Air Video Server as Service (Windows)

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 09/06/2010 00:42:22

Thanks, nice tipp

Hopefully Windows service support will be added some time, so everyone can use it and I don't have to do it for all my friends any more

Shouldn't be so difficult for the programmer, write a gui, save every setting to file, after changes restart service/task, put the rest in the task/service program.

We sell a LOT of Windows Home Servers. AirVideo is commended by us on all installs, but please... For the love of GOD will someone write a WHS add-in for this? All the other major players have add-ins (which allows WHS users to install by using a MSI file that is dropped onto the server).

This would be a seriously welcome feature and would give this product even more footprint.

With a new version of Windows Home Server coming shortly, you really should look into this.

cheers

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 10/24/2010 05:55:51

For some reason I can't connect to the latest Air Video Win server when running it via NT Wrapper (yes, I rebuilt the service). I did not have this issue with an older build.

The Air Video Win server really needs to have NATIVE "service" support!

Ok, so someone else mentioned earlier in this thread about just using the Task Scheduler (if running from like Win Server 2003, etc.). After playing around with the NTWrapper for a while the Task Scheduler came back into my head and it tried it.. it works SOOOO good, I would recommend using it if it is an option for you.

Here is what I setup and is now working perfectly (oh yeah.. Air Video rocks!!).

1. I have MediaSmart server (in which I replaced the Celeron with a Pentium dual core CPU), that is running Windows Home Server. The included movie streaming was not very good in my opinion for what I wanted to accomplish.
2. Installed Air Video Server
3. Created 2 accounts, a.) account1, b.) account_kids
4. Logged into the Windows Home Server with each of the accounts independently to setup the configuration for the Air Video Server, where under the 'account_kids', I limited the folders to where just kid appropriate movies and home videos are located and added a 'Custom Port' for this Air Video Server 2. I made sure to add passwords for each of the 2 account profiles for Air Video Server. Made sure each were NOT set to start at login and turned off the bubble.
5. Logged back into my Windows Home Server as admin and created 2 tasks that always occur when the server starts. a.) Start the AirVideo.exe under the 'account1' ID and b.) Start the AirVideo.exe under the 'account_kids' ID. I changed the settings for each that would have stopped the tasks after '72 mins' and tested each individually to work, where in the Task Manager (under view all users) you will see to of the .exe's running!!

Test it all out by connecting from my kids iPod touch and he found both HomeServer and HomeServer(2), from which he selected HomeServer(2) and logged in and was streaming movies, while I used my iPad and selected HomeServer and logged in and saw all the adult movies as well. We were both streaming movies at the same time with no problems!!

One other thing I wanted to share that I kept bumping into.

I could get AirVideo to run as a service and it would start without problems, but my movies wouldn't show up on my ipod, it would just be blank.

I also tried the scheduled task method with the same result.

I finally realized that my movie directory was a mapped network drive, that didn't get mapped until the user logged in. However, AirVideo does allow for UNC paths so I simply changed from using a drive letter to using UNC paths and then it works.

Just thought I'd pass this on.

Any updates? Its been 18 months since the first post...

I am running Windows Home Server and installed and configured Air Video Server to run as a service with the steps below.

1) Logged in as Administrator. Installed Air Video Server, Java, and Bonjour and configured. Unchecked Start at Login under settings. Quit Air Video Server.

2) You can get rktools.exe to install the Windows Resource Kit, but you only really need instsrv.exe and srvany.exe.

3) Using the default path where the resource kit is installed, run cmd and enter

"C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools\instsrv.exe" "Air Video Server" "C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools\srvany.exe"

If you have those two files somewhere else, just adjust the path accordingly. Make sure that there are no errors reported and close the window.

4) Run regedit and go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Current Control Set\Services\Air Video Server
Right click the Air Video Server key, choose New>Key, and name it Parameters.
Now in the Parameters key, right click, choose New>String Value, and name it Application.
Double click the Application value and set it to

"C:\Program Files\AirVideoServer\AirVideoServer.exe"

5) Click start, run, services.msc and enter. Right click the Air Video Server service and select properties. Under the Logon tab, change the account to administrator and enter the password. Save everything and start the service.

The service option is ok for WHS V1 but for Windows Home Server 2011 it's MUCh easier to just setup a Scheduled Task that runs 24/7
(I'd imagine this works fine in ANy flavor of windows actually)

WHS 2011: (windows 7 see bottom)

Server Manager (near start menu)
-Drill down to, Configuration, Task Scheduler
-click Create Task. (not the Basic one)
-Give it name, click Run whether user is logged in or not, configure for Windows 7, 2008

Triggers Tab
-New, (drop down menu) Begin the task at startup, click ok

Actions Tab
-New, Start a program, Browse (to .exe) click ok

Conditions Tab
-Uncheck the box that says to Stop the task if ran for 3 days. (so it runs forever)

Back to General Tab
-Click ok and it will prompt for Administrator password

Click "Task Scheduler Library" (right underneath "Task Scheduler" in Server Manage)

Run it ! (should work when you reboot too) I see my programs I've picked running in task manager, so far so good!)

Win 7? : http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/schedule-a-task

Tried the task but wasn't working well for WHS v1. Will keep this in mind when I move to v2. Waiting for a drive pool solution

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 07/11/2011 01:41:38

dmerkle wrote:Tried the task but wasn't working well for WHS v1. Will keep this in mind when I move to v2. Waiting for a drive pool solution

For WHS V1 use AnyService installer. Check it out here

http://forum.wegotserved.com/index.php/topic/8566-any-service-installer/

makes life easier!

Any yeah WHS 2011 rocks. I'm beta testing StableBit DrivePool. (great drive extender replacment) so far so good, jump in when beta M3 comes in in week or two. (will support default Videos share, indexing etc)

I have both AirVideo, StreamToMe, and uTorrent running as a 24/7 scheduled task.

Create a guest account (or you can user your own account) on your computer.
Log into it and ensure Air Video Server is running.
Go to Start, Switch User or Lock the Account

This will keep the program running all the time and accessible remotely.

I understand that it may burn resources to keep that account locked but how bad do you want to watch videos super easily?

Have fun.

diatribe

diatribe wrote:Create a guest account (or you can user your own account) on your computer.
Log into it and ensure Air Video Server is running.
Go to Start, Switch User or Lock the Account

This will keep the program running all the time and accessible remotely.

I understand that it may burn resources to keep that account locked but how bad do you want to watch videos super easily?

Have fun.

diatribe

And what if your computer reboots? Automatic patching, power outage, etc?