Finding the User's Workstation for Remote Management
Novell Cool Solutions: Trench
By Lukasz Lenart
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Posted: 15 May 2003 |
We use ZfD 3.2 to manage workstations and Quick Remote Action 2 for remote operations. Sometimes we have a problem finding the user's workstation in eDirectory where he is logged in. A user will often call IT for remote help, and we need to locate which workstation he's using.
SOLUTION: We use oeminfo.ini to add some special information to System Properties.
I created two applications.
- One reads user-specifed information (DN, e-mail, etc.) and writes it to this ini file.
- The other reads workstation-specifed information (DN, IP, etc) and writes it to the same ini file.
The workstation app writes any info above last line where user app stop writing (see example AXT files). Both have Force Run flag and set launch priority (user launch first, then launch workstation app).
Workstation-specifed app is assigned to global workstation group (you can assign it to every context too), and user-specifed application is assigned to Everyone user group (or to contexts).
All this information is available through
- My Computer -> Properties -> Support Information
- or Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Support Information.
I tested this solution with ZfD3.2 + SP1 and Windows 2000 Professional.
EXAMPLE:
----------------- BEGIN user.axt ---------------------- AXT_FILE 3.1 [Application Name] Value=Settings_User2000 [Application Caption] Value=Special User settings [Application Path] Value= 47 NULL [Application Flags] Flag=Install Only Flag=No Distribution Window Flag=Run As System User Flag=Not a Disconnectable Application [Application Platform] Flag=Windows NT [Filter OS Version] Type=Windows NT Major Version=5 Minor Version=-1 Revision Version=-1 Flag=Greater Than or Equal [Application Icon Order] Value=20 [INI Identifier Create] Flag=Write Always Flag=Always Distribute Setting File=C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\OEMINFO.INI Section=Support Information Identifier=Line1 Value=User specifed info: [INI Identifier Create] Flag=Write Always Flag=Always Distribute Setting File=C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\OEMINFO.INI Section=Support Information Identifier=Line2 Value=Name: %DN% [INI Identifier Create] Flag=Write Always Flag=Always Distribute Setting File=C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\OEMINFO.INI Section=Support Information Identifier=Line3 Value=Full Name: %Full Name% [INI Identifier Create] Flag=Write Always Flag=Always Distribute Setting File=C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\OEMINFO.INI Section=Support Information Identifier=Line4 Value=e-mail: %Internet Email Address% [Application Association Flags] Flag=Launcher Flag=Start Menu Flag=Force Run ----------------- END user.axt ----------------------
----------------- BEGIN wrks.axt ---------------------- AXT_FILE 3.1 [Application Name] Value=Settings_Wrks2000 [Application Caption] Value=Special Workstation settings [Application Path] Value= 47 NULL [Application Flags] Flag=Install Only Flag=No Distribution Window Flag=Run As System User Flag=Not a Disconnectable Application [Application Platform] Flag=Windows NT [Filter OS Version] Type=Windows NT Major Version=5 Minor Version=-1 Revision Version=-1 Flag=Greater Than or Equal [Application Icon Order] Value=19 [INI Identifier Create] Flag=Write Always Flag=Always Distribute Setting File=C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\OEMINFO.INI Section=Support Information Identifier=Line5 Value= [INI Identifier Create] Flag=Write Always Flag=Always Distribute Setting File=C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\OEMINFO.INI Section=Support Information Identifier=Line6 Value=Workstation specifed info: [INI Identifier Create] Flag=Write Always Flag=Always Distribute Setting File=C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\OEMINFO.INI Section=Support Information Identifier=Line7 Value=Computer Name: %ComputerName% [INI Identifier Create] Flag=Write Always Flag=Always Distribute Setting File=C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\OEMINFO.INI Section=Support Information Identifier=Line8 Value=NDS Name: %DN% [INI Identifier Create] Flag=Write Always Flag=Always Distribute Setting File=C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\OEMINFO.INI Section=Support Information Identifier=Line9 Value=IP: %ZEN:INV IP Address% [Application Association Flags] Flag=Launcher Flag=Start Menu Flag=Force Run ----------------- END wrks.axt ----------------------
If you have any questions you may contact Lukasz at lukasz.lenartTAKETHISOUT@delphi.com
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