Command-line control of Terminal Services

1. Command-line control of Terminal Services Christa Anderson

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4. Agenda • Why is command-line editing useful? • What tools are available for command-line editing? • Using TSCMD.EXE for simple configuration • Using WMI and VBScript for more advanced configuration

5. Why Command-Line Editing? • Editing settings from the GUI is time-consuming on more than a few servers • Command-line edits can be scripted and are therefore more consistent. • Command-line edits don’t need to be done either at the console or by using a TSCAL to connect to the terminal server to be edited

6. What Tools Are Available? • Command-line configuration tools in Terminal Services • TSCMD.EXE • The new WMI provider for Terminal Services

7. Using TSCMD • Command-line support for common Terminal Services settings, based on a WTS API • Requires Windows 2000 or later on client and server • Edit the settings on the server where the settings are stored (e.g., domain controller) • Basic TSCMD syntax: tscmd <Server> <User> <Setting> [New Value]

8. Using TSCMD.EXE • Works across the network • Point it to the terminal server and user account you need to configure • Returns net error messages, so if you get an error run net help to troubleshoot • Settings take place immediately for the next user session—no need to reboot. • To make TSCMD.EXE report existing settings, run the command with no new value

9. InitialProgram WorkingDirectory InheritInitialProgram AllowLogonTerminalServer TimeoutConnection TimeoutDisconnect TimeoutIdle DeviceClientDrives DeviceClientPrinters DeviceClientDefaultPrinter BrokenTimeoutSettings ReconnectSettings ModemCallbackSettings ModemCallbackPhoneNumber ShadowingSettings TerminalServerProfilePath TerminalServerHomeDir TerminalServerHomeDirDrive TSCMD.EXE Settings

10. Disabling User Access tscmd sandworm scott allowlogonterminalserver 0

11. Editing Remote Control Settings tscmd sandworm scott shadowingsettings 1

12. Configuring Printer Settings tscmd sandworm scott deviceclientprinters 1 tscmd sandworm scott deviceclientdefaultprinter 1

13. Configuring Timeouts and Reconnects tscmd sandworm scott timeoutconnection 100 tscmd sandworm scott timeoutdisconnect 200 tscmd sandworm scott timeoutidle 120

14. Starting a Program in the Session tscmd sandworm scott initialprogram “wordpad.exe" tscmd sandworm scott workingdirectory c: tscmd sandworm scott inheritinitialprogram 0

15. Limitations to TSCMD.EXE • Functions on a per-user and per-server basis only • Not all settings exposed through this API • Requires the person running the command to be an administrator • Very limited error reporting • No built-in event logging

16. Using VBScript to Edit Settings • The Windows Scripting Host allows you to run VBScript from within the operating system • Windows Server 2003 has a new WMI provider that allows you to edit settings programmatically, using VBScript

17. What can VBScript Do that TSCMD can’t? • Here’s a short list: • Configure color depth for the session • Adjust mandatory encryption settings • Define the session directory location • Configure Time Zone redirection • Disadvantage: it takes longer to learn. Knowing TSCMD can be helpful for learning some values edited through WMI

18. Parts of a Script • Actions you can take • Things you can act on • Statements defining the conditions under which you’ll take those actions

19. Data Types • Numbers • Strings • Date/Time data • Boolean values

20. Variables and Constants • Both have assigned values—user input, object properties, or calculations from another part of the script • Variable values may change in the course of the script • Constant values do not change

21. Arrays • Groups of variables, as many as you like when you define the array • Array sizes may be static or dynamic • Can contain any data type: numbers, strings, date/time information, etc. • Find data by its index number (beginning with 0) • Arrays may have more than one index, but more than two gets confusing

22. Built-in Functions • Combined sets of instructions for doing things that are hard to do with the operators supported in VBScript • Several different kinds • String functions • Date and time functions • Array functions • Working-with data types functions • Mathematical functions • Other functions (InputBox, MsgBox)

23. String Functions • Character/ANSI conversion and checking • String Size • String Editing • Replacing text in a string

24. Date and Time Functions • Returning date and time information • Converting string data to a date/time • Returning and computing the date and time

25. Numeric Functions • General mathematical functions • Rounding functions • Random number generators

26. Array Functions • Join merges arrays • Split divides arrays

27. Functions for Working with Data • Determining data type • Conversion functions • Formatting

28. Other Functions • Input and output boxes • Error handling/notification • Determining engine version

29. Statements • If… Then • Select Case • Do… Loop • For… Next

30. Basics of WMI • WMI exposes underlying parts of the operating system to scripting languages such as VBScript. If a part is exposed, it’s said to have a provider. • You cannot access settings without a provider. • To edit a setting on a remote computer, that computer must support WMI and must have the provider the script refers to.

31. Terminal Services Support in WMI • The provider exposes TS-specific structures, including: • Sessions • Session environments • Remote control settings • Logon settings • To edit the settings, you enumerate the instances of these objects on the selected server

32. ADSI Objects • To get to the servers, you’ll often use ADSI • Any object found in a directory structure • User accounts, organizational units, domains, printers • Uses same property and method structure as WMI or file system objects • Not limited to Active Directory—works also for SAM and NDS—but namespace and syntax varies with the type of information you need

33. Key ASDI Functions and Methods • GetObject function connects to an object so you can access its properties and methods • GetInfo queries the directory structure and repopulates the local cache • Put sets a property in the local cache • SetInfo writes the cached value to the original object

34. Running a Script on Multiple Servers • Connect to the OU in which all terminal servers reside and run the script on all members of that OU • Store the names of all terminal servers in a file and input that file into the script • Accept server names as arguments to the script

35. Scripting Tips • Keep the lines in scripts short • Comment liberally • Mix case in your code to enhance readability • Use the WSH command-line environment • Name variables and constants according to data type • Explicitly define variables • Write scripts in a text editor

36. Summary • Use command-line tools to edit terminal settings more quickly and consistently • TSCMD.EXE for basic configuration • VBScript and WMI for more complex settings (Windows Server 2003 only)

37. Need More Information? • TSCMD.EXE is a free download from http://www.systemtools.com/free_frame.htm • Brief user guide to TSCMD.EXE at http://www.termservhub.com • My “Scripting Solutions” column in Windows and .NET Magazine offers step-by-step explanations of VBScript, WMI, and ADSI • Check out Microsoft’s script center at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/scriptcenter/default.asp