Win32 and Perl

[wgiii91978]

How can network administrators use prebuilt client libraries to ease the task of administration? Why is Perl not the language of choice for network administration on win32 networks?

[n3toy]

Welcome to Perkmonks.

I work in a Windows environment and use ActiveState Perl for a lot of daily Windows administration. Mostly to look at remote machines and verify the status of services or anti-virus definitions, installed applications, etc... I also use it to pull data and generate / email reports. Sometimes I still have to fall back to VBA for some small piece, but Perl is so much more easier, faster, and just more fun. There are even sample Perl scripts on Microsoft's site (I have the link at work, but PM me if you need me to send you a link). "Language of choice" is a personal thing. However, assuming Perl is not used for administrating would be wrong. It is in fact a great choice if you are comfortable with it.

Jamie

update: It might have been more appropriate to post this in Meditations. Not sure. Happy Perl-ing just the same!

[holli]

I work in a Windows environment and use ActiveState Perl ... I still have to fall back to VBA for some small piece ...

I'm sure you already know it, but in case that not, you can easily mix these two by using PerlScript, an Active State extension for the windows scripting host. Check this out.

[Bloodnok]

1. I found Win32::API really useful for linking to system/3rd party DLLs
2. There are Win32 administrators out there for whom perl _is_ the choice - Dave Roth (www.roth.net) - what's more he's written a couple of invaluable books as well...
   • Win32 Perl Scripting - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Win32-Perl-Scripting-Dave-Roth/dp/1578702151/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229624767&sr=1-1
   • Win32 Perl Programming: The Standard Extensions - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Win32-Perl-Programming-Standard-Extensions/dp/157870216X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229624767&sr=1-2
.oO(I should be on commision for the Win32 perl book references:-)

[Jenda]

Perl is the language of choice for a lot of network admins on Win32 networks. The Windows port of Perl had been upheld by Microsoft (not sure of the details, but there was some funding) and Perl had been even in the ResKit of WinNT 4.0.

I do not understand the first question.

[Anonymous Monk]

1) copy, network shares, scp...
2) because visualbasic is built-in

[EvanCarroll]

I also work in win32 env some time. I use strawberry as my first gun but some things strawberry makes very not fun, namely Image::Magick. Just yesterday I had a problem installing DateTime::TimeZone under cpanp.. The *DATA filehandle is implemented wrong so tests that involve *DATA and POE fail too. Overall it is very powerful but I'd have to say it requires a programmer with more than the casual interest VB requires.

[imrags]

Generally some permission issues while running scheduled jobs on Windows machines are a problem
But, microsoft allows access to it's classes...it's useful to learn Win32::OLE & other Win32 modules.
I find it very useful to automate excel stuff and IE stuff