Question

Use PSEXEC to get OS Version of Remote machine

Asked by: msyed1

I recently asked a question regarding how to login (programatically) to a remote machine and find out the remote machine's OS version.  'arnold' had replied.  But then we had decided we didn't need it.  Anyway now, I have been asked to use "psexec' to retrieve the OS version of a bunch of remote machines which in my program will be in an arraylist.  My program is a console application in VB.Net.

I have never done anything like this.  I need help from someone who can show me how to read from an arraylist of computer names, use 'psexec' to login to the remote machine and run a command that would return the OS Version of that machine.  I would really appreciate it.  

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Asked On
2009-05-05 at 13:58:59ID24382891
Topics

Programming Languages

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System Utilities

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Automation

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
4

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Answers

 

by: msyed1Posted on 2009-05-05 at 14:01:16ID: 24309135

 

by: veedarPosted on 2009-05-05 at 15:06:08ID: 24309631

Also check out psinfo from the same maker of psexec and part of the pstools suite. It will give you OS version plus other info.

 

by: daluuPosted on 2009-05-05 at 22:31:30ID: 24311449

veedar has a good suggestion to use psinfo.exe. If you want a more integrated solution, you might want to look into WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) with .NET.

WMI is easier to use with VBScript I think, but it will work with .NET, C#, and VB.NET. You just need to do some research on using WMI with .NET.

Here's a reference on using WMI to get OS info in VBScript. The API calls for the .NET equivalent would be similar, though syntax would be slightly different.

http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vbscript/wmi_secrets.htm#Example_2_-_WMI_Script_to_Obtain_Information_about_the_Operating_System_

 

by: msyed1Posted on 2009-05-07 at 08:44:07ID: 31578229

veedar, daluu: Since I don't know WMI, I did it using a .Net Console application.  Opened a DOS prompt from the program and ran the PSINFO, then parsed the results.  Thanks.  Also, please see if you can help me with my new Question that I just opened:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Security/Misc/Q_24389330.html    

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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