Run Metabase as a windows service!

I don't know why the site is now throwing cert errors, try http://nssm.cc. It is a popular way to convert exe's into windows services. You can download it from their site or search google and find an alternate location.

Here is my little write-up on how to install metabase as a service under windows.

Running metabase using java is great, but what if you want to run it all the time. On windows you have the options of adding it to start up, but even then you will have to login to the machine to start metabase. So to convert it to something like a service, the best option is to run it as a windows service.

You can use any of the tools you want, my preferred tool is NSSM (Non-Sucking Service Manager) an Open Source tool to convert an exe into a service.

Steps for setting up Metabase Service

  • Download it from http://nssm.cc/download

  • Make sure you pick the right 32 or 64 bit version based on your windows installation.

  • Install it to your machine

  • Using command prompt, navigate to the folder you have NSSM installed and run nssm install

    nssm install

  • A UI will show up

  • In the path, point to the path of JAVA (note, this is not your jar path)

C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0\bin\java.exe
  • In start up directory, point it to the directly that you have the metabase jar file
C:\metabase\
  • In arguments provide the following

    jar metabase.jar

  • Give the service an appropriate name like 'Metabase-Service' and click Install Service.

That's it. You have installed the service.

To make the service run automatically

Goto services (run services.msc) -> Select 'Metabase-Service' and make it Automatic

To allow other machines to acces metabase service

Run Windows Firewall and add port 3000 to the excluded list.

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