Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) (Circle) (Paperback)

by Matthew Lavy (Author), Ashley Meggitt (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
I would recommend that any administrator bringing up a Windows 2000 environment have a copy of this book. -- Tim Ritchey

The authors have done a good job of explaining how WMI can be applied to real world problems. -- Ed Hott

Very practical, hands-on, detail-oriented. There are no other comparable books on the market that I’m aware of, and it’s well-done. -- L.J. Johnson

Product Description

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) tells readers everything they need to know in order to harness the power of WMI to automate vast parts of Windows 2000 workstation and server management. The book starts with the absolute basics, teaching the fundamentals of WMI terminology and the VBScript programming language. By the time readers complete the book, the readers will not only have the ability to use the scripts supplied, but also have a good understanding of both WMI and VBScript.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Sams; 1 edition (October 19, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578702607
• ISBN-13: 978-1578702602
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #530,791 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Administrative Introduction to WMI, October 20, 2001

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

For administrators who wish to have a greater control over Windows NT-based networks and were looking for a way to do it without having to learn a million different programming and scripting languages, the WMI is for you - and this is the perfect starting point.

Designed and written for system administrators, the focus of this book is to introduce you to the WMI from a VBScript scripting perspective. Regardless of scripting experience, the authors guides the reader in both theory and hands-on scripting from the basics of the VBScript language (a full chapter introducing you to VBScript and scripting in general, which is completely skip-able if you are already familiar with VBScript) to the scripting WMI API, covering a healthy percentage of the WMI objects and their use in easy to understand scripts.

The authors have written neither a recipe book of pre-created scripts, nor a true reference-only guide. If you are looking for the 2 minute answer, or are already proficient in the WMI, this isn't for you. Instead, the authors have written a text designed to give you a firm foundation of the WMI and the ability to quickly enhance your environment with no more than what they have provided, while still leaving room for you to confidently continue your learning of the WMI from other sources.

This is the second WMI book I've read, and although this one did not come out first, I found it a much better starting point than the others. You do need to make the time investment, and there is as much reading as there are activities, but you will find it well worth your effort.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, February 26, 2002

By A Customer

The authors of this book not only show expert knowledge in WMI and scripting, but expert insight on explaining the subject in the best possible way. As a VBScript 'programmer' wanting to learn WMI, I almost broke down in tears when a plethora of helpful info that took me weeks to learn, was explained as tips within the first few chapters. I wish this was the first VBScript book I had read.

This book was cleverly put together to provide and excellent book for people new or experienced with VBScript. It contains one chapter of VBScript which you can skip if you like, and tips throughout to explain VB Script specific functions which can be easily skipped if you know VBScript and are only concerned with WMI. I did review the VBScript chapter, and found it the best reading I've seen on the subject. This book together with a VBScript syntax reference (available from microsoft.com) are all you need to learn and apply VBScript, quickly. I also bought WMI essentials (SAMS), which I wont be reading.

The New Riders Expert series has come through again. (picture in circle on cover)

- Satisfied Customer

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for sysadmins/scripters, limited in use for programmers, February 20, 2002

By	E. Kaplan (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you're concerned with automating system administration of Win2K boxes using scripting this might be the book for you.

If, however, you are interested in writing management applications you will not find the information you need here.

The subtitle of the book says it all "expert scripting insight for Windows 200 administrators" so maybe I'm being a little hard on this book but Amazon doesn't show the subtitle so make sure this is what you're after before you buy the book.