This document summarizes a technical workshop on advanced systems management. The workshop covered administration essentials like task management and automation, scripting essentials including an introduction to scripting with tutorials on syntax and sample code, and toolkit essentials including an overview of useful tools contained on a provided utility DVD. The agenda included sessions on task management, automation vs manual tasks, scripting overview and commands, code writing guidelines, and recommended system tools.

1. Technical Workshop 1 ADVANCED SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT Presented By Arik Fletcher Thursday January 29th 2009

2. Why Are We Here? These workshops aim to relay a simple mantra: A little TIME, EFFORT, and the right RESOURCES combined with TRAINING, PRACTICE, and TEAMWORK will vastly improve your KNOWLEDGE, ABILITY, and EXPERIENCE. KNOWLEDGE TEAMWORK TIME TRAINING RESOURCES EXPERIENCE PRACTICE EFFORT ABILITY Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

3. Agenda Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management Administration Essentials09:45 – 10:30 Discussion:IT Support Expectations Exercise:Task Management and Automation Tutorial: The Realities of Automation BREAK 10:30 –10:40 Scripting Essentials10:40 – 12:10 Overview: Introduction to Scripting Tutorial: Syntax and Reference Documents Tutorial: Structure and Sample Code Exercise: Script Writing and Troubleshooting BREAK 12:10 –12:20 Toolkit Essentials12:0 – 13:00 Overview: Utility DVD contents Discussion: Recommended Tools

4. Administration Essentials TASK MANAGEMENT FOR SYSTEMS ENGINEERS Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

5. IT Support:Expectations Interviews with staff at the Computer Depot in the University of Vermont. This video focuses on what IT Support Technicians expect from their computers. Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

6. What Do You Expect From Your Computers? Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

7. Recommended Admin Tasks Daily Checks: Server Services Server Event Logs Server Hardware Status Firewall Logs and Status Backup Status Antivirus Updates Weekly Checks: Server Disk Space Mail Store & Database Space Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management Monthly Checks: Restore Status Server Security Updates Network Application Patches Server Disk Fragmentation Workstation Hardware Status Printer Hardware Status Documentation Status Quarterly Checks: Workstation Builds

8. Where Does The Day Go? If you feel like this guy... don’t panic, help is at hand! Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

9. Automated vs. Manual Tasks Automated Checks: Server Services Server Event Logs Server Hardware Status Firewall Logs and Status Backup Status Antivirus Updates Server Disk Space Mail Store & Database Space Server Security Updates Network Application Patches Server Disk Fragmentation Workstation Hardware Status Printer Hardware Status Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management Manual Checks: Restore Status Documentation Status Workstation Builds

10. Follow The A.R.P.C.E.D. Law Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

11. The Truth Is Out There... Search before indulging in a potentially long and complex coding project Someone else has been there before and has probably written a script If in doubt, ask the team! Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

12. All The Time In The World... Scripting is a long-term gain, but a short-term loss... A script can save you time once completed, but it will need a fair amount of time and energy to be invested in its initial development. Even when your script is done, you will find yourself spending further time and resources on testing and improving it. Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

13. Can You Handle The Truth? Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management TAKE THE RED PILL: Stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes... TAKE THE BLUE PILL: The story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe... THE CHOICE IS YOURS...

14. Scripting Essentials A LOOK AT WINDOWS SHELL SCRIPTING Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

15. Scripting Essentials Overview What is shell scripting? What can/can’t it do? What else is out there? How do I get started? Where do I learn more? Will this happen to me? Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

16. What is Shell Scripting? A collection or ‘batch’ of commands run in sequence to complete a task or set of tasks. Quick and easy method of automating the most common admin or user tasks. An essential tool for both improving task efficiency and time management. Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

17. What can/can’t shell scripts do? Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

18. What Else Is Out There? Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

19. Code Writing Guidelines Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

20. When In Rome (or America)... Scripts are designed to be written in American English. Regional Settings will not change the commands ‘Correct’ spelling is critical- “It is the American Way!” e.g. COLOR, Favorites, Organization, Customize, etc Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

21. Shell Command Symbols Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

22. Shell Prompt Modification Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

23. Arguments & Variables ARGUMENTS Represented by single % symbol Values set by end user Numbered from 1 (0 is script) Generally used as switchese.g. ArguVars.cmd/test VARIABLES Identified by enclosed % symbols Values set by OS or script writer Named by OS or script writer Can be used as argumentse.g. ArguVars.cmd%os% Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

24. Environmental Variables Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

25. Environmental Variables (cont.) Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

26. Internal & External Commands INTERNAL COMMANDS Part of CMD shell No file extensions Cannot run without shell Help command can be usede.g. HELP DIR EXTERNAL COMMANDS Separate from CMD shell Usually .exe or .com extensions Can be run outside of shell External help is usually needede.g. MSTSC/? Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

27. Internal Commands Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

28. Internal Commands (cont.) Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

29. External Commands Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

30. External Commands (cont.) Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

31. Recommended Code Layout @ECHO off - only show output CLS - clear screen :START - label start of code TITLE - window/script title REM - author/copyright :RUN - label body of code REM - command notes ECHO- a command to run :FINISH - label end of code REM - closing comments GOTO :EOF - exit the script Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

32. Importance of Comments and Layout Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

33. FOR Used to iterate (repeat) tasks USAGE: Uses lettered arguments with double % symbol in scripts and single % symbol from shell Requires in and do functions COMMON SWITCHES: Follow numeric series: FOR /l Perform file functions: FOR /f Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

34. IF Allows for conditional tasks USAGE Follow with not for negatives Uses else in place of multiples Case sensitive unless /i is used Uses double = symbol in scripts and single = symbol in shell COMMON USES: File Check: IFexist %path% Variable Check: IFdefined os Compare: IF“%1”==“%path%” Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

35. SET Creates temporary variables Values from script writer or user Performs arithmetic functions COMMON USES: Set Variable: SETvar=value Calculate: SET/a var=equation Prompt:SET/p var=question Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

36. Green Code is Good Code RE-USABLE CODE: Mini-script within main script Reduces development time Guarantees fewer mistakes Improves code legibility USAGE GUIDELINES: Use labels to identify routines Use arguments and variables Should be after ‘end’ of script Must be called not directed to Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

37. I can only show you the door, you're the one that has to walk through it... Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

38. Script This! Print a line of text Clear the screen Change window color View a text file Save output to a file Create a variable Compare a variable Repeat a file task Calculate an equation ECHOvalue CLS COLOR value TYPEpathile.ext IPCONFIG> file.ext SETvar=value IF “%var%”==“value” FOR/f%%ain (‘cmd’) do SET/avar=equation Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

39. Un-script This! Disables command echo Change window title Run the SUBTASK routine Exit the script Show a file in single pages Check for variable Check if command worked Prompt user for value Perform a task five times @ECHO off TITLE value CALL :SUBTASK GOTO:EOF TYPEfile.ext |MORE IFDEFINEDvar IF “%errorlevel%”==“0” SET/p var=value FOR/l%%ain (1,1,5) do Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

40. Scripting Resources Web Links Books CS Portal Script Repositoryhttp://tinyurl.com/cspscripts Frank-Peter Schultze Scriptshttp://tinyurl.com/fpschultze TSCMD FAQ: Scripting Trickshttp://tinyurl.com/tscmdfaq TechNet A-Z Command Referencehttp://tinyurl.com/mscmdref Backup Exec 11d Documentshttp://tinyurl.com/be11docs Backup Exec 12d Documentshttp://tinyurl.com/be12doczip Windows NT Shell ScriptingISBN: 1-57870-047-7 Zero Administration for WindowsISBN: 1-56592-508-4 Windows 2000 Active DirectoryISBN: 1-56592-638-2 Windows 2000 Scripting BibleISBN: 0-7645-4677-5 Windows Desktop Deployment Resource KitISBN: 0-7356-1898-4 Windows Command Pocket ConsultantISBN: 0-7356-2262-0 Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

41. Toolkit Essentials VITAL TOOLS AND UTILITIES FOR ALL TECHIES Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

42. Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

43. Utility Disc – DigiWiz miniPE2-XT Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

44. Utility Disc – Hiren’s Boot CD Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management DOS Utility Boot CD with additional Windows Tools

45. Recommended Tools Script Writing: Notepad2 Notepad++ System Information: AIDA32 EZAudit Password Reset: Password Renew NT Offline Password Reset Product Key Recovery: Magic Jelly Bean Keyfinder NirsoftProduKey File Compression: IzArc2Go 7-Zip Disk Cloning: Symantec Ghost Acronis True Image Disk Partitioning: Partition Magic Paragon Partition Manager Partition Recovery: TestDisk Ontrack Easy Recovery Pro Deep Data Recovery: NTFS Undelete GetDataBack-NTFS/GetDataBack-FAT User Friendly Data Recovery: Recuva Restoration Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management

46. Recommended Tools (cont.) Floppy/USB Key Cloning: WinImage AntiSpyware: SDFix Webroot Spy Sweeper CD Image Creation: LCISOCreator ISO Buster CD Burning: ImgBurn Express Burn Disk Defragmentation: Defraggler JkDefrag File Copier: FastCopy SyncToy System Optimisation: CCleaner WinASOEasyTweak Driver Backup and Restore: Smart Driver Backup DriverBackup! PE Editor: Resource Hacker PE Resource Explorer Personal Antivirus: Avast! NOD32 Technical Workshop 1 - Advanced Network Management