Shortcut to start or stop a service?

How do I make a shortcut to start or stop a Windows service? In this case, I want to be able to start the Cisco VPN service when I am going to use it, and stop the service when I am through using it. The default behavior is to start when windows starts. I've changed this to 'Manual' since I only use it occasionally. But that means I have to run the Computer Management app, click my way to services, select the Cisco service and start it, and repeat the process to stop it. Can I make a shortcut to the executable that will start the service directly? One to stop it, too? I can find the executable. Making a shortcut to it and launching via the shortcut didn't do anything.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

You have two native tools for this:

NET STOP service_name
SC stop service_name

Use sc queryex to find the shortname for the service of interest. It is this shortname that is used in either of the commands above.

 

That did the trick. I now have a batch file that brings up Cisco with one command. Thanks for your help!