* The latest batch of scripts from Microsoft's Scripting Guys
A few weeks ago I told you about the Microsoft-issued tool kit to temporarily block delivery of Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1. I neglected to tell you where to get it. It can be downloaded from https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=FC145B0B-C148-445A-82BA-9B2F3AEF6E60&displaylang=en.
The tool kit includes:
* A Microsoft-signed executable program.
* A script for use with Windows cscript.exe.
* An ADM template for use with Active Directory group policy.
Each of these will block the automatic download of SP1 for Windows Server 2003, which is scheduled to begin occurring July 26, 2005. While it is nice of Redmond to give us these tools, there is one drawback to their use – each must be run individually for every machine we wish to block from the automatic download. Got 20 servers, you’ll run the tool 20 times. Actually, 40 times, as you’ll want to run it again to unblock the download once you’re convinced that the machine is ready for the service pack.
Microsoft’s “Scripting Guys” saw this problem and decided to provide a better way. That better way is now available from the Microsoft TechNet Scripting Solutions Center https://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/solutions/blockws03sp1.mspx where it can be found in two versions: one to work on a single machine, and one which works with a comma-delimited text file to do multiple machines at one go. The “multiple machines” script will even handle blocking downloads on some while unblocking on others. That’s a neat tool.
You might also want to explore other scripts available at the Scripting Center https://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/solutions/default.mspx.
The Scripting Center claims that: “Unlike the sample scripts found in the Script Repository https://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/default.mspx, scripts found in the Solutions Center are often quite long, and are designed more for carrying out tasks than they are for illustrating a particular scripting technique.”
The Script Repository carries links to instruction on writing your own Vbscript modules. It also provides hundreds of sample scripts covering multiple areas that include:
* Managing Active Directory and Active Directory objects.
* Managing software and applications on servers and client computers.
* Managing such things as desktop settings, computer startup and shutdown, and system restore.
* Retrieving information regarding Group Policy Objects applied to a user or computer account.
* Managing and monitoring computer hardware.
* Managing Internet Information Server.
* Managing event logs and plain-text log files.
* Managing messaging and communication applications, including Microsoft Exchange Server 2003.
* Managing Microsoft Office applications.
* Managing and monitoring network configurations and network applications.
* Managing and monitoring the Windows operating system.
* Managing directory services other than Active Directory.
* Managing printers, print jobs, print servers, and other parts of the Windows printing infrastructure.
* Demonstrating a wide variety of scripting tips, tricks, and techniques useful to script writers.
* Managing security and securable objects in the Windows operating system.
* Retrieving information about service packs and hot fixes installed on a computer.
* Managing Microsoft Services for Unix.
* Managing the Shadow Copy service on Windows Server 2003.
* Managing Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003.
* Managing Windows Update on client computers.
* Managing Microsoft SQL Server and SQL Server databases.
* Managing files, folders, file systems, and storage devices.
* Managing Windows Terminal Server.
* Managing Microsoft Virtual Server.
I’m sure that there’s something there you can use. Most likely many of them could save you time and effort. Don’t wait, check them now.
