What is Microsoft System Center? May 2006 Newsletter

John Savill

May 7, 2006

9 Min Read
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FAQs

  • Q. How can I create a file that contains the usernames and email addresses for a specific organizational unit (OU) or Container?

  • Q. What is Microsoft System Center?

  • Q. How do I uninstall the Novell NetWare client?

  • Q. What changes has Microsoft made to the Windows Genuine Advantage tool?

  • Q. What's new in Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) 7.0?

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FAQs

Q. How can I create a file that contains the usernames and email addresses for a specific organizational unit (OU) or Container?

A. The following script, which you can download here, outputs to file with a pipe (|) delimiter a user's given name, surname (sn), and email address. This output file can then be read into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet with the pipe set as the delimiter for cell-based access to the data.

  Option Explicit    
Dim strFilePath, strLdapPath, objFSO, objFile, objConnection, objChild    
' Check all arguments required have been passed  If Wscript.Arguments.Count   required. For example:" & vbCrLf _  & "cscript listuserswithemail.vbs ou=test,dc=demo,dc=test c:User.txt"     Wscript.Quit(0)  End If    
strLdapPath = Wscript.Arguments(0)    
strFilePath = Wscript.Arguments(1)    
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")    
  ' Open the file for write access.  On Error Resume Next  Set objFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile(strFilePath, 2, True, 0)  If Err.Number  0 Then  On Error GoTo 0  Wscript.Echo "File " & strFilePath & " cannot be opened"  Wscript.Quit(1)  End If  On Error GoTo 0    
Set objConnection = GetObject("LDAP://" & strLdapPath)  objConnection.Filter = Array("user")    
For Each objChild In objConnection  WScript.Echo objChild.Name & vbTab & objChild.givenName & " " _    & objChild.sn & " " & objChild.mail   objFile.WriteLine objChild.givenName & "|" & objChild.sn & "|" & objChild.mail  Next    
' Close file connection  objFile.Close    
Wscript.Echo "Operation Completed"  

Run the script using the following command: D:Temp>cscript listuserswithemail.vbs "ou=justice league,dc=savilltech,dc=com" listuserswithemail.txt

The script produced this output when run on my system:

CN=Arthur Curry Arthur Curry [email protected] CN=Barry Allen Barry Allen [email protected] CN=Bruce Wayne Bruce Wayne [email protected] CN=Wally West Wally West [email protected]

Q. What is Microsoft System Center?

A. Microsoft is rebranding its Systems Management Server (SMS) and Microsoft Operations Management (MOM) products to be part of the Microsoft System Center line of products. Here's what's new in the Microsoft System Center line:

  • The next version of SMS will be Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007.

  • The next version of MOM will be Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007.

  • System Center Service Desk enables self-service portals for users; Configuration Management Database provides information on the current and desired configuration state.

  • System Center Essentials brings together best of breed management technologies to simplify securing, updating, and monitoring the environment.

  • System Center Data Protection Manager enables disk-based backup technologies for rapid restoration capabilities.

  • System Center Reporting Manager enables powerful reporting via a data warehouse.

You can find more information about System Center at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/systemcenter/default.mspx.

Q. How do I uninstall the Novell NetWare client?

A. To uninstall the NetWare client, perform these steps:

  1. Open the Network Connections windows (Start, Settings, Network Connections).

  2. Right-click the "Local Area Connection" and select Properties.

  3. Select Novell Client for Windows 2000 or Novell Client for Windows XP.

  4. Click the Uninstall button. Confirm the prompts for removing the Novell Client.

  5. You might be prompted to restart the computer. If so prompted, restart the computer and removal is complete. If you're not prompted to restart, then removal is complete.

  6. Close the Local Area Connection status window.

Q. What changes has Microsoft made to the Windows Genuine Advantage tool?

A. On April 25, 2006, Microsoft released a high-priority update to the Windows Genuine Advantage tool, which you can read about in the article "Description of the Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application" (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=905474 ). The tool performs more intrusive reminders if your copy of Windows XP isn't genuine. Specifically, these changes are:

  • A new WGA Notification tool that places an icon in the system tray if your Windows installation isn't genuine

  • A prompt at logon with instructions on how to obtain a genuine copy of Windows if your version isn't genuine

  • Periodic notifications (about once per hour) with the same notice as the logon notification if your Windows isn't genuine

  • If after 14 days of notifications your copy of Windows is still not genuine, you'll no longer be able to access Windows Update (critical security fixes will still be available via Automatic Update). Also, Users who have not validated their computers as genuine won't be able to install many updates, including Internet Explorer 7.0 and Windows Defender. It's possible to turn off the notifications on non-genuine installations but the system tray icon will remain and notifications may re-occur if Microsoft releases a new Windows Genuine Advantage tool.

    Q. What's new in Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) 7.0?

    A. Microsoft included several new features in the new IE 7.0 release, which you can download at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx . The new features include:

    • A cleaner interface that has less clutter and includes tabbed browsing. (You can enable the old menus via the Classic Menu selection in the toolbar options.) The figure shows an example of the new interface.

    • A thumbnail view called "Quick Tab" that lets you quickly see the content of all current tabbed pages

    • Printing that rescales content to fit to a page correctly (without spilling over and losing text)

    • Integrated search bar that lets you use a search provider of your choice

    • Improved RSS feed experience consisting of highlighting any links to RSS feeds and a new RSS management area to enable easy previewing of RSS feeds and subscriptions

    • New security features around ActiveX loading and phishing protection and an easier history deletion process

      You'll find a complete list of new IE features at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie7/about/features/default.mspx .

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