# Start Media Server

NOTE: Your License Server must be running before you start Media Server.

To start Media Server

- Start Media Server from the command line using the following command:

      mediaserver.exe -configfile configname.cfg

  where the optional `-configfile` argument specifies the path of a configuration file to use.

- On Windows, if you have installed Media Server as a service, start the service from the Windows Services dialog box.

- On UNIX, if you have installed Media Server as a service, use one of the following commands:

  - On machines that use systemd:

    `systemctl start mediaserver`

  - On machines that use system V:

    `service mediaserver start`

TIP: On both Windows and UNIX platforms, you can configure services to start automatically when you start the machine.

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