Problem with installing windows service using CC.NET and MSBUILD

Question

Hi guys,

I am trying to install a windows service using MSBuild and CCNET. I am using MSBuild Extension pack WindowsService task to install and start the windows service as part of automated build. The script section look like this

<!--install service-->
<MSBuild.ExtensionPack.Computer.WindowsService TaskAction="Install" ServiceName="$(PrServiceName)" ServicePath="$(PrServicePath)" User="$(User)" />

<!--set service to run automatically on restart-->
<MSBuild.ExtensionPack.Computer.WindowsService TaskAction="SetAutomatic" ServiceName="$(PrServiceName)" />

<!--start service-->
<MSBuild.ExtensionPack.Computer.WindowsService TaskAction="Start" ServiceName="$(PrServiceName)" ServicePath="$(PrServicePath)" User="$(User)" />

Now as soon as the the first task runs to install the service, it fails with the following error

E:\Data\cc_temp\Projects\cubic\intranet\pr\pr.build (137,3): error : Install Service failed with code: 'AccessDenied'

I assume this is because the script is running under cruise control service user account which does not have the appropriate permissions for installing a windows service.

I would just like to give minimal permissions to the cruise control user account instead of giving the full administrative rights.

Does anyone out there knows how can i achieve this?

Awaiting Nabeel

Answer 1

Even after making CC.NET service account member of Administrators group, its still giving the same error.

I have tried installing the service manually via commanline using installutil and it gets installed properly but when msbuild tries to stop it, it gives the same error again.

As part of the cleanup target in my script I am checking if the service exists or not and then stopping it and uninstalling it accordingly. I am using the same MSBuild Extension pack WindowsService task as follows

<!-- Check if the PR Service exists-->
    <MSBuild.ExtensionPack.Computer.WindowsService TaskAction="CheckExists" ServiceName="$(PrServiceName)">
        <Output TaskParameter="Exists" PropertyName="DoesExist" />
    </MSBuild.ExtensionPack.Computer.WindowsService>

    <Message Text="PR Service Exists = $(DoesExist)"/>

    <!-- If exists then stop it and uninstall it-->
    <MSBuild.ExtensionPack.Computer.WindowsService ServiceName="$(PrServiceName)" TaskAction="Stop" Condition=" '$(DoesExist)' == 'true' " />               
    <MSBuild.ExtensionPack.Computer.WindowsService TaskAction="Uninstall" ServiceName="$(PrServiceName)" ServicePath="$(PrServicePath)" Condition=" '$(DoesExist)' == 'true' "/>

    <!-- delete all the file in the folder-->
    <Delete Files="$(PrServiceFolder)\**" />

The first task that checks the service does run, however when it tries to stop the service in the second task, it gives the similar error

Stop Service failed with return code '[2] AccessDenied'

Any idea what could be wrong? I can't seem to find any thing on google either.

Awaiting Nabeel

Answer 2

Nabeel you are on the right track, it has to be a permissions issue. We do this all the time in our build using the same tools and it works. Have you checked to see which account the service is running as? and using the same user account to run your cruisecontrol? at least then you would possibly prove/disprove the permissions issue.