1. Create a new Visual Studio Console Application project called "Service".

2. Rename Program.cs to Service.cs.

3. Change the namespace to Microsoft.ServiceModel.Samples

4. Add a references to the following assemblies.

   • System.ServiceModel.dll
     
     
   • System.ServiceProcess.dll
     
     
   • System.Configuration.Install.dll
     
     

5. Add the following using statements to Service.cs.

   Visual Basic

   Imports System.ComponentModel
   Imports System.ServiceModel
   Imports System.ServiceProcess
   Imports System.Configuration
   Imports System.Configuration.Install

   C#

   using System.ComponentModel;
   using System.ServiceModel;
   using System.ServiceProcess;
   using System.Configuration;
   using System.Configuration.Install;

6. Define the ICalculator service contract as shown in the following code.

   Visual Basic

   ' Define a service contract.
   <ServiceContract(Namespace:="http://Microsoft.ServiceModel.Samples")> _
   Public Interface ICalculator
       <OperationContract()> _
       Function Add(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double
       <OperationContract()> _
       Function Subtract(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double
       <OperationContract()> _
       Function Multiply(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double
       <OperationContract()> _
       Function Divide(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double
   End Interface

   C#

   // Define a service contract.
   [ServiceContract(Namespace = "http://Microsoft.ServiceModel.Samples")]
   public interface ICalculator
   {
       [OperationContract]
       double Add(double n1, double n2);
       [OperationContract]
       double Subtract(double n1, double n2);
       [OperationContract]
       double Multiply(double n1, double n2);
       [OperationContract]
       double Divide(double n1, double n2);
   }

7. Implement the service contract in a class called CalculatorService as shown in the following code.

   Visual Basic

   ' Implement the ICalculator service contract in a service class.
   Public Class CalculatorService
       Implements ICalculator
       ' Implement the ICalculator methods.
       Public Function Add(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double Implements ICalculator.Add
           Return n1 + n2
   
       End Function
   
       Public Function Subtract(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double Implements ICalculator.Subtract
           Return n1 - n2
   
       End Function
   
       Public Function Multiply(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double Implements ICalculator.Multiply
           Return n1 * n2
       End Function
   
       Public Function Divide(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double Implements ICalculator.Divide
           Return n1 / n2
   
       End Function
   End Class

   C#

   // Implement the ICalculator service contract in a service class.
   public class CalculatorService : ICalculator
   {
       // Implement the ICalculator methods.
       public double Add(double n1, double n2)
       {
           double result = n1 + n2;
           return result;
       }
   
       public double Subtract(double n1, double n2)
       {
           double result = n1 - n2;
           return result;
       }
   
       public double Multiply(double n1, double n2)
       {
           double result = n1 * n2;
           return result;
       }
   
       public double Divide(double n1, double n2)
       {
           double result = n1 / n2;
           return result;
       }
   }

8. Create a new class called CalculatorWindowsService that inherits from the ServiceBase class. Add a local variable called serviceHost to reference the ServiceHost instance. And define the Main method which calls ServiceBase.Run(new CalculatorWindowsService)

   Visual Basic

   Public Class CalculatorWindowsService
       Inherits ServiceBase
       Public serviceHost As ServiceHost = Nothing
       Public Sub New()
           ' Name the Windows Service
           ServiceName = "WCFWindowsServiceSample"
       End Sub
   
       Public Shared Sub Main()
           ServiceBase.Run(New CalculatorWindowsService())
       End Sub

   C#

   public class CalculatorWindowsService : ServiceBase
   {
       public ServiceHost serviceHost = null;
       public CalculatorWindowsService()
       {
           // Name the Windows Service
           ServiceName = "WCFWindowsServiceSample";
       }
   
       public static void Main()
       {
           ServiceBase.Run(new CalculatorWindowsService());
       }

9. Override the OnStart method by creating and opening a new ServiceHost instance as shown in the following code.

   Visual Basic

   ' Start the Windows service.
   Protected Overrides Sub OnStart(ByVal args() As String)
       If serviceHost IsNot Nothing Then
           serviceHost.Close()
       End If
   
       ' Create a ServiceHost for the CalculatorService type and 
       ' provide the base address.
       serviceHost = New ServiceHost(GetType(CalculatorService))
   
       ' Open the ServiceHostBase to create listeners and start 
       ' listening for messages.
       serviceHost.Open()
   End Sub

   C#

   // Start the Windows service.
   protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
   {
       if (serviceHost != null)
       {
           serviceHost.Close();
       }
   
       // Create a ServiceHost for the CalculatorService type and 
       // provide the base address.
       serviceHost = new ServiceHost(typeof(CalculatorService));
   
       // Open the ServiceHostBase to create listeners and start 
       // listening for messages.
       serviceHost.Open();
   }

10. Override the OnStop method closing the ServiceHost as shown in the following code.

    Visual Basic

    Protected Overrides Sub OnStop()
        If serviceHost IsNot Nothing Then
            serviceHost.Close()
            serviceHost = Nothing
        End If
    End Sub

    C#

    protected override void OnStop()
    {
        if (serviceHost != null)
        {
            serviceHost.Close();
            serviceHost = null;
        }
    }

11. Create a new class called ProjectInstaller that inherits from Installer and that is marked with the RunInstallerAttribute set to true. This allows the Windows service to be installed by the Installutil,exe tool.

    Visual Basic

       ' Provide the ProjectInstaller class which allows 
       ' the service to be installed by the Installutil.exe tool
       <RunInstaller(True)> _
    Public Class ProjectInstaller
           Inherits Installer
           Private process As ServiceProcessInstaller
           Private service As ServiceInstaller
    
           Public Sub New()
               process = New ServiceProcessInstaller()
               process.Account = ServiceAccount.LocalSystem
               service = New ServiceInstaller()
               service.ServiceName = "WCFWindowsServiceSample"
               Installers.Add(process)
               Installers.Add(service)
           End Sub
       End Class

    C#

    // Provide the ProjectInstaller class which allows 
    // the service to be installed by the Installutil.exe tool
    [RunInstaller(true)]
    public class ProjectInstaller : Installer
    {
        private ServiceProcessInstaller process;
        private ServiceInstaller service;
    
        public ProjectInstaller()
        {
            process = new ServiceProcessInstaller();
            process.Account = ServiceAccount.LocalSystem;
            service = new ServiceInstaller();
            service.ServiceName = "WCFWindowsServiceSample";
            Installers.Add(process);
            Installers.Add(service);
        }
    }

12. Remove the Service class that was generated when you created the project.

13. Add an application configuration file to the project. Replace the contents of the file with the following configuration XML.

    Xml

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
    <configuration>
      <system.serviceModel>
        <services>
          <service name="Microsoft.ServiceModel.Samples.CalculatorService"
                   behaviorConfiguration="CalculatorServiceBehavior">
            <host>
              <baseAddresses>
                <add baseAddress="http://localhost:8000/ServiceModelSamples/service"/>
              </baseAddresses>
            </host>
            <!-- this endpoint is exposed at the base address provided by host: http://localhost:8000/ServiceModelSamples/service  -->
            <endpoint address=""
                      binding="wsHttpBinding"
                      contract="Microsoft.ServiceModel.Samples.ICalculator" />
            <!-- the mex endpoint is explosed at http://localhost:8000/ServiceModelSamples/service/mex -->
            <endpoint address="mex"
                      binding="mexHttpBinding"
                      contract="IMetadataExchange" />
          </service>
        </services>
        <behaviors>
          <serviceBehaviors>
            <behavior name="CalculatorServiceBehavior">
              <serviceMetadata httpGetEnabled="true"/>
              <serviceDebug includeExceptionDetailInFaults="False"/>
            </behavior>
          </serviceBehaviors>
        </behaviors>
      </system.serviceModel>
    </configuration>

    Right click on the app.config file in the and select Properties. Under Copy to Output Directory select Copy if Newer.

1. Build the solution to create the Service.exe executable.

2. Open the Visual Studio 2008 Command Prompt and navigate to the project directory. Type installutil bin\service.exe at the command prompt to install the Windows service.

   Note:
   If you don't use the Visual Studio 2008 Command Prompt make sure that the %WinDir%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727 directory is in the system path.

   Type services.msc at the command prompt to access the Service Control Manager (SCM). The Windows service should appear in Services as "WCFWindowsServiceSample". The WCF service can only respond to clients if the Windows service is running. To start the service, right-click it in the SCM and select "Start", or type net start WCFWindowsServiceSample at the command prompt.

3. If you make changes to the service, you must first stop it and uninstall it. To stop the service, right-click the service in the SCM and select "Stop", or type net stop WCFWindowsServiceSample at the command prompt. Note that if you stop the Windows service and then run a client, an EndpointNotFoundException exception occurs when a client attempts to access the service. To uninstall the Windows service type installutil /u bin\service.exe at the command prompt.

The following is a complete listing of the code used by this topic.

Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Linq
Imports System.Text

Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.ServiceModel
Imports System.ServiceProcess
Imports System.Configuration
Imports System.Configuration.Install

Namespace Microsoft.ServiceModel.Samples
    ' Define a service contract.
    <ServiceContract(Namespace:="http://Microsoft.ServiceModel.Samples")> _
    Public Interface ICalculator
        <OperationContract()> _
        Function Add(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double
        <OperationContract()> _
        Function Subtract(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double
        <OperationContract()> _
        Function Multiply(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double
        <OperationContract()> _
        Function Divide(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double
    End Interface

    ' Implement the ICalculator service contract in a service class.
    Public Class CalculatorService
        Implements ICalculator
        ' Implement the ICalculator methods.
        Public Function Add(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double Implements ICalculator.Add
            Return n1 + n2

        End Function

        Public Function Subtract(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double Implements ICalculator.Subtract
            Return n1 - n2

        End Function

        Public Function Multiply(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double Implements ICalculator.Multiply
            Return n1 * n2
        End Function

        Public Function Divide(ByVal n1 As Double, ByVal n2 As Double) As Double Implements ICalculator.Divide
            Return n1 / n2

        End Function
    End Class

    Public Class CalculatorWindowsService
        Inherits ServiceBase
        Public serviceHost As ServiceHost = Nothing
        Public Sub New()
            ' Name the Windows Service
            ServiceName = "WCFWindowsServiceSample"
        End Sub

        Public Shared Sub Main()
            ServiceBase.Run(New CalculatorWindowsService())
        End Sub

        ' Start the Windows service.
        Protected Overrides Sub OnStart(ByVal args() As String)
            If serviceHost IsNot Nothing Then
                serviceHost.Close()
            End If

            ' Create a ServiceHost for the CalculatorService type and 
            ' provide the base address.
            serviceHost = New ServiceHost(GetType(CalculatorService))

            ' Open the ServiceHostBase to create listeners and start 
            ' listening for messages.
            serviceHost.Open()
        End Sub

        Protected Overrides Sub OnStop()
            If serviceHost IsNot Nothing Then
                serviceHost.Close()
                serviceHost = Nothing
            End If
        End Sub
    End Class
    ' Provide the ProjectInstaller class which allows 
    ' the service to be installed by the Installutil.exe tool
    <RunInstaller(True)> _
 Public Class ProjectInstaller
        Inherits Installer
        Private process As ServiceProcessInstaller
        Private service As ServiceInstaller

        Public Sub New()
            process = New ServiceProcessInstaller()
            process.Account = ServiceAccount.LocalSystem
            service = New ServiceInstaller()
            service.ServiceName = "WCFWindowsServiceSample"
            Installers.Add(process)
            Installers.Add(service)
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;

using System.ComponentModel;
using System.ServiceModel;
using System.ServiceProcess;
using System.Configuration;
using System.Configuration.Install;

namespace Microsoft.ServiceModel.Samples
{
    // Define a service contract.
    [ServiceContract(Namespace = "http://Microsoft.ServiceModel.Samples")]
    public interface ICalculator
    {
        [OperationContract]
        double Add(double n1, double n2);
        [OperationContract]
        double Subtract(double n1, double n2);
        [OperationContract]
        double Multiply(double n1, double n2);
        [OperationContract]
        double Divide(double n1, double n2);
    }

    // Implement the ICalculator service contract in a service class.
    public class CalculatorService : ICalculator
    {
        // Implement the ICalculator methods.
        public double Add(double n1, double n2)
        {
            double result = n1 + n2;
            return result;
        }

        public double Subtract(double n1, double n2)
        {
            double result = n1 - n2;
            return result;
        }

        public double Multiply(double n1, double n2)
        {
            double result = n1 * n2;
            return result;
        }

        public double Divide(double n1, double n2)
        {
            double result = n1 / n2;
            return result;
        }
    }

    public class CalculatorWindowsService : ServiceBase
    {
        public ServiceHost serviceHost = null;
        public CalculatorWindowsService()
        {
            // Name the Windows Service
            ServiceName = "WCFWindowsServiceSample";
        }

        public static void Main()
        {
            ServiceBase.Run(new CalculatorWindowsService());
        }

        // Start the Windows service.
        protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
        {
            if (serviceHost != null)
            {
                serviceHost.Close();
            }

            // Create a ServiceHost for the CalculatorService type and 
            // provide the base address.
            serviceHost = new ServiceHost(typeof(CalculatorService));

            // Open the ServiceHostBase to create listeners and start 
            // listening for messages.
            serviceHost.Open();
        }

        protected override void OnStop()
        {
            if (serviceHost != null)
            {
                serviceHost.Close();
                serviceHost = null;
            }
        }
    }

    // Provide the ProjectInstaller class which allows 
    // the service to be installed by the Installutil.exe tool
    [RunInstaller(true)]
    public class ProjectInstaller : Installer
    {
        private ServiceProcessInstaller process;
        private ServiceInstaller service;

        public ProjectInstaller()
        {
            process = new ServiceProcessInstaller();
            process.Account = ServiceAccount.LocalSystem;
            service = new ServiceInstaller();
            service.ServiceName = "WCFWindowsServiceSample";
            Installers.Add(process);
            Installers.Add(service);
        }
    }
}

Like the "Self-Hosting" option, the Windows service hosting environment requires that some hosting code be written as part of the application. The service is implemented as an console application and contains its own hosting code. In other hosting environments, such as Windows Process Activation Service (WAS) hosting in Internet Information Services (IIS), it is not necessary for developers to write hosting code.

Concepts