Re: WMI usability

"Goppi" <Goppi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:0823AD7D-25C9-4685-B4B9-39410F3CFE93@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

2) NIC Speed & Duplex: The WMI properties are there, but aren't being
populated. This is well known and the only alternative is to access the
registry.

Only alternative? I don't know if the registry is the only alternative but I
would be surprised if it is. Have you checked with network programming
specialists (in other words, not here where the specialty is WMI)?

3) Serial numbers of PC's and Screen's: Not all PC's provide the Serial
number through WMI. When it comes to screen serial numbers, the only way
you
can get them is through the registry.

There is no standard for serial numbers, so WMI depends on manufacturers for
that information. It would be interesting to determine if the Web-Based
Enterprise Management (WBEM) and/or Common Information Model (CIM) standards
implemented by other operating systems does provide any serial numbers not
provided by the Windows implementation (WMI).

Note that the registry cannot read hardware; data in the registry is read by
software. In other words, if a serial number is in the registry, then
software exists somewhere that can read it. It is likely that a user-mode
program can read the serial number. It is also a good possibility that
DeviceIoControl is needed, which is not available to scripts. So it might be
true that the registry is the only alternative for scripts but I doubt it is
the only alternative for all user-mode Windows programs.

if you have 500 or more
PC's in your company and they are all from the same business-oriented
manufactorer (f.i. HP) you expect to have a consistent result and not only
a
98% solution.

Perhaps support by WMI should be a requirement for PCs in the company. It is
likely that isn't support by WMI for these things dependent on the
manufacturer? If so then they are certainly more likely to cooperae if they
know it affects sales.

The other issues seems to be a flaw in the design of WMI
or a not understanding of the same.

If the WBEM and/or CIM standards is or are flawed then everyone would
benefit if you become involved with the standard(s).


.

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