We're trying to setup the scheduler and agents to run as services, i.e. not require anyone logged in for the scheduler to function. I have two schedules I'm testing with - one using JAL, one using a program line. THe jobs run fine when the master scheduler is run as an interactive program or as a service and the remote agent is run as a program (minimized). When the agent is run as a service though, I can see the process in the Windows Task Manager, but nothing ever happens. So I can see a "perl.exe" in the processes list, but no perl window appears. Same with Excel (run using JAL).

I've done the synch/asynch testing while running the scheduler/agent as applications, so I'm a bit stumped as to why the same schedules won't work when they're both services. Also, both the agent and scheduler are running as registered copies (so no need to click continue button).

Any insight would be appreciated, thanks.

-jr

FYI, both are running as user accounts w/ full access on both machines (each running Win 2000).

: We're trying to setup the scheduler and agents to run as services, i.e. not
: require anyone logged in for the scheduler to function. I have two
: schedules I'm testing with - one using JAL, one using a program line. THe
: jobs run fine when the master scheduler is run as an interactive program
: or as a service and the remote agent is run as a program (minimized). When
: the agent is run as a service though, I can see the process in the Windows
: Task Manager, but nothing ever happens. So I can see a
: "perl.exe" in the processes list, but no perl window appears.
: Same with Excel (run using JAL).

: I've done the synch/asynch testing while running the scheduler/agent as
: applications, so I'm a bit stumped as to why the same schedules won't work
: when they're both services. Also, both the agent and scheduler are running
: as registered copies (so no need to click continue button).

: Any insight would be appreciated, thanks.

: -jr

All graphical applications started from a service run on an invisible virtual Desktop that's why you don't see their windows but can see them in the Task Manager.

So if want to run 24x7 as a service your should avoid running programs that may require user intrvention. Although you can control graphical windows using WindowXXX commands in JAL.

: We're trying to setup the scheduler and agents to run as services, i.e. not
: require anyone logged in for the scheduler to function. I have two
: schedules I'm testing with - one using JAL, one using a program line. THe
: jobs run fine when the master scheduler is run as an interactive program
: or as a service and the remote agent is run as a program (minimized). When
: the agent is run as a service though, I can see the process in the Windows
: Task Manager, but nothing ever happens. So I can see a
: "perl.exe" in the processes list, but no perl window appears.
: Same with Excel (run using JAL).

: I've done the synch/asynch testing while running the scheduler/agent as
: applications, so I'm a bit stumped as to why the same schedules won't work
: when they're both services. Also, both the agent and scheduler are running
: as registered copies (so no need to click continue button).

: Any insight would be appreciated, thanks.

: -jr

: All graphical applications started from a service run on an invisible virtual
: Desktop that's why you don't see their windows but can see them in the
: Task Manager.

: So if want to run 24x7 as a service your should avoid running programs that
: may require user intrvention. Although you can control graphical windows
: using WindowXXX commands in JAL.

Are you saying that even though applications run via services are on an invisible desktop you can still use JAL to display the window? In my preliminary work w/ JAL I haven't found a way to do this, so before I commit to runnnig the agent as a minimized app I want to make sure of this (I need to be able to view what's happening).

Thanks again,

Jeremy Roethel

You can create windows on the invisible desktop, but you cannot see them because the entire Desktop is invisible..
Accordingly you can use JAL to manipulate such windows, for example

// this is executed from the service
Dim pid, number
Dim win, number
Run "notepad.exe", "", pid
WindowWaitOpen "Untitled - Notepad", 10
WindowFind "Untitled - Notepad", win
WindowClose win

: Are you saying that even though applications run via services are on an
: invisible desktop you can still use JAL to display the window? In my
: preliminary work w/ JAL I haven't found a way to do this, so before I
: commit to runnnig the agent as a minimized app I want to make sure of this
: (I need to be able to view what's happening).

: Thanks again,

: Jeremy Roethel