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#9267 - 2001-06-06 10:17 PM VB Script and Kixtart
Anonymous
Unregistered


I work in a 10000 user environment that currently uses Kixtart v 3.62 for our login script. Currently I am tasked with determining whether we should convert our current script to VB Script.

I realize that you can do a little more with VB Script, but our script is basically used for mapping drives. Desktop management is accomplished through LanDesk.

I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could compare the advantages and disadvantage of VB Script and Kixtart. If anyone knows of any other resources where I could find more information on this, I would greatly appreciate it.

Mickey

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#9268 - 2001-06-06 10:28 PM Re: VB Script and Kixtart
Shawn Administrator Offline
Administrator
*****

Registered: 1999-08-13
Posts: 8611
Mickey, welcome

A worthy subject you bring for board discussion. With all the activity and high-calibre talent on i've seen on this board lately, it will be interesting to get some new opinions. But don't forget, these guys are mostly bias'd toward KiXtart (can you blame 'em?) ...

Check this link out ...

-Shawn

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#9269 - 2001-06-07 04:38 AM Re: VB Script and Kixtart
MCA Offline
KiX Supporter
*****

Registered: 2000-04-28
Posts: 5152
Loc: Netherlands, EU
Dear,

At this board you will find people which are liking Kixtart mostly.
Some members are also using VBS scripting.
We will mention only three things:


  • VBS scripting can be very dangerous, because for running it
    Windows Scripting Host must be available and many virus creators
    are liking the availability of WSH on your system.
    No VBS scripting means WSH isn't really necessary on your system.
  • KiXtart is freeware. So you can use it in any environment you
    like.
  • the reactions on the board shows what is really possible and
    why people are liking KiXtart so much.
    Possible missing items will be added to new versions of KiXtart.

We found it very strange that a manager tells the way a network
administrator should work. Switching from scripting language is
not the same as switching your tv channel.
The most important thing is:


  • your script is easily to read.
  • your script doesn't use a lot of tricks.
  • your script does the job.
  • your script can easily be modified.

For some other links see our link Link of Favorite Sites.
Also Shawn link contains information.
Greetings.

------------------
Site map:

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email scripting@wanadoo.nl homepage scripting@wanadoo.nl | Links | Summary of Site Site KiXforms FAQ kixtart.org library collection mirror MCA | FAQ & UDF help file UDF kixtart.org library collection mirror MCA | mirror USA | mirror europe UDF scriptlogic library collection UDFs | mirror MCA

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#9270 - 2001-06-07 01:51 PM Re: VB Script and Kixtart
Anonymous
Unregistered


Hi KiXtart-fans,

the first script-language I learned was perl eek! and since 2 years i write KiXtart-scripts too. Also I wrote many Script in VB.
But in VB you have to write so much code not so in KiXtart. I think KiXtart is the easy way to make scripts.


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#9271 - 2001-06-07 05:29 PM Re: VB Script and Kixtart
bleonard Offline
Seasoned Scripter
*****

Registered: 2001-01-19
Posts: 581
Loc: Chicago, IL
And do not forget - for Network Admins, KiX is more easily understood and learned vs VB. So learning curve lower, and if Admin leaves CO suddenly much easier to pick up the pieces and understand what scripts are doing.
Bill

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#9272 - 2001-06-07 05:38 PM Re: VB Script and Kixtart
Shawn Administrator Offline
Administrator
*****

Registered: 1999-08-13
Posts: 8611
Bill, good point

[I'm not KiXtart biased - nooooo !]

Mapping a drive with WSH/VBScript...


Set WshNetwork = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Network")
WshNetwork.MapNetworkDrive "E:", "\\Server\Public"

Mapping a drive with KiXtart...


USE E: "\\SERVER\PUBLIC"

Hmmm...

Olĕ !

-Shawn

[This message has been edited by Shawn (edited 07 June 2001).]

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#9273 - 2001-06-07 06:54 PM Re: VB Script and Kixtart
Shawn Administrator Offline
Administrator
*****

Registered: 1999-08-13
Posts: 8611
Mickey,

What's the word so far ?

Think that's bad. You ain't seen the ugly yet!

Are any of your clients running Win9x or Windows NT ?

You should see what's involved if you have to map drives based on group membership with 9x and NT4 !

1) WSH/VBScript requires the use of ADSI (with Windows NT service provider support) to be able to determine group membership in a standard Windows NT domain (non active directory domain I should say)... you think the above commands were interesting, wait till you see ADSI...

2) Windows 2000 ships standard with ADSI, but for Windows NT and especially for Windows 9x, you have to install the "ADSI Runtimes" (it's free) on ALL your client workstations for WSH/VBScript ingroup to work (actually, there is no ingroup() function in WSH - you have to write it yourself)...

The really nice thing about KiXtart is that all your logon functionality is built right into the language. Important things like USE and INGROUP() and all the @MACROS that are basic requirements for logon processing... WSH/VBScript is a general purpose scripting language and as such, requires extra teasing and poking and support modules (eg, ADSI)

So you may be asking why WSH needs ADSI and KiXtart doesn't - well KiXtart does have an ADSI for Win9x - it's called KXRPC - the nice thing about KXRPC is that it doesn't need to be installed on every workstation. KIX32.EXE and KIXRPC use Remote Procedure Calls (RPC's) to talk to each other about Domain issues ... no workstation component need apply - sweet eh ?

Anyway - I've rambled on long enough - if you really want to convince yourself (and your boss) that it's easier, cheaper and faster to stick with KiXtart - try this for an exercise ... write the equilvalent of this simple KiXtart script in WSH/VBScript and then get it to work on Win9X ...


IF INGROUP("DOMAIN USERS")
USE E: "\\SERVER\PUBLIC"
ENDIF


Then compare the differences and add up the costs - I think the bottom line is that you'll stick with KiXtart.

Comments ?

-Shawn

[This message has been edited by Shawn (edited 07 June 2001).]

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#9274 - 2001-06-07 07:51 PM Re: VB Script and Kixtart
Anonymous
Unregistered


I really appreciate the outpouring comments\suggestions.

All of the points that have been raised here are convincing me that kixtart is the way to go!

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#9275 - 2002-07-25 08:49 PM Re: VB Script and Kixtart
Anonymous
Unregistered


Sorry to intrude on your thread, but I was just wondering?
I know there is a problem with WSH but with about WMI scripts, is there still a problem with viruses?
Is there any documents that says that this is a problem?

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#9276 - 2002-07-25 08:55 PM Re: VB Script and Kixtart
Sealeopard Offline
KiX Master
*****

Registered: 2001-04-25
Posts: 11164
Loc: Boston, MA, USA
What do you mean? Can a WMI script be used as a virus?

Any scripting language can be misused to create viruses. Propagation might just be more difficult witht he more obscure scripting languages.
_________________________
There are two types of vessels, submarines and targets.

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#9277 - 2002-07-25 09:03 PM Re: VB Script and Kixtart
Lonkero Administrator Offline
KiX Master Guru
*****

Registered: 2001-06-05
Posts: 22346
Loc: OK
what jens says is true.
the problem with viruses is not actually about some tool.
not wmi nor scripting language using it.
the problem is ability of misuse of them [Big Grin]
_________________________
!

download KiXnet

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#9278 - 2002-07-26 07:16 AM Re: VB Script and Kixtart
Kdyer Offline
KiX Supporter
*****

Registered: 2001-01-03
Posts: 6241
Loc: Tigard, OR
I think we ought to give credit where credit is due.. For example with the WMIQuery UDF, or the permissions script that we worked on.. Most of this stuff came from http://cwashington.netreach.net and is mostly converted over code from VBScript. I do have to agree that the code from Kixtart is more 'safe' than that of VBScript..

Well.. There's my .2 of cent. [Big Grin]

Thanks!

Kent
_________________________
Utilize these resources:
UDFs (Full List)
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#9279 - 2002-07-26 07:54 AM Re: VB Script and Kixtart
cj Offline
MM club member
*****

Registered: 2000-04-06
Posts: 1102
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
I am just echoing other people's sentiments, but I reckon KiX is better for many reasons. I won't list them all, but for me the main reason is that KiX has built in functions that take VBScript extra work. For example WriteProfileString. With this one command, KiX can edit an existing file. To do this in VBScript would require reading and writing the file or using a COM object/DLL.

The newer versions of KiX are more like VBS for syntax too and converting between them is easy. I used to think that KiX's only disadvantage to VBS was the lack of floating point maths, but this has now been rectified.

My list has no disadvantages listed for KiX other than it not coming "built in" to Windows. I hope Ruud can fix this [Wink] and that there isn't a
script tag with language=kixtart in DHTML (that I am aware of).

Unfortunately, sometimes company policy of a client forces you to use VBS, but I otherwise prefer KiX.

my 2c, spend it all at once

cj

[ 30 July 2002, 10:09: Message edited by: cj ]

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#9280 - 2002-07-28 10:09 PM Re: VB Script and Kixtart
MCA Offline
KiX Supporter
*****

Registered: 2000-04-28
Posts: 5152
Loc: Netherlands, EU
Dear,

It is always possible that people are creating a virus with
any kind of language.
The advantage of kixtart is: you can read the source.

Also it is even possible that a good looking script doesn't contain
a virus, but it acts like a virus.
In other words:
a virus can be define as something you doesn't wanted, but mostly
such things can happen when your environment doesn't have an
expected structure.

greetings.

btw: be sure that your virusscanner is always up to date. most unexpected
things happens by mail.
_________________________
email scripting@wanadoo.nl homepage scripting@wanadoo.nl | Links | Summary of Site Site KiXforms FAQ kixtart.org library collection mirror MCA | FAQ & UDF help file UDF kixtart.org library collection mirror MCA | mirror USA | mirror europe UDF scriptlogic library collection UDFs | mirror MCA

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