VBScript, WMI and ADSI unleashed : using VBSscript, WMI, and ADSI to automate Windows administration

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jones, Don, Author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Microsoft Windows (Computer file).

VBScript (Computer program language).

Directory services (Computer network technology).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (576 pages)

Edition:

2nd edition

Place of Publication:

[Place of publication not identified] Sams 2007

Language Note:

English

System Details:

text file

Summary:

If you’re a Windows administrator, scripting expertise can liberate you from boring, repetitive work–so you can take on the sophisticated, high-value projects you really want. Top scripting guru Don Jones has written the definitive administrator’s guide to getting results with Microsoft’s key scripting technologies: VBScript, WMI, and ADSI. Jones draws on his unsurpassed experience training Windows administrators in conferences, classes, and from his enormously popular site, ScriptingAnswers.com. You’ll learn how to use VBScript, WMI, and ADSI to gain administrative control over nearly every aspect of every recent Windows server or client, including Windows Server 2003, Vista, XP, 2000, and NT. As you gain experience, Jones introduces more advanced techniques, ranging from modular scripting and script encryption to integrating VBScript with HTML code. Jones concludes with a full section of ready-to-run, real-world examples–from logon/logoff scripts to automated domain and network administration, from querying WMI to creating Active Directory groups. Every script is explained line-by-line, with challenging techniques described in even greater detail. Detailed information on how to… Decide what you can script: a framework for getting started fast Understand how scripts are designed, assembled, and run Master VBScript from start to finish: functions, I/O, data manipulation, program flow, and much more Use scripting objects for tasks ranging from retrieving network information to mapping drives Utilize FileSystemObject to manipulate the Windows filesystem Write ADSI scripts to manipulate any directory service your company uses, from Active Directory to Novell NDS Modify domain information, users, groups, and policies Query WMI information–from basic to advanced Plan for errors, and test and debug your scripts Build your own “resource kit” of reusable script components ON THE WEB: Download all examples and source code presented in this book from ScriptingAnswers.com, where you’ll also be able to post follow-up questions directly to the author in a moderated, active community. Introduction 1 Part I: Introduction to Windows Administrative Scripting 11 Chapter 1: Scripting Concepts and Terminology 13 Chapter 2: Running Scripts 21 Chapter 3: The Components of a Script 39 Chapter 4: Designing a Script 55 Part II: VBScript Tutorial 73 Chapter 5: Functions, Objects, Variables, and More 75 Chapter 6: Input and Output 101 Chapter 7: Manipulating Numbers 115...

Contents:

Cover

Contents

Introduction

Who Should Read This Book?

How to Use This Book

Part I: Introduction to Windows Administrative Scripting

Part II: VBScript Tutorial

Part III: Windows Management Instrumentation and Active Directory Services Interface

Part IV: Advanced Scripting Techniques

Part V: Ready-to-Run Examples

Appendix

Preparing to Use This Book

Typographical Elements

Sample Scripts

Sample Scripts-Explained

1 Scripting Concepts and Terminology

Overview of Scripting

Script Hosts

ActiveX Scripting Languages

The Component Object Model (COM)

Critical Scripting Security Issues

VBScript Versus Windows PowerShell

Summary

2 Running Scripts

Windows Script Host

Command-Line Scripts

Notepad and Script Editors

Writing Your First Script

Running Your First Script

Debugging Your First Script

3 The Components of a Script

A Typical VBScript

Functions

Subroutines

Main Script

Comments and Documentation

4 Designing a Script

Creating a Task List

Selecting the Appropriate Tools

Creating Modules to Perform Tasks

Validating User Input

Planning for Errors

Creating Script Libraries

5 Functions, Objects, Variables, and More

Variables Defined

Functions Defined

Statements and Subroutines Defined

Objects Defined

6 Input and Output

Displaying Messages

Asking for Input

Command-Line Parameters as Input

7 Manipulating Numbers

Numbers in VBScript

Basic Arithmetic

Advanced Arithmetic

Boolean Math

Converting Numeric Data Types

Converting Other Data Types to Numeric Data

8 Manipulating Strings

Strings in VBScript

Working with Substrings.

Concatenating Strings

Changing Strings

Formatting Strings

Converting Other Data Types to String Data

9 Manipulating Other Types of Data

Working with Dates and Times

Working with Arrays

Working with Bytes

10 Controlling the Flow of Execution

Conditional Execution

Loops

Putting It All Together

11 Built-In Scripting Objects

The WScript Object

The Network Object

The ADSystemInfo Object

The Shell Object

The Shortcut Object

Objects in Detail

12 Working with the File System

The FileSystemObject Library

Working with Drives

Working with Folders

Working with Files

Reading and Writing Text Files

Other FSO Methods and Properties

Creating a Log File Scanner

13 Putting It All Together: Creating Your First Script from Scratch

Designing the Script

Writing Functions and Subroutines

Writing the Main Script

Testing the Script

14 Working with ADSI Providers

Using ADSI Objects

Using the WinNT Provider

Using the LDAP Provider

Other Providers

15 Manipulating Domains

Querying Domain Information

Changing Domain Settings

Working with OUs

16 Manipulating Users and Groups

Creating Users and Groups

Querying User Information

Changing User Settings

Working with Groups

17 Understanding WMI

The WMI Hierarchy

Exploring WMI's Capabilities

Installing WMI

Using the WMI Tools

The Easy Way to Write WMI Scripts

18 Querying Basic WMI Information

The WMI Query Language (WQL)

Determining What to Query

Testing the Query

Writing the Query in VBScript

Using the Query Results.

Alternative Methods

19 Querying Complex WMI Information

Understanding WMI Relationships

Associating WMI Instances

Writing the Query

Another Example

20 Putting It All Together: Your First WMI/ADSI Script

21 Testing and Debugging WMI and ADSI Queries

Debugging Outside the Script

Debugging WMI Queries

Debugging ADSI Queries

22 Modular Script Programming

Looking for Modules

Introduction to Windows Script Components

Scripting and XML

23 Scripts Packaging and Protection

Installing the Script Encoder

Writing Encoded Scripts

Running Encoded Scripts

Encoding: The Downside

Script Packaging

24 Scripting Security

Why Scripting Can Be Dangerous

Security Improvements in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003

Digitally Signing Scripts

Running Only Signed Scripts

Ways to Implement Safe Scripting

25 Introduction to HTML Applications

Event-Driven Scripting

How an HTA Is Built

HTA Differences

Steps for Writing an HTA

26 Debugging Tips, Tools, and Techniques

Types of Bugs

Preventing Syntax Errors

Debugging Logic Errors

27 Logon and Logoff Scripts

NT and Active Directory Logon Scripts

Active Directory-Specific Logon Scripts

Active Directory Logoff Scripts

28 Windows and Domain Administration Scripts

Automating User Creation

Finding Inactive Users

Collecting System Information

Templates

29 Network Administration Scripts

Shutting Down Remote Computers

Listing Remote Shares.

Finding Out Who Has a File Open

Uninstalling Remote MSI Packages

Listing Hot Fixes and Software

30 WMI and ADSI Scripts

The All-Purpose WMI Query Script

The All-Purpose WMI Update Script

The All-Purpose ADSI Object Creation Script

The All-Purpose ADSI Object Query Script

The All-Purpose ADSI Object Deletion Script

Mass Password Changes with ADSI

Updating Service Accounts

Appendix: Administrator's Quick Script Reference

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9786612649271

9781282649279

1282649272

9780768675085

0768675081

OCLC:

1027202194