x/sys/windows/svc: Failed to start windows service with Start Parameters

[mshamn6x]

What version of Go are you using (go version)?

$ go version
go version go1.14.14 windows/amd64

What operating system and processor architecture are you using (go env)?

go env Output

$ go env
set GO111MODULE=
set GOARCH=amd64
set GOBIN=
set GOCACHE=C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\go-build
set GOENV=C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Roaming\go\env
set GOEXE=.exe
set GOFLAGS=
set GOHOSTARCH=amd64
set GOHOSTOS=windows
set GOINSECURE=
set GONOPROXY=
set GONOSUMDB=
set GOOS=windows
set GOPATH=C:\Users\Administrator\go
set GOPRIVATE=
set GOPROXY=https://proxy.golang.org,direct
set GOROOT=c:\go
set GOSUMDB=sum.golang.org
set GOTMPDIR=
set GOTOOLDIR=c:\go\pkg\tool\windows_amd64
set GCCGO=gccgo
set AR=ar
set CC=gcc
set CXX=g++
set CGO_ENABLED=1
set GOMOD=
set CGO_CFLAGS=-g -O2
set CGO_CPPFLAGS=
set CGO_CXXFLAGS=-g -O2
set CGO_FFLAGS=-g -O2
set CGO_LDFLAGS=-g -O2
set PKG_CONFIG=pkg-config
set GOGCCFLAGS=-m64 -mthreads -fno-caret-diagnostics -Qunused-arguments -fmessage-length=0 -fdebug-prefix-map=C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\2\go-build198320826=/tmp/go-build -gno-record-gcc-switches

What did you do?

Tried creating windows service for windows console application that runs webservice. Followed example from https://github.com/golang/sys/tree/master/windows/svc/example

Based on above example I'm able to install windows service using go. But when I try to start it with start parameter it is not working in expected way. I used following configuration for created windows service,

serviceConfig := mgr.Config{
	StartType:      mgr.StartManual,
	DisplayName:    name,
	Description:    desc,
	BinaryPathName: ExecutablePath,
	ServiceStartName: UserName,
	Password:         Password,
}

s, err = m.CreateService(name, w.ExecutablePath, serviceConfig, "init")
if err != nil {
	log.Errorf("Failed to create %s service due to %s", name, err)
	return err
}
defer s.Close()

I assume command line argument(start parameter) Added properly in service (init command appears with executable path so...), refer below image.

I programmed like whenever init is executed with that application, log will be written in log file. If I run that manually logs are properly updated. But with this windows service it is not working properly. Likewise I want to create webservice start/stop through windows service.

In above image "start parameter" field is also empty. Whether this is correct way of doing it ? If not please share examples.

What did you expect to see?

windows service with Start parameter would work properly.

What did you see instead?

Windows service with start parameter is not working properly.

[thanm]

@alexbrainman @bradfitz @zx2c4

[bradfitz]

I wasn't sure what that GUI field means, but found this answer: https://stackoverflow.com/a/42821528

[alexbrainman]

@mshamn6x I don't know how to use Start parameters field on your picture.

I googled for it, and that is all I can find

https://forums.codeguru.com/showthread.php?251755-Passing-Parameters-to-Win32-Services

Also SERVICE_ACCEPT_PARAMCHANGE and SERVICE_CONTROL_PARAMCHANGE are probably related.

I would just use fields set in Path to executable field instead. And you know how to set and read them.

I wasn't sure what that GUI field means, but found this answer: https://stackoverflow.com/a/42821528

This refers to a C# solution. So I don't see how that is helpful. Unless you can find translation of that C# code into Win32 API.

Alex

[mshamn6x]

@Ale thanks for the reply.

In registry by default command line argument is added properly in ImagePath field. As described in here, https://serverfault.com/a/143384/794689

Actually I followed all the mentioned methods in that thread. But none of them worked for me.

I even tried following but none of them working as expected.

net start <name of service> /parameter

sc start <name of service> parameter

Do you want me to add SERVICE_ACCEPT_PARAMCHANGE and SERVICE_CONTROL_PARAMCHANGE parameters like this ?

Do I need to change anything in this method https://github.com/golang/sys/blob/master/windows/svc/example/service.go#L23 ?

[alexbrainman]

Do you want me to add SERVICE_ACCEPT_PARAMCHANGE and SERVICE_CONTROL_PARAMCHANGE parameters like this ?

No. I don't.

Do I need to change anything in this method https://github.com/golang/sys/blob/master/windows/svc/example/service.go#L23 ?

Why would I need you to change anything in that file?

Alex

[mshamn6x]

Do I need to change anything in this method https://github.com/golang/sys/blob/master/windows/svc/example/service.go#L23 ?

Why would I need you to change anything in that file?

No not exactly that file, I'm asking do I need to modify this function in my source, to pass those arguments or something like that?

[alexbrainman]

No not exactly that file, I'm asking do I need to modify this function in my source, to pass those arguments or something like that?

I do not know answer to your question.

Alex

[mshamn6x]

Tried with following go version facing the same probelm.

# go version
go version go1.16.8 windows/amd64

[zx2c4]

If you call s.Start("hello", "world"), then when the service runs, the args parameter of Execute(args []string, r <-chan svc.ChangeRequest, changes chan<- svc.Status) (svcSpecificEC bool, exitCode uint32) { will contain the name of the service, plus "hello" and "world".

[zx2c4]

You were wondering about that GUI dialog. That GUI dialog also calls that same StartService function and passes it the parameters you place in the box. Those parameters are ephemeral. It is for that reason that the dialog uses the phrase "from here":

[mshamn6x]

@zx2c4 Thank you for your reply on this.

startService() has only one argument right ? That is to pass service name to s.Start(). If you meant s.Start() then i'm fine with it.

Can you please kindly have look at this? I've created small code sample https://github.com/mshamn6x/go-windows-service

here I've created simple command line argument with service. Let's say If I run "exmaple.exe init" it will write some log.

And I tried to create windows service with this "init" parameter so whenever I starting this service it supposed to call this "init" argument , so that I expect log file should be updated, but it is not happening with this window service.

Please provide your comments on this.

[zx2c4]

https://pkg.go.dev/golang.org/x/sys/windows/svc/mgr#Service.Start

Service.Start takes a variadic argument.

[mshamn6x]

yes,

https://pkg.go.dev/golang.org/x/sys/windows/svc/mgr#Mgr.CreateService

CreateService installs new service name on the system. The service will be executed by running exepath binary. Use config c to specify service parameters. Any args will be passed as command-line arguments when the service is started; these arguments are distinct from the arguments passed to Service.Start or via the "Start parameters" field in the service's Properties dialog box.

I think in that source I used init parameters in both places