Configuring MediaMatrix to run as a service

A number of commercial, shareware and freeware applications are available on the Internet for running programs as Services under Windows NT. The following instructions were developed using a freeware utility called AppToService.exe available from http://www.basta.com/ProdAppToService.htm

Please note that MediaMatrix is intended to run on a computer dedicated to this task, as it comes configured from the factory. These instructions are provided as a reference for sophisticated users and system integrators that understand why they would want to run MediaMatrix as a service, and the implications of doing so. This is not the recommended mode of operation of this product!

Having said that, here is the general outline:

  1. Configure MediaMatrix to load and compile a view file on startup as you would for normal operation.

  2. If your computer is configured to automatically Log On at power up (as the Frames are shipped from the factory), defeat this feature.

  3. Close MediaMatrix if it is running.

  4. Install padpu.exe as a service that depends on pamem.sys. You should pass padpu.exe the command line argument "/service" when it is launched in this manner. Exactly how you accomplish this depends on the utility you choose.

  5. Install pavcon.exe as a service that depends on the padpu service. Again, this depends on the utility you are using.

  6. Configure each of the above to start automatically on system boot. Some utilities may have done this already for you.

Here is how steps 4 through 6 are accomplished when using the AppToService program mentioned above. For clarity, this example assumes MediaMatrix is installed in the "C:\install_dir" directory. Type the following from a Command Prompt in the directory where AppToService was decompressed.

AppToService /Install /DependOn:"PAMEM" /Directory:"C:\install_dir" /Arguments:"/service" "C:\install_dir\padpu.exe"

AppToService /Install /DependOn:"AppToService_padpu" /Directory:"C:\install_dir" "c:\install_dir\pavcon.exe"

Next, go to Start Menu -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Services

In the Services dialog select "AppToService Padpu" and press Startup&ldots;

Choose Startup Type Automatic, Log On As: System Account and Allow service to interact with desktop. Press OK.

Repeat for "AppToService Pavcon"

Select "AppToService Pavcon" again and press Start. MediaMatrix should run and compile the view that was configured in step 1. At this point MediaMatrix is running as a Service.

Shutdown and restart the computer. MediaMatrix will boot and start processing audio and responding to external control inputs before any user has logged on. When a user does log on, the MediaMatrix GUI will become visible immediately. When the user logs off, MediaMatrix will continue to run but the GUI will not be visible until another user logs on.

This feature will not work on versions earlier than 3.01