Prevent "net use" and "net share" while exams?

[White_Rabbit]

Hi,

we have a PC-Pool with 34 Win2k-Clients. During tests or exams no computer should be able to make a connection (with net use) to any other computer. My idea was to send the command "psexec -d \\<workstation> "net share * /delete" or the command i.e. "IF EXIST P: NET USE P: /DELETE" to each PC -lets say- every minute...

The question is: How to do that with AutoIt? There must some kind of Timer function. Can anyone help?

Thanks.

[i542]

Hi,

we have a PC-Pool with 34 Win2k-Clients. During tests or exams no computer should be able to make a connection (with net use) to any other computer. My idea was to send the command "psexec -d \\<workstation> "net share * /delete" or the command i.e. "IF EXIST P: NET USE P: /DELETE" to each PC -lets say- every minute...

The question is: How to do that with AutoIt? There must some kind of Timer function. Can anyone help?

Thanks.

Why not simply disconnect them from Internet?

Edit: Actually, there are "Sleep", "Run", "TimerInit" and "TimerDiff" commands, try them.

Edited December 1, 2007 by i542

[White_Rabbit]

Disconnecting them from the Internet would not prevent to use "net.exe" as they are still connected to each other. But I will search for these commands...

[Jos]

Do you need connectivity to the PC's or do these PC's need any connectivity to anything else during these tests/exams ?

[jvanegmond]

... no computer should be able to make a connection (with net use) to any other computer...

You could do

ipconfig /release

on each computer every few seconds. That would be the same as powering down the switch or hub though. Edited December 1, 2007 by Manadar

[White_Rabbit]

I need something like:

MsgBox/InputBox --> "How long does the test take?"

and then a countdown: Every minute send this command to the network.

Should be easy to realise...

[Jos]

The reason for asking is that if not connectivity is needed at all during Exams, you could use PSEXEC to upload an AutoIt3 script to all PC's and run it and that script would keep running for the time provided disabling all network connectivity.

At the end of the period it could restore the network settings and stop running.

[White_Rabbit]

Hmm -- normally they dont need any connectivity but I cannot grant that for future exams. So it would be better simply to prevent all kind of "net.exe" Use for all Users

[Fossil Rock]

I would write a script to replace the utils in question. Make the script pop up a message that only the instructor will be able to clear. This pop up can display what command was attempted basically letting the instructor know the user was attempting something that is not allowed.

Are the commands possibly being used to cheat? If so, they just failed the exam due to (attempted) cheating.

[weaponx]

Disable net send by stopping the Messenger service

Disable net use by disable File and Printer Sharing service + Disable Server service

[Jos]

Hmm -- normally they dont need any connectivity but I cannot grant that for future exams. So it would be better simply to prevent all kind of "net.exe" Use for all Users

But just disabling the use of net.exe won't be enough since they could still go into Explorer and type \\pcname\sharename ... right ?

Jos

Edited December 1, 2007 by Jos

[White_Rabbit]

Ok, but as we have a Samba-Server it's no problem to use the entry

"invalid users = @examgroup" for any share that is prohibited...

[i542]

But just disabling the use of net.exe won't be enough since they could still go into Explorer and type \\pcname\sharename ... right ?

Jos

Kill explorer.exe?

[White_Rabbit]

Disable net send by stopping the Messenger service

Disable net use by disable File and Printer Sharing service + Disable Server service

This seems to be the best way to do it ... do you know the names of these Services?

(I guess you don't have any german version? )

[Jos]

Type "Net Start" in the CMD prompt and it will list the names of all services running ..

[jvanegmond]

Hmm -- normally they dont need any connectivity but I cannot grant that for future exams. So it would be better simply to prevent all kind of "net.exe" Use for all Users

I don't know in what kind of network you are, but if it is a domain, you can also ask the one that has access to the DC.

Edit: .. and I am not talking about Direct Current here.. You figure it out..

Edited December 3, 2007 by Manadar

[Confuzzled]

Why not go and unlock the facilities cupboard and power down the switch/hub for the room in question for the duration of the exam? Simple hardware solution...