How to get the word out?

  • Thread starter Thread starter kenp21
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kenp21

I have about 200 computers in the organization here. Due to certain
restrictions, we have no e-mail and no messaging client on the systems
and they are not connected to the internet.
E-mail is handled with other means.

Some of the users of this intranetwork do not log off at night time,
which proposes issues when I need to update the machine and reboot it.
All machines are XP and have the same base line.

Without email and MSN messanger how can I send out a communication to
all workstations about system changes so that they will logoff their
workstations that night, or at least cover my rear when the
installation reboots their workstation?
 
Net Send
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/net_send.mspx

How to use the Net Send command
http://www.lantalk.net/net-send-command/

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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:

| I have about 200 computers in the organization here. Due to certain
| restrictions, we have no e-mail and no messaging client on the systems
| and they are not connected to the internet.
| E-mail is handled with other means.
|
| Some of the users of this intranetwork do not log off at night time,
| which proposes issues when I need to update the machine and reboot it.
| All machines are XP and have the same base line.
|
| Without email and MSN messanger how can I send out a communication to
| all workstations about system changes so that they will logoff their
| workstations that night, or at least cover my rear when the
| installation reboots their workstation?
 
Our security guys want the messanger service to remain disabled.
Therefore, all the workstations will ignore net sends...
 
Use the old fashioned method and distribute a "paper" memorandum.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------­----------------

:

| Our security guys want the messanger service to remain disabled.
| Therefore, all the workstations will ignore net sends...
 
I have about 200 computers in the organization here. Due to certain
restrictions, we have no e-mail and no messaging client on the systems
and they are not connected to the internet.
E-mail is handled with other means.

Some of the users of this intranetwork do not log off at night time,
which proposes issues when I need to update the machine and reboot it.
All machines are XP and have the same base line.

Without email and MSN messanger how can I send out a communication to
all workstations about system changes so that they will logoff their
workstations that night, or at least cover my rear when the
installation reboots their workstation?
Click to expand...

Sneaker-net. Hard-copy memos.

Steve N.
 
Use the old fashioned method and distribute a "paper" memorandum.
Click to expand...
Geez, I wonder why the OP didn't think of this brilliant idea? Maybe he
could FAX each of his users? Or how about lighting a fire in a trashbin and
then sending smoke signals? Or maybe he could use carrier pigeons?

I must admit, you're one smart guy Carey when it comes to giving MVP advice
around here.
 
I have about 200 computers in the organization here. Due to certain
restrictions, we have no e-mail and no messaging client on the systems
and they are not connected to the internet.
E-mail is handled with other means.

Some of the users of this intranetwork do not log off at night time,
which proposes issues when I need to update the machine and reboot it.
All machines are XP and have the same base line.

Without email and MSN messanger how can I send out a communication to
all workstations about system changes so that they will logoff their
workstations that night, or at least cover my rear when the
installation reboots their workstation?
Click to expand...

Send out a single notice and then don't worry about it - it's their own
dang fault for not disconnecting. We manage a LOT of workstations and we
do it remotely, users know that they must logout during non-business
hours or risk corruption - it usually only takes one corrupted file for
them to learn.
 
Maybe you could setup a Task Scheduler item (or use a 3rd party app) to log
them off automatically at a preset time?

Marc
 
One option that is sort of a spin on a method
I used a while back for something else would be
to have a task running on each machine that
periodically checks for a specific file on a server.
If found, it could display the contents of the file
or just shutdown the machine. The specified
file would have to be in a folder on the server
that was read only (except for you) to prevent
the local practical jokers from doing something.

mikey
 
I believe I am going to go with the smoke signals with pigeons in case
the trashcan fails.

In reality... I found some information about NotifyIconData (vb .net
api for those windows balloon messages). It would be possible to
develop a client to reside on all the workstations that would be
capable of receiving messages. In the interim, I convinced our security
guys that the message service isn't bad.
 
Or possibly use RSS feeds. Setup a server to send out feeds to the
clients and then have active client that are hidden that will receive
the feeds.
 
When I did this sort of thing at work, it was for a big database
that I sometimes had to chase people out of. When I
created my "flag file", a big form popped up on the
machines with a "Mr. Yuk" sticker on it (the symbol for
kids to leave alone for those not familiar with it). People
suggested I could also put a flagpole above my desk with
a "Mr. Yuk" sticker on it I could hoist when I needed to ...

mikey
 
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