In a Windows network where each computer runs an SCCM client, is there any way of discovering and listing the Printer objects available to one machine, via an API call from another?
Can this be done via SCCM, Powershell, or any REST library?
Related
Using the Windows RDP Client (mstsc.exe), I can share local resources with the host I'm connecting to.
For example if I share C:\, I can use it in the RDP session in \\tsclient\c.
What Windows API does the server side use to create the \\tsclient share?
(I'm not referring to the Virtual Channels within the RDP session, rather the Windows API calls for registering \\tsclient itself).
I'd like to create a virtual file system using the same approach, as an alternative to using a third party VFS driver such as Dokan or WinFsp.
Why is it possible to manage services through the SMB protocol in Windows?
The SMB protocol is made for managing network shares (files and directories) and printers, so what mechanism in the protocol makes it possible to interact with services?
From the sysinternals article:
PsExec starts an executable on a remote system and controls the input
and output streams of the executable's process so that you can
interact with the executable from the local system. PsExec does so by
extracting from its executable image an embedded Windows service named
Psexesvc and copying it to the Admin$ share of the remote system.
PsExec then uses the Windows Service Control Manager API, which has a
remote interface, to start the Psexesvc service on the remote system.
The Psexesvc service creates a named pipe, psexecsvc, to which PsExec
connects and sends commands that tell the service on the remote system
which executable to launch and which options you've specified. If you
specify the -d (don't wait) switch, the service exits after starting
the executable; otherwise, the service waits for the executable to
terminate, then sends the exit code back to PsExec for it to print on
the local console.
It's a very creative hack. psexec uses SMB to copy its own EXE to the target machine. Then uses the Windows Service Control Manager API (different protocol) to start the exe on the remote machine. The missing deail is the exact API that launches psexec on the remote machine. I did some digging and discovered that the OpenSCManager API is what facilitates this. Once a handle to the remote machine's service control manager is obtained, APIs such as CreateService and StartService can be used to start the remote process.
So it's not the SMB protocol per se. More specifically, it's the Windows Service Control Manager that makes it possible to do things similar to psexec.
I'm using Windows Server 2008 R2 which runs a VB6.0 application that uses a smartcard locally.
I then connect to this machine remotely using Remote Desktop Connection (6.3). However now the application shows the following error (SmartCard):
0x8010001d The Smart card resource manager is not running.
Research so far:
I don't want to use redirection as the card is on the remote machine already.
Using RDP the way I am trying to use it for is wrong and tightVNC is more appropriate (This does fix the issue)
Unsure - SCardEstablishContext API is returning that error because it gets an Access Denied error when trying to open an event called "Global\Microsoft Smart Card Resource Manager Started" with OpenEvent API. The default security for that event on Vista and Windows 7 specifies that only SYSTEM, LOCAL SERVICE and INTERACTIVE users have access to it. NETWORK SERVICE or non-interactive users won’t be able to access the event.
Why is the SmartCard not being recognised?
Any Information would be appreciated.
NOTE: The smartcard works fine when the application is on Windows Server 2008 R2 - however only fails when connecting remotely.
It is not possible, you can't use the locally plugged smartcard of the server you RDP into, as your session is redirected to the client then only the clients smartcard is accessible in the rdp session.
Microsoft made it like this for security reasons.
But there is a turn around, like sharing the device (smartcard reader, Usb token, Usb devices ) using software or hardware :
softawre examples (i only found paid solutions), see link
or hardware using a Device server but it doesn't work through WAN only LAN.
Use VNC instead of RDP
TLDR: Use VNC as a Windows Service
If you insist on using RPD, then you'll have to patch your RDP DLLs. If you don't want to do this, then instead use ANY OTHER PROTOCOL other than RDP. If it's a vmware VM, then just use the vcenter console. If it's an Azure VM where you don't GET a console, then just install VNC-server-softer on the server that has the Smart Cards and then access from somewhere else via VNC-client. "TightVNC" (https://community.chocolatey.org/packages/tightvnc) worked nicely for me.
There are two ways to run TightVNC server:
TightVNC Server (Service Mode) -- Connecting with VNC-client will take you to the Windows logon screen.
TightVNC Server (Application Mode)
You will need to run TightVNC as a Windows Service. Then you will start a NEW session. Otherwise you'll just be on top of the existing RDP session and still not see remote Smart Cards.
Long Version
If you RDP into a remote server, then that remote server's Smart Cards will be hidden. That behavior is baked into RDP and it is BY DESIGN.
You can optionally take your LOCAL Smart Cards along into the RDP session. (Via mstsc.exe's "Local Resources" tab and then checking "Smart cards".) But these are the Smart Cards connected LOCALLY to your laptop. And NOT the Smart Cards connected to the remote server.
So if you use RDP, then you have option to either see no Smart Cards at all (neither local, nor remote) or just see your LOCAL Smart Cards. To see the REMOTE Smart Cards is NOT possible via RDP.
This is by design inside RDP. And if you want to change it, then you have to manually patch some .DLL files. And somebody has actually done this. See this question here:
How to Access Remote USB Smartcard during RDP
Before you create your Remote Desktop session, click on "Show options". Under the "Local Resources" tab there is a "Local devices and resources" panel. Click the "More" button.
Click on "Smart Cards". No complete the remote desktop session.
Our windows store app allows user to manage (create or dial) VPN profiles.
For this functionality we use
RAS Api (create and dial VPN profile)
RAS Api
Wlan Api (listen to wifi networks) - will be changed to classes with Windows.Networking.Connectivity in windows8
Wlan Api
We face following troubles for Windows Store application:
RAS API functions don't work properly under windows store application template (as example RasEnumDevices return error code 5 - Access Denied).
However it works good from desktop application launched on windows 8.
Question: how we could get RAS API to work under window store applications? If that is absolutely impossible - is there any other way to create VPN connection in app developed for Windows Store?
All user's VPN profiles stored by Windows OS in "..\Microsoft\Network\Connections\Pbk\rasphone.pbk", file could be found on file system manually, but we don't have access to this file via API, either we can't access it directrly. Current workarround uses own created PBK file located in users profile folder.
Question: how we could get access to system VPN connections stored in OS.
Thanks.
Hotspot Shield VPN for Windows offers private browsing to ensure the privacy of your web session.
Check it out here: http://www.anchorfree.com/hotspot-shield-VPN-download-windows.php
I want to develop some kind of automation system i can control some pcs in my network.Features i am looking to develop are as follows:
1)Ability to establish a connection with some remote systems and executing some commands on those
2)Ability to transfer files from main controller pc to those pcs
3)Ability to get status of other pc
I dont want to install some explicit server on each of the client machines , and want to use some in built protocol /services running on windows a my clinets are windows.
The only this available with my controller pc is Administator user name and passwd and clinet machine ips.
IBM TPM uses some port to do such things but am not usre which protocal /service it uses?
I have done a remote software installation using ibm tpm.I dont think it uses telnet or ssh.
Which inbuilt service/protocol i should use? (not telnet or ssh)
I need to design a tool that can install software on remote client machine.
Basically i need Deploy MSI, EXE, BAT etc. on various client machines without user interaction.
There are lots of tool on net that provide these features but i need to develop such type of utility.
Please suggest
you can setup remote desktop on the machines.
For Establishing command : you can setup remote desktop
For transferring files: You can map drives of other machines programmatically using the method WNetAddConnection2().
Its unmanaged code ...
This might help :
http://vbnet.mvps.org/index.html?code/network/wnetaddconnection2.htm
http://www.pinvoke.net/default.aspx/mpr/wnetaddconnection2.html