ZfD Auto Workstation Import (Version I)

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In Brief

Auto workstation Import really made automatic.

Vitals

Posted:	28 Oct 2004
File Size:	1.2MB
License:	Free
Download:	/coolsolutions/tools/downloads/auto_import.zip
Publisher:	Subramanian S. Sthanu

Disclaimer

Please read the note from our friends in legal before using this file.

Details

Typical problems which a customer could face in ZENworks for Desktops environment are:

(i) If he has quite a large number of workstations to be registered onto his ZENworks for Desktops Server.
(ii) If customer does not have Windows domain
(iii) If customer is fresh ZEN deployer and he does not have any form of Novell Client pieces installed on his machines.

In all of the above scenarios, this tool would be very handy, though with certain limitations.

This tool successfully installs ZENworks for Desktops Agent pieces onto remote desktops. The fact remains that there is no necessity for any form of client pieces running on the workstations. The tool remotely installs the agent, automatically restarts the workstation and automatically logins to the eDirectory tree.

This way the whole process of import becomes just a click away.

Some assumptions / Limitations are mentioned below ...

Assumptions:

ZENworks for Desktops server components are installed. Make sure that the workstation import services are started on the server.
Should be able to ping to the workstations that needs to be registered / Should have administrative rights on the workstations
Should be able to map to workstations. ( Say \\workstation \ C$ )

Limitations :

1. Does not Work for Win98 machines / Limited to 25 workstations / No reinstall scenario of Agent / Will not install Novell Client pieces.
2. For WinXP box only, please do the following: Go to Explorer ->Tools -> Folder Options -> View ->
   Check Box should be UNCHECKED for Use Simple File Sharing
3. Automatic login is enabled for both client/ clientless machines and is not cleaned up and so on restart of the box, machine will always automatically login to your eDirectory.
   *** Workaround ***
   Run Regedit after the restart of the machine. Modify the below mentioned entry in the registry.

Where in Registry	Key Name	Key Value	Change To
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,"SOFTWARE\\Novell\\Login"	AutoAdminLogon	1	Set to 0
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,"SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon"	AutoAdminLogon	1	Set to 0

4. The tool does not log the status for the success/failure of the workstation import; Hence, the only way to find out the status is through ConsoleOne.
5. The tool works successfully for Windows NT/Windows 2000 Prof /Windows XP managed workstations and is not supported for Windows 98 platform.

What the zip file contains:

Import.exe - Starting file for workstation import
RemoteServ.Exe - Remote Launching of applications
Exec.bat - Mapping Drives
Wsimp.exe - Registry Handling
HostMod.exe - Host File Modification
AgenInstall.exe - Remote Install of ZENworks Agent
ServiceUtil.dll - Takes care of Temporary Service creation
Import_Config.ini- Data required for Registration of workstation
MFC dll files

How to use the tool:

Unzip the auto_import.zip onto your windows box. (Any windows drive)
Go to the folder where the zip file is extracted and copy the ZFD Agent into the extracted folder. (Say Midas Agent file ... ie zfdagent.msi)
Edit the Import_Config.ini file and fill in the details very carefully . Read the instructions at the top of the file.

For Ex. the file will look like this:

#******************************************************* 
 
[Import_Common]
 

No_of_Workstations=1

Treename=ZFS65_BCMIG_REG


[/Import_Common]
 

#******************************************************* 
  

#************************************************************* 

# This is for Import of Workstations
# ( If All Agent components is N , then fill in individual components ...
# Note that NAL , WorkstationManager , IMAGING is default installed)...


 [Workstation1]

wsIP=164.99.157.75
wsDNSNAME=systst-zen-75
ImportserverIP=164.99.157.70
XTierIP=164.99.157.70
XTierPort=80
ZenUserName=admin
ZenPassword=novell
WindowsUserName=administrator
WindowsPassword=novell
NovCliUserName=admin
NovCliPassword=novell
NovCliUserContext=novell
AgentCompAll=Y
InvComp=Y
RM_WITH_MIRRORDRIVER=N
RM_WITHOUT_MIRRORDRIVER=N
 
[Workstation1]

[Workstation2]

------------

[/Workstation2]
 
#*****************************************************

From command prompt go to the folder where the zip file is extracted. Type the following:

c:\auto_import > Import

Please look at the log files ( ImportLog .txt ) which will be created in the auto_import directory.

What does the tool do:

1. Maps to remote windows workstation.
2. Copies the required files along with information required for Installation of Agent.
3. Modifies the host file with Import Server's IPAddress.
4. Modifies registry entries for Autologin to both Windows / NDS environments.
5. Installs the ZEN Agent.
6. Automatically Reboots.
7. Automatically Logins to eDirectory tree.

***** Works for NT/2k/XP workstations ----- Works for ZENworks for Desktops 6

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Reader Comments

• great tool
• I haven't tried it. But I would suggest that instead of logging the workstation in automatically, you just use a script command (wmi, wsh, or dos) to automatically import the workstation to the container of your choice. I have a wmi script here to do this: strComputer = "insert your target computername or IP here, or use a variable to specify target computernames or IP addresses in sequence" install1 = "c:\program files\Novell\zenworks\zwsreg.exe " install2 = "–ImportServer 146.129.213.40 -importws " install3 = "Place the DN of the target workstation here - you should consider reading the machinename and somehow specifying which container you wish to import to. Also consider naming conventions, like ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, or whatever" installstring = install1 & install2 & install3 Set objWMIService = GetObject ("winmgmts:" & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2:Win32_Process") errReturnMSG = objWMIService.Create (Installstring, Null, Null, intProcessID)