Real-World Scripting: Perl Script Creates a Disk Utilization Report

Download and install Perl for Win32 and the AdminMisc extension on the NT workstation or server where the script will run. I tested this script using ActivePerl build 517, which is available from ActiveState Tool (http://www.activestate.com). The AdminMisc extension is available from Roth Consulting (http://www.roth.net/perl). Perl installs easily from a self-extracting executable. The Perl Package Manager (PPM) command to install this extension is

C:/> ppm install http://www.roth.net/perl/packages/Win32-AdminMisc.ppd

The Roth Web site has additional information about the GetDriveSpace function that the script uses. Both Web sites are excellent resources for Perl scriptwriters because they have extensive online documentation.

Place PerlDriveSpace.pl on the server where you've installed Perl and the extension.

Create an input text file named serverlist.txt that contains the list of servers and shares for disk utilization monitoring. (You can find an example of the serverlist.txt input file on the Win32 Scripting Journal Web site.) In one entry per line, put the server name and share name, separated by double backslashes (e.g., FILESERVER15PUBLIC). You can include Administrative and hidden shares (e.g., C$, D$) using the same basic syntax (e.g., FILESERVER15\C$). This powerful script lets you monitor and gather statistics on every drive on every workstation or server you administer.

Specify the serverlist.txt location in PerlDriveSpace.pl.

Specify the local or remote location where you're going to maintain the DiskStatsLog.html reports. You can copy these reports to the Web server in a subsequent operation or write the reports to the Web server directly. Use the upload strategy that works best in your environment.

Specify the threshold of disk utilization (i.e., the percent of utilization at which you want the text to turn red). The threshold in PerlDriveSpace.pl is at 80 percent.

Test the script to be sure it's working properly. Run the script from the command prompt if you want to view any error messages. Check the DiskStatsLog.html report to see whether all the shares are showing up properly. Check any shares in which an N/A appears; the server might be offline, you might have specified a CD-ROM drive, or you might have specified a nonexistent share or drive.

Schedule the script to run at the frequency you require.