This article will show you how to configure Apache Geronimo v2.0 to run as a MS Windows service. A Java Service Wrapper will be required as an additional software to achieve this configuration. Using a service wrapper gives you some additional "control" on the service you are configuring such as the ability to ping the service and take action if the service is down.

Software prerequisites

To set up Apache Geronimo v2.0 to run as a MS Windows service you will certainly need a Java Service Wrapper. For this example we used Java Service Wrapper 3.2.3 available for download at the following URL:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/wrapper/

For this example we are also using Apache Geronimo v2.0 running on Windows XP. You can download Apache Geronimo binaries from the following URL:

http://geronimo.apache.org/downloads.html

Installing Apache Geronimo

The installation of Geronimo from the binaries is very simple. Just extract the zip file to a directory of your convenience, throughout the rest of the article this directory will be referred to as <geronimo_home>.

Installing the Java Service Wrapper

Installing the wrapper is as simple as installing Apache Geronimo. Once you downloaded the right version for your environment you can extract the zip file to a directory of your convenience, throughout the rest of the article this directory will be referred to as <jsw_home>.

For this particular example we will try to locate all the wrapper related files within the Geronimo directory structure, so we will have to copy some files over.

Once you installed the wrapper copy these as indicated in the following table.

Source	Destination
`<jsw_home>/bin/wrapper.exe`	`<geronimo_home>/bin/wrapper.exe`
`<jsw_home>/lib/wrapper.jar`	`<geronimo_home>/lib/wrapper.jar`
`<jsw_home>/lib/wrapper.dll`	`<geronimo_home>/lib/wrapper.dll`

In addition, the following files will also be created as part of this configuartion process.

<geronimo_home>/bin/g_service.bat
<geronimo_home>/bin/Install_Geronimo_NT.bat
<geronimo_home>/bin/Uninstall_Geronimo_NT.bat
<geronimo_home>/var/config/wrapper.conf

Configuring the wrapper

The Java Service Wrapper comes with a sample configuration file wrapper.conf pre-configured to run a test script also provided, this file located in the <jsw_home>\conf directory. In this section we provide a Geronimo specific wrapper.conf file for your convenience.

As we are trying to keep all the wrapper files within Geronimo's directory structure, create the configuration file as illustrated in the following example and place it in the <geronimo_home>/var/conf/wrapper.conf directory.

wrapper.conf

# Location of java.exe (in Windows)

wrapper.java.command=<java_home>/bin/java

# These additional parameters are required to start the server since we are not setting any environment variables prior to running the wrapper.

wrapper.java.additional.1=-javaagent:"<geronimo_home>/bin/jpa.jar"
wrapper.java.additional.2=-Djava.ext.dirs="<geronimo_home>/lib/ext;<java_home>/jre/lib/ext"
wrapper.java.additional.3=-Djava.endorsed.dirs="<geronimo_home>/lib/endorsed;<java_home>/jre/lib/endorsed" 
wrapper.java.additional.4=-Dorg.apache.geronimo.base.dir="<geronimo_home>"
wrapper.java.additional.5=-Djava.io.tmpdir="<geronimo_home>/var/temp"

# Good old classpath, make sure to include /bin/server.jar and /bin/shutdown.jar

wrapper.java.classpath.1=../lib/wrapper.jar
wrapper.java.classpath.2=../bin/server.jar
wrapper.java.classpath.3=../bin/shutdown.jar
wrapper.java.classpath.4=../lib/geronimo-cli-2.0-SNAPSHOT.jar
wrapper.java.classpath.5=../lib/geronimo-kernel-2.0-SNAPSHOT.jar
wrapper.java.classpath.6=../lib/geronimo-transformer-2.0-SNAPSHOT.jar
wrapper.java.classpath.7=../lib/commons-cli-1.0.jar
wrapper.java.classpath.8=../lib/commons-logging-1.0.4.jar
wrapper.java.classpath.9=../lib/cglib-nodep-2.1_3.jar
wrapper.java.classpath.10=../lib/log4j-1.2.14.jar
wrapper.java.classpath.11=../lib/xpp3-1.1.3.3.jar
wrapper.java.classpath.12=../lib/xstream-1.1.3.jar

# Location of the wrapper.dll (in Windows)

wrapper.java.library.path.1=../lib

# Main class the wrapper will use.

wrapper.java.mainclass=org.tanukisoftware.wrapper.WrapperSimpleApp

# Geronimo start class and parameters.

wrapper.app.parameter.1=org.apache.geronimo.cli.daemon.DaemonCLI

# Log settings.

wrapper.console.format=PM
wrapper.console.loglevel=INFO
wrapper.logfile=../var/log/wrapper.log
wrapper.logfile.format=LPTM
wrapper.logfile.loglevel=INFO
wrapper.logfile.maxsize=0
wrapper.logfile.maxfiles=0
wrapper.syslog.loglevel=INFO

# Windows service name and description.

wrapper.console.title=Apache Geronimo v2.0 Server
wrapper.ntservice.name=Geronimo
wrapper.ntservice.displayname=Apache Geronimo v2.0 Server
wrapper.ntservice.description=Apache Geronimo v2.0 Server
wrapper.ntservice.dependency.1=
wrapper.ntservice.starttype=AUTO_START
wrapper.ntservice.interactive=false

This service wrapper allows three different methods of integration depending on, among other things, whether you use the same class or not to start and stop the server. For Geronimo we will use the WrapperStartStopApp main class since we use two different classes to start and stop the server.

We use the org.apache.geronimo.cli.daemon.DaemonCLI class without any additional paramenters to start the server, to stop it we use org.apache.geronimo.kernel.util.MainBootstrapper. The class used to stop de server takes four additional parameters corresponding to the user and password. In addition, the wrapper requires to pass the number (count) of paramenters the class will receive, all these are specified as wrapper.app.parameter values.

As we mentioned before, for this example we are trying to locate all the wrapper related files within the Geronimo directory structure. As you can see in the wrapper.conf shown above, most of the directory references are relative to Geronimo's installation directory. You will only have to replace <geronimo_home> and <java_home> with the appropriate settings for your environment.

Next we will create a batch file to run the service from the commnad line without the need of actually installing the service. This is particularly helpful when testing and debuggin the configuration. Create the g_service.bat batch file in the <geronimo_home>/bin directory and copy the content of the following example.

g_service.bat

@echo off
setlocal

rem Copyright (c) 1999, 2006 Tanuki Software Inc.
rem
rem Java Service Wrapper general startup script
rem

rem
rem Resolve the real path of the wrapper.exe
rem  For non NT systems, the _REALPATH and _WRAPPER_CONF values
rem  can be hard-coded below and the following test removed.
rem
if "%OS%"=="Windows_NT" goto nt
echo This script only works with NT-based versions of Windows.
goto :eof

:nt
rem
rem Find the application home.
rem
rem %~dp0 is location of current script under NT
set _REALPATH=%~dp0

rem Decide on the wrapper binary.
set _WRAPPER_BASE=wrapper
set _WRAPPER_EXE=%_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%-windows-x86-32.exe
if exist "%_WRAPPER_EXE%" goto conf
set _WRAPPER_EXE=%_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%-windows-x86-64.exe
if exist "%_WRAPPER_EXE%" goto conf
set _WRAPPER_EXE=%_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%.exe
if exist "%_WRAPPER_EXE%" goto conf
echo Unable to locate a Wrapper executable using any of the following names:
echo %_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%-windows-x86-32.exe
echo %_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%-windows-x86-64.exe
echo %_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%.exe
pause
goto :eof

rem
rem Find the wrapper.conf
rem
:conf
set _WRAPPER_CONF="%~f1"
if not %_WRAPPER_CONF%=="" goto startup
set _WRAPPER_CONF="%_REALPATH%..\var\config\wrapper.conf"

rem
rem Start the Wrapper
rem
:startup
"%_WRAPPER_EXE%" -c %_WRAPPER_CONF%
if not errorlevel 1 goto :eof
pause

This file is a modified version from the one provided by the wrapper as a sample, it has been edited to specify the location of the wrapper.conf file relative to Geronimo's var/config directory.

YYou can now run Geronimo as a service from a command line, simply run the following command:

<geronimo_home>/bin/g_service.bat

You should see a screen similar to the following example, note that part has been truncated for display purposes.

{D:\geronimo-tomcat6-jee5-2.0\bin>g_service.bat
wrapper  | --> Wrapper Started as Console
wrapper  | Launching a JVM...
jvm 1    | Wrapper (Version 3.2.3) http://wrapper.tanukisoftware.org
jvm 1    |   Copyright 1999-2006 Tanuki Software, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
jvm 1    |
jvm 1    | Booting Geronimo Kernel (in Java 1.5.0_06)...
jvm 1    | Starting Geronimo Application Server v2.0
jvm 1    |
jvm 1    | [*                                ]  0%   0s Loading
jvm 1    | [*-                               ]  0%   0s  Loading org.apache.ge...
jvm 1    | [*>                               ]  6%   0s  Loading org.apache.ge...

...

jvm 1    | [*********************************] 100%  19s Startup complete
jvm 1    |   Listening on Ports:
jvm 1    |     1050 127.0.0.1 CORBA Naming Service
jvm 1    |     1099 0.0.0.0   RMI Naming
jvm 1    |     1527 0.0.0.0   Derby Connector
jvm 1    |     2001 127.0.0.1 OpenEJB ORB Adapter
jvm 1    |     4201 0.0.0.0   org.apache.geronimo.openejb.EjbDaemonGBean
jvm 1    |     4242 0.0.0.0   Remote Login Listener
jvm 1    |     6882 127.0.0.1 OpenEJB ORB Adapter
jvm 1    |     8009 0.0.0.0   Tomcat Connector AJP
jvm 1    |     8080 0.0.0.0   Tomcat Connector HTTP
jvm 1    |     8443 0.0.0.0   Tomcat Connector HTTPS
jvm 1    |     9999 0.0.0.0   JMX Remoting Connector
jvm 1    |    61613 0.0.0.0   ActiveMQ Transport Connector
jvm 1    |    61616 0.0.0.0   ActiveMQ Transport Connector
jvm 1    |
jvm 1    |   Started Application Modules:
jvm 1    |     EAR: org.apache.geronimo.configs/webconsole-tomcat/2.0/car
jvm 1    |     RAR: org.apache.geronimo.configs/activemq-ra/2.0/car
jvm 1    |     RAR: org.apache.geronimo.configs/system-database/2.0/car
jvm 1    |     WAR: org.apache.geronimo.configs/dojo-tomcat/2.0/car
jvm 1    |     WAR: org.apache.geronimo.configs/remote-deploy-tomcat/2.0/car
jvm 1    |     WAR: org.apache.geronimo.configs/welcome-tomcat/2.0/car
jvm 1    |
jvm 1    |   Web Applications:
jvm 1    |     http://localhost:8080/
jvm 1    |     http://localhost:8080/console
jvm 1    |     http://localhost:8080/console-standard
jvm 1    |     http://localhost:8080/dojo
jvm 1    |     http://localhost:8080/remote-deploy
jvm 1    |
jvm 1    | Geronimo Application Server started

Congratullations!!! you have now Geronimo server running as a Windows service.

The next step is to acctually install the service so it can be picked up at Windows start time as well as managed along with the other existing services.

Installing/Removing the service

The following two batch files are provided to install and remove Geronimo as a Windows service. Create the files in the <geronimo_home>/bin directory and copy the content as depicted in the following examples.

Install_Geronimo_NT.bat

@echo off
setlocal

rem Copyright (c) 1999, 2006 Tanuki Software Inc.
rem
rem Java Service Wrapper general NT service install script
rem

if "%OS%"=="Windows_NT" goto nt
echo This script only works with NT-based versions of Windows.
goto :eof

:nt
rem
rem Find the application home.
rem
rem %~dp0 is location of current script under NT
set _REALPATH=%~dp0

rem Decide on the wrapper binary.
set _WRAPPER_BASE=wrapper
set _WRAPPER_EXE=%_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%-windows-x86-32.exe
if exist "%_WRAPPER_EXE%" goto conf
set _WRAPPER_EXE=%_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%-windows-x86-64.exe
if exist "%_WRAPPER_EXE%" goto conf
set _WRAPPER_EXE=%_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%.exe
if exist "%_WRAPPER_EXE%" goto conf
echo Unable to locate a Wrapper executable using any of the following names:
echo %_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%-windows-x86-32.exe
echo %_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%-windows-x86-64.exe
echo %_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%.exe
pause
goto :eof

rem
rem Find the wrapper.conf
rem
:conf
set _WRAPPER_CONF="%~f1"
if not %_WRAPPER_CONF%=="" goto startup
set _WRAPPER_CONF="%_REALPATH%..\var\config\wrapper.conf"

rem
rem Install the Wrapper as an NT service.
rem
:startup
"%_WRAPPER_EXE%" -i %_WRAPPER_CONF%
if not errorlevel 1 goto :eof
pause

To install Apache Geronimo as a MS Windows service run the following command:

<geronimo_home>/bin/Install_Geronimo_NT.bat

You should get a confirmation screen similar to this example.

D:\geronimo-tomcat6-jee5-2.0\bin>Install_Geronimo_NT.bat
wrapper  | Apache Geronimo v2.0 Server installed.

Uninstall_Geronimo_NT.bat

@echo off
setlocal

rem Copyright (c) 1999, 2006 Tanuki Software Inc.
rem
rem Java Service Wrapper general NT service uninstall script
rem

if "%OS%"=="Windows_NT" goto nt
echo This script only works with NT-based versions of Windows.
goto :eof

:nt
rem
rem Find the application home.
rem
rem %~dp0 is location of current script under NT
set _REALPATH=%~dp0

rem Decide on the wrapper binary.
set _WRAPPER_BASE=wrapper
set _WRAPPER_EXE=%_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%-windows-x86-32.exe
if exist "%_WRAPPER_EXE%" goto conf
set _WRAPPER_EXE=%_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%-windows-x86-64.exe
if exist "%_WRAPPER_EXE%" goto conf
set _WRAPPER_EXE=%_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%.exe
if exist "%_WRAPPER_EXE%" goto conf
echo Unable to locate a Wrapper executable using any of the following names:
echo %_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%-windows-x86-32.exe
echo %_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%-windows-x86-64.exe
echo %_REALPATH%%_WRAPPER_BASE%.exe
pause
goto :eof

rem
rem Find the wrapper.conf
rem
:conf
set _WRAPPER_CONF="%~f1"
if not %_WRAPPER_CONF%=="" goto startup
set _WRAPPER_CONF="%_REALPATH%..\var\config\wrapper.conf"

rem
rem Uninstall the Wrapper as an NT service.
rem
:startup
"%_WRAPPER_EXE%" -r %_WRAPPER_CONF%
if not errorlevel 1 goto :eof
pause

To remove the Apache Geronimo service run the following command:

<geronimo_home>/bin/Uninstall_Geronimo_NT.bat