Microsoft® Windows® Administrator's Automation Toolkit (Pro-One-Offs) (Paperback)

by Don Jones (Author)
Key Phrases: shadow copy, service management tasks, volume management, Windows Server, Operating System Supported, Active Directory (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Get the detailed guidance, tips, and tools you need to automate Windows system administration including 120 full working scripts with command-line controls on the CD! Windows automation expert Don Jones shows you how to run the scripts as written or customize them for your unique requirements. You ll learn how to reconfigure multiple services on a computer, shut down multiple remote computers, add users to Active Directory(r) directory service, automate security configurations, work with Internet Information Services 6.0, and perform other key computer and network management tasks. You ll also explore advanced scripting tools. The CD features all 120 timesaving scripts, plus a bonus eBook to further your scripting expertise.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (June 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735621667
• ISBN-13: 978-0735621664
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #438,963 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A fair kickoff point for the subject, July 11, 2005

By	Jase T. Wolfe - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Windows automation books come in two styles - Recipe Book, where the reader needs only a remedial knowledge of scripting and has been given hundreds of task-based scripts, and Development Guide, where the reader is only given the tools and training to create the task-based scripts instead. This title falls closer to the first than the last.

Although the reader is presented with a quick overview of scripting concepts, you are not assumed to know how to script but have enough technical ability to look at the scripts and understand the gist of what you are reading and make small changes if needed. All scripts presented in the book (and found on the accompanying CD) are written in VBScript (sorry jscript users) and for the most part wrapped in the WSF XML format.

The first 35 pages which make up Part One are overviews of the principals of automation, general syntax and usage of the Windows Script Host, security thru digital certificates, and networking and remote considerations. From there, the remainder of the book presents the toolbox scripts in a fairly straightforward manner, with each task section listing a description of the task, how you would do it manually, example usage of the provided script, the usage syntax of the script, a general overview of the part of the script that accomplishes the task, troubleshooting for the particular task, and a "go here to learn more" section. A very broad array of toolbox topics for Windows administration are presented, including both client and server settings and management, hardware and software inventorying, password management, services and processes management, file and disk management, as well as network-specific services management and some IIS 6 tasks.

The included CD contains all the scripts and script components presented in the book with a companion help file, a PDF version of the book, a PDF version of a different Microsoft scripting book titled "Microsoft Windows Scripting Self-Paced Learning Guide", and a video presentation of "VBScript Essentials for Windows Administrators", which is an overview of how to script VBScript (sorry jscript users - no luck). A quick watch of the videos reminded me why I hate video learning, what with only fair sound quality and a small display size. Readers seriously interested in learning how to script are much better served reading "Microsoft Windows 2000 Scripting Guide" (ISBN 0735618674).

It is unfortunate that half-stars are not permitted; I would rather have given the title 3.5 stars. This title is not a resource to teach you the tools you need to fully script and automate administration on your network. As a toolbox, the provided scripts are very useful but fall short of being a very complete resource. The tasks the author has opted to include are indeed found in common use, but the true abilities of the underlying technology is really only lightly touched upon. Administrators already advanced in the area of task automation will not find this title useful. Beginning to intermediate administrators can gain value from this, but it most likely will not be your last purchase on this topic.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Microsoft Windows Administrator's Automation Toolkit review, May 13, 2007

By	Julian McEvoy - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found the content to be light on. Most of this suff is well documented on the web and most admins would find it in minutes. Took me about 30 minutes to go through and doubt I will ever open it again.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, March 10, 2007

By	Jorge Alexandres (OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

An excellent very technical, yet easy to get along, learn from, and use in daily activities.