newbie questions on NT 4 Logon script

[Bruce Dodds]

I am new to NT Server 4, so please bear with me.

I'm responsible for an application that resides on an NT 4 Server. I'm making frequent changes
to the application, working from a remote site. The copies of the applications on
the user's local drives must be refreshed whenever the application is updated. I would like
to write a logon script for the users that will compare the creation date of the server copy
to the creation date of the local copy, and copy the server copy to the local drive if the server
copy is newer.

The system administrator for the network is unfamiliar with logon scripts. He says that he has
asked some of the programmers he knows about the topic and has gotten the following responses:

"Don't do it." "Don't even try it." "I wouldn't even know HOW to do it."

In the "NT Server 4 for Dummies" book that I found at the library, it says just this about
logon scripts:

"Logon scripts are usually batch files that define paths, set environmental variables,
map drives, or execute applications. You typically only use logon scripts in
Windows NT for compatibility purposes with older servers or DOS applications,
or to automatically configure settings for NetWare server access"

I gather from skimming the discussions here that logon scripts are used, and
may be written in VBScript.

Does what I want to do make sense? Where should I go for more information?
Unfortunately, the sysadmin does not have a full set of NT 4 Server manuals.

Thanks very much!

[Loc Huynh]

You've mentioned about application. Are you refer to one file or multiple files.
You can use robocopy.exe from NT Resourse Kits. You can use it via a logon script or straight to the share name on the local PC.


------------
Bruce Dodds at 8/25/01 8:26:14 AM

I am new to NT Server 4, so please bear with me.

I'm responsible for an application that resides on an NT 4 Server. I'm making frequent changes
to the application, working from a remote site. The copies of the applications on
the user's local drives must be refreshed whenever the application is updated. I would like
to write a logon script for the users that will compare the creation date of the server copy
to the creation date of the local copy, and copy the server copy to the local drive if the server
copy is newer.

The system administrator for the network is unfamiliar with logon scripts. He says that he has
asked some of the programmers he knows about the topic and has gotten the following responses:

"Don't do it." "Don't even try it." "I wouldn't even know HOW to do it."

In the "NT Server 4 for Dummies" book that I found at the library, it says just this about
logon scripts:

"Logon scripts are usually batch files that define paths, set environmental variables,
map drives, or execute applications. You typically only use logon scripts in
Windows NT for compatibility purposes with older servers or DOS applications,
or to automatically configure settings for NetWare server access"

I gather from skimming the discussions here that logon scripts are used, and
may be written in VBScript.

Does what I want to do make sense? Where should I go for more information?
Unfortunately, the sysadmin does not have a full set of NT 4 Server manuals.

Thanks very much!

[Bruce Dodds]

Thanks for the response. It's just one file. Where would I find an NT Resource Kit? Is it something I can download from Microsoft? I see references on the MS site to a Win 2K Resource Kit.


------------
Loc Huynh at 8/27/01 12:13:28 AM

You've mentioned about application. Are you refer to one file or multiple files.
You can use robocopy.exe from NT Resourse Kits. You can use it via a logon script or straight to the share name on the local PC.


------------
Bruce Dodds at 8/25/01 8:26:14 AM

I am new to NT Server 4, so please bear with me.

I'm responsible for an application that resides on an NT 4 Server. I'm making frequent changes
to the application, working from a remote site. The copies of the applications on
the user's local drives must be refreshed whenever the application is updated. I would like
to write a logon script for the users that will compare the creation date of the server copy
to the creation date of the local copy, and copy the server copy to the local drive if the server
copy is newer.

The system administrator for the network is unfamiliar with logon scripts. He says that he has
asked some of the programmers he knows about the topic and has gotten the following responses:

"Don't do it." "Don't even try it." "I wouldn't even know HOW to do it."

In the "NT Server 4 for Dummies" book that I found at the library, it says just this about
logon scripts:

"Logon scripts are usually batch files that define paths, set environmental variables,
map drives, or execute applications. You typically only use logon scripts in
Windows NT for compatibility purposes with older servers or DOS applications,
or to automatically configure settings for NetWare server access"

I gather from skimming the discussions here that logon scripts are used, and
may be written in VBScript.

Does what I want to do make sense? Where should I go for more information?
Unfortunately, the sysadmin does not have a full set of NT 4 Server manuals.

Thanks very much!

[Matt]

Bruce,

You have to buy the NT Resource Kit but if you type in "robocopy download" into Yahoo or Google search engine or something, you'll be able to find it from somewhere for free. If you mail me with your mail address, I could send you it too if you want.

Usage for your problem :

with version 1.96 (which is what I've got)

robocopy c:file.ext \workstationsharepathfile.ext /SEC /R:1 /W:1 /MIR

where c:file.ext is the path and file name of the file you want to copy and
where \workstationsharepathfile.ext is the path and filename of the file to replace.

If you want to copy an entire folder just replace file.ext with the name of the folder to copy

should be fine

when you gt robocopy, copy it to c:winntsystem32 (or wherever your os is installed) and then type robocopy /??? at the cmd prompt. Read through the options you have and check out the switches i have recommended. It's a great tool that can be really well utilised in any nt environment. Get to know it and get your nt administrator to know it.

Matt


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Bruce Dodds at 8/27/01 7:26:26 AM

Thanks for the response. It's just one file. Where would I find an NT Resource Kit? Is it something I can download from Microsoft? I see references on the MS site to a Win 2K Resource Kit.


------------
Loc Huynh at 8/27/01 12:13:28 AM

You've mentioned about application. Are you refer to one file or multiple files.
You can use robocopy.exe from NT Resourse Kits. You can use it via a logon script or straight to the share name on the local PC.


------------
Bruce Dodds at 8/25/01 8:26:14 AM

I am new to NT Server 4, so please bear with me.

I'm responsible for an application that resides on an NT 4 Server. I'm making frequent changes
to the application, working from a remote site. The copies of the applications on
the user's local drives must be refreshed whenever the application is updated. I would like
to write a logon script for the users that will compare the creation date of the server copy
to the creation date of the local copy, and copy the server copy to the local drive if the server
copy is newer.

The system administrator for the network is unfamiliar with logon scripts. He says that he has
asked some of the programmers he knows about the topic and has gotten the following responses:

"Don't do it." "Don't even try it." "I wouldn't even know HOW to do it."

In the "NT Server 4 for Dummies" book that I found at the library, it says just this about
logon scripts:

"Logon scripts are usually batch files that define paths, set environmental variables,
map drives, or execute applications. You typically only use logon scripts in
Windows NT for compatibility purposes with older servers or DOS applications,
or to automatically configure settings for NetWare server access"

I gather from skimming the discussions here that logon scripts are used, and
may be written in VBScript.

Does what I want to do make sense? Where should I go for more information?
Unfortunately, the sysadmin does not have a full set of NT 4 Server manuals.

Thanks very much!

[Bruce Dodds]

Matt, thanks very much for the overview. A benefactor has kindly emailed me a copy of robocopy.exe Rel 1.95, with documentation.

To copy a source file only if it is newer than the destination file, should I use the /XO switch?

yeah, that'd do it.

If you're copying folders it's always better to use the /MIR switch (if available). It does the stuff that /XO does and also removes files in the destination that don't exist in the source. If applicable.

Cheers mate, good luck.

Matt


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Bruce Dodds at 8/28/01 7:57:23 AM

Matt, thanks very much for the overview. A benefactor has kindly emailed me a copy of robocopy.exe Rel 1.95, with documentation.

To copy a source file only if it is newer than the destination file, should I use the /XO switch?

yeah, that'd do it.

If you're copying folders it's always better to use the /MIR switch (if available). It does the stuff that /XO does and also removes files in the destination that don't exist in the source. If applicable.

If available you may also want to use the /log switch to create a log of the actions performed by the robocopy. This way you can easily check for errors. Especially useful if you run the commands from a batch file and so do not have the luxury of seeing the details of the operation on screen (well, not clearly anyway)

Cheers mate, good luck.

Matt


------------
Bruce Dodds at 8/28/01 7:57:23 AM

Matt, thanks very much for the overview. A benefactor has kindly emailed me a copy of robocopy.exe Rel 1.95, with documentation.

To copy a source file only if it is newer than the destination file, should I use the /XO switch?