Network Monitoring - Broadcast Equipment Monitoring

Many WMI commands need to be run from a common account on your machine and on the remote machines. The account should be in the administrators group or you may get no or partial data. Microsoft has a full discussion here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa826699(VS.85).aspx

Be sure to setup a common local administrative group or follow some of the other suggestions in the article to avoid WMI problems.

Another common problem when getting data from remote machines occurs when XP is setup to use ‘Simple File Sharing.’ This knocks the administrative permissions that you may have setup in the head, leaving you scratching yours as to what is wrong. The setting forces remote users to always connect as guest. A full discussion is available from Microsoft:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040

To confirm the setting: from explorer select tools|folder options and uncheck the ‘Use simple file sharing’ box. It looks like this:

Firewalls
Firewalls will block WMI communications unless the firewall has an access pathway for WMI data. Microsoft has an MSDN file that descibes this:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa389286(VS.85).aspx

On the computer that you want to open the firewall:
1. Open a command prompt
2. execute: netsh firewall set service RemoteAdmin enable

The link above provides details on how to configure the system if the controlling host has the firewall turned on as well.

Security Policies
Sometimes a security policy can lock out access as well. Goto local security Settings and make sure that the
Network access: Sharing and security model for local accounts is set to Classic local users authenticate as themselves�.

MTD Best Practice: To secure permissions for proper WMI operation confirm that both the monitoring and monitored machines share a common administrative account or are in the same administrative group. Be sure that simple file sharing is not enabled on the machines. Deal with the firewall and confirm security policies allow WMI.

Tagged: WMI, Microsoft, Permissions, MTD Systems