Setting up WEBrick as a Windows Service

* Download the Windows 2003 Server Resource Kit from Microsoft and install it.
* Open a command prompt, move to the resource kit folder (normally C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kit\bin ). Run “instsrv MyApp C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kit\bin\srvany.exe”. This creates a new Windows service that is implemented by “srvany.exe”.
* Now we need to tell srvany that it should be using Ruby to implement the service. Open RegEdit and move to Local Machine/System/Current Control Set/Services/. Create a new Key (folder) called MyApp. Under here, create three new entries (Strings) called Application, AppParameters and AppDirectory. Application will be the path to the Ruby executable (normally C:\Ruby\bin\Rubyw.exe). AppParameters will be the command line passed to the Ruby executable (c:\MyApp\Script\Server —port 80 —environment=production) – this denotes that WEBrick should be run, using port 80 in production mode). AppDirectory is the folder in which the service should run (C:\MyApp) although this may not be necessary as all paths are provided in full above).
* Use the Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Services tool to adjust the credentials under which the service runs (using the “Log On” tab of the service properties) and then start the service and navigate to http://localhost/. Again, you should see the Ruby welcome page.

I have since discovered that XP/2003 are different to NT/2000/2000 Server when it comes to configuring srvany. When using NT/2000/2000 Server, instead of adding the AppParameter and Application keys to the MyApp key, create a new folder/key called "Parameters" and add AppParameter and Application there.