Virtual Services View

AdminStudio 2023 | 25.0 | Virtual Package Editor

Windows services are executable files that Windows–based systems run in the background to manage various system tasks. A service is an executable file, but it must be designed as a service; you cannot automatically use an arbitrary executable file as a service. Windows services can be configured to run every time that the system starts or on demand when needed. The Virtual Services view enables you to configure services that you want to include in your App-V package so that they are available in the virtual environment.

The Virtual Services view shows the services that are configured for your App-V package. The Virtual Services view settings are organized into the following main categories:

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General Settings

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Error Handling Settings

General Settings

Use the General area of the Virtual Services view settings to specify information such as the name and location of the virtual service, as well as the type of service. This area is also where you specify when the service should be started. The following settings are available in this area:

General Settings in the Virtual Services View

Setting

Description

Name

Enter the name of the service. The name that you enter is used on the service’s Properties dialog box. (To access an installed service’s properties: In the Services administrative tool, right-click the service and then click Properties.)

The maximum number of characters that is allowed is 256. The forward slash (/) and the backslash (\) are not valid characters for service names.

The case of the name that you enter is preserved in the service control manager. Display name comparisons are always case-insensitive.

Display Name

Enter the name that you want to be displayed for this service in the service control manager and in other user interfaces. The maximum number of characters that is allowed is 256.

The case of the display name that you enter is preserved in the service control manager. Display name comparisons are always case-insensitive.

Path to Executable File

Enter the fully qualified path to the executable file for the service. If the path contains one or more spaces, surround the path with quotation marks. You can include arguments that you want to be passed for a service that starts automatically.

As an alternative to manually entering the path, you can click the Browse This Package button to browse to the executable file.

Service Type

Select the type of service that you are installing.

Service Is Interactive

Specify whether you want the service to be able to interact with users.

Startup Type

Specify when to start the service. Available options are:

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Automatic—The service starts automatically when the system starts.

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On Demand—The service starts when the service is requested through the service control manager.

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Never (Disabled)—The service cannot be started.

Error Control

Select the appropriate severity of the error to indicate the action that the service control manager should perform if the service fails to start. Available options are:

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Ignore—Ignore the error and continue with the service startup.

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Normal—Log the error and continue with the service startup.

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Severe—Log the error. If the last-known good configuration is being started, continue with the service startup. Otherwise, restart the system with the last-known good configuration.

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Critical—Log the error. If the last-known good configuration is being started, the service startup fails. Otherwise, restart the system with the last-known good configuration.

Group

Enter the name of the load-ordering group, if any, of which this service is a member.

Note that this setting can override the value of the Service Dependencies setting.

Group Dependencies

To specify one or more load-ordering groups that this service requires, click the ellipsis button (...) in this setting. When you do so, the Edit Value dialog box opens, enabling you to specify one or more groups. Enter each group on a separate line.

The system attempts to start at least one member of the load-ordering group before starting this service.

Service Dependencies

To specify one or more services that this service requires, click the ellipsis button (...) in this setting. When you do so, the Edit Value dialog box opens, enabling you to specify one or more services. Enter each service on a separate line.

The system attempts to start at least one member of the load-ordering group before starting this service.

Error Handling Settings

Use the Error Handling area of the Virtual Services view settings to specify what behavior should occur if the service fails.The following settings are available in this area:

Settings in the Virtual Services View
Setting	Description
Reset Period	Specify the amount of time (in seconds) between the reset intervals for the service’s failure count. As an alternative, you can select one of the values from the list in this setting. The service control manager counts the number of times that the service has failed since the system was last restarted. When this interval has elapsed, the count is reset to the number 0 if the service has not failed during the reset period. When the service fails, the system performs an action that is specified for the First Error setting, the Second Error setting, or the Additional Errors setting, depending on how many errors have occurred since the last failure count reset or system restart. To indicate that the failure count should never be reset, select Never or enter a value of -1.
Reboot Message	Specify the message that should be displayed before the computer is restarted in response to an error. Note that Reboot the Computer must be listed as one of the action types for the First Error setting, the Second Error setting, or the Additional Errors setting; otherwise, the Reboot Message setting is ignored.
Command	Specify the command line that should be run if the Run a Command option is selected for the First Error, Second Error, or Additional Errors setting, and the first, second, or subsequent error occurs during service startup. Programs or scripts that you specify should not require input from end users. The command line that you specify is used to create a new process that runs under the same account as the service.
First Error	Select the action that you want the service control manager to perform the first time that the service fails.
First Action Delay	Specify the time (in milliseconds) that the service control manager should wait before performing the action that is specified in the First Error setting. As an alternative, you can select one of the values from the list in this setting.
Second Error	Select the action that you want the service control manager to perform the second time that the service fails.
Second Action Delay	Specify the time (in milliseconds) that the service control manager should wait before performing the action that is specified in the Second Error setting. As an alternative, you can select one of the values from the list in this setting.
Additional Errors	Select the action that you want the service control manager to perform the third and subsequent times that the service fails.
Subsequent Action Delay	Specify the time (in milliseconds) that the service control manager should wait before performing the action that is specified in the Additional Errors setting. As an alternative, you can select one of the values from the list in this setting.