Hi Josh,

[...]
So, I log in as the instance user, run cmd.exe, go to my instance
directory, and run dsmserv.exe (it's in my path).

A separate console window pops up, and immediately closes.
Redirecting doesn't put anything in the file.
If I look closely, I see some output in the fraction of a second that the
new console window is up.

that may be a windows thing (UAC):
Even though your instance owner is admin, you have to explicitly
request windows to run the cmd-prompt in (100%) admin-mode: right
click cmd and choose "Run as Administrator", same thing with "dsmadmc
-console" on my windows server :(


Regards,


   Sven