将命令发送到进程

Question

I have this program that several users on the same computer is using (windows 2008 server environment with remote desktop clients).

When the program is ended normally, it deletes a special file in its working directory. I need to be able to send all instances of this program a command to cleanly shut down (so that it deletes the file at exit).

What would be the best way to do this, and how? I assume getting the pids for each instance is a start, but then what? Anyone have any good ideas?

Edit: Forgot to mention, it's a WinForm (not a command line) program.

Edit2: My comment was too long, so I guess it's best to just edit the question instead...

The file it's deleting is actually a file containing it's pid. The reason for having this file is to make sure that the user doesn't attempt to start the program twice with the same arguments (login information).

The main program (control center) that is actually starting the client program is keeping track of the pidfile in the users directory. If it discovers the file it reads the pid and tries to see if the pid exists. If not, it actually does delete the file and is letting the user start the client window.

I guess by using that procedure, I simply could make it look for all pids asociated with my application and simply kill them, ut I'd prefere to be able to send a shutdown command, as that would also notify the user in an IM that the program is shutting down for whatever the reason given. (Client initiated, remote server initiated, or, as in this case "Local server initiated").

Answer 1

A Mutex is something that represents mutual exclusion. I don't think that is really what you want in this case. It's not really modelling what you want; plus only one application at time would be able to shut down. I would recommend using a named EventWaitHandle to model one application sending events (shutdown events) to other applications. If you use a manual reset event (by using EventResetMode.ManualReset when you create an EventWaitHandle object.

You would do this on a background thread that, when signalled, would marshal something over to the UI thread (via Control.BeginInvoke ) to communicate to the main form that it needs to shut down.

Answer 2

You could use a system wide event by using a Mutex

See the example on the linked page in the MSDN