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Text File | 1991-12-13 | 17KB | 533 lines

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