How do I install the AYS Process Manager as a service?

By default, the AYS Process Manager runs as a stand-alone application, however it may also be installed as a Windows service running in the background. A Windows service can continue to run even if no user is logged in to the server or workstation.

Before installing the AYS Process Manager as a service, you must first run the Process Manager program and do a basic program setup as follows:

Step 1: Select File > Open Database from the main program menu and open the AYS database file that the Process Manager will process.

Step 2: Select Setup > Communication Options from the main program menu and configure any applicable email, fax, or SMS text messaging settings.

If users are accessing the database by means of Remote Desktop services then the AYS Process Manager service should be installed on the same server. If using a Microsoft Access-based database, then the AYS Process Manager service should be installed on the same physical machine that is hosting the AYS database.

Windows administrator rights are necessary to install, start, stop, or uninstall the service. There is no need to manually run the AYS Process Manager as an administrator. Windows will automatically prompt you to elevate the program to run as administrator if necessary when doing each of the above tasks.

Option 1: From within the AYS Process Manager program, select Startup > Install Process Manager Service from the main menu.

Option 2: From a Windows command line run AYSProcessManager.exe -INSTALL to install the service with visual feedback and confirmation.

Option 3: From a Windows command line run AYSProcessManager.exe -SILENTINSTALL to install the service silently.

Option 1: From within the AYS Process Manager program, select Startup > Start Process Manager Service from the main menu.

Option 2: From a Windows command line run AYSProcessManager.exe -START to start the service with visual feedback and confirmation.

Option 3: From a Windows command line run AYSProcessManager.exe -SILENTSTART to start the service silently.

Option 4: Open the Windows Services manager, right-click on the AYS Process Manager service and select Start from the context menu.

Option 1: From within the AYS Process Manager program, select Startup > Stop Process Manager Service from the main menu.

Option 2: From a Windows command line run AYSProcessManager.exe -STOP to stop the service with visual feedback and confirmation.

Option 3: From a Windows command line run AYSProcessManager.exe -SILENTSTOP to stop the service silently.

Option 4: Open the Windows Services manager, right-click on the AYS Process Manager service and select Stop from the context menu.

Option 1: From within the AYS Process Manager program, select Startup > Uninstall Process Manager Service from the main menu.

Option 2: From a Windows command line run AYSProcessManager.exe -UNINSTALL to uninstall the service with visual feedback and confirmation.

Option 3: From a Windows command line run AYSProcessManager.exe -SILENTUNINSTALL to uninstall the service silently.

Option 1: Within the AYS Process Manager program a colored status bar and caption will be visible across the top of the main window while the service is installed. It will indicate the real-time status of the service.

For all of these options, the following status colors are used:

  • GRAY – The service is not installed
  • RED – The service is stopped
  • YELLOW – The service is starting or stopping
  • GREEN – The service is running

Option 2: From within the At Your Service – Repair Centre Enterprise edition program, select Tools > Dashboards from the main menu, and then select the Process Manager dashboard. The first row will indicate the real-time status of the service.

Option 3: From within the At Your Service – Repair Centre Enterprise edition program, select Tools > Dashboards from the main menu, and then select the Server Load dashboard. The first row will indicate the real-time status of the service. One of the rows will indicate the real-time status of the service, as well as the current CPU and memory usage.

By default, a Windows service has access to hard drives on the local computer, but it does not have access to network shares, even if they are mapped to a drive letter. If you need the Process Manager to access a network share (e.g. for scheduled imports and exports) then there are two ways to configure the service with the necessary rights.

Option 1: Assign network share access to the physical computer where the service is running

This method works only when using a Windows network domain. If you are using a workgroup or another server platform then use option 2 below.

Step 1: In Windows File Explorer, right-click on the network share and select Properties from the context menu.

Step 2: In the Properties window select the Security tab, and click the Edit button to open the Permissions window. Then in the Permissions window click the Add button.

Step 3: In the window that appears, click the Object Types button and select the checkbox next to “Computers”. Click Ok to close that window.

Step 4: Under the caption “Enter the object names to select”, enter the domain name and computer name of the physical computer where the service will be in installed followed by a dollar sign character (e.g. DOMAINNAME\COMPUTERNAME$). Click the Ok button on each of the open windows to close them.

Option 2: Configure the service to log in as a Windows user

Step 1: Create a Windows user and assign that user rights to the network share.

Step 2: Open the Windows Services manager, right-click on the AYS Process Manager service and select Properties from the context menu.

Step 3: In the Properties window select the Log On tab, and click the radio button next to “This account”. Enter the user name (together with the domain name if necessary), as well as the user password. Click Ok to close the window.