smbclient support in windows
 

I want to be able to send a pop up message to users like netsend does in windows, but using linux and smbclient. But i read that if i use

smbclient -m [hostname]
message ^d

then the windows computer has to have winpopup on it or it won't send and i will get to error message. Is winpopup automatically on windows or is it something i have to install on every computer?

so why dont you try that out?

Unfortunately, I don't have access to a windows network to try it on right now.

When you use netsend, you don't have to install anything on that Windows computer. I remember Winpopup, but I think it was used for other purposes, or you needed it in Windows 3.11/95. I assume that most of your computers are W2000 or higher. Versions newer than W2k I never used. The introduction of XP made me switch to Linux :)

jlinkels

WinPopup was part of Windows 98/ME but not NT and later. XP uses the messenger service (i.e. net send) which is disabled by default in SP2 to prevent pop-up advertisements and spam. Messenger service is part of XP so you do not need anything extra except to start the service. Messenger service is not included in Windows Vista.

You can use smbclient in a script like the following:
cat mymessage.txt | smbclient -M username

BTW there is a linux equiv of WinPopup called LinPopUp.

Cool, thanks for all the help everybody