Network Logon Script

[PeterG]

Hi Guys,

 

I have 45 Machines in an online testing room that i would like to be controlled from the centre computer in a program i am writing called the Exams Room Control Pannel. This program will allow the Exam Invigillator to Boot Up all the Machines, Log them in (Script needed), Lock them, Shutdown and initalize the test packages remotely. I have already written the lock computer script, Boot Up, Shutdown and the script needed for starting the test programs.

 

What i need is a vbscript to log on a computer remotely using a given username and password.

 

Any Ideads thought I could use WMI ?

 

Cheers

 

Pete

[srochford]

WMI won't work - at best, you'll get a non-interactive logon session.

 

You can just set the autoadmin registry key (together with default username, password and domain) and then reboot - this will logon the machine at next restart. Remove those keys when you've finished.

 

If you have a group policy to clear "last logged on username" then you'll have to do those settings in a machine startup script (the GPO will clear it but the script runs later so puts them back!)

[PeterG]

I have this already elswhere around the college the only problem is that this room is used by other staff / students who require their own login not the exams login

[MYK-IT]

Hi PeterG,

 

Cost issues aside, you could always use AB Tutor Control.

 

The Exams Invigilator could then centrally power on all PCs (if neeeded), remotely log on the computers (using generic, or multiple exam accounts you have already setup in AD), remotely execute any programmes required etc, block / allow Internet access (handy for controlled assessments), block / allow applications (e.g. stop MS Word being used for spell checking etc) and have a thumbnail view of all the screens so s/he can check no cheating etc is taking place.

[PeterG]

We are looking at it at the moment ........Cost issues are the issue at the moment, trying to do a temp in house solution

[siuko]

Italc can logon all machines given a specific username and password.

 

It can also execute commands that can run programs - so if setup correctly could run the exam software

[PeterG]

I have looked at iTalc the problem is it interfers with other software we use ... A simple script would be th easiest way forward.

[srochford]

What I think you could do is have a machine startup script which checks to see "am I going into exam mode" and, if so, sets the autoadminlogon stuff, else it clears it.

 

How does it know if it should be in exam mode? Simplest way would be to check a server where you have a list of machine names (perhaps in a text file or a SQL database). if I find my name in that list then I go into exam mode. You could generate that list as part of the startup process - ie you're presumably sending WoL packets to the machines so before you do that to each machine you add to the list of exam mode computers. An extra touch would be to add the time at which the exam mode should stop.

[PeterG]

Given me a good idea will post back information here

[marc2510]

would this work?

download PSexec.exe and autologon.exe

 

Make a PC list as a txt file named as "ComputerList.txt"

 

Psexec.exe -u "domain\user" -p "password" -c -i -d @ComputerList.txt logon.exe "user_you_want_logged_in" "password"

 

Autologon

 

 

or try

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]

"AutoAdminLogon"="1"

"DefaultUserName"="username"

"DefaultPassword"="password"

"DefaultDomainName"="computername or domain name"

"ForceAutoLogon"="1"

 

 

maybe...

Edited June 10, 2010 by marc2510

[PeterG]

Will give that a go. Thanks Marc

[marc2510]

Will give that a go. Thanks Marc

 

Sorry for the bump but did this work for you peter?

[ChrisH]

I have looked at iTalc the problem is it interfers with other software we use ... A simple script would be th easiest way forward.

 

I am looking at using this at another site, what software does it interfere with?

[PeterG]

Marc havent got round to testing yet. had other issues will put this back on the agenda this week and keep you up to date.