Service Configuration

The system uses the configuration information to determine how to start the service. The configuration information also includes the service display name and its description. For example, for the DHCP service, you could use the display name "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Service" and the description "Provides internet addresses for computer on your network."

To modify the configuration information for a service object, a configuration program uses the ChangeServiceConfig or ChangeServiceConfig2 function. For an example, see Changing a Service Configuration.

To retrieve the configuration information for a service object, the configuration program uses the QueryServiceConfig or QueryServiceConfig2 function. For an example, see Querying a Service's Configuration.

To modify the security descriptor for either an SCManager object or a service object, a configuration program uses the SetServiceObjectSecurity function. To retrieve a copy of the security descriptor, the configuration program uses the QueryServiceObjectSecurity function.

Before you reconfigure a service object, you should use the LockServiceDatabase function. This function tries to acquire a lock on the database and, if successful, prevents the SCM from starting a service while the database is being reconfigured. Failure to acquire a lock does not prevent a configuration program from successfully reconfiguring a service object. To release the lock on the database when the reconfiguration is complete, use the UnlockServiceDatabase function. To determine whether the database is locked, use the QueryServiceLockStatus function.