I'm not one to simply regurgitate what I see in other scripting Web sites, but this week is sort of an exception. The Microsoft TechNet Script Center has three important scripting updates (okay, one isn't that important, but it's fun) that you'll likely find interesting:
WinRM Now Available for Windows Server 2003 SP1 and Windows XP SP2
As you might know, Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) uses DCOM to access remote computers. Using DCOM isn't problematic when you're accessing remote computers in a LAN. However, using DCOM can be problematic when you're accessing remote computers outside a LAN because most firewalls prevent incoming DCOM traffic for security reasons.
To address this problem, Microsoft provided Windows Remote Management (WinRM) in Windows Server 2003 R2 and Windows Vista. WinRM uses HTTP, HTTP Secure (HTTPS), and other Internet protocols to run WMI scripts on remote computers. Because it uses standard Internet protocols, you can manage remote machines over the Internet without having to allow DCOM traffic through firewalls.
WinRM is now available for Windows 2003 SP1 or later and XP SP2 or later. To get more information about WinRM, go to the WinRM: Remote Management Across the Internet Web page. This Web page includes a link to where you can download WinRM from the Microsoft Download Center.
Should You Upgrade to Windows Script 5.7?
You might not have even known that Microsoft released Windows Script 5.7 for XP, Windows 2003, and Windows 2000 in August. It's the same version of Windows Script that ships with Vista. Scripts that use this new version are becoming more prevalent. For example, the Computer_Inventory.vbs script discussed in the upcoming article "Script Inventories Remote Computers and Writes the Information to a Database" uses Windows Script Host (WSH) 5.7, which is part of Windows Script 5.7. (For more information about this article, see the "Coming in October" section.)
So, should you upgrade to Windows Script 5.7? To help answer that question, Microsoft has posted the Windows Script 5.7 Update Web page. In this page, Microsoft tells you what bugs Windows Script 5.7 fixes and a new bug that Windows Script 5.7 introduces. (The new bug concerns the default script host.) This Web page also includes links to where you can download Windows Script 5.7 for XP, Server 2003, and Windows 2000.
Test Your Scripting Know-How
If you're a puzzle person like me (aka a person who likes puzzles and not a person who is puzzling), check out the crossword puzzles that are now part of Dr. Scripto's Fun Zone. These puzzles are not only fun but also educational if you have to cheat a little and look at the answers.