Linux box calling a batch script on a windows box to run? Is it possible?
 

A certain linux box runs a series of tests, if one of the tests fails I need a windows box to run a batch script. Is it possible, to have the linux box order the windows box to run that batch script as in:

if something doesn't happen
run file.bat (on windows box)
fi

I know you can use rpcclient to shut down windows boxes remotely so i'm thinking you could probably run a script or a program that runs that script any ideas?

- karl hungus

Your going to need somekind of program on the windows box waiting for instructions from the linux box to execute the batch script. I don't think theres a simpler way around this.

Something like ssh/telnet or similar waiting to carry out what the Linux box tells it.

just write a simple server that listens for a connection, and upon receiving a give string performs the command. doing this, and doing this securely are 2 different things however. on the linux side, all u would need to do is netcat to the port and write the command string, which would be done simply im script.

Program to complete task
 

Yeah I was thinking a program could do it. Security is of the highest priority on the windows box it would need to be install on, this is my concern and why I was hesitant to allow possible access like that. Do you think it could be done completely securely with a program and are there no alternatives to installing a program? Thanks :)

If I am not mistaking you can execute Windows commands and scripts from *nix with Windows UNIX Services. I am pretty sure it's up to version 2 or greater and it's pretty good.

Re: Program to complete task
 

i can't answer 2nd question, but i can try and answer the first. the obvious security hazard is that anyone else could just connect to your server and cause it to execute the command that you are. a possible solution couldl be requiring the user to enter a certain "password" string and then execute the command. so now you're talking about storing a password inside of the program's data area, or having it read in a password from a conf. file or the registry. this introduces your next security issue, how to store that password. if you store it in a file or registry, then its possible for anyone on the windows box to read it. i dont know windows that well, so im not sure how to prevent that other than encryption. so the first time the program runs, it would check for a conf file, and if one didn't exist(race condition) then prompt the user for a passowrd, encrypt it, and store it in the file/registry. those are just some tings off top of my head, there are probly other thigns to consider as well depending on mission critical this is.

Windows UNIX Services, this is something I'm not at all familiar with, can anyone give me a little more information on how I might use this to execute windows programs/batch files remotely from a linux box?

Microsoft SFU 3.5 has been released and is the first version that is a free download (223 MB).
Try this link:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

or search for ServicesForUnix3.5

SFU allows your Windows machine to act like a UNIX, even run UNIX shell scripts and programs.

Microsoft SFU 3.5
 

Thanks Bruce, i'm downloading that installation file now! It sounds really cool.

-Karl