Re: Windows installation service

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave Page [mailto:dpage(at)pgadmin(dot)org]
> Sent: Friday, April 10, 2009 8:16 AM
> To: Dann Corbit
> Cc: pgsql-hackers(at)postgresql(dot)org; Bill Luton; Larry McGhaw; Mike McKee;
> Brian Fifer
> Subject: Re: [HACKERS] Windows installation service
>
> On Mon, Apr 6, 2009 at 9:32 PM, Dann Corbit <DCorbit(at)connx(dot)com> wrote:
> > The Windows installation service uses pg_ctl to perform the network
> > start-up operation.
> > This program starts up the postmaster and exits.
> > The net effect of performing the operation in this manner is that the
> > Windows service manager sees the service as "not running" a few
> minutes
> > after the startup is complete.  It also prevents proper pause and
> > restart of the service.
>
> Per our offlist conversation, this is not how it works.
>
> > As a suggestion:
> > Instead of installing pg_ctl as the service, start up postgres as the
> > service.  This is how we did our Windows port.  If the idea is
> appealing
> > to the PostgreSQL group, we can send our service code modifications
> for
> > review as a possible alternative to the current method.
> >
> > Another approach that could be equally helpful (along the same lines)
> is
> > to leave pg_ctl.exe in memory and allow it to control the program.
>
> Which is what does happen.

I don't know the reason why, but that is not what happens here.

We see the problem on 64-bit machines with Windows 2008 Server.
We see the problem on 32-bit machine with Windows 2003 Server.
We see the problem on 32-bit Windows XP machines.
It is universal (all of these machines demonstrate the problem).

I did get this email from Mike McKee this morning:

"I noticed a pattern.

The first time it works, and can shutdown.

The second time is where it kind of hangs ...."