I'm looking at pages 60,61 of The Firebird book.
I want like a quick way test if firebird is going,
and if not, to start it up. In the context of...

WS=new ActiveXObject('WScript.Shell')
WS.Exec(cmd_1)

I tried...

cmd_1="NET START FirebirdServer"

it replied with:
The service name is invalid.
More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 2185.

I tried...
cmd_1='"C:\Program Files\Firebird\Firebird_1_5\bin\instsvc.exe" start'

it replied:
Service "Firebird Guardian - DefaultInstance" successfully started.


What is a quick test to check if Firebird is running?
maybe there is a "start_only_if_stopped" switch on instsvc.exe
in the boook I saw some stuff about ping ~ but it seemed
complicated with server locations, database locations, and
passwords.


instsvc.exe Usage:
instsvc i[nstall] [ -s[uperserver]* | -c[lassic] ]
[ -a[uto]* | -d[emand] ]
[ -g[uardian] ]
[ -l[ogin] username [password] ]

sta[rt] [ -b[oostpriority] ]
sto[p]
q[uery]
r[emove]

This utility should be located and run from the 'bin' directory
of your Firebird installation.

'*' denotes the default values
'-z' can be used with any other option, prints version
'username' refers by default to a local account on this machine.
Use the format 'domain\username' or 'server\username' if
appropriate.


Maybe XP can test the service with one of these?
soemthing like: NET ISGOING FirebirdServer, but I don't
see that options...

The syntax of this command is:
NET [ ACCOUNTS | COMPUTER | CONFIG | CONTINUE | FILE | GROUP | HELP |
HELPMSG | LOCALGROUP | NAME | PAUSE | PRINT | SEND | SESSION |
SHARE | START | STATISTICS | STOP | TIME | USE | USER | VIEW ]


thanks