Question

I am writing a test application which is controlling another computer. The test computer is started by sending a command string via the RS-232 port (from a control computer running Windows XP SP2 using a C# application), at which time the test computer will power-on and boot into Windows XP. I would like to know what would be the best method to determine when that computer has completed it boot process and running normally.

I was thinking of the following:

1) I was either thinking of pinging that computer, or
2) Have a shared drive and if able to access that shared drive, or
3) Writing a small service which I can communicate with

Is there different/better approach?

Mark

Answer 1

I had the exact problem you did, I found writing a custom service was the most useful. (I actually needed to know when a headless machine had the Remote Desktop service ready to accept connections, the program I wrote actually beeps the PC speaker a little tune when it is ready to be logged in.

EDIT: I dug up the source in case you where interested.

using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Configuration.Install;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.ServiceProcess;
using System.Threading;

namespace Beeper
{
    static class Program
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// The main entry point for the application.
        /// </summary>
        static void Main()
        {
            ServiceBase[] ServicesToRun;
            ServicesToRun = new ServiceBase[] 
                { 
                    new Beeper() 
                };
            ServiceBase.Run(ServicesToRun);
        }
    }

    public partial class Beeper : ServiceBase
    {
        public Beeper()
        {
        }

        protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
        {
            if (MainThread != null)
                MainThread.Abort();
            MainThread = new Thread(new ThreadStart(MainLoop));
            MainThread.Start();
        }

        protected override void OnStop()
        {
            if (MainThread != null)
                MainThread.Abort();
        }

        protected void MainLoop()
        {
            try
            {
                //main code here
            }
            catch (ThreadAbortException)
            {
                //Do cleanup code here.
            }
        }

        System.Threading.Thread MainThread;
    }
    [RunInstaller(true)]
    public class BeeperInstaller : Installer
    {
        private ServiceProcessInstaller processInstaller;
        private ServiceInstaller serviceInstaller;
        public BeeperInstaller()
        {
            processInstaller = new ServiceProcessInstaller();
            serviceInstaller = new ServiceInstaller();
            processInstaller.Account = ServiceAccount.LocalSystem;
            serviceInstaller.StartType = ServiceStartMode.Automatic;
            serviceInstaller.ServiceName = "MyProgram";
            serviceInstaller.ServicesDependedOn = new string[] { "TermService" }; //Optional, this line makes sure the terminal services is up and running before it starts.
            Installers.Add(serviceInstaller);
            Installers.Add(processInstaller);
        }
    }
}