Vibe Streamer

[better_tomorrow]

Vibe Streamer as a service for Windows XP or Server 2003.

Download the Windows NT/ 2000 Resource kit from here:
http://www.tacktech.com/pub/microsoft/service/srvany.zip

Unzip the files to C:\reskit

Go into start | run | type cmd or cmd.exe

In the command prompt type:

C:\reskit\INSTSRV.EXE VibeStreamer C:\reskit\SRVANY.EXE

Next open regedit.exe Start | run | regedit.exe

Navigate to this registry key.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VibeStreamer


From the Edit menu, click Add Key and name it Parameters thus giving you:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VibeStreamer\Parameters

Next from the Edit menu, click Add String Value - add this information to the newly created String Value key.

Value Name: Application
Data Type : REG_SZ
Edit the string value and enter: C:\location of Vibe folder\vibestreamer.exe -service

Go to C:\location of Vibe folder

Copy all files except vibestreamer.exe to C:\Windows\System32

Now go to Start | Control Panel | Admistrative Tools | Services | VibeStreamer

Set your start up choice.

Click on the Log On tab, check the box - Allow service to interact with desktop.

Start service.

Service /vibe server should start and run more efficently.

Close the service menu.

Run the following from command prompt to remove the service:
c:\reskit\INSTSRV.EXE VibeStreamer REMOVE

[siit]

Hey there, nice that someone has finally test this.
I know there are quite a few out there that want to get this working.
Although I haven't yet been able to try it out myself, but when i read it I reacted a bit on this line:

"Copy all files except vibestreamer.exe to C:\Windows\System32"

Do you mean copying all files in the vibe root folder together with the skins folder? Maybe I misunderstood, but if I didn't, then wouldn't it be much better to simply try mapping the vibe streamer server to the PATH map in your windows os? ie "SET PATH" etcetc..

please corrent me if I'm wrong :]
_________________
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FOLLOW ME AND VIBE ON TWITTER
http://www.twitter.com/versionstudio
==============================================

[better_tomorrow]

You're probably right.

With work and everything I'm usually a little too busy to fully test or explore things.

[better_tomorrow]

I just received some free time so I took a better look at this "problem" and the set path option didn't work for me, nor did adjusting the environmental variables manually.

I attempted various environmental variable configuations but I could not achieve the desired result.

Hopefully, adjusting the environmental variables will for whoever chooses such an option, if not then the above method will work.

[Phil]

I just gave this a try and it did not work. I'm checking for errors on my part, but I thought I was pretty thourogh in following the instructions.

EDIT: I double-checked for errors and found none. I was hoping this would work!

[better_tomorrow]

This does work.

I edited the the text to correct any confusion.

You can also try this:

http://www.tudy.ro/2006/07/13/run-an-application-as-a-service/

[Phil]

I used the files you provided as opposed to the ones I had downloaded directly from Microsoft's FTP server, went through the setup again and it worked. Weird, but it's a go now. Thanks for posting this!

[DDS]

I have not got this to work on a 2003 Server. I setup the service like posted and the service starts and a proccess of vibestreamer.exe is running but the program doesn't load in the Taskbar and thus doesn't run. Can't connect with web browser. If I manualy click the Icon to load it works fine.

Thanks for any input....

[better_tomorrow]

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reply, I've been busy with alot of work projects.

Regarding this service not working properly on Server 2003, make sure that select the option to allow the service to interact with the desktop whenever you use the local system account.

Also make sure that you enable the vibe streamer to start on startup.

Lastly, if you are running Windows 2003 for terminal services or various adminstrative rdp connections, the vibe streamer service tends to shutdown after various logons.

To resolve this I recommend that you create a new general user account for this service. If you run IIS, then you should have hardened the service by creating a new basic account with a strong password. I prefer to use this basic account created for IIS - to run the vibe server.

This will hopefully allow the vibe service to run intact, regardless of who is logged on.

[DDS]

Thanks for your reply,
I have already tried those to no avail. The service is running a process but the app doesn't load by the service. The service doesn't use any resources. I have tried to use it as two different users, also tried with the use local service and interact with desktop. That didn't work either. When I launch the shortcut Icon to Vibe it loads another instance of the Vibserver process and does load the app and works fine.

Still looking for a soulution and thanks again for your support/input.

[better_tomorrow]

I'm just taking a guess, but is the icon you click to start Vibe Streamer mapped to a location other than C:\Windows\System32?

For instance is the icon you click to start the service mapped to C:\Program Files\Vibe Streamer\; or is this icon on the system tray.

If the icon is on the system tray, then the service is working, it's just not starting automatically .

If the icon is on your desktop or start up menu then, it is mapped to your installation directory.

When using the vibe streamer as a service, the service will map to the C:\Windows\System32 location; that's why you must copy all the installation files to the System32 directory.

If you did copy all the files to C:\Windows\System32 or if you attempted and succeeded in changing your environmental variables to openly map your default installation, then the problem maybe third party software.

If you use McAfee Anti Virus Enterprise Edition or any other anvirus software, then you may be blocked from making certain changes. You will need to modify these settings.

You may also have insufficient adminstrative privileges. Did you install the service as an administrator, if not then attempt to do so.

What version of Server 2003 you are using?

I tested this service on the the Server 2003 Enterprise Edition w/ SP1.

If you're using R2, then there maybe certain modification on that particular OS which don't support this application to service software.

[better_tomorrow]

I think I understand the issuance of problem here.

After some futher thought on this problem I realized that I failed to mention (within my original post) that you need to install and setup the vibe streamer application completely before attempting to run it as a service.

This isn't too much of a qualm on Windows XP because there will usually be a sytem tray icon. Thus, the service can be setup from the system tray icon.

Never the less, I recommend that you still setup the vibe streamer application to specifications; then copy all the files from your installation directory to the system 32 folder. Afterwards setup the application as a service.

Not doing the service setup within this order will create a major issue on Server 2003. Due to the nature and potential usage of Server 2003, you will probably not have a system tray icon when using the vibe application application as a service.

Thus you will need to setup the vibe streamer application first, make sure you set the application to start automatically. Then copy the files as previously stated. Make sure you also use a seperate basic account for the service- try not to use the local system account - this will keep the service from freezing up between Server 2003 user logins.

Only after doing this will the service work properly.

Note - Sorry for the double post, I didn't want edit any of the above text(s). I felt a new post would warrant much more attention to this requirement.

[dsgreen30]

I'm still having trouble getting the service to run unless I log in as a user. I would prefer the service to start (Just as my Apache service does) whenever the system is started.

Currently I still have to actually log a user in to get Vibe to run, and then I have to leave that account logged in basically forever.

Is there anything else I might be missing?

[mp3maniac]

What I have found to work the best on my Windows 2003 server (would be the same for XP) so that I do not have to have a user logged in.

First as local administrator or equivalent user, do as the first message in this set of posts states and create a Vibe Streamer service. The instructions are easy to follow.

To get to services you can right click on My Computer and choose Manage if you want. Under Services and Applications, click on Services. You can also go to the Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services. Scroll the list to find the Vibestreamer service that you created.

After the service has been created and you have done as instructed, setting the Allow service to interact with desktop. Start the service. You should see the Vibe Streamer icon appear in the task bar. If the main window does not open double click on the icon. Set up Vibe Streamer with the users and shares and security and whatever else you like, then start the server. Make sure you set the Activate server on proram startup under the Settings tab. Test Vibe Streamer from your browser to make sure all is good.

Next edit the service, right click on the service and select Properties. In the Properties box select the Log On tab. Here you can select which account the service will run as. This is important because Vibe Streamer needs access to local resources, such as the hard drive, etc. Using the local system account works fine when you allow the service to interact with the desktop but I found this to be a bit of an issue when the user logged out.

So in the Log On properties section click on the radio button in front of This account. Type the name of a local account that the service can use to logon and access local resources. You can even create an account that has basic rights to the necessary resources. If you do this, make sure the account has been granted access to things like the folders that contain your files. I used the administrator account or you can use your own user account. It depends on the level of security you need.

Once you have entered the username and password click OK. The service if running needs to be restarted. If it is not running start it. If the service starts then all is good. If it doesn't start you will need to check the username and password to make sure it is correct. And yes, the user object must have a password.

Check your work by firing up your browser and hitting the vibestreamer server. It should work like a charm, my does. Now no user needs to be logged in and Vibe Streamer will start when your Computer Starts with no user interaction needed.

Only one drawback, if you ever need to change the Vibe Streamer settings you will have to change the service back to log on as local system account with interact with desktop set so you can make the changes then change the service back again.

Hope this is helpful.

[aikeru]

Excellent!!! Thank you so much for this information! I haven't tried it yet but I have experience as a sys admin and appdev and I know your instructions are solid.

Again, thanks, don't know why I couldn't think of this kind of thing b4.