Launching DOS batch file

[TimRobDFW]

I have a client who would like to launch a DOS batch file remotely from SCO Unix server every night via cron. The DOS batch file could be on any one of the many Windows platforms (9x, ME, NT, 2K, XP) and these remote PCs are already connected to the Unix server using Samba over a Frame Relay connection.

Is it possible to open a Windows command line shell from a Unix server and execute a DOS command? Does anyone know of a software utility which might solve this problem? Perhaps there is a FTP program which has this option?

By the way I suggested using a Windows scheduling program to run the batch file, but he said he wants to control the process from the Unix side.

Thanks,

Tim Robinson
timrobinson@onebox.com - email

 

[stanhubble]

I don't know of a remote windows command window but...

There is a product called MKS Toolkit that will provide a rshd that can run on NT,W2K,XP as a service.

http://www.mkssoftware.com/news/pr/pr_0201_tk8.asp

This won't help you for the w9x clients and security will be an issue.

What you could do is have a batch file "running" on the windows machine that looks for the existance of another batch file. If it finds it wait a couple of seconds then execute it. If it doesn't find it goto sleep for a while.
Unix w/ samba could be used to create the second batch file in a writable windows share.

This could work ******BUT******* this is really really really really really insecure. DO NOT DO THIS ON A PUBLICALLY ACCESSABLE NETWORK. Since you mentioned frame relay i will assume that it is a private network but it is still very risky.

stan hubble