Freeware NT+ tools
Frank Westlake has written a bunch of cool CLU tools for NT and above. Will give them a whirl in the New Year.

Scripting Links

Have been getting into scripting. Decided to put my links online:

Where to Start:
MS Scripting Centre. Your starting point for all Windows scripting! Note the Tweakomatic/ADSI Scriptomatic/Scriptomatic links!
Microsoft Windows Script Downloads. Includes Microsoft Windows Script 5.6: everything you need to get your scripts going. (Note there is one version for Windows 2000/3/XP and another for Windows 9x, ME and NT4.) You'll also find MS Windows Script 5.6 Documentation and other goodies.
The Repository Over 1000 Administration Scripting examples. Why reinvent the wheel? Also check out Tales from the Script
Scripting Concepts and Technologies for System Administration The online version can be bought as a book (with a companion CD).
VBS Scripts Installed with Windows XP

Here are some Windows Script Host (WSH) Web introductions: MS VBScript Primer and WSH and Introduction to Windows Scripting. Also Alex Angelopoulos site.

NT Gains Scripting Muscle an introduction to NT Windows Script Host by Bob Wells
Part 1, Part 2,
Part 3 ,
Part 4 of Scripting 101, a 4 part series on how to create and structure WSH scripts by Bob Wells
Scripting eZine from computerperformance.co.uk. Guy Thomas has a regular newsletter and archive of scripts as well as an 800 error code section.
Win32 Scripting Clarence Washington's excellent scripting site.
VBScript Tutorial W3Schools VBScript tutorial section for adding script to your web pages.
Just the FAQs Guide to VB Scripting Basics A general beginner's guide to scripting.

Reference:
MSDN - scripting section including referance sections
WMI - WMI reference


WMI:
Using WMI for Inventory Management
Running WMI Scripts Against Multiple Computers
Running and Configuring WMI on Windows 95 and 98
More Cool Scripting Links Don Jones Scripting webinars.



Active Directory
Active Directory The more adventurous scripter will find downloads, samples, and advanced reference materials for Active Directory here.
For AD related scripts, check these outstanding sites (the link above to the Script Center also have a lot of AD related scripts):
rallenhome.com and rlmueller.net
joeware.net has lots of cool AD tools!!





Scripting Exchange
MSDN have scripts for creating a user and mailbox.
joeware.net has lots of cool AD tools including ExchMbx is a command line tool for various Exchange tasks.
If you want to write your own script, see:
Michael's Blog


Patching
Security Patch Scripts for NT4/2000/XP

More Advanced Links
15seconds Some nice samples can be found in the ADSI and Scripting sections.
DX21 Nice general site for samples and documentation. Especially helpful is the RunDLL section.
Hilltop Lab - ADSI Scripting for administering Windows 2000 networks An exellent site containing many sample scripts on ADSI scripting topics.
Windows Management Instrumentation SDK A must have for writing WMI scripts.
Joe'Software and
Windows Scripting Magazine is also worth mentioning. Adminscripteditor.com have a handy VBScript referance section and there's more examples at: Rob van der Woude's site. Alex K. Angelopoulos has an excellent site on Scripting for TS! The MS Scripting site has an interesting Scripting TCP/IP section. Finally, scriptinganswers.com is well worth a look.

Google
Google of "Windows scripting" will keep you busy. Google Groups microsoft.public.scripting includes microsoft.public.scripting.wsh and microsoft.public.scripting.vbscript

Next up: CCNA
Well, my boss hasn't asked me to repeat the CRM exam (yet). So I suppose I'll just keep the head down.

Been reading up on Cisco. I mess around with them on a regular enough basis so I thought it might be worth doing an exam.