how do i debug the Windows Service

Question

0.00/5 (No votes)

See more:

Hi All,I have created a windows service using c#,vs 2008.it is build and deployed successfully.i am trying to debug the service.by pressing debug-->attach process-->and attaching the service all the breakpoints disabled.i am running vs2008 in admin mode.how do i debug the service?

Posted 13-Jun-12 23:35pm

John Sathish Tamilarasu

Add a Solution

4 solutions

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

**Zoltán Zörgő** · Answer 1 · 2012-06-14T03:11:00

It is really simple do make the executable assambly containing the service to have dual functionality: to run as service, and to run as console application. In this later case it is as easy to debug as any other console application. And by the way the assambly will be self-installing.
I found it originally here: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups#!topic/microsoft.public.dotnet.languages.csharp/TUXp6lRxy6Q[^], see Marc Gravell's post. I have made my adaptation of it, a little easyer to read in my article[^] under The service section.

db7uk · Answer 2 · 2012-06-13T23:40:00

Solution 1

You need to add a delay in the windows service start-up to give you enough time to attach to the process.

C#

protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
{
        #if DEBUG
	// When debugging a service, you have to attach to a running process. This gives me 
	// time to attach for debugging to slowdown startup so I can set a breakpoint. 
	System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(15000);
	#endif
}

Posted 13-Jun-12 23:40pm

db7uk

Comments

John Sathish Tamilarasu 14-Jun-12 5:47am

Hi Thanks for the reply.I have developed this service and build in release mode without
#if DEBUG
System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(15000);
System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Launch();
#endif
code.and deployed the sevice.
then i added the same code in onstart function and in debug mode i am trying to attach the same happens.is the method i am doing right?

db7uk 14-Jun-12 5:54am

sorry, not quite clear. Are you trying to debug your live (release) instance? If so remove the #if and just use the thread.sleep. I would also remove the debugger.launch method too.

John Sathish Tamilarasu 14-Jun-12 5:58am

protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
{

System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(15000);

EventLog.WriteEntry("BioMetricService Started.", EventLogEntryType.Information);

System.Timers.Timer GetdataTimer = new System.Timers.Timer();
GetdataTimer.Interval = 1000;
// Hook up the Elapsed event for the timer.
GetdataTimer.Elapsed += new ElapsedEventHandler(GetdataTimer_Tick);
// Set the Interval to 2 seconds (2000 milliseconds).
//GetdataTimer.Interval = 2000;
GetdataTimer.Enabled = true;
GetdataTimer.Start();
//Logger.writeToLogFile("BioMetricService Started");
}

protected override void OnStop()
{
Logger.writeToLogFile("BioMetricService Stopped");
}

protected override void OnPause()
{
}

private void GetdataTimer_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{

Logger.writeToLogFile("good");

}

This is my code.when i deploy the same and trying to attach still breakpoints are not enabled.
Your help is valuable

db7uk 14-Jun-12 6:02am

How are you attaching to the process? Have you checked the box "Show processes from all users" and "Show processes in all sessions"? You service maybe being launched under a different user / session which is why the attach process does nothing???

John Sathish Tamilarasu 14-Jun-12 6:08am

Yes both the check boxes are checked,then only the process is displayed.but not able to debug?

db7uk 14-Jun-12 6:19am

when you deploy the service, what is the configuration i.e. debug or release?

John Sathish Tamilarasu 14-Jun-12 6:19am

release

db7uk 14-Jun-12 6:30am

next question. Is the service local or remote when published?

Bernhard Hiller · Answer 3 · 2012-06-14T00:58:00

Solution 2

A professional solution is described in a CodeProject article: Debugging Windows Services under Visual Studio .NET[^]

Posted 14-Jun-12 0:58am

Bernhard Hiller

RonalP · Answer 4 · 2012-06-14T02:02:00

Solution 3

Dear,

Use

C#

"Debugger.Launch();"

At start of the Function when Sevice Called.

Thanks
Ronal

Posted 14-Jun-12 2:02am

RonalP

Updated 14-Jun-12 3:15am

v2