Exam Essentials

Know how to create a Windows service.  Visual Studio .NET offers you a built-in template that makes setting up a Windows service easy. Windows service applications inherit from the System.ServiceProcess.ServiceBase namespace.

Be familiar with the properties and methods of the System.ServiceProcess.ServiceBase class.  Know how the code in the Sub Main method of a Windows service calls the Run method to instantiate the service.

Understand the security accounts that can be used with Windows services.  LocalSystem is currently the most commonly used security setting but it is a highly privileged account, which could lead to security breaches. Windows XP (and later) offers the opportunity to use accounts with lesser privileges: LocalService and NetworkService.

Understand that you cannot directly run a Windows service from Visual Studio .NET.   You must attach the debugger to the running process.

Know how to manipulate a Windows service application.  Know how to use the Windows utility Service Control Manager to manipulate a Windows service. Be familiar with the properties and methods of the System.ServiceProcess.ServiceController class. Know how to use the ServiceController to stop and start Windows services programmatically.