# Guidelines for Windows

This following topics provide information that is specific to Microsoft Windows platforms.

## Supported Platforms

TIBCO Enterprise Message Service is available on the Windows platforms listed in the following table. For supported versions and the latest changes, see the `readme.txt` file.

Warning: This release only supports 64-bit server executables and client libraries.

OS/Platform | Hardware | Installer Package Suffix | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
Windows Windows Server | Intel (32-bit) | `win_x86_vc14.zip` | Client only. For developers using Visual Studio 2015.
Windows Windows Server | Intel | `win_x86_64.zip` | Server and client. For developers using Visual Studio 2017.

## Installing on Windows

Windows operating systems have stringent file access control. The access control policies affect all users, even those with Administrator permissions.

## Administrator Permissions

In order to ensure that an administrator has permissions to modify configuration and data files, TIBCO Enterprise Message Service now installs these files in a different directory on Windows systems. During installation, you are prompted to enter a Configuration Directory location. After installation, you will find configuration and data files in the specified directory.

The default Configuration Directory is based on the value of your PROGRAMDATA environment variable. For example:

C:\ProgramData\tibco

## Executable Prompt

By default, Windows prompts for consent before starting `tibemsd` as administrator. You can disable this elevation prompt for administrator users with the Windows Local Security Policy application. For more information, see the section on changing the elevation prompt behavior here:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc709691.aspx

If you elect not to disable the prompt, the User Account Control screen opens each time you attempt to start the EMS server. Click Allow to start the application.

## .NET DLL Installation

During installation, several DLL files are installed in the global assembly cache:

    TIBCO.EMS.DLL
    TIBCO.EMS.ADMIN.DLL
    TIBCO.EMS.UFO.DLL

If an earlier release of TIBCO Enterprise Message Service is installed on the computer, the EMS 8.4 DLLs replace those of the earlier version.

To reinstall the previous EMS release DLLs, you must first uninstall the 8.4 DLLs, then reinstall the DLLs from the previous release. Both of these tasks can be accomplished using the Global Assembly Cache Tool (`Gacutil.exe`) provided by Microsoft. DLL files are located in the bin directory of the EMS installation.

Additionally, the following policy files can optionally be installed in the global cache:

    policy.1.0.TIBCO.EMS.UFO.dll
    policy.1.0.TIBCO.EMS.dll
    policy.1.0.TIBCO.EMS.ADMIN.dll

When installed, these policy files facilitate upgrades by automatically redirecting existing EMS applications from an older assembly to the newest assembly.

For more information, see "Assembly Versioning" in TIBCO Enterprise Message Service User’s Guide.

## Dynamically Linked Libraries

The EMS server dynamically loads the SSL, compression and LDAP shared libraries, rather than statically linking them. If the `tibemsd` executable is executed from the bin directory, it automatically locates these libraries. If the server is moved elsewhere, the shared library directory must be moved as well. This also applies to the EMS Administration Tool, `tibemsadmin`, with respect to the SSL and compression shared libraries.

## Register the Server as a Windows Service

Some situations require the EMS server to start automatically. The installer automatically installs the EMS server as a Windows service, and allows you to choose whether to start the server manually, automatically, or automatically with a delay. After EMS is installed, you can use the emsntsrg utility to register an EMS server.

See step 12 of Installing in GUI Mode for more information.

See also emsntsrg in TIBCO Enterprise Message Service User’s Guide.

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