Here is a collection of my favourite Windows Server 2003 command line tools. My aim is to
offer variety, and I hope you will un-earth at least one utility you had not
considered.
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The number one question I get asked about Group Policies is 'Why won't
they work when I set them up perfectly?' My answer is, run
GPupdate. Result: Bingo, now they work - very satisfying.
When you are at the
command prompt you may need to find files. Try Where, for example,
Where /r e:\ *.log
Notes: The /r means 'keep on looking'.
Observe the space between /r and e:\ and also the space between e:\ and *.log.
Where is flexible, and will search for any file pattern that you can think of,
for example, *.ini or W*.inf.
This command gives you a hard copy of the information displayed in
System Information (Accessories). From the command
prompt type: Systeminfo > server.txt Then Notepad server.txt lets
you read the data captured. The > 'greater than' is an old
trick to redirect information from the screen into a file.
Similar
to CSVDE, but also allows passwords to be imported using the unicodePwd
attribute. See more about LDIFDE
here.
Guy Recommends: SolarWinds LANSurveyor
LANSurveyor will produce a neat diagram of your network topology. But that's
just the start;
LANSurveyor can
create an inventory of the hardware and software
of your machines and network devices. Other neat features include dynamic
update for when you add new devices to your network. I also love the ability to export
the diagrams
to Microsoft Visio.
Finally, Guy bets that if you take a free trial of LANSurveyor then you will
find a device on your network that you had forgotten about, or someone else
installed without you realizing!
Take a minute to install this command line program. It will be
a life saver should you system fail to boot. Install CMDCons and practice
copying files, just in case you get a server that will not start because
of a corrupted file.
Imagine you are using explorer. Suddenly, you need to open a folder in a 'DOS Box.
It is frustrating to run CMD, change directory about 7 times before you
navigate to the right folder. Install CMDHere and make it one click to
your 'DOS Box'.
See Diagram 1. DownloadCMDHere
Handy for testing intermittent
connections. PathPing works like ping except it echo-locates for 25 seconds
and reports the percentage of lost packets. As a bonus, PathPing shows you
the hops rather like a tracert printout.
More Information. As an MCT trainer, I can thoroughly endorse TrainSignal because they
deliver practical hands on training. In particular, I like the way that TrainSignal cover all learning methods, instructor lead, video and of course text material. You can either take one module,
for example File Server or go for a combination of modules.
See more about Windows 2003 training here
