A Networked Machine Management A Networked Machine Management SystemSystem

http://www.roth.net/ July 16, 1999

Needs AssessmentNeeds Assessment

Collect information in timely manner Automate Installation of software Perform routine maintenance Alert team of problems

Needs AssessmentNeeds Assessment (cont.)(cont.)

Inexpensive Solution!Inexpensive Solution!

Scr

ipts

Scr

ipts

The InfrastructureThe Infrastructure

Script is any executable task– Applications

winword.exe– Batch files

cleantmp.bat– Perl scripts

perl c:\tools\report.pl

Scr

ipts

Scr

ipts

The InfrastructureThe Infrastructure

Script development– Perl• Very versatile• Extendible• Fast development Cycle

(cont.)(cont.)

Scr

ipts

Scr

ipts

Script Execution Tracking– Each script maintains a log on each

machine indicating if it has already been run.

– Prevents multiple execution of scripts which only run once.

– No need to remove already run scripts from repository.

– Allows new machines to run scripts which.

The InfrastructureThe Infrastructure (cont.)(cont.)

Rep

osit

ory

Rep

osit

ory

Script Repository– Shared directory centrally located on a

server.– The repository directory tree was part of

a replication tree across other domain controllers.

–When the engine starts it locates a domain controller and uses it as the repository.

The InfrastructureThe Infrastructure (cont.)(cont.)

Sch

edul

erS

ched

uler

Scheduler Service– Scheduler service configured to run the

engine at predetermined time.– Each machine set to run engine at a

unique time to prevent network traffic storms.

The InfrastructureThe Infrastructure (cont.)(cont.)

Sch

edul

erS

ched

uler

Scheduler Service– Configured to logon as a domain

account (SchedulerAccount).– Domain account was a member of the

Domain Admins group.– Added the Domain Admins group into

each machines local Administrators group.

SecuritySecurity

Rep

osit

ory

Rep

osit

ory

Repository Permissions– Shared directory was hidden by

appending a $ to the share name.– Share permissions only allowed Administrators FULL and SchedulerAccount READ access.

– Directory tree secured with the same permissions as on the shared directory.

SecuritySecurity (cont.)(cont.)

Variety of ScriptsVariety of Scripts

Configure ODBC drivers and Data Source Names

Collect system informationScan Event Log for anomalies

ConclusionConclusion

Interactive web based status reportsLearning Perl benefited not only this

project but others as well.Substantial cost savings.– First use for software deployment took

only 4 hours with no human supervision. Compare this to 100 hour man hours at overtime pay.

Online version of presentation available at:http://www.Roth.Net/Conference/LisaNT/1999/

Perl is available from: http://www.Perl.com/ http://www.ActiveState.com/