Note: Only available on Windows with Luci Studio Version 6
A Windows service is a computer program that operates in the background without any user interaction. It can operate without a user login and has no visible graphical user interface. Since Luci Studio is capable of running automated and even can be controller remotely by Ember+, we made it possible to run them as a Service.
It is not the Luci Studio Instances themselves that are initiated as a Service; rather, the “Luci Studio Manager”, which is included with every Luci Studio installation, is set up as a Service. This “Luci Studio Manager” is responsible for launching the configured Luci Studio Instances, thereby enabling them to operate as Services.
Things to consider using Luci Studio as a service:
It’s important to install everything as admin, activate LUCI Studio as admin and configure the LUCI Studio Manager with the UI as admin also. This will make sure the service will have access to the correct files in C:/Program Data/.
All needed programs are installed by the Luci Studio 6 installer, and although this functionality is free within the Luci Studio 6 license, for remotely control the Instances you will need to buy the Ember+ plugin upgrade and an optional Luci Studio RC application license. Without remote control you can configure Luci Studio into fully automated mode (pickup calls, use the answering machine, record every call etc.) but there is no visible feedback whatsoever.
The standard Windows audio interface can operate in the background, but the audio stream may briefly interrupt when a user logs in as Windows reallocates resources to the user. It is advisable to use ASIO drivers when available to avoid this interruption.
The installation, uninstallation, starting, and stopping of the Service must be conducted through the “Luci Studio Manager” application to ensure proper functionality. The “LSManagerService.exe” is not intended for any alternative usage.
Start Luci Studio Manager as a Service.
- First Log in using a user account with administrative rights and Install Luci Studio.
- Setup of one or more Luci Studio Instances (see How-to Setup LUCI STUDIO as a multi-channel server) and run the Luci Studio Manager to start and control the Instances (See How-to LUCI STUDIO Manager) and configure all Instances to run autonomically (note that as a service you cannot change settings like audio input or SIP credentials). Be sure to test every Instance functionality.
- You will find the “Install as a Service” in the Luci Studio Manager’s menu:
When selected, Windows User Account Control will ask permission for “LSManagerService.exe” to make changes. This program is the service version of “Luci Studio Manager” and will be installed as a Service. Once confirmed and installed, the Start Dialog appears:
- Pressing “Start” will start the Service “LSManagerService” in the Background, closing the Foreground application “Luci Studio Manager”:
You can find the applications running in Windows “Task Manager” in the section “Background Processes”:
and in Windows “Services” list:
The service now enables Luci Studio Instances to automatically start upon PC boot-up, eliminating the need for user login.
Note: The Service application is called “LSManagerService”. If you have a firewall to control incoming data, you need to open up traffic for this service application as for the foreground “Luci Studio Manager” application.
Stopping the Luci Studio Service
- Log in using a user account with administrative rights.
- Run the normal “Luci Studio Manager.exe”, it will detect the running service and will ask:
- On Stopping the Service, all Background Instances will close and the foreground “Luci Studio Manager.exe” application and the Instances will start. You can always toggle between these Background and Foreground “states”, to change settings or do tests, with the menu item “Start or Uninstall the Service …”:
Note: The Service itself is only stopped, not removed.
Note: “Quit” will do nothing else then exiting the “Luci Studio Manager”
Removing the Luci Studio Service
- Once the Service is stopped (see above) selecting the menu item “Start or Uninstall the Service …” will ask for:
- Upon “Uninstall” the “LSManagerService” is removed as Service from the Windows “Services” list. The menu item will change back to “Install as a Sevice …”.
