Ping list of servers with VBS - vbscript

Question

I have the following script which pings a list of servers (txt file with one server per line) and if down, records the info to a csv file. The script works, but I have two issues with the script that I can't figure out:
1) I would like the script to only create a file if one of the servers on the list is down. Currently, if no servers are down, it creates an empty file with a header row. I have temporarily fixed this by writing another script that later deletes the empty files, but it would be best if the file isn't created in the first place.
2) Is there a way to ping two or three times to double/triple check if a server is down, then record that it's down? Currently, the script is logging that sometimes a server is down when I don't think it actually is, maybe my internet connection or computer hangs for a second so the ping fails?
Thanks in advance! I'm just getting into VBS so this is unfamiliar territory for me.
Dim WshShell
Set WshShell = createobject("wscript.shell")
strURL = "www.yahoo.com"
set png = WshShell.exec("ping -n 1 " & strURL)
do until png.status = 1
wscript.sleep 100
loop
strPing = lcase(png.stdout.readall)
Select Case True
Case InStr(strPing, "reply from") > 1
dim strInputPath, strOutputPath, strStatus
dim objFSO, objTextIn, objTextOut
strSafeDate = DatePart("yyyy",Date) & Right("0" & DatePart("m",Date), 2) & Right("0" & DatePart("d",Date), 2)
strSafeTime = Right("0" & Hour(Now), 2) & Right("0" & Minute(Now), 2) & Right("0" & Second(Now), 2)
strDateTime = strSafeDate & "-" & strSafeTime
strInputPath = "C:\Users\user\Desktop\PING\serverlist.txt" '- location of input
strOutputPath = "C:\Users\user\Desktop\PING\log\" & strDateTime & ".csv" '- location of output
set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
set objTextIn = objFSO.OpenTextFile( strInputPath,1 )
set objTextOut = objFSO.CreateTextFile( strOutputPath )
objTextOut.WriteLine("website,status,date")
Do until objTextIn.AtEndOfStream = True
strComputer = objTextIn.ReadLine
if fPingTest( strComputer ) then
strStatus = "UP"
else
strStatus = "DOWN"
end if
if strStatus = "DOWN" then
objTextOut.WriteLine(strComputer & "," & strStatus & "," & Now)
end if
loop
function fPingTest( strComputer )
dim objShell,objPing
dim strPingOut, flag
set objShell = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
set objPing = objShell.Exec("ping " & strComputer)
strPingOut = objPing.StdOut.ReadAll
if instr(LCase(strPingOut), "reply") then
flag = TRUE
else
flag = FALSE
end if
fPingTest = flag
end function
Case Else
End Select

Answer 1

You can try my modification code with a waiting bar if you want :
Option Explicit
Dim strInputPath,strOutputPath,strStatus,strSafeDate,strSafeTime,strDateTime,Titre,MsgTitre,MsgAttente
Dim objFSO,objTextIn,objTextOut,ReadAllFile,Lines,Line,Ws,Command,OpenCSVFile,oExec,Temp,StartTime,DurationTime
Set Ws = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Titre = "Ping list of servers"
MsgTitre = Titre
MsgAttente = "Please wait ... the pinging is on progress ...."
Temp = ws.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%Temp%")
strSafeDate = DatePart("yyyy",Date) & Right("0" & DatePart("m",Date), 2) & Right("0" & DatePart("d",Date), 2)
strSafeTime = Right("0" & Hour(Now), 2) & Right("0" & Minute(Now), 2) & Right("0" & Second(Now), 2)
strDateTime = strSafeDate & "-" & strSafeTime
strInputPath = "C:\PingServer\serverlist.txt" '- location of input
strOutputPath = "C:\PingServer\" & strDateTime & ".csv" '- location of output
set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
If objFSO.FileExists(strInputPath) Then
set objTextIn = objFSO.OpenTextFile(strInputPath,1)
else
MsgBox "CRITICAL ERROR " & VbCrLF & "The File "& DblQuote(strInputPath) & " dosen't exists !",VbCritical,"CRITICAL ERROR " & Titre
Wscript.Quit
End if
set objTextOut = objFSO.CreateTextFile(strOutputPath)
objTextOut.WriteLine("website;status;date")
ReadAllFile = objTextIn.ReadAll
Lines = Split(ReadAllFile,vbCrLf)
Call CreateProgressBar(MsgTitre,MsgAttente)'Create the waiting Bar
Call LancerProgressBar()'Lancement de la barre de progression
StartTime = Timer 'Debut du Compteur Timer
For Each Line In Lines
If OnLine(Line) = True Then
strStatus = "UP"
objTextOut.WriteLine(Line & ";" & strStatus & ";" & Now)
else
strStatus = "DOWN"
objTextOut.WriteLine(Line & ";" & strStatus & ";" & Now)
end if
Next
Call FermerProgressBar()'Closing the waiting Bar
DurationTime = FormatNumber(Timer - StartTime, 0) & " seconds." 'La duree de l'execution du script
Command = "cmd /c CD " & DblQuote(ExcelPath()) & " | Start Excel.exe" &" /E "& DblQuote(strOutputPath)
Ws.Popup "The pinging Script is finshed in "& DurationTime,"2",MsgTitre,64
OpenCSVFile = ws.run(Command,0,False)
'************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Function OnLine(strHost)
Dim objPing,z,objRetStatus,PingStatus
Set objPing = GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}").ExecQuery("select * from Win32_PingStatus where address = '" & strHost & "'")
z = 0
Do
z = z + 1
For Each objRetStatus In objPing
If IsNull(objRetStatus.StatusCode) Or objRetStatus.StatusCode <> 0 Then
PingStatus = False
Else
PingStatus = True
End If
Next
Call Pause(1)
If z = 5 Then Exit Do 'here you can incerase or decerase the value of z = 5
Loop until PingStatus = True
If PingStatus = True Then
OnLine = True
Else
OnLine = False
End If
End Function
'*********************************************************************************************
Sub Pause(NSeconds)
Wscript.Sleep(NSeconds*1000)
End Sub
'**********************************************************************************************
Function ExcelPath()
Dim appXL,s
Set appXL = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
ExcelPath = appXL.Path
appXL.Quit
Set appXL = Nothing
End Function
'**********************************************************************************************
'Fonction pour ajouter les doubles quotes dans une variable
Function DblQuote(Str)
DblQuote = Chr(34) & Str & Chr(34)
End Function
'**********************************************************************************************
Sub CreateProgressBar(Titre,MsgAttente)
Dim ws,fso,f,f2,ts,ts2,Ligne,i,fread,LireTout,NbLigneTotal,Temp,PathOutPutHTML,fhta,oExec
Set ws = CreateObject("wscript.Shell")
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Temp = WS.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%Temp%")
PathOutPutHTML = Temp & "\Barre.hta"
Set fhta = fso.OpenTextFile(PathOutPutHTML,2,True)
fhta.WriteLine "<HTML>"
fhta.WriteLine "<HEAD>"
fhta.WriteLine "<Title> " & Titre & "</Title>"
fhta.WriteLine "<HTA:APPLICATION"
fhta.WriteLine "ICON = ""magnify.exe"" "
fhta.WriteLine "BORDER=""THIN"" "
fhta.WriteLine "INNERBORDER=""NO"" "
fhta.WriteLine "MAXIMIZEBUTTON=""NO"" "
fhta.WriteLine "MINIMIZEBUTTON=""NO"" "
fhta.WriteLine "SCROLL=""NO"" "
fhta.WriteLine "SYSMENU=""NO"" "
fhta.WriteLine "SELECTION=""NO"" "
fhta.WriteLine "SINGLEINSTANCE=""YES"">"
fhta.WriteLine "</HEAD>"
fhta.WriteLine "<BODY text=""white""><CENTER>"
fhta.WriteLine "<marquee DIRECTION=""LEFT"" SCROLLAMOUNT=""3"" BEHAVIOR=ALTERNATE><font face=""Comic sans MS"">" & MsgAttente &"</font></marquee>"
fhta.WriteLine "<br><img src=""data:image/gif;base64,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"" />"
fhta.WriteLine "</CENTER></BODY></HTML>"
fhta.WriteLine "<SCRIPT LANGUAGE=""VBScript""> "
fhta.WriteLine "Set ws = CreateObject(""wscript.Shell"")"
fhta.WriteLine "Temp = WS.ExpandEnvironmentStrings(""%Temp%"")"
fhta.WriteLine "Sub window_onload()"
fhta.WriteLine " CenterWindow 350,100"
fhta.WriteLine " Self.document.bgColor = ""DarkOrange"" "
fhta.WriteLine " End Sub"
fhta.WriteLine " Sub CenterWindow(x,y)"
fhta.WriteLine " Dim iLeft,itop"
fhta.WriteLine " window.resizeTo x,y"
fhta.WriteLine " iLeft = window.screen.availWidth/2 - x/2"
fhta.WriteLine " itop = window.screen.availHeight/2 - y/2"
fhta.WriteLine " window.moveTo ileft,itop"
fhta.WriteLine "End Sub"
fhta.WriteLine "</script>"
fhta.close
End Sub
'**********************************************************************************************
Sub LancerProgressBar()
Set oExec = Ws.Exec("mshta.exe " & Temp & "\Barre.hta")
End Sub
'**********************************************************************************************
Sub FermerProgressBar()
oExec.Terminate
End Sub
'**********************************************************************************************

Answer 2

You're empty file is being created because the header details are being written without verifying the file actually needs to be created. This occurs prior to verifying whether any target servers are down.
Trying modifying your code as follows:
Verify server availability first;
Populate an array with details of servers that aren't available;
Check whether the array has any items:
If yes, create the file with header and server details;
If no, cleanup and exit script;
You might also consider placing the timestamp at the start of the row as occurs in most logs.
HTH
Cheers
Rob