System, method, computer program product embodiments and combinations and sub-combinations thereof for controlling lifetimes of server add-ins are described herein. Embodiments of the invention enable a service module, located at a first server, to externally control lifetime of one or more process add-ins located at a second server. An embodiment includes instantiating the service module at the first server and instantiating, using the service module, a controller add-in at the second server. The service module can instantiate the controller add-in to control the lifetime of (i.e. instantiate or terminate) process add-ins at the second server. In an embodiment, such lifetime control can be performed without shutting down the second server or other operations running on the second server.