Run Gbridge as a Windows Service with AlwaysUp

How to Run Gbridge as a Windows Service with AlwaysUp

Start Gbridge when your computer boots - no need to log in!

Gbridge is a free communications package leveraging Google's Gtalk service.

To setup Gbridge with AlwaysUp:

  1. Download and install AlwaysUp, if necessary.

  2. Download, install and configure Gbridge, if necessary. Please make a note of where you installed it as this will be used in a later step.

  3. Start AlwaysUp.

  4. Select Application > Add to open the Add Application window:

    Add Application

  5. On the General tab:

    • In the Application field, enter the full path to the Gbridge executable, Gbridge.exe. If you installed Gbridge in the default location, this is:

      C:\Program Files\Gbridge LLC\Gbridge\Gbridge.exe

    • In the Name field, enter the name that you will call the application in AlwaysUp. We have entered Gbridge but you can specify almost anything you like.

    Gbridge Windows Service: General Tab

  6. Click over to the Logon tab and enter the user name and password of the account in which you installed and configured Gbridge. Gbridge must run in this account so that it can find its settings.

    Gbridge Windows Service: LogOn Tab

  7. Click over to the Startup tab and check the Ensure that the Windows Networking components have started box. This informs AlwaysUp that the media server needs the TCP/IP networking stack to operate.

    Gbridge Windows Service: Startup Tab

  8. Click the Save button. In a couple of seconds, an application called Gbridge will show up in the AlwaysUp window. It is not yet running though.

    Gbridge Windows Service: Created

  9. If Gbridge is running, close it now by clicking the Log Off button and selecting Exit from the menu. AlwaysUp will not be able to start Gbridge properly if it is already running.

    Exit Gbridge

  10. Starting Gbridge as a service at this stage will run it in Session 0 - the desktop hosting all Windows Services. Gbridge works fine like this on Windows XP and 2003 but it runs into trouble on Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 where Session 0 is isolated. It seems like Gbridge's tray icon cannot "attach itself" to a task bar and that prevents it from running, but that is only a guess. In any case, providing a task bar in Session 0 seemed to make Gbridge happy...

    Please follow steps 1-8 of this tutorial to provide a task bar in Session 0. Once complete, start the new Explorer service you created by selecting Application > Start "Explorer".

  11. To start Gbridge from AlwaysUp choose Application > Start "Gbridge". Note that you probably won't see Gbridge's tray icon appear as it is running in the background but communication should proceed normally.

    Gbridge Windows Service: Running

    On Windows 7, 2008 or Vista (or when connecting via RDP), choosing Tools > Switch to Session 0... will take you to Session 0 where you can interact with the Gbridge windows and tray icon.

    Gbridge Windows Service: Running in Session 0

  12. Now that Gbridge will start when your computer boots, there is no need to start it again when you log on. We recommend using the free Autoruns tool from Microsoft to disable Gbridge's auto-start but any "startup manager" should do the trick.

    With Autoruns, click over to the Logon tab and un-check the box beside the Gbridge entry:

    Disable Gbridge autostart at login with Autoruns

  13. That's it! Next time your computer boots, Gbridge will start up immediately, before anyone logs on. We encourage you to edit Gbridge in AlwaysUp and check out the many other settings that may be appropriate for your environment.



Gbridge not working properly as a Windows Service?

  • From AlwaysUp, select Application > Report Activity > Today... to bring up a HTML report detailing the interaction between AlwaysUp and your application. The AlwaysUp Event Log Messages page explains the more obscure messages.
  • Consult the AlwaysUp FAQ for answers to commonly asked questions and troubleshooting tips.
  • Contact us and we will be happy to help!

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