Net send woes - can't get it to work as I want

[stduc]

In an ideal world I would like to be able to send users a message when the server is about to have a planned shutdown but not have the users messaging each other. But will settle for general message capability. However at present I am just playing, sorry testing, on a test rig.

In test

One domain server running 2003 - isolated (no internet, one switch, one laptop XPSP2 - connected by cable, manual IP addressing)

messenger service is running on both machines.

Laptop does not receive the shutdown message

typing
net send * hi there
on the laptop sends 'hi there' to the server & the laptop

typing
net send * hi there
on the server send 'hi there' to the server only.

Also on the sever, typing "net send 'username' hi there" generates "the message alias could not be found on the network". The username is valid

Basically, what have I forgotten, what have done wrong?

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[dberg35]

You need to start the service on the client machines in services.

 

[Tricky100]

yep sounds right, i think xpSp2 switches off the service by default

 

[lhuegele]

You'll need to have the alerter service running also! Plus I've found that instead of "username" you need to use "computername" - I've never had good luck doing net sends to usernames.

 

[58sniper]

You can set a GPO to force those services to be AUTOMATIC. That's what I do.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP

 

[stduc]

All systems have the messenger & alerter service running.

I don't think you can send to a computername in a domain environment.

A workstation can send a message to itself or the server. The server can only send messages to itself. I'm confused.

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[58sniper]

See

Net send

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/.../xp/all/proddocs/en-us/net_send.mspx?mfr=true

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP