Scripting: which one to learn?

[Cary Shultz [A.D. MVP]]

Good evening!

I am going to start learning to script. ldifde and ADModify are nice tools,
but it is way past time. I guess better late than never!

For basic Active Directory administration ( creating user account objects,
modifying attributes, querying ) which would be the 'best' choice? I have
zero scripting knowledge ( save the usual logon script ). Want to be able
to use this in both WIN2000 and WIN2003 as well as Exchange. ADSI looks
interesting. Is this a good place to start? Any books that you can
suggest? I have a lab environment in which to practice this so that is not
a problem.

Any and all opinions are welcome.

Thanks,

Cary

 

[Ulf B. Simon-Weidner [MVP]]

Good evening!

I am going to start learning to script. ldifde and ADModify are nice
tools,
but it is way past time. I guess better late than never!

For basic Active Directory administration ( creating user account
objects,
modifying attributes, querying ) which would be the 'best' choice? I
have
zero scripting knowledge ( save the usual logon script ). Want to be
able
to use this in both WIN2000 and WIN2003 as well as Exchange. ADSI looks
interesting. Is this a good place to start? Any books that you can
suggest? I have a lab environment in which to practice this so that is
not
a problem.

Hello Cary,

You might want to learn VBS - ADSI, ADO and WMI are just scripting
interfaces you can use among others to program against different
services like AD, SQL, ...

I'd recommend to start with the examples outlined on the scriptcenter (
www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter ), look in the scripts of the
repository there, copy and paste them on your computer and try to
understand those and change them to do other stuff. Marry some of the
scripts, e.g. enumerate all computers in active directory and retrieve
the size of the C-Drive.
For a written reference download the Windows Script V5.6 Documentation,
available for free somewhere underneath www.microsoft.com/scripting

After you understand the structure and basic functions of VBS you could
get Robby Allens Active Directory Cookbook which provides you with a
lot more examples how to program against AD.


--
Gruesse - Sincerely,

Ulf B. Simon-Weidner

MVP-Book "Windows XP - Die Expertentipps": http://tinyurl.com/44zcz
Weblog: http://msmvps.org/UlfBSimonWeidner
WebSite: http://www.windowsserverfaq.org

 

[Enkidu]

Good evening!

I am going to start learning to script. ldifde and ADModify are nice tools,
but it is way past time. I guess better late than never!

For basic Active Directory administration ( creating user account objects,
modifying attributes, querying ) which would be the 'best' choice? I have
zero scripting knowledge ( save the usual logon script ). Want to be able
to use this in both WIN2000 and WIN2003 as well as Exchange. ADSI looks
interesting. Is this a good place to start? Any books that you can
suggest? I have a lab environment in which to practice this so that is not
a problem.

My opinion is that it doesn't matter. Beg, borrow, steal, copy,
plagiarise, and just generally *acquire* whatever scripts you need in
whatever environment that you are working in. The business is mature
enough that someone has already written a script to do what you need.
Or one that you can modify or hack to do what you want.

VB.

Cheers,

Cliff

 

[Andrew Mitchell]

Good evening!

I am going to start learning to script. ldifde and ADModify are nice
tools, but it is way past time. I guess better late than never!

For basic Active Directory administration ( creating user account
objects, modifying attributes, querying ) which would be the 'best'
choice?

ADSI is great for managing AD, WMI is the interface to learn for managing
computers (workstations and servers)

I have zero scripting knowledge ( save the usual logon script
). Want to be able to use this in both WIN2000 and WIN2003 as well as
Exchange. ADSI looks interesting. Is this a good place to start? Any
books that you can suggest?

Forget books and grab hold of ADSI Scriptomatic from Microsoft
http://tinyurl.com/bfub
It will generate the scripts for you, based on your selections. You can then
see exactly what the script is doing.

I have a lab environment in which to
practice this so that is not a problem.

Any and all opinions are welcome.

Do you have any experience at coding in *any* languages? For purely
scripting, I'd concentrate on learning VBScript first. Get the logic down,
then learn the COM interfaces (ADSI, WMI etc.)

Feel free to drop me an email any time you want. You have helped me out often
enough with admin advice. The least I can do is return the favour.

 

[Paul Bergson]

VBScripting, the knowledge learned will carry over to other areas.

 

[Al Mulnick]

The best way to answer that is to better understand what platforms you work
on. I think you'll see from the other posts that strictly from what you
posted, VBS is a great way to go. Very powerful, very easy. Ulf was even
nice enough to point you in a good direction.

I would say that if you plan to go cross-platform however, you should
reconsider what language you learn to script. Perl might be better for what
you do. It's not really better for AD admin, but it is more portable.
Also, if you're familiar with any programming languages (maybe C++, etc) you
may consider C# instead of VBS. It's a little more rigid and harder to
learn as a beginner, but not much. And if you are already partially
comfortable with C++, C# is a breeze. Going from C# to Java is a snap, but
C# is not portable to non-Microsoft platforms.

Whichever way you go, there's plenty of material and plenty of books out
there to be helpful. There's also a lot of already written functions and
snippets on the web sites that you can get most of what you need to
jumpstart whatever language you pick.

Al

 

[Laura E. Hunter \(MVP\)]

Cary,

We're in largely the same boat. Here's what I did:

[1] Go to the Script Center and watch the on-demand "Scripting Week"
webcasts. There are 5 of them, and all very good.

[2] Stare at Robbie's _Active Directory Cookbook_ for awhile, then...

[3] The Windows 2000 Scripting Guide is available online. Or, if you're
like me and can't make yourself read gobs and gobs of content from a
computer screen, go buy Don Jones's _Managing Windows with VBScript and
WMI_. Awesome book.

 

[Cary Shultz [A.D. MVP]]

Thank you, Everyone.

I can modify existing scripts - sometimes - to fit my environments but
usually have no clue to what everything is and why it has to be where it is
( well, not entirely true, but mostly ). I asked a loaded question. I was
planning on learning VBScripting and ADSI and WMI but wanted to check with
everyone before I took that path.

Laura, do you think if I stare and the Mastering Microsoft Windows 2003 book
that it ( staring ) will work, or is that book just too think? Thank you
for the hint on the webcasts. I am very appreciative to Microsoft for
putting all of these webcasts out. The Group Policy webcasts are really
great ( a bit basic so far but great nonetheless ). And they have some on
Active Directory as well. Well, I think on pretty much everything!

Thank you all, again.

Cary

Cary,

We're in largely the same boat. Here's what I did:

[1] Go to the Script Center and watch the on-demand "Scripting Week"
webcasts. There are 5 of them, and all very good.

[2] Stare at Robbie's _Active Directory Cookbook_ for awhile, then...

[3] The Windows 2000 Scripting Guide is available online. Or, if you're
like me and can't make yourself read gobs and gobs of content from a
computer screen, go buy Don Jones's _Managing Windows with VBScript and
WMI_. Awesome book.

--
*****************
Laura E. Hunter - MVP
Replies to Newsgroup only
All advice offered as-is, no warranties expressed or implied

Good evening!

I am going to start learning to script. ldifde and ADModify are nice
tools,
but it is way past time. I guess better late than never!

For basic Active Directory administration ( creating user account objects,
modifying attributes, querying ) which would be the 'best' choice? I have
zero scripting knowledge ( save the usual logon script ). Want to be able
to use this in both WIN2000 and WIN2003 as well as Exchange. ADSI looks
interesting. Is this a good place to start? Any books that you can
suggest? I have a lab environment in which to practice this so that is
not
a problem.

Any and all opinions are welcome.

Thanks,

Cary

 

[Cary Shultz [A.D. MVP]]

Watched the first two of the five scripting webcasts yesterday. WOW! I
already know more than I care to know about this. Very very very good
stuff.

Thank you, Laura, for pointing me in this direction.

Cary

Thank you, Everyone.

I can modify existing scripts - sometimes - to fit my environments but
usually have no clue to what everything is and why it has to be where it is
( well, not entirely true, but mostly ). I asked a loaded question. I was
planning on learning VBScripting and ADSI and WMI but wanted to check with
everyone before I took that path.

Laura, do you think if I stare and the Mastering Microsoft Windows 2003 book
that it ( staring ) will work, or is that book just too think? Thank you
for the hint on the webcasts. I am very appreciative to Microsoft for
putting all of these webcasts out. The Group Policy webcasts are really
great ( a bit basic so far but great nonetheless ). And they have some on
Active Directory as well. Well, I think on pretty much everything!

Thank you all, again.

Cary

Cary,

We're in largely the same boat. Here's what I did:

[1] Go to the Script Center and watch the on-demand "Scripting Week"
webcasts. There are 5 of them, and all very good.

[2] Stare at Robbie's _Active Directory Cookbook_ for awhile, then...

[3] The Windows 2000 Scripting Guide is available online. Or, if you're
like me and can't make yourself read gobs and gobs of content from a
computer screen, go buy Don Jones's _Managing Windows with VBScript and
WMI_. Awesome book.

--
*****************
Laura E. Hunter - MVP
Replies to Newsgroup only
All advice offered as-is, no warranties expressed or implied

Good evening!

I am going to start learning to script. ldifde and ADModify are nice
tools,
but it is way past time. I guess better late than never!

For basic Active Directory administration ( creating user account objects,
modifying attributes, querying ) which would be the 'best' choice? I have
zero scripting knowledge ( save the usual logon script ). Want to be able
to use this in both WIN2000 and WIN2003 as well as Exchange. ADSI looks
interesting. Is this a good place to start? Any books that you can
suggest? I have a lab environment in which to practice this so that is
not
a problem.

Any and all opinions are welcome.

Thanks,

Cary

 

[ptwilliams]

Hi Cary,

I took the plunge a couple of weeks ago and found the Windows 2000 Resource
Kit Scripting Guide *THE* book for me. I've also looked at all the sites
mentioned by the others - all great stuff, and I've used several of them. I
also agree with you and Laura - I need a book, even if the soft copy is
free. I can't hold my 19" (screen, take it easy folks) on my lap ;-)

--
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...91801/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_3_1/026-8105060-1971664

(I think you can just change the .co.uk to .com)

I did a lot of Java in Uni, so was originally going to learn jscript, but I
decided to use VBS because of the sheer abundance of examples, and published
(for free) scripts available. And I'm happy with where I'm at 5 weeks in!!!

--

Paul Williams

http://www.msresource.net
http://forums.msresource.net
______________________________________
Watched the first two of the five scripting webcasts yesterday. WOW! I
already know more than I care to know about this. Very very very good
stuff.

Thank you, Laura, for pointing me in this direction.

Cary

Thank you, Everyone.

I can modify existing scripts - sometimes - to fit my environments but
usually have no clue to what everything is and why it has to be where it is
( well, not entirely true, but mostly ). I asked a loaded question. I was
planning on learning VBScripting and ADSI and WMI but wanted to check with
everyone before I took that path.

Laura, do you think if I stare and the Mastering Microsoft Windows 2003 book
that it ( staring ) will work, or is that book just too think? Thank you
for the hint on the webcasts. I am very appreciative to Microsoft for
putting all of these webcasts out. The Group Policy webcasts are really
great ( a bit basic so far but great nonetheless ). And they have some on
Active Directory as well. Well, I think on pretty much everything!

Thank you all, again.

Cary

Cary,

We're in largely the same boat. Here's what I did:

[1] Go to the Script Center and watch the on-demand "Scripting Week"
webcasts. There are 5 of them, and all very good.

[2] Stare at Robbie's _Active Directory Cookbook_ for awhile, then...

[3] The Windows 2000 Scripting Guide is available online. Or, if you're
like me and can't make yourself read gobs and gobs of content from a
computer screen, go buy Don Jones's _Managing Windows with VBScript and
WMI_. Awesome book.

--
*****************
Laura E. Hunter - MVP
Replies to Newsgroup only
All advice offered as-is, no warranties expressed or implied

Good evening!

I am going to start learning to script. ldifde and ADModify are nice
tools,
but it is way past time. I guess better late than never!

For basic Active Directory administration ( creating user account objects,
modifying attributes, querying ) which would be the 'best' choice? I have
zero scripting knowledge ( save the usual logon script ). Want to be able
to use this in both WIN2000 and WIN2003 as well as Exchange. ADSI looks
interesting. Is this a good place to start? Any books that you can
suggest? I have a lab environment in which to practice this so that is
not
a problem.

Any and all opinions are welcome.

Thanks,

Cary