I have 2 desktop shortcuts:

(1) Start WebFocus Server with Security OFF has the following command in 'Target' field
%SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe /k "set EDAEXTSEC=OFF && D:\ibi\srv71\wfs\bin\edastart.bat"
I got this one from Start / Programs / Info Builders / WebFocus 71 Server / Start With Alternative Security Modes / Start Security OFF

(2) Start ReportCaster Distribution Server has the following command in 'Target' field
D:\ibi\ReportCaster716\bin\schbkr.bat
I got this one from Start / Programs / Info Builders / ReportCaster 716 / Distribution Server / Start Distribution Server (command line)

I run the above 2 commands whenever I restart server and everything (reports & distributions) work fine.
When I look at Services on this machine I see that there are services - WebFocus 71 Server, WebFocus 71 Client, ReportCaster 716. All these services have startup type 'Manual', so these services have status 'Stopped' now.
My questions are:
Can you please explain the difference between 2 commands that I run and these services?
Why my reports and distribution work if these services have status 'Stopped'?

Probably because whatever you're using to start them from the START menu is running them (interactively or in background) in batch mode - they're not running as a service. Set them as automatic and restart the server and you won't need to run those command any more on server reboot.

Hi,

The report caster and the reporting server in your case are registered as services but with manual start.
When you launch them the way you did it from the start manu the service page does not get updated since the services registered with the os does not have the same ID as the one you started.
Therefore I suggest that when you need them just go to the service page and restart them .

The available services (under services.msc) do not match the above 2 commands. So how do I set these 2 commands ((1) Start WebFocus Server with Security OFF and (2) Start ReportCaster Distribution Server)
to run as services?
Thanks

Services don't startup the same way batch processes do (th 2 commands you refer to.) That's why they "do not match." This is all documented very well in the WebFOCUS and Report Caster Installation and Configuration manual including starting up services, server security, etc. It is available online @ http://documentation.informationbuilders.com

BTW: I would beware of running the WF server with security OFF. Nasty things could happen if someone wanted to do damage.

Hi Seva,

Can you please tell me why you want to start these 2 services this way?.

Majid.

According to page 3-10 of 'WebFocus and ReportCaster Installation and Configuration' manual -
"How you start WebFocus Reporting Server depends on security level".
Just a note - security levels described on page 1-14 of the same manual.
I'm trying to start it with securiy OFF, so per page 3-10 I can use only Start, Programs,... which is the same what I do (I just have desktop shortcut). But this not should be the case because it requires a user to be logged onto the machine interminably. I should be able to run the same WebFocus Reporting Server as Service. But per page 3-10 I can run WebFocus Reporting Server as Service only if security is ON

If you want to start the WFRS automatically as a service but with security off you can do that in the Log On tab of the service properties. Uncheck Local System Account, check This Account and enter your user id or a dummy id that you can set up on the machine. The service will start automatically and security will be off.

Seva,

On a Windows machine the default security mode is OPSYS when starting the server as a service. If you would like to change this then you have to create a System Environment variable called EDAEXTSEC and set it's value to OFF

From then on whenever the server is started as service it will start with Security OFF

Let me know if this doesn't do what you want

Cheers

Stu