.

Bill

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: NogginBoink

What kind of program allows itself to be installed either way? This sounds like the work of a programmer who doesn't know what the hell he's doing.

I'll be sure to forward your comments on to the apache team, as it's one application that you can setup that way.

 

[NogginBoink]

Apache and FTP daemons SHOULD run as services.

Why in the hell would anyone want to run them as interactive applcations? They provide network services to other computers. It makes no sense to run them as applications.

(Note that a Windows Service is equivalent to a *nix daemon. If you'd run it as a deamon under *nix, you should run it as a service under Windows.)

 

[nweaver]

unless you have apache for development/testing/special stuff, then you just want to fire it up when required, rather then wasting resources always running it. And even if you don't see a need (I don't really either) it still supports that type of installation.


Kiwi cat tools is another that is either way. I always install it as an app.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: NogginBoink
Apache and FTP daemons SHOULD run as services. Why in the hell would anyone want to run them as interactive applcations?

It's typically done to support debugging and application development scenarios. No one is arguing that for normal 'server' usage you'd run it any other way.

 

[robphelan]

RealVNC gives you this option as well.

 

[TGS]

Ventrilo, Team Speak...