SMS2003 and MifGen

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SMS2003 and MifGen - 9/26/2008 5:22:17 AM

diaz101

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Hi All,

Apologies if this sounds stupid but i have not used the MIFGEN tool before.I have created my User MIF and now i would like to send this out to my users and get results back into the database and run a report.
Simply, how do i do this? I have found instructions for SMS1.2 but im using SMS2003SP3.

What would the easiest way of achieving my goal? considering i cant code :)

Many thanks in advance for your help,

Post #: 1

RE: SMS2003 and MifGen - 9/26/2008 8:55:30 AM

skissinger

Posts: 2167
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From: Sherry Kissinger
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What information do you want to get back? Maybe there is a better way than using mifgen. It depends what you are looking for.

_____________________________

mofmaster@smsexpert.com (version 2007) | http://www.smsexpert.com | http://www.sccmexpert.com
My Blog
Microsoft MVP - ConfigMgr

(in reply to diaz101)

Post #: 2

RE: SMS2003 and MifGen - 9/26/2008 9:19:56 AM

diaz101

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I would like to get back

User logon name
User Location
User Work Department
User Telephone Number

which i could then match up the the computer name in a report.

Hope that makes sense, i have created a mock up form that i was\am going to test in my lab first if i know\knew how to :), but if anyone can show me an easier way of doing this then please do.The information requested is not currently in SMS, hence asking the user to fill out the form.

Thanks

(in reply to skissinger)

Post #: 3

RE: SMS2003 and MifGen - 9/26/2008 9:45:59 AM

skissinger

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From: Sherry Kissinger
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Is your Active Directory populated with that information? With a 3rd party tool, you can grab that info out of AD. The old version of: EUD You'd have to check with systemcentertools.com though. Probably an email to Steve. His web site shows EUD 2008 is "coming soon"; but it's been saying that for a while. Maybe you could get a beta release or the old version.

Another option: upgrade to ConfigMgr. You can specific what User AD Attributes you want right in the console by configuring that Discovery agent.

Another option... If that info is not already in AD, that information is likely in your HR database (whatever that db source may be). You could work with the DBAs in your company to have them extract that information from the HR database & dump it within your SMS Db so you could join in that information. I'm not knowledgable on the DB side of things. But John is. #2? are you here?

Another option.. if that info is not already in AD, and your DBs are reluctant to dump data out of the HR db into your db--you might be able to argue getting that information auto-populated into AD. That's usually more acceptable to the security folk. Once in AD, you can grab it from there.

Basically -- why rely on those pesky humans? Find an automated way to get the information available to you.

_____________________________

mofmaster@smsexpert.com (version 2007) | http://www.smsexpert.com | http://www.sccmexpert.com
My Blog
Microsoft MVP - ConfigMgr

(in reply to diaz101)

Post #: 4

RE: SMS2003 and MifGen - 9/26/2008 9:51:59 AM

diaz101

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Unfortunately none of the options suggested are available to me.Too much internal politics, my company has several different smaller companies within it, so its a logistical nightmare to get everybody to agree to anything, but i can get this through!

Config manager in for next year, and the info is not in AD unfortunately.

Its got to be pesky humans and the the MIF idea, so if anybody can help with running this in my SMS 2003 environment, i would be a very happy human!

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Post #: 5

RE: SMS2003 and MifGen - 9/26/2008 10:18:05 AM

skissinger

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Oh, well; fine. If you insist on humans...

Personally, I'm an extend-the-mof person; putting the info either in the registry or WMI & adding to SMS_DEF.mof and yank that info back that way. It's a little more work, especially w/SMS2003 (for you), but then you don't have those mif's hanging out forever on your workstations potentially forever messing up your database when you no longer need/want that information.

To that end (extend-the-mof), there's this I helped someone with once. It wouldn't take too much to fix/adjust for your fields. I'll try to get to that this weekend, assuming you need me to tweak it. I don't know your background--maybe you could fix it up yourself.

_____________________________

mofmaster@smsexpert.com (version 2007) | http://www.smsexpert.com | http://www.sccmexpert.com
My Blog
Microsoft MVP - ConfigMgr

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Post #: 6

RE: SMS2003 and MifGen - 9/26/2008 10:20:41 AM

diaz101

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Thanks Sherry, I'll have a look and spend some time to see if i can do it,many thanks for your help, much appreciated.

D

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Post #: 7

RE: SMS2003 and MifGen - 9/28/2008 5:47:57 PM

skissinger

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From: Sherry Kissinger
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Attached is a modified HTA that should work. It's zipped up as .txt; after extraction, change it to .hta to run it. You could send it out as an advert to run.

A couple notes; it's not that forgiving. For example, if someone wanted to re-run it to change the phone number, all the fields have to be re entered. Or if someone ran it to just check, if they hit Submit instead of Cancel & the fields were blank... they've just wiped out the info.

You'll also want to edit the file, and change/add all of the departments and location lists. Believe me, you'll want to control as much as you can. Otherwise you'll get location results back like "I sit next the coffee machine."

Oh, sorry; almost forgot. Near the top of the attached file is the section to add to your sms_def.mof on your primary site(s) so that it'll pull the data into the database, and have views available to you to join via .resourceID.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by skissinger -- 9/28/2008 5:49:24 PM >

_____________________________

mofmaster@smsexpert.com (version 2007) | http://www.smsexpert.com | http://www.sccmexpert.com
My Blog
Microsoft MVP - ConfigMgr

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RE: SMS2003 and MifGen - 9/29/2008 3:31:49 AM

diaz101

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Thanks very much for this.I will try it out later this week and let you know how i get on,

very much appreciated

D

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Post #: 9

RE: SMS2003 and MifGen - 9/30/2008 5:44:02 AM

Tom_Watson

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Going way back to the original post, if you are looking for something that fills out a form created with MIFGEN.EXE, then its MIFWIN.EXE you are looking for. Unfortunately, it goes back to SMS 2.0 days, so when it saves the results, a wrapper script would be requird to move the MIF to the correct Advanced Client folder.

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RE: SMS2003 and MifGen - 10/1/2008 2:35:57 PM

MeenEnta

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Sherry, how can i modify the xml file in the EUD 1.1 tool to collect the COMPUTER Descrition section?

BTW your posting on the EUD 1.1 implementation is fantastic. worked from try 1. thx.

thx.

Thumbnail Image

Attachment (1)

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Post #: 11

RE: SMS2003 and MifGen - 10/1/2008 3:01:26 PM

skissinger

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From: Sherry Kissinger
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Unfortunately EUD is enhanced USER discovery. If you want Enhanced SYSTEM Discovery, that's a different tool from SystemCenterTools! (ESD) But it's wonderful, and really comfortably priced. Most companies can squeeze a few hundred $$ out of the budget. And it retains it's benefits when you go to Configmgr. It's a win/win.

_____________________________

mofmaster@smsexpert.com (version 2007) | http://www.smsexpert.com | http://www.sccmexpert.com
My Blog
Microsoft MVP - ConfigMgr

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Post #: 12

RE: SMS2003 and MifGen - 10/1/2008 3:08:59 PM

MeenEnta

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Thx, I had that feeling, but i said i would ask...

Once our Fiscal Bailout (LOL) take place I'll be able to afford it, or if we move to Socialistic type of Economy (not too far I guess) i should be able to ask Camorade George Bush to pay for it.

we are moving to SCCM sooooon.
Thx Sherry..

(in reply to skissinger)

Post #: 13