Often the difference between a working network environment and a well appreciated one can best be measured by the little things that make everything work more harmoniously. A key part of every network environment solution is the ability to remotely manage MS Windows workstations, remotely access the Samba server, provide customized logon scripts, as well as other housekeeping activities that help to sustain more reliable network operations.

This chapter presents information on each of these areas. They are placed here, and not in other chapters, for ease of reference.

“How do I get `User Manager' and `Server Manager'?”

Since I do not need to buy an NT4 Server, how do I get the `User Manager for Domains' and the `Server Manager'?

Microsoft distributes a version of these tools called Nexus.exe for installation on Windows 9x/Me systems. The tools set includes:

Download the archived file at ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/NEXUS.EXE.

The Windows NT 4.0 version of the `User Manager for Domains' and `Server Manager' are available from Microsoft via ftp.

There are a number of possible remote desktop management solutions that range from free through costly. Do not let that put you off. Sometimes the most costly solution is the most cost effective. In any case, you will need to draw your own conclusions as to which is the best tool in your network environment.

There are several opportunities for creating a custom network startup configuration environment.

The Samba source code tree includes two logon script generation/execution tools. See examples directory genlogon and ntlogon subdirectories.

The following listings are from the genlogon directory.

This is the genlogon.pl file:

	#!/usr/bin/perl
	#
	# genlogon.pl
	#
	# Perl script to generate user logon scripts on the fly, when users
	# connect from a Windows client. This script should be called from 
	# smb.conf with the %U, %G and %L parameters. I.e:
	#
	#       root preexec = genlogon.pl %U %G %L
	#
	# The script generated will perform
	# the following:
	#
	# 1. Log the user connection to /var/log/samba/netlogon.log
	# 2. Set the PC's time to the Linux server time (which is maintained
	#    daily to the National Institute of Standards Atomic clock on the
	#    internet.
	# 3. Connect the user's home drive to H: (H for Home).
	# 4. Connect common drives that everyone uses.
	# 5. Connect group-specific drives for certain user groups.
	# 6. Connect user-specific drives for certain users.
	# 7. Connect network printers.

	# Log client connection
	#($sec,$min,$hour,$mday,$mon,$year,$wday,$yday,$isdst) = localtime(time);
	($sec,$min,$hour,$mday,$mon,$year,$wday,$yday,$isdst) = localtime(time);
	open LOG, ">>/var/log/samba/netlogon.log";
	print LOG "$mon/$mday/$year $hour:$min:$sec";
	print LOG " - User $ARGV[0] logged into $ARGV[1]\n";
	close LOG;

	# Start generating logon script
	open LOGON, ">/shared/netlogon/$ARGV[0].bat";
	print LOGON "\@ECHO OFF\r\n";

	# Connect shares just use by Software Development group
	if ($ARGV[1] eq "SOFTDEV" || $ARGV[0] eq "softdev")
	{
		print LOGON "NET USE M: \\\\$ARGV[2]\\SOURCE\r\n";
	}

	# Connect shares just use by Technical Support staff
	if ($ARGV[1] eq "SUPPORT" || $ARGV[0] eq "support")
	{
		print LOGON "NET USE S: \\\\$ARGV[2]\\SUPPORT\r\n";
	}

	# Connect shares just used by Administration staff
	If ($ARGV[1] eq "ADMIN" || $ARGV[0] eq "admin")
	{
		print LOGON "NET USE L: \\\\$ARGV[2]\\ADMIN\r\n";
		print LOGON "NET USE K: \\\\$ARGV[2]\\MKTING\r\n";
	}

	# Now connect Printers. We handle just two or three users a little
	# differently, because they are the exceptions that have desktop
	# printers on LPT1: - all other user's go to the LaserJet on the
	# server.
	if ($ARGV[0] eq 'jim'
	    || $ARGV[0] eq 'yvonne')
	{
		print LOGON "NET USE LPT2: \\\\$ARGV[2]\\LJET3\r\n";
		print LOGON "NET USE LPT3: \\\\$ARGV[2]\\FAXQ\r\n";
	}
	else
	{
		print LOGON "NET USE LPT1: \\\\$ARGV[2]\\LJET3\r\n";
		print LOGON "NET USE LPT3: \\\\$ARGV[2]\\FAXQ\r\n";
	}

	# All done! Close the output file.
	close LOGON;

Those wishing to use more elaborate or capable logon processing system should check out these sites:

C:\> rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /?