Default settings for services

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

For a typical installation, services are configured as automatic, manual, or disabled:

• An automatic service starts automatically when the operating system starts.

• You can start a service manually by using the Services snap-in or by using the net start command. A manual service can also be started by a related operating system service, a system device driver, or an action in the user interface that depends on the manual service. For example, both the Telephony service and Remote Access Connection Manager service are configured as Manual by default, but both of these services are started during the Windows Product Activation process.

• A disabled service cannot be started automatically or manually. To start a disabled service, you must select an appropriate startup type, which is identified in the tables below. For information on enabling the services required by audio, imaging, and CD-burning peripheral devices, see Troubleshooting audio, imaging, and CD-burning peripheral devices.

For more information about how to configure service startup, see Configure how a service is started. For more information about starting a service from the command line, see Net start.

You can use the sc command at the command prompt to configure services and obtain information about them. For example, you can use sc getkeyname to obtain the key name, or short name, of the service. For more information about the sc command, see SC.

Important

• To improve performance and security in the Windows Server 2003 family, several services have been disabled by default that were previously enabled on Windows 2000. See the tables below for information about how to enable these services. Note that these settings apply only to new installations, not upgrades; all previous service configurations are preserved during upgrades to the Windows Server 2003 family.

The following tables list all the default services that may be installed as part of the Windows Server 2003 family. Your list of services may be different, depending on which Windows product is installed, which components and options are selected during installation, and whether any additional programs are installed.

Short name: Alerter

This service is now disabled by default. If you want to enable this service, set Startup type to Automatic.

Short name: ALG

Short name: AppMgmt

Short name: wuauserv

Short name: BITS

For information about troubleshooting problems associated with this service, see Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) inactive job timeout.

Short name: ClipSrv

This service is now disabled by default. If you want to enable this service, set Startup type to Manual.

Short name: EventSystem

Short name: COMSysApp

Short name: Browser

This service is started in Safe Mode with Networking.

Short name: CryptSvc

This service is started in Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

Short name: DcomLaunch

This service is started in Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

Short name: Dhcp

This service is started in Safe Mode with Networking.

Short name: Dfs

Short name: TrkWks

Short name: TrkSvr

This service is now disabled by default. If you want to enable this service, set Startup type to Manual.

Short name: MSDTC

Short name: Dnscache

This service is started in Safe Mode with Networking.

Short name: ERSvc

Short name: Eventlog

This service is started in Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

Short name: ntfrs

Short name: helpsvc

This service is started in Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

Short name: W3SSL

Short name: HidServ

Short name: IASJet

This service is available only on the Itanium-based versions of the Windows Server 2003 family.

Short name: IISADMIN

This service is installed by default only on computers running the Windows Server 2003, Web Edition operating system. For other editions, you can this service by using the Configure Your Server Wizard or by using Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel.

Short name: ImapiService

This service is now disabled by default. If you want to enable this service, set Startup type to Manual.

Short name: cisvc

For more information about this service, see Windows interface administrative tool reference A-Z: Indexing Service.

Short name: SharedAccess

If you want to enable this service, set Startup type to Manual.

Internet Connection Firewall is included only in the original release of Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, and the 32-bit version of Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition.

Instead of using Internet Connection Firewall and the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF)/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service, computers running Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) use Windows Firewall and the Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service.

Short name: IsmServ

Short name: PolicyAgent

Short name: kdc

Short name: LicenseService

Short name: dmserver

This service is started in Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

Short name: dmadmin

Short name: messenger

This service is now disabled by default. If you want to enable this service, set Startup type to Automatic. This service must be running for alert notifications and console messages to be received. For more information, see Send Console Message overview. This service is started in Safe Mode with Networking.

Short name: SWPRV

This service is installed by default only on computers that are running the Windows Server 2003, Web Edition operating system. For other editions, you can install it by using Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel or by using Manage Your Server.

Short name: MSSQLSERVER

By default, this service is not installed with a typical installation. You can install it by using Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel. When this service installed, the Startup Type for it is Manual.

Short name: MSSQLserverADHelper

By default, this service is not installed with a typical installation. You can install it by using Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel. When this service installed, the Startup Type for it is Manual.

Short name: CORRTSvc

By default, this service is not installed with a typical installation. You can install it by using Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel. When this service installed, the Startup Type for it is Manual.

Short name: Netlogon

Until a user joins a Domain, Net Logon is Manual. If a user joins a domain during installation, the service starts and is configured as Automatic.

Short name: mnmsrvc

This service is now disabled by default. If you want to enable this service, set Startup type to Manual.

Short name: Netman

Short name: NetDDE

This service is now disabled by default. If you want to enable this service, set Startup type to Manual.

Short name: NetDDEDSDM

This service is now disabled by default. If you want to enable this service, set Startup type to Manual.

Short name: NLA

This service starts automatically when Startup type is set to Manual.

Short name: NtLmSsp

Short name: SysmonLog

Short name: PlugPlay

This service is started in Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

Short name: WmdmPmSp

This service is not available on the Itanium-based versions of the Windows Server 2003 family.

Short name: Spooler

If you are having trouble with a printer not responding, stop and then restart this service. This action cancels all pending print jobs in the printer queue.

Short name: ProtectedStorage

Short name: RasAuto

Short name: RasMan

Short name: SRVCSURG

Short name: RDSessMgr

Short name: RpcSs

This service is started in Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

Short name: RpcLocator

Short name: RemoteRegistry

To troubleshoot performance problems related to this service, see Troubleshooting Performance monitoring.

Short name: APPMGR

Short name: NtmsSvc

Short name: RSoPProv

Short name: RemoteAccess

This service is now disabled by default. If you want to enable this service, set Startup type to Manual.

Short name: seclogon

You can configure the Secondary Logon service by using the runas command. For more information, see Runas.

Short name: SamSs

Short name: lanmanserver

When you stop the server service, all users who are connected to the computer over the network are disconnected. Also, the affected computer cannot be administered remotely; therefore, you must start the server service locally. When you pause the server service, only members of the Administrators group and Server Operators group can make connections to the server. This service is started in Safe Mode with Networking.

Short name: ShellHWDetection

Short name: SMTPSVC

This service in only installed with a typical installation on Windows Server 2003, Web Edition. For other editions, you can install the service by using the Configure Your Server Wizard or by using Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel.

Short name: SCardSvr

Short name: Sacsvr

This service runs only when needed, and then it stops automatically.

Short name: SQLSERVERAGENT

By default, this service is not installed with a typical installation. You can install it by using the Configure Your Server Wizard.

Short name: SENS

Short name: Schedule

When you pause the Task Scheduler service, only members of the Administrators group on the local computer can schedule or modify tasks, and only those tasks that are scheduled by members of the Administrators group or the system account will run.

Short name: LmHosts

This service is started in Safe Mode with Networking.

Short name: TapiSrv

Short name: TlntSvr

This service is now disabled by default. If you want to enable this service, set Startup type to Manual.

Short name: TermService

This service, although it is set to Manual, will start if Remote Desktop for Administration is enabled. For more information, see Remote Desktop for Administration.

Short name: Tssdis

This service is now disabled by default. If you want to enable this service, set Startup type to Manual. This service is started in Safe Mode with Networking.

Short name: Themes

This service is now disabled by default. If you want to enable this service, set Startup type to Automatic. This service is not available on the Itanium-based editions of the Windows Server 2003 family.

Short name: UPS

Short name: uploadmgr

This service is now disabled by default. If you want to enable this service, set Startup type to Automatic. This service is started in Safe Mode with Networking.

Short name: VDS

Short name: VSS

Short name: WebClient

This service is now disabled by default. If you want to enable this service, set Startup type to Automatic.

Short name: ElementMgr

Short name: AudioSrv

By default, this service is started only on computers that are running Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition. If sound is required, start this service and set Startup type to Automatic.

Short name: SharedAccess

Windows Firewall and the Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service were not included in the original release of Windows Server 2003, but are included with Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

Short name: stisvc

Short name: MSIserver

Short name: winmgmt

This service is started in Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

Short name: wmi

Short name: WMserver

You can install this service by using the Configure Your Server Wizard or by using Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel.

Short name: W32time

Short name: WinHttpAutoProxySvc

Short name: WZCSVC

This service is started in Safe Mode with Networking.

Short name: WmiApSrv

Short name: lanmanworkstation

This service is started in Safe Mode with Networking.

Short name: W3SVC

You can install the service by using the Configure Your Server Wizard or by using Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel.