1. Speed -- our logon script has varied between about 500 and 1500 lines, depending upon whether we were using SMS or not. We use this even for dial up where our users only get about 24000 bps real throughput. (It's a government operation.) If speed is *really* critical, you might even be able to copy not just kix32.exe, but the actual logon script to the local machines. You could compare file sizes in the calling batch file between the user and network versions of the script and only update if they don't match. However, the ability to hide the console really makes this less important. The script can continue running in the background until complete.

2. CONSISTENCY. If you work with various flavors of DOS/Command/CMD, you are familiar with the hair-pulling experience of trying to code for the slight differences in these command processors. KiXtart gives you one consistent interface. One caveat, even KiXtart cannot overcome limitations of, say, Win 95 OSR1 in all areas. It just doesn't interact with the network in the same way. However, you will find these issues trivial compared to the weirdness of some of the arcane and/or inconsistent batch commands.

3. Ease of training. Unless you are trying to make yourself indispensible, KiXtart is easier to just 'read' and understand than complex batch commands and even (IMO) vbScript. Because it is well-documented in either a printable manual or an online help file, it is easy to get someone up to speed in this language so you don't get those mignight calls as often.

4. Security. Once you launch KiXtart, you are in 'Outer Limits' mode. I.e. you control the vertical. You control the horizontal. Etc. If a user tries to close the script, even with the task manager, they get logged off. This was critical for us, in that we wanted to automatically deny access to the network for users who did not meet all our network security requirements. If they could 'break out' of a script, that function would be useless.

Also, vbScript has a reputation as a virus engine, and many networks disable or inhibit vbScript from running for that reason alone. It is powerful and ubiquitous, but that alone makes it a target for script kiddies. KiXtart has a much smaller audience, and therefore attracts much less attention in the hacker world.

Hope this helps,

New Mexico Mark