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1991-12-13
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The Workstation Configuration
Management Solution
Version 2.1
System Documentation
(C) Copyright 1991, ZhofWare
All Rights Reserved.
≡ ZhofWare ≡ P.O. Box 37 ≡ East Bernard ≡ Tx ≡ 77435 ≡
Introduction
As a network administrator, how many countless hours have
you spent visiting each workstation on the network just
to update LAN drivers or Autoexec.bat files ? Have you
ever thought, "There has to be a better way" ?
The better way you've been looking for is the Workstation
Configuration Management Solution. With WCM, you will
free yourself from the task of visiting every workstation
on the network, and let the network do the updates for
you.
The Workstation Configuration Management Solution,
concentrates on two major problem areas associated with
keeping workstations up to date, that are connected to a
local area network.
° Updating Software Products
° Managing Autoexec Bootup Commands
To help network administrators manage both of these
tasks, WCM includes a File Librarian to manage files that
are distributed to workstations, the Event Manager
Console update changes to autoexec.bat files and the
Workstation Update Module to actually update the files on
the workstation.
Quick Path Setup Example
° Install using installation instructions
° Define File Distribution Packs using FLIB
° Define Workstation Events using ESCHED
Installation
To install the workstation configuration manager, you
should be logged in to the file server as a user with
supervisory equivalence.
Make a directory on one of the volumes called WCM. When
planning where to install WCM, consider that all files to
be downloaded to workstations will be placed on this
volume.
Copy all files from the ZIP file or disk to the WCM
directory.
Execute WCMINST, follow the instructions on the screen.
At any time you may uninstall WCM by executing WCMINST
with the REMOVE parameter.
File Distribution Librarian
The File Librarian is the tool by which network
administrators will create File Distribution Packs -
FDP's. FDP's contain the following information.
° Text Description of what's contained.
° Target object, ie. User Group or Node
° Up to 15 files to be distributed.
° The path on the workstation where each
file will be placed.
To start the File Librarian, enter the command FLIB at
the WCM directory. At first glance, you will notice that
FLIB uses a standard C-Worthy interface that network
administrators will already be familiar with. The main
screen presents a list of all defined FDP's. The
following keys are defined to create and manage FDP's.
° <INSERT> - Add new FDP
° <DEL> - Delete existing FDP
° <ENTER> - Modify existing FDP
ADDING File Distribution Packs
To add a new FDP to the list, press the <INSERT> key. You
will be prompted to enter a description of what the FDP
contains. This description is for your reference, as well
as informing the user when files are being updated.
Next, you will be prompted to select the type of FDP you
are defining. The three types of FDP's are :
° Group - Distributed to members of a group
° User - Distributed to a particular user
° Node - Distributed to a particular node on the LAN
After selecting the type, if you selected Group or User,
FLIB will present a pick list of all matching objects in
the file servers bindery. By highlighting and pressing
enter, you will have set the target object. If you
selected Node, you will be prompted to enter the target
node address in hexadecimal format.
Once the target object has been defined, an empty list
will appear.
File Distribution Librarian
To add files to the FDP, hit the <INSERT> key. FLIB will
prompt for the file name, target path on the workstation,
including drive, and then prompt for a source path so
that it can upload the file to the library area. Once the
file is successfully uploaded to the library area the file
information will be displayed in the list.
To remove files from the FDP, highlight the file to
remove and hit the <DEL> key. FLIB will confirm deletion
of the file.
To modify files in the FDP, highlight the file entry and
hit the <ENTER> key.
Once all files have been added to the FDP, hit the
<ESCAPE> key and FLIB will return to the main screen,
adding the new FDP to the list.
MODIFYING File Distribution Packs
Highlight the FDP you wish to modify and hit the <ENTER>
key. You will be allowed to edit the description. When
finished editing the description press <ENTER> again and
the FDP's file list will appear. While inside the FDP's
file list, you may add, change or delete files from the
FDP. To return to the main screen, hit <ESCAPE>.
DELETING File Distribution Packs
Highlight the FDP you wish to delete and hit the <DELETE>
key. FLIB will confirm the deletion of the FDP.
EXITING The File Distribution Librarian
Pressing the <ESCAPE> key from the main screen will begin
the FLIB exit process. If any changes were made to the
file library, FLIB will prompt to save changes, then
prompt to exit.
Event Manager Console
The Event Manager Console allows network administrators
to define events that happen within the autoexec.bat file
of a workstation connected to the LAN. An event can be
any DOS executable command. Using WCM it is possible to
have these events custom tailored to execute on specific
days of the week, every time the workstation is booted,
run once and then purged, or prompt the user to execute
the event or not.
For an example, let's say you wanted to have every
workstation scan for viruses on Monday, Wednesday and
Friday, but only when the machine is first booted. This
is a typical scenario of what the Event Manager Console
is capable of.
To execute the Event Manager Console, change to the WCM
directory on the network and enter WSCHED. After the
program has loaded you will notice that the layout is
very similar to the File Distribution Librarian. The main
screen displays a list of all defined events.
The following keystrokes have been defined to help create
and manage events.
° <INSERT> - Add New Event
° <DEL> - Delete Existing Event
° <ENTER> - Modify Existing Event
ADDING New Events
Hit the <INSERT> key. Select the type of event to define.
The three types of events are .
° Group - All members of group will receive this
event
° User - Specific user will receive this event
° Node - Specific node will receive this event
Once the type of event has been selected, ESCHED will
present a list of users, groups or prompt for the
specific node address, in hexadecimal. After the target
object has been selected or entered, a form will be
displayed on the screen.
The form is full screen editable, using the cursor keys
will move from one field to the next etc.
Event Manager Console
An explanation of the fields are as follows :
Description - A text description of the event that is
displayed to the user on execution if
the
event is optional.
Command - The DOS command to execute
Delete Event After Successful Run - Purge the event from the
workstation's event database after a successful execution.
Make the event optional - Should the user be prompted before
executing the event
Execute event on every boot - Should the event be executed
every time the workstation is rebooted or once per marked
day.
Log run status to file - Log the completion code of this
event to the log file on the workstation's local disk.
Used for problem solving, auditing etc.
Fields Monday through Sunday - Set the field to yes if you
want the event to execute on that day, set all to yes if you
want the event to execute everyday.
Once the form has been completed, hit the <ESCAPE> key
and ESCHED will return to the main screen and add the new
event to the list.
MODIFYING Events
To modify an existing event, highlight the event in the
list and hit the <ENTER> key. The event information form
will be displayed and allow editing of all information.
To exit and save the changes hit the <ESCAPE> key.
DELETING Events
To delete an event, highlight the event in the list and
hit the <DEL> key. ESCHED will confirm deletion of the
event.
Event Manager Console
EXITING The Event Manager Console
Hit the <ESCAPE> key to exit ESCHED. If changes were
made, ESCHED will confirm the saving of changes, then
confirm to exit.
Workstation Event Scheduler
The Workstation Event Scheduler, allows users to define
their own events to be executed from the autoexec.bat
file.
To execute the Workstation Event Scheduler, change to the
WCM directory on the workstation and enter WSCHED. After
the program has loaded, the main screen displays a list
of all defined events.
The following keystrokes have been defined to help create
and manage events.
° <INSERT> - Add New Event
° <DEL> - Delete Existing Event
° <ENTER> - Modify Existing Event
ADDING New Events
Hit the <INSERT> key. Select the type of event to define.
The two types of events are .
° Predefined - Select Event From Predefined List
° User Defined - Allow entry of user defined event.
Predefined events are defined by the network manager
using the Event Console Manager. By selecting Predefined
events from the list, the user will see a list of all
events that pertain to their particular user id, group
membership or node address, depending on how the events
where defined. By highlighting the desired event and
pressing enter, the predefined event will be added to the
workstations event list. If the event was predefined, and
is not optional, the user will not be able to modify or
delete the event.
Upon selecting User defined events the event registration
form will be displayed.
The form is full screen editable, using the cursor keys
will move from one field to the next etc.
Workstation Event Scheduler
An explanation of the fields are as follows :
Description - A text description of the event that is
displayed to the user on execution if
the
event is optional.
Command - The DOS command to execute
Delete Event After Successful Run - Purge the event from the
workstation's event database after a successful execution.
Make the event optional - Should the user be prompted before
executing the event
Execute event on every boot - Should the event be executed
every time the workstation is rebooted or once per marked
day.
Log run status to file - Log the completion code of this
event to the log file on the workstation's local disk.
Used for problem solving, auditing etc.
Fields Monday through Sunday - Set the field to yes if you
want the event to execute on that day, set all to yes if you
want the event to execute everyday.
Once the form has been completed, hit the <ESCAPE> key
and WSCHED will return to the main screen and add the new
event to the list.
MODIFYING Events
To modify an existing event, highlight the event in the
list and hit the <ENTER> key. The event information form
will be displayed and allow editing of all information.
To exit and save the changes hit the <ESCAPE> key.
DELETING Events
To delete an event, highlight the event in the list and
hit the <DEL> key. ESCHED will confirm deletion of the
event.
Workstation Event Scheduler
EXITING The Workstation Event Scheduler
Hit the <ESCAPE> key to exit WSCHED. If changes were
made, WSCHED will confirm the saving of changes, then
confirm to exit.
Event Runtime Module
The Event Runtime Module is the program that actually
executes the events as they are defined. This program is
placed on the workstation and is executed from the
autoexec.bat file. The Event Runtime Module will check
the status of each event in the workstations database and
execute them accordingly. If the event is defined as
optional, it will display the description of the event
and prompt the user to continue with execution.
This program is placed on the workstation, and the
autoexec.bat file is modified by the Workstation Update
Module.
No other operator or network administrator intervention
is required.
Workstation Update Module
The Workstation Update Module, keeps the workstations
connected to the LAN updated with the latest files and
events that network administrators have defined using the
File Distribution Librarian or The Event Manager Console.
The following command should be placed in the Novel
System Logan Script.
#wsupdate
This will update every workstation that logs into the
file server.
WSUPDATE works in the following manner.
WSUPDATE first checks the autoexec.bat file on the
workstation to ensure the event runtime module has
been added, if not it adds the necessary line to the
file. Next, it will verify or create a directory called
WCM on the workstation's local boot disk and copy the
Event Runtime Module to that directory.
The update utility will then check the event database and
add all events pertaining to the workstation to the event
database.
After the events have been updated, WSUPDATE will check
for FDP's to distribute to the workstation. Files are
updated only if the date and time stamp differs from that
which is recorded in the FDP.
Glossary
Event - A DOS executable command that is executed by the
event runtime module governed by specific
guidelines.
FDP - File Distribution Package is a collection of DOS
files that are distributed to workstations on
the network.
Support For Evaluation Copy
Any Questions or Comments may be forwarded to :
ZhofWare
P.O. Box 37
East Bernard, Tx 77435
CIS 75360,262