VBScript, WMI, and ADSI Unleashed Using VBScript, WMI, and ADSI to Automate Windows Administration

by Jones, Don

• ISBN13: 9780321501714
• ISBN10: 0321501713
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-05-24
• Publisher: Sams Publishing

Summary

If yours"re a Windows administrator, scripting expertise can liberate you from boring, repetitive workso you can take on the sophisticated, high-value projects you really want. Top scripting guru Don Jones has written the definitive administratorrs"s guide to getting results with Microsoftrs"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. Yours"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 examplesfrom 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 tohellip; 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 informationfrom 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 yours"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 Chapter 8: Manipulating Strings 129 Chapter 9: Manipulating Other Types of Data 145 Chapter 10: Controlling the Flow of Execution 155 Chapter 11: Built-In Scripting Objects 173 Chapter 12: Working with the File System 193 Chapter 13: Putting It All Together: Creating Your First Script from Scratch 219 Part III: Windows Management Instrumentation and Active Directory Services Interface

Author Biography

Don Jones is an internationally recognized scripting guru, speaker, and author. He serves as the Director of Projects and Services for SAPIEN Technologies, where his primary job is to drive the development of new products and services for Windows administrative scripting. Don is the founder of ScriptingAnswers.com, the web’s friendliest community for Windows scripting. Don has written more than 30 books on information technology, including Managing Windows with VBScript and WMI (Addison-Wesley; the first edition of this book), Windows Administrator’s Automation Toolkit (Microsoft Press), Advanced VBScript for Windows Administrators (Microsoft Press), and Windows PowerShell: TFM™ (SAPIEN Press). Don heads SAPIEN Technologies’ Las Vegas office, speaks at a half-dozen technical conferences each year, and contributes monthly content to Microsoft TechNet Magazine.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
Introduction to Windows Administrative Scripting	p. 11
Scripting Concepts and Terminology	p. 13
Running Scripts	p. 21
The Components of a Script	p. 39
Designing a Script	p. 55
VBScript Tutorial	p. 73
Functions, Objects, Variables, and More	p. 75
Input and Output	p. 101
Manipulating Numbers	p. 115
Manipulating Strings	p. 129
Manipulating Other Types of Data	p. 145
Controlling the Flow of Execution	p. 155
Built-In Scripting Objects	p. 173
Working with the File System	p. 193
Putting It All Together: Creating Your First Script from Scratch	p. 219
Windows Management Instrumentation and Active Directory Services Interface	p. 245
Working with ADSI Providers	p. 247
Manipulating Domains	p. 257
Manipulating Users and Groups	p. 271
Understanding WMI	p. 283
Querying Basic WMI Information	p. 299
Querying Complex WMI Information	p. 317
Putting It All Together: Your First WMI/ADSI Script	p. 335
Testing and Debugging WMI and ADSI Queries	p. 357
Advanced Scripting Techniques	p. 371
Modular Script Programming	p. 373
Scripts Packaging and Protection	p. 389
Scripting Security	p. 399
Introduction to HTML Applications	p. 409
Debugging Tips, Tools, and Techniques	p. 421
Ready-to-Run Examples	p. 437
Logon and Logoff Scripts	p. 439
Windows and Domain Administration Scripts	p. 455
Network Administration Scripts	p. 481
WMI and ADSI Scripts	p. 497
Appendix	p. 509
Index	p. 523
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.