Any more info on Windows XP Pro WMI (Windows Management Interface)?
My initial exploration of the subject was that XP includes a facility
for detailed logging or measuring/observing system events (such as a
registry change).   The facility or "instrumentation" sounds
fascinating but I have not found any proper explanation of how to
exploit it.
Is there some set of resources that you can point me at?

Hi grthumongous!

Microsoft developed the Windows Management Interface to, as they
describe it, simplify instrumentation of hardware and software under
Microsoft Windows operating systems. They now call it Windows
Management Instrumentation to reflect this purpose. To quote
Microsoft:

"The Windows® Management Instrumentation (WMI) technology is the
Microsoft implementation of the Distributed Management Task Force
(DMTF) Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) initiative that extends
the Common Information Model (CIM) to represent management objects in
Windows-based management environments. The Common Information Model,
also a DMTF standard, is an extensible data model for logically
organizing management objects in a consistent, unified manner in a
managed environment."

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/howitworks/management/wmiscripts.asp

As you'll notice from this page, WMI has been around in Windows since
Windows 98 SE, through Windows 2000, to Windows XP:

http://www.wilsonmar.com/1wmiwbem.htm

Microsoft provides extensive resources for WMI in both standalone
form, and as part of TechNet. The bulk of this information was
released for Windows 2000 Server, and updated upon the release of
Windows XP:

Standalone info:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/driver/WMI/default.mspx

TechNet link:
Windows Management Instrumentation and Simple Network Management Protocol
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/maintain/featusability/wmisnmp.asp
Windows Management Instrumentation: International Support Overview
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/maintain/featusability/wmigloba.asp
Windows Management Instrumentation Scripting
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/maintain/featusability/wmiscrpt.asp
WMIC - Take Command-line Control over WMI
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/maintain/featusability/wmic.asp

You can also find a useful study of WMI here if you program in Visual Basic:

Extensive Windows Management Interface (WMI) demo - FreeVBcode.com
http://www.freevbcode.com/ShowCode.asp?ID=1731

With these examples, and the information contained in the MS
references, you should be able to gain a good understanding of how to
exploit WMI.

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

---

Request for Answer Clarification by grthumongous-ga on 25 Feb 2004 16:25 PST

While I look it over (starting with the wilson url)  are there any other
non-Microsoft resources, like maybe a book or newsletter by Miss WMI
savant, or a Mr WMI geek?

---

Clarification of Answer by aht-ga on 25 Feb 2004 16:58 PST

I'm sorry! I should have included these in the Answer to begin with,
in case the online info wasn't enough.

Windows Management Instrumentation, by M Levy, A Meggitt
http://www.scribblin.gs/computing/wmibook.html
 - with link to book at Amazon.co.uk... here's the Amazon.com version:
   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1578702607

WMI Essentials for Automating Windows Management, by M Policht
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0672321440

Understanding WMI Scripting, by A Lissoir
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1555582664


I have not come across any useful newsletters focusing on, or dealing
a lot in, WMI; however, if you join this website, you will have access
to a lot of programming and application development info that includes
WMI:

http://www.devx.com/

Hope this addition helps!

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

---

Clarification of Answer by aht-ga on 25 Feb 2004 16:59 PST

Actually, here's one more useful website with a discussion forum where
WMI is brought up every now and then:

http://www.codeguru.com/

I am trying to think of a witty superlative while maintaining decorum
but I 'll just say Thank You very much.