Print Proxy Server - Windows Service

This guide explains how to install and manage the Print Proxy Server as a Windows service.

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v18 or higher) installed on Windows Server
• Administrator privileges to install/manage Windows services
• Print server running on 10.0.1.12:3000

Installation Methods

Method 1: Using Batch Scripts (Recommended)

1. Right-click on install-service.bat
2. Select "Run as administrator"
3. The script will:
   • Install dependencies
   • Build the project
   • Install and start the Windows service

Method 2: Manual Installation

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
2. Navigate to the project directory
3. Run these commands:

   npm install
   npm run build
   npm run service:install

Service Management

Using npm scripts:

npm run service:start     # Start the service
npm run service:stop      # Stop the service
npm run service:restart   # Restart the service
npm run service:uninstall # Remove the service

Using the service manager:

node service.js start
node service.js stop
node service.js restart
node service.js uninstall

Using Windows Services Manager:

1. Open Services (services.msc)
2. Find "PrintProxyServer"
3. Right-click to start/stop/restart

Service Configuration

• Service Name: PrintProxyServer
• Display Name: Proxy server for high-performance print server
• Port: 8080
• Target: http://10.0.1.12:3000
• Startup Type: Automatic

Log Files

Service logs are automatically created in:

• Application logs: Windows Event Viewer
• Service wrapper logs: daemon/ folder (created automatically)

Troubleshooting

Service won't start:

1. Check if port 8080 is available
2. Verify Node.js is in system PATH
3. Check Windows Event Viewer for errors
4. Ensure print server at 10.0.1.12:3000 is accessible

Permission issues:

• Run installation scripts as Administrator
• Check Windows firewall settings
• Verify network connectivity to print server

Service not responding:

npm run service:restart

Uninstallation

Using batch script:

1. Right-click on uninstall-service.bat
2. Select "Run as administrator"

Manual uninstallation:

npm run service:uninstall

Service Status

Check if the service is running:

• Services Manager: Look for "PrintProxyServer"
• Command Line: sc query PrintProxyServer
• Browser: Visit http://localhost:8080/proxy-health

Network Configuration

The proxy server will:

• Listen on: 0.0.0.0:8080 (all interfaces)
• Forward to: http://10.0.1.12:3000
• Accept from: Origins configured in .env file

Make sure Windows Firewall allows connections on port 8080.