NSIS Simple Service Plugin

This plugin contains basic service functions like start, stop the service or checking the service status. It also contains advanced service functions for example setting the service description, changed the logon account, granting or removing the service logon privilege.

This plugin is using the MPL License or alternatively the LGPL License.

Links

The ZIP file containing a precompiled plugin DLL (to be saved in NSIS' plugin directory) and the sources. If you update from a previous version it is strongly recommend to take look at the changelog.

• Unicode Version: NSIS_Simple_Service_Plugin_Unicode_1.30.zip (405 KB) (Recommend for >= NSIS 3.x)
• ANSI Version: NSIS_Simple_Service_Plugin_ANSI_1.30.zip (48 KB)

Donation

If you believe that I am doing a good job and you want to support me please donate any amount via PayPal.

Short Reference

SimpleSC::InstallService [name_of_service] [display_name] [service_type] [start_type] 
  [binary_path] [dependencies] [account] [password]
SimpleSC::RemoveService [name_of_service]
 
SimpleSC::StartService [name_of_service] [arguments] [timeout]
SimpleSC::StopService [name_of_service] [wait_for_file_release] [timeout]
SimpleSC::PauseService [name_of_service] [timeout]
SimpleSC::ContinueService [name_of_service] [timeout]
SimpleSC::RestartService [name_of_service] [arguments] [timeout]
SimpleSC::ExistsService [name_of_service]
 
SimpleSC::GetServiceDisplayName [name_of_service]
SimpleSC::GetServiceName [display_name]
SimpleSC::GetServiceStatus [name_of_service]
SimpleSC::GetServiceDescription [name_of_service]
SimpleSC::GetServiceStartType [name_of_service]
SimpleSC::GetServiceBinaryPath [name_of_service]
SimpleSC::GetServiceLogon [name_of_service]
SimpleSC::GetServiceFailure [name_of_service]
SimpleSC::GetServiceFailureFlag [name_of_service]
SimpleSC::GetServiceDelayedAutoStartInfo [name_of_service]
 
SimpleSC::SetServiceDescription [name_of_service] [service_description]
SimpleSC::SetServiceStartType [name_of_service] [start_type]
SimpleSC::SetServiceBinaryPath [name_of_service] [binary_path]
SimpleSC::SetServiceLogon [name_of_service] [account] [password]
SimpleSC::SetServiceFailure [name_of_service] [reset_period] [reboot_message] [command] 
  [action_type_1] [action_delay_1] [action_type_2] [action_delay_2] [action_type_3] 
  [action_delay_3]
SimpleSC::SetServiceFailureFlag [name_of_service] [failure_actions_on_non_crash_failures]
SimpleSC::SetServiceDelayedAutoStartInfo [name_of_service] [delayed_autostart]
 
SimpleSC::GrantServiceLogonPrivilege [account]
SimpleSC::RemoveServiceLogonPrivilege [account]
 
SimpleSC::ServiceIsPaused [name_of_service]
SimpleSC::ServiceIsRunning [name_of_service]
SimpleSC::ServiceIsStopped [name_of_service]
 
SimpleSC::GetErrorMessage [error_code]

Parameters:

• name_of_service - The name of the service used for Start/Stop commands and all further commands
• display_name - The name as shown in the service control manager applet in system control
• service_type - One of the following codes
  • 1 - SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER - Driver service.
  • 2 - SERVICE_FILE_SYSTEM_DRIVER - File system driver service.
  • 16 - SERVICE_WIN32_OWN_PROCESS - Service that runs in its own process. (Should be used in most cases)
  • 32 - SERVICE_WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS - Service that shares a process with one or more other services.
  • 256 - SERVICE_INTERACTIVE_PROCESS - The service can interact with the desktop.
    • Note: If you specify either SERVICE_WIN32_OWN_PROCESS or SERVICE_WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS, and the service is running in the context of the LocalSystem account, you can also specify this value. Example: SERVICE_WIN32_OWN_PROCESS or SERVICE_INTERACTIVE_PROCESS - (16 or 256) = 272
    • Note: Services cannot directly interact with a user as of Windows Vista. Therefore, this technique should not be used in new code. See for more information: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms683502(VS.85).aspx

• start_type - one of the following codes
  • 0 - SERVICE_BOOT_START - Driver boot stage start
  • 1 - SERVICE_SYSTEM_START - Driver scm stage start
  • 2 - SERVICE_AUTO_START - Service auto start (Should be used in most cases)
  • 3 - SERVICE_DEMAND_START - Driver/service manual start
  • 4 - SERVICE_DISABLED - Driver/service disabled
• service_status - one of the following codes
  • 1 - SERVICE_STOPPED
  • 2 - SERVICE_START_PENDING
  • 3 - SERVICE_STOP_PENDING
  • 4 - SERVICE_RUNNING
  • 5 - SERVICE_CONTINUE_PENDING
  • 6 - SERVICE_PAUSE_PENDING
  • 7 - SERVICE_PAUSED
• binary_path - The path to the binary including all necessary parameters
• dependencies - Needed services, controls which services have to be started before this one; use the forward slash "/" to add more more than one service
• account - The username/account which should be used
• password - Password of the aforementioned account to be able to logon as a service
  • Note: If you do not specify account/password, the local system account will be used to run the service
• arguments - Arguments passed to the service main function.
  • Note: Driver services do not receive these arguments.
• reset_period - The time after which to reset the failure count to zero if there are no failures, in seconds. Specify 0 (INFINITE) to indicate that this value should never be reset
• reboot_message - The message to be broadcast to server users before rebooting
• command - The command line of the process to execute in response to the SC_ACTION_RUN_COMMAND service controller action. This process runs under the same account as the service
• timeout - Timeout in seconds of the function
• action_type_x - one of the following codes for the action to be performed
  • 0 - SC_ACTION_NONE - No action
  • 1 - SC_ACTION_RESTART - Restart the service
  • 2 - SC_ACTION_REBOOT - Reboot the computer (Note: The service user must have the SE_SHUTDOWN_NAME privilege)
  • 3 - SC_ACTION_RUN_COMMAND - Run a command
• action_delay_x - The time to wait before performing the specified action, in milliseconds
• failure_actions_on_non_crash_failures - This setting determines when failure actions are to be executed
  • 0 - The failure actions executed only if the service terminates without reporting a status of SERVICE_STOPPED
  • 1 - The failure actions executed if the status of a service is SERVICE_STOPPED but the exit code of the service is not 0
• delayed_autostart - The delayed auto-start setting of an auto-start service
  • 0 - The service will be started during system boot.
  • 1 - The service will be started after other auto-start services are started plus a short delay
• error_code - Error code of a function
• service_description - The description as shown in the service control manager applet in system control
• wait_for_file_release - Wait for file release after the service is stopped. This is useful if the binary file will be overwritten after stopping the service.
  • 0 - NO_WAIT - No wait for file release
  • 1 - WAIT - Wait for file release
  • Note: If SERVICE_WIN32_OWN_PROCESS is used this option should be set to WAIT. If SERVICE_WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS is used this option should only be set to WAIT if the last service in the process is stopped.

The Sample Script

; Install a service - ServiceType own process - StartType automatic - NoDependencies - Logon as System Account
  SimpleSC::InstallService "MyService" "My Service Display Name" "16" "2" "C:\MyPath\MyService.exe" "" "" ""
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Install a service - ServiceType interact with desktop - StartType automatic - Dependencies on "Windows Time Service" (w32time) and "WWW Publishing Service" (w3svc) - Logon as System Account
  SimpleSC::InstallService "MyService" "My Service Display Name" "272" "2" "C:\MyPath\MyService.exe" "w32time/w3svc" "" ""
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Remove a service
  SimpleSC::RemoveService "MyService"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Start a service. Be sure to pass the service name, not the display name.
  SimpleSC::StartService "MyService" "" 30
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Start a service with two arguments "/param1=true" "/param2=1"
  SimpleSC::StartService "MyService" "/param1=true /param2=1" 30
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Start a service with two arguments "-p param1" "-param2"
  SimpleSC::StartService "MyService" '"-p param1" -param2' 30
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Stop a service and waits for file release. Be sure to pass the service name, not the display name.
  SimpleSC::StopService "MyService" 1 30
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Stops two services and waits for file release after the last service is stopped
  SimpleSC::StopService "MyService1" 0 30
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  SimpleSC::StopService "MyService2" 1 30
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Pause a service
  SimpleSC::PauseService "MyService" 30
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Continue a service
  SimpleSC::ContinueService "MyService" 30
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Restart a service
  SimpleSC::RestartService "MyService" "" 30
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Restart a service with two arguments "/param1=true" "/param2=1"
  SimpleSC::RestartService "MyService" "/param1=true /param2=1" 30
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Start a service with two arguments "-p param1" "-param2"
  SimpleSC::RestartService "MyService" '"-p param1" -param2' 30
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Check if the service exists
  SimpleSC::ExistsService "MyService"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode if the service doesn´t exists (<>0)/service exists (0)
 
; Get the displayname of a service
  SimpleSC::GetServiceDisplayName "MyService"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  Pop $1 ; returns the displayname of the service
 
; Get the servicename of a service by the displayname
  SimpleSC::GetServiceName "MyService"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  Pop $1 ; returns the servicename of the service
 
; Get the current status of a service
  SimpleSC::GetServiceStatus "MyService"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  Pop $1 ; return the status of the service (See "service_status" in the parameters)
 
; Get the description of a service
  SimpleSC::GetServiceDescription "MyService"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  Pop $1 ; returns the description of the service
 
; Get the start type of the service
  SimpleSC::GetServiceStartType "MyService"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  Pop $1 ; returns the start type of the service (see "start_type" in the parameters)
 
; Get the binary path of a service
  SimpleSC::GetServiceBinaryPath "MyService"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  Pop $1 ; returns the binary path of the service
 
; Get the logon user of the service
  SimpleSC::GetServiceLogon "MyService"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  Pop $1 ; returns the logon username of the service  
 
; Get the failure configuration of a service
  SimpleSC::GetServiceFailure "MyService"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  Pop $1 ; returns the reset period 
  Pop $2 ; returns the reboot message
  Pop $3 ; returns the command
  Pop $4 ; returns the first action (See "action_type_x" in the parameters)
  Pop $5 ; returns the first action delay 
  Pop $6 ; returns the second action (See "action_type_x" in the parameters)
  Pop $7 ; returns the second action delay 
  Pop $8 ; returns the third action (See "action_type_x" in the parameters)
  Pop $9 ; returns the third action delay 
 
; Get the failure flag configuration of a service
  SimpleSC::GetServiceFailureFlag "MyService"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  Pop $1 ; returns the service flag
 
; Get the delayed auto-start configuration of a service
  SimpleSC::GetServiceDelayedAutoStartInfo "MyService"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  Pop $1 ; returns the delayed auto-start configuration
 
; Set the description of a service
  SimpleSC::SetServiceDescription "MyService" "Sample Description"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Set the starttype to automatic of a service
  SimpleSC::SetServiceStartType "MyService" "2"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Sets the service binary path
  SimpleSC::SetServiceBinaryPath "MyService" "C:\MySoftware\MyService.exe"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Sets the service logon to a user and grant the user the "SeServiceLogonPrivilege"
  SimpleSC::SetServiceLogon "MyService" "MyServiceUser" "MyServiceUserPassword"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  IntCmp $0 0 +1 Done Done ; If successful grant the service logon privilege to "MyServiceUser"
    ; Note: Every serviceuser must have the ServiceLogonPrivilege to start the service
    SimpleSC::GrantServiceLogonPrivilege "MyServiceUser"
    Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  Done:
 
; Sets the service failure configuration - First action: Restart the service after one minute - Second action: Reboot the computer after five minutes
  SimpleSC::SetServiceFailure "MyService" "0" "" "" "1" "60000" "2" "300000" "0" "0" 
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Sets the failure flag configuration of a service
  SimpleSC::SetServiceFailureFlag "MyService" "1"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Sets the delayed auto-start configuration of a service
  SimpleSC::SetServiceDelayedAutoStartInfo "MyService" "1"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Remove the "SeServiceLogonPrivilege" from a user
  SimpleSC::RemoveServiceLogonPrivilege "MyServiceUser"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
 
; Check if the service is paused
  SimpleSC::ServiceIsPaused "MyService"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  Pop $1 ; returns 1 (service is paused) - returns 0 (service is not paused)
 
; Check if the service is running
  SimpleSC::ServiceIsRunning "MyService"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  Pop $1 ; returns 1 (service is running) - returns 0 (service is not running)
 
; Check if the service is stopped
  SimpleSC::ServiceIsStopped "MyService"
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  Pop $1 ; returns 1 (service is stopped) - returns 0 (service is not stopped)
 
; Show the error message if a function fails 
  SimpleSC::StopService "MyService" 1 30
  Pop $0 ; returns an errorcode (<>0) otherwise success (0)
  IntCmp $0 0 Done +1 +1 
    Push $0
    SimpleSC::GetErrorMessage
    Pop $0
    MessageBox MB_OK|MB_ICONSTOP "Stopping fails - Reason: $0"
  Done:

Changelog

• Version 1.30 (Unicode) (2021-05-02)
  • Unicode Version added with the same functions like the ANSI version.
• Version 1.30 (ANSI) (2011-08-15)
  • SimpleSC::RemoveService doesn't stop the service now.
  • SimpleSC::StartService, SimpleSC::StopService, SimpleSC::PauseService, SimpleSC::ContinueService and SimpleSC::RestartService got a new "Timeout" parameter. It is recommend to use a timeout of 30.
• Version 1.29 (ANSI) (2011-04-16)
  • SimpleSC::GetServiceFailureFlag added
  • SimpleSC::SetServiceFailureFlag added
  • SimpleSC::GetServiceDelayedAutoStartInfo added
  • SimpleSC::SetServiceDelayedAutoStartInfo added
• Version 1.28 (ANSI) (2010-09-14)
  • SimpleSC::GetServiceFailure function added
  • SimpleSC::SetServiceFailure function added
  • SimpleSC::StopService WaitForFileRelease feature added (For details take a look at the documentation)
• Version 1.27 (ANSI) (2010-03-23)
  • Documentation updated
• Version 1.26 (ANSI) (2009-05-21)
  • Fixed wait for status bug on starting, stopping, pausing or continuing a service
• Version 1.25 (ANSI) (2009-04-23)
  • SimpleSC::SetServiceLogon supports now non-domain username without the ".\"-prefix
  • SimpleSC::SetServiceBinaryPath function added
• Version 1.24 (ANSI) (2009-04-13)
  • Fixed wait for status bug if the service status changed. Now, if a service stops, starts aso. the plugin will work like the recommendations in the MSDN.
• Version 1.23 (ANSI) (2008-08-23)
  • Removed compiler optimization to avoid a false-positive virusscan.
• Version 1.22 (ANSI) (2008-08-17)
  • SimpleSC::GrantServiceLogonPrivilege and SimpleSC::RemoveServiceLogonPrivilege works now correct with domain names like MyDomain\MyUser.
  • Added function SimpleSC::GetServiceLogon to get the logon username of a service.
• Version 1.21 (2008-02-10)
  • SimpleSC::ExistsService results now 0 if the service exists and <> 0 if the service doensn´t exists.
• Version 1.20 (ANSI) (2008-02-05)
  • Every function now returns <> 0 if there is an error. Use SimpleSC::GetErrorMessage to get the message of a function result.
  • Added function SimpleSC::GetErrorMessage to get the message of a function result.
  • SimpleSC::ExistsService results now 0 if the service exists and <> 0 if the service doensn´t exists.
  • SimpleSC::RestartService supports now arguments.
    • Note: The signature has been changed. If you update from a previous version you must check your parameters.
• Version 1.10 (ANSI) (2008-01-29)
  • SimpleSC::InstallService supports now more than one dependencies (delimitter is the forward slash).
    • Note: The signature has been changed. If you update from a previous version you must check your parameters.
  • SimpleSC::InstallService supports now more service types e.g. to create an interactive service.
    • Note: The signature has been changed. If you update from a previous version you must check your parameters.
  • SimpleSC::StartService supports now arguments.
    • Note: The signature has been changed. If you update from a previous version you must check your parameters.
• Version 1.05 (ANSI) (2008-01-12)
  • The functions SimpleSC::StopService and SimpleSC::RestartService are now improved. Now all dependent services are stopping recursively too.
• Version 1.04 (ANSI) (2007-08-07)
  • Fixed bug for possible endless loops. This concerns to the functions StartService, StopService, ContinueService and PauseService.
• Version 1.03 (ANSI) (2007-08-02)
  • Added function SimpleSC::GetServiceBinaryPath to get the binary path of a specified service.
• Version 1.02 (ANSI) (2007-05-29)
  • Changed wrong documentation informations about the functions SimpleSC::InstallService and SimpleSC::RemoveService.
• Version 1.01 (ANSI) (2007-05-07)
  • Changed wrong status-results in Readme.txt. This concerns to the functions ServiceIsPaused, ServiceIsRunning and ServiceIsStopped.
  • Changed the access privileges of the plugin. The plugin now uses the lowest privlege of each function to execute.
• Version 1.0 (ANSI) (2007-05-02)
  • First offical version

Important Notes

• Error codes are any non-zero value. For instance, if you attempt to start, stop, or query a service that does not exist, you may get the error code 1060.
• The function "SetServiceLogon" only works if the servicetype is "SERVICE_WIN32_OWN_PROCESS".
• The functions "GetServiceDescription" or "SetServiceDescription" are only available on systems higher than Windows NT.
• The function "GetServiceFailureFlag", "SetServiceFailureFlag", "GetServiceDelayedAutoStartInfo" and "SetServiceDelayedAutoStartInfo" are only available on systems higher than Windows 2003.
• If you change the logon of an service to a new user you have to grant him the Service Logon Privilege. Otherwise the service cannot be started by the user you have assigned.
• The functions StartService, StopService, PauseService and ContinueService uses a timeout of 30 seconds. This means the function must be executed within 30 seconds, otherwise the functions will return an error.
• If you have any suggestions, comments or questions please mail me: mailto:rainer@speed-soft.de