Messager Service for Client Administration

[Guest]

I use Net Send heavily for management of client connections to the servers we
maintain. With the install of SP2 on XP it is disabled. We are protected by a
good firewall and patch in a timely manner but I am still concerned with
turning it back on after SP2 is deployed. What do you see is our exposure
with turning the service back on? Is there another way to notify users in a
similar way that isn't going to cost us an arm and a leg? I run scripts that
may pop up a hundred users to close their application....Can't do that with
MSN messaging or Windows Messager. What are our alternatives?

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

I use Net Send heavily for management of client connections to the servers we
maintain. With the install of SP2 on XP it is disabled. We are protected by a
good firewall and patch in a timely manner but I am still concerned with
turning it back on after SP2 is deployed. What do you see is our exposure
with turning the service back on? Is there another way to notify users in a
similar way that isn't going to cost us an arm and a leg? I run scripts that
may pop up a hundred users to close their application....Can't do that with
MSN messaging or Windows Messager. What are our alternatives?

Hi

As you are protected by a good firewall and patches in a timely manner,
I would not be very concerned about enabling the Messenger service.

 

[Guest]

Deployman:

The messenger service is disabled with XPSP2 due to the proliferation of
"net send" messages sent across the Internet to home PCs that were not
protected by a firewall, router, or any form of NAT. This began
approximately in Sep of '02. The messages included advertisements, SPAM
messages, etc.
You will have no issues leaving this valuable service enabled on your network.
The easiest way to re-enable the service, if you do not have AD is to
executive a batch file.
SC \\remotePC options....
You can enable the service easily, and remotely.

Good luck.

Joe