Greenplum Database Loaders allow gpfdist to run as a Windows Service.

Follow the instructions below to download, register and activate gpfdist as a service:

1. Update your Greenplum Database Loader package to the latest version. This package is available from Pivotal Network.
2. Register gpfdist as a Windows service:
   1. Open a Windows command window
   2. Run the following command:

      sc create gpfdist binpath= "path_to_gpfdist.exe -p 8081 -d External\load\files\path -l Log\file\path"

      You can create multiple instances of gpfdist by running the same command again, with a unique name and port number for each instance:

      sc create gpfdistN binpath= "path_to_gpfdist.exe -p 8082 -d External\load\files\path -l Log\file\path"

3. Activate the gpfdist service:
   1. Open the Windows Control Panel and select Administrative Tools > Services.
   2. Highlight then right-click on the gpfdist service in the list of services.
   3. Select Properties from the right-click menu, the Service Properties window opens.

      Note that you can also stop this service from the Service Properties window.

   4. Optional: Change the Startup Type to Automatic (after a system restart, this service will be running), then under Service status, click Start.
   5. Click OK.

Repeat the above steps for each instance of gpfdist that you created.