Windows IT Pro is the authoritative and independent resource for windows nt, windows 2000, windows 2003, windows xp. Features a collection of resources and magazines for windows IT professionals.
  
  
  Advanced Search 


April 2007

Script Makes Searching for GPO Settings a Snap

RSS
Subscribe to Windows IT Pro | See More Active Directory (AD) Articles Here | Reprints | Or get the Monthly Online Pass—only $5.95 a month!

I often don't know in which Group Policy Object (GPO) a setting resides. Fortunately, I discovered a script—GetReportsForAllGPOs.wsf—that helps me quickly obtain this information. GetReportsForAllGPOs.wsf is one of the sample scripts that ships with Group Policy Management Console (GPMC). For each GPO in Active Directory (AD), GetReportsForAllGPOs.wsf generates an HTML file and an XML file that contains configuration and other types of information about the GPO. (You can also use this script to generate HTML and XML files for a specific GPO or for all the GPOs in a specific domain.)

You can find GetReportsForAllGPOs.wsf in the %programfiles%\ GPMC\Scripts directory. To use this script to search for settings, follow these steps:

1. Create a folder that will be used to store the HTML and XML files for the GPOs. For example, I created a folder named Exported GPO on the C drive.

2. Run the script GetReportsForAllGPOs.wsf from the %programfiles%\GPMC\Scripts folder, following the syntax

CScript GetReportsForAllGPOs.wsf
  GpoFiles 

where GpoFiles is the pathname to the folder you created in Step 1 (e.g., C:\Exported GPO). Note that although this command appears on several lines here, you would enter it on one line in the command-shell window.

3. After the script runs, delete all XML files in the folder you created.

4. To search all HTML files for the parameter you want, right-click the folder you created and select Search. In the A word or phrase in the file text box, enter an appropriate search term. For example, if you need to find Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) parameters, you can enter the name of your WSUS server. (You can't enter WSUS as the search term because the word WSUS doesn't exist in the GPOs. The GPO setting to configure WSUS is Specify intranet Microsoft update service location.) Click Search to get a list of all the GPOs containing what you searched for.
—Peter Ekstorp

End of Article



Reader Comments

You must log on before posting a comment.

If you don't have a username & password, please register now.




Top Viewed ArticlesView all articles
Microsoft: Save Money ... By Paying for Software

Microsoft this week adopted an interesting tactic in its long-running battle with open source software: Businesses looking to save money over the long haul should simply pay for software instead of moving to free, open source solutions. The rationale? ...

Command Prompt Tricks

One reader shares his tip for setting up the command prompt to reflect a remote path. ...

Microsoft Delivers Service Pack 2 Beta 2 for Vista, Server 2008

Microsoft on Tuesday announced the availability of the Beta 2 version of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. Since both operating systems were developed from the same code base, they have a common servicing structure and thus ...


Active Directory (AD) Whitepapers Sustainable Compliance: How to reconnect compliance, security and business goals

Managing Unix/Linux with Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 Cross Platform Extensions Beta

Addressing the Insider Threat with NetIQ Security and Administration Solutions

Related Events SQL Server 2008 – Can You Wait? | Philadelphia

SQL Server 2008 – Can You Wait? | Atlanta

Concrete Ways to Make Sure Your SharePoint Deployment Doesn't Blow Up

Check out our list of Free Email Newsletters!

Windows OSs eBooks Understanding and Leveraging Code Signing Technologies

Keeping Your Business Safe from Attack: Monitoring and Managing Your Network Security

Windows 2003: Active Directory Administration Essentials

Related Active Directory (AD) Resources Become a VIP member of the Windows IT Pro community!
Get it all with the VIP CD and VIP access. A $500+ value for only $279!

Subscribe to Windows IT Pro!
Solve your toughest technical problems with our experts and access 10,000 + articles online. 30% off

Monthly Online Pass - Only $5.95!
Get instant access to 10,000+ articles from Windows IT Pro Magazine!

TechNet Virtual Labs
Evaluate and test Microsoft's newest products.


Windows IT Pro Home Register FAQ for Windows WinInfo News
Europe Edition About Us Contact Us/Customer Service Media Kit Affiliates / Licensing  
SQL Server Magazine Office & SharePoint Pro Windows Dev Pro IT Job Hound ITTV
IT Library Technology Resource Directory Connected Home Windows Excavator Windows SuperSite 
 
 Windows IT Pro is a Division of Penton Media Inc.
 Copyright © 2008 Penton Media, Inc., All rights reserved. Terms and Use | Privacy Statement | Reprints and Licensing