[wpkg-users] More ways of defining hosts in hosts.xml - name, system, ou, group

Jindrich Vorlicek jvorlicek at gmail.com
Thu Apr 23 00:33:17 CEST 2009


So what functionality was added?

With my patched wpkg.js you can use in hosts.xml:

-group of hosts:
   <host name="PC1;PC2;Server" profile-id="profile" />
   <host name="Server2;PC.+;192.168.1.1-10" profile-id="profile" />

-operating system of host:
   <host system="xp.+professional.+sp3" profile-id="profile" />

- combinations of upper attributes:
   <host name="192.168.1.1-100" system="vista" profile-id="some_profile" />

On LAN with MS Active Directory or OpenLDAP you can also use:
-domain organizational units of computers
   <host ou="mydomain.local/Classrooms" profile-id="profile"/>

-domain groups of computers
   <host group="Domain Computers;Laptops;Print Servers" profile-id="profile" />

Using of domain organizational units is GREAT ADVANTAGE. Why?
I have LAN with Win2003 server and 50 Pc's.
Because names and IPs are very different, I would to use 50 host
definitions in hosts.xml:
   <host name="somename" profile-id="profile" />
   <host name="anothername" profile-id="profile" />
   ...
   ...
   ...
   <host name="lastname" profile-id="profile" />

With my patched wpkg.js I can use only 2 host definitions!:
   <host ou="mydomain.local/TeachersComputers" profile-id="profile" />
   <host ou="mydomain.local/Classrooms" profile-id="profile" />

ANOTHER ADVANTAGE is in case of new PC coming.
I need not do any changes in hosts.xml!
I just add its computer account to organizational unit and WPKG
profile is applied immediately.
The same situation is, if I migrate computer account from one
organizational unit to second organizational unit.



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