Why Use Win App as a Service?
The Box Shuttle Windows App runs as an application by default. In the Windows environment, when a given user starts an application and then logs out, the application shuts down. When the Windows app shuts down, data transferred by it also stops. A solution to this is running the Windows App as a service (WaaS) rather than as an application; services continue to run after the user logs out, meaning data transfer continues as well.
Whether it is running as an app or a service, for obvious reasons the Win App will stop transferring files if the computer on which it is installed powers down.
The major difference in running the Win App as a service is that while it can access networked drives, it does not access those drives by mapped drive letters (e.g., C:/, X:/, Y:/ drive). Instead, the drives will display as they would if you were to access them off the network – typically in the format \\servername\folder.
Configuring the Windows App as a Service
1: Download the Windows App .msi file by visiting shuttle.cloudfastpath.com/winapp on the computer where you wish to install it. Click on the .msi file to install it.
2: When installation completes, register the Windows App as an app. You will see it connect in a flyout from the system tray on the computer where it installs.
3: Right click the cloud icon in your system tray, usually in the lower right corner of your desktop, and select Settings…
4: Launch on Login should already be checked; also check the box for Run Windows as a Service.
5: The default user for running Win App as a Service is LocalSystem, which works for most systems. Select Save.
NOTE: If you have a system where you must select a different user to run the service, that user must have access to the mapped drives for the migration. This is due to the way Windows permissions work.
If you get a dialog box saying that the service started, you are all set and the Win app is running as a service.
If you get a dialog box that says the service user cannot be LocalSystem, close the error dialog and then select the Change button from the system tray pop-up.
The Services window will display. Find the Box Shuttle Service in the list, right click and select Properties.
- In the General tab, select Automatic for Startup type.
- In the Log On tab, deselect Local System account and enter an admin-level Windows user and Windows password for the current computer.
- Click OK.
- Right click Box Shuttle Service again and select Start to start the service.
6: Click Save on the Windows system tray pop-up and your configuration is complete.