Example of how to join a computer (Windows 8) to a domain using PowerShell.

 $Credential = New-Object -TypeName System.Management.Automation.PSCredential -ArgumentList @('ALTIRIS\srv_altiris', (ConvertTo-SecureString -AsPlainText -Force 'P@ssw0rd' ))
Add-Computer -DomainName altiris.local -OUPath 'OU=CORPORATE_COMPUTERS,OU=BELGIUM,DC=altiris,DC=local' -PassThru -Verbose -Credential $credential 

This script adds the *NdisDeviceType registry value with value 1 to the keys of the VMWare network cards.
Afterwards it disables and enables the networkcards to let the changes take effect.

 
$nics = gci "HKLM:\SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Control\\Class\\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
$nics | foreach-object -process {
	$devInstanceId = $_.getvalue("DeviceInstanceID")
	if($devInstanceId -match "VMWARE"){
		Write-Host $_.Name
		$regpath = ( $_.name ) -replace("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE","HKLM:")
		new-itemproperty -path $regpath -name "*NdisDeviceType" -value 1 -PropertyType "DWORD"
	}
}

 $wminics = get-wmiobject win32_networkadapter | where-object {$_.name -like "*vmware*" } 
 $wminics | foreach-object -process {  
       
     write-host -nonew "Disabling $($_.name) ... " 
     $result = $_.Disable()  
     if ($result.ReturnValue -eq -0) { write-host " success." } else { write-host " failed." }  
       
     write-host -nonew "Enabling $($_.name) ... " 
     $result = $_.Enable()  
     if ($result.ReturnValue -eq -0) { write-host " success." } else { write-host " failed." }  
 }
 

For some tasks it is useful to run a custom query against a database.
The application using the database perhaps does not have the ability to generate certain reports.
Using SQL manager is a viable option, but then everyone who needs to have this installed to be able to run a query.
It is however possible to create some Excel-files which have the queries embedded.

But as an alternative solution I have created this PowerShell app.
It is a GUI-based tool allowing you to select a saved script or enter a custom query and run it.
The output is by default displayed in a datatable but the output can also be exported to an Excel-document.

The available SQL servers are defined in servers.xml
And to avoid the hassle of selecting a server and database after selecting a script you can predefine a combination of a shortname, server and database in shortnames.xml
Eg. if you have a SQL-file hlp_openincidents.sql and hlp is defined in shortnames.xml with server set to SQLSERVER and database to HELPDESK the tool will autoselect the server: SQLSERVER and the database: HELPDESK

SQL tool source code

This is an example in PowerShell of how you can schedule the installation a software package by Altiris DS.
Instead of using the API, the command-line tool axsched is being called to schedule the software package.

 
function DeploySoftware
{
	param( [String] $pcname,  [String] $package,  [String] $nexttime,  [String] $folder)
	#Write-Host "Deploy $pcname '$package' /t $nexttime /f '$folder'"
	#\\ALTIRIS\express\axsched.exe "$pcname" "$package" / t "$nexttime" / f "$folder"
		
	$StartInfo = New-Object System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo
	$StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = $true
	$StartInfo.UseShellExecute = $false
	$StartInfo.FileName = "\\ALTIRIS\express\axsched.exe"
	$StartInfo.WorkingDirectory = "C:\Temp"
	$StartInfo.Arguments = "`"$pcname`" `"$package`" /t `"$nexttime`" /f `"$folder`""
	$p =  [System.Diagnostics.Process] ::Start($StartInfo)
	$p.WaitForExit()
	if ($p.ExitCode -eq 0) { $TRUE } else { $FALSE }
}
#This function adds a number of minutes to the given date time and outputs the addition in the right format for AxSched.
function Get-ScheduleTime
{
	param( [System.DateTime]  $starttime,  [int] $minutes)
	#$minutes = 12
	$tspan = New-Object System.TimeSpan(0, 0, $minutes, 0)
	$addtime =  [System.DateTime] ::op_Addition($starttime, $tspan)
	#"2008-10-20 15:00"
	$y = $addtime.Year
	$mo = $addtime.Month
	$d = $addtime.Day
	$h = $addtime.Hour
	$mi = $addtime.Minute
	$schedtime = "$y"
	$schedtime += "-"
	$schedtime += TwoDecimal("$mo")
	$schedtime += "-"
	$schedtime += TwoDecimal("$d")
	$schedtime += " "
	$schedtime += TwoDecimal("$h")
	$schedtime += ":"
	$schedtime += TwoDecimal("$mi")
	$schedtime
}
#Simple function to convert a single decimal to a two decimal, eg 7 becomes 07
function TwoDecimal
{
	param( [String] $Number)
	while ($number.Length -lt 2) { $number = "0$number" } 
	$number
}
$now =  [System.DateTime] ::Now
$pcname = "COMP007"
$jobname = "Install Outlook 2007"
$jobfolder = "Software"
#The installation of the package needs to be started after 5 minutes.
$nexttime = Get-ScheduleTime $now 5
DeploySoftware $pcname $jobname $nexttime $jobfolder 
 

Powershell excerpts of how to check if .NET FrameWork 3.5, Quest AD, Altiris ASDK is installed

First the functions that execute the installer.

 
function Execute-Installer()
{
	param( [String] $parameters, [String] $msiworkingdir)
	$msiworkingdir = Resolve-Path $msiworkingdir
	$StartInfo = New-Object System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo
	$StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = $true
	$StartInfo.UseShellExecute = $false
	$StartInfo.FileName = "c:\windows\system32\msiexec.exe"
	$StartInfo.WorkingDirectory = "$msiworkingdir"
	$StartInfo.Arguments = "$parameters"
	$p =  [System.Diagnostics.Process] ::Start($StartInfo)
	$p.WaitForExit()
	if ($p.ExitCode -eq 0) { $TRUE } else { $FALSE }
}

function Execute-Program()
{
	param( [String] $parameters, [String] $program)
	Write-Host "Execute-Program $program $parameters"
	#Write-Host "MSI WorkingDir: $msiworkingdir"
	#$msiworkingdir = Resolve-Path $msiworkingdir
	$program = Resolve-Path $program
	Write-Host "Program: $program"
	$StartInfo = New-Object System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo
	$StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = $true
	$StartInfo.UseShellExecute = $false
	$StartInfo.FileName = $program
	$StartInfo.Arguments = "$parameters"
	$p =  [System.Diagnostics.Process] ::Start($StartInfo)
	$p.WaitForExit()
	if ($p.ExitCode -eq 0) { $TRUE } else { $FALSE }
}
 

The code that checks if .NET FrameWork 3.5 is installed.
A messagebox will be displayed if it is not installed.
If users answers yes to the messagebox the requirement will be installed.

 
#region Check if .NET 3.5 is installed (Requirement for QuestAD and AltirisASDK
function Check-DotNet35{
Write-Host "Check-DotNet35"
$net35 = get-itemproperty "hklm:\\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v3.5"
if($net35 -eq $null){
Write-Host ".NET 3.5 is not installed."
$install =  [Windows.Forms.MessageBox] ::Show(".NET 3.5 Framework is not installed. This is required. Would you like to install it?", "My Application",  [Windows.Forms.MessageBoxButtons] ::YesNo,  [Windows.Forms.MessageBoxIcon] ::Question)
if ($install -eq  [Windows.Forms.DialogResult] ::Yes){
Execute-Program "/PASSIVE /NORESTART" "D:\Software\DotNet\3.5\dotnetfx35SP1.exe"
}
}else{
Write-Host "DotNet 3.5 FrameWork is installed"
}
}
Check-DotNet35
#endregion
 

The code to check if Quest AD is installed.
A messagebox will be displayed if it is not installed.
If users answers yes to the messagebox the requirement will be installed.
Also if the users has an outdated version he will receive a messagebox asking to perform an upgrade.

 
#region Load Quest AD plugin
function Load-QuestAD-Plugin
{
Write-Host "Load-QuestAD-Plugin"
$retVal = (Get-PSSnapin Quest.ActiveRoles.ADManagement 2>$null)
$qadversion = "1.2.2.1254"
#Write-Host $retVal
if ($retVal -eq $null)
{
Write-Host "Quest.ActiveRoles.ADManagement"
Add-PSSnapin Quest.ActiveRoles.ADManagement
$retVal = "$?"
if ($retVal -eq $false)
{
$install =  [Windows.Forms.MessageBox] ::Show("Quest.ActiveRoles.ADManagement is not installed. Would you like to install it?", "My Application",  [Windows.Forms.MessageBoxButtons] ::YesNo,  [Windows.Forms.MessageBoxIcon] ::Question)
if ($install -eq  [Windows.Forms.DialogResult] ::Yes)
{
Write-Host "Installing Quest.ActiveRoles.ADManagement"
Write-Host "msiexec.exe /i `"$WorkingDir\Requirements\arps.$qadversion.msi`" /qn /norestart /l*c:\windows\temp\arsps.log"
$retVal = Execute-Installer "/i `"$WorkingDir\Requirements\arps.$qadversion.msi`" /qn /norestart /l* c:\windows\temp\arsps.log" "c:\temp"
if($retVal -eq $true){
Write-Host "Install finished"
}
}
else
{
Write-Host "No install of Quest.ActiveRoles.ADManagement"
}
}
else
{
Write-Host "QAD installed"
$pssnapinversion = (Get-PSSnapin Quest.ActiveRoles.ADManagement).version
$textversion = $pssnapinversion.Major.tostring() + "." + $pssnapinversion.Minor.tostring() + "." + $pssnapinversion.Build.tostring() + "." + $pssnapinversion.Revision.tostring()
Write-Host "Required version: $qadversion - Current version: $textversion "
if ($textversion -ne $qadversion)
{
$install =  [Windows.Forms.MessageBox] ::Show("Quest.ActiveRoles.ADManagement is not up to date. Would you like to update it?", "My Application",  [Windows.Forms.MessageBoxButtons] ::YesNo,  [Windows.Forms.MessageBoxIcon] ::Question)
#if ($install.tolower() -eq "y")
if ($install -eq  [Windows.Forms.DialogResult] ::Yes)
{
Remove-PSSnapin Quest.ActiveRoles.ADManagement
Write-Host "Installing Quest.ActiveRoles.ADManagement"
Write-Host "msiexec.exe /i `"$WorkingDir\Requirements\arps.$qadversion.msi`" /qn /norestart /l*c:\windows\temp\arsps.log"
$retVal = Execute-Installer "/i `"$WorkingDir\Requirements\arps.$qadversion.msi`" /qn /norestart /l* c:\windows\temp\arsps.log" "c:\temp"
if($retVal -eq $true){
Write-Host "Install finished"
}
}
else
{
Write-Host "No install of Quest.ActiveRoles.ADManagement"
}
}
}
}
}
Load-QuestAD-Plugin
#endregion
 

Check if Altiris ASDK for NS is installed.
A messagebox will be displayed if it is not installed.
If users answers yes to the messagebox the requirement will be installed.
If it is already installed the connections will be made to the server.

 
#region Load Altiris ASDK
function Load-AltirisASDK
{
Write-Host "Load-AltirisASDK"
$altirisserver="ALTIRIS"
$global:nsColl = New-Object -comObject Altiris.ASDK.NS.CollectionManagement
if($? -eq $false){
Write-Host "AltirisASDK is not installed"
$install =  [Windows.Forms.MessageBox] ::Show("Altiris ASDK is not installed. Would you like to install it?", "My Application",  [Windows.Forms.MessageBoxButtons] ::YesNo,  [Windows.Forms.MessageBoxIcon] ::Question)
#if ($install.tolower() -eq "y")
if ($install -eq  [Windows.Forms.DialogResult] ::Yes)
{
#Execute-Program "/S" "$WorkingDir\Requirements\Altiris_ASDK_1_4_209.exe"
$retVal = Execute-Installer "/i `"$WorkingDir\Requirements\Symantec_ASDK_NS_COM_x86.msi`" /qn /norestart /l* c:\windows\temp\asdkNS.log" "c:\temp"
if($retVal -eq $true){
Write-Host "ASDK has been installed"
}else{
Write-Host "ASDK installation failed"
}
}

}else{
$global:nsItem = New-Object -comObject Altiris.ASDk.NS.ItemManagement
$global:nsRes = New-Object -comObject Altiris.ASDK.NS.ResourceManagement
$global:nsReport = New-Object -comObject Altiris.ASDK.NS.ReportManagement
$global:nsReport.targetserver = $altirisserver
$global:nsReport.authenticate()
$global:nsItem.targetserver = $altirisserver
$global:nsItem.authenticate()
$global:nsColl.targetserver = $altirisserver
$global:nsColl.authenticate()
$global:nsRes.targetserver = $altirisserver
$global:nsRes.authenticate()
}
}
Load-AltirisASDK
#endregion
 

The web-interface of Altiris Notification Server can sometimes be a bit sluggish.
Certainly if you have to add a computer to 10 or more collections.
To speed things a bit up I have written this Powershell script, which uses the Altiris ASDK to perform queries to Altiris NS.
This script was intended to ensure that a new workstation receives the same software as the old workstation.
It also can be used to just clone the software of a workstation to a new workstation.

 
#Active Directory Domain
$domain = "LCODE" 
#Host name of Altiris Notification Server
$nsserver = "ALTIRISNS" 
#Major resource collection
$maincollection = "LCODE Software Collections" 
#Sub resource collection
$softinstallcollection = "Software Installation"

#This is a schematic of the structure maintained in Notification Server
#The major resource collection is a child of Software Management
#The name of the sub resource collection is just the first part of the full name (Software Installation)
# as this is being matched with the children of the major resource collection
# all children beginning with that name are being enumerated
# eg. "Software Installation" causes "Software Installation 1" and "Software Installation 2" to be enumerated
#
#Resources tab
# Resource Management
#  [-]  Collections
#       [-]  Software Management
#            [-]  LCODE Software Collections
#         [-]  Software Installation 1
#             []  SW Package 1
#             []  SW Package 2
#         [-]  Software Installation 2
#             []  SW Package 3
#             []  SW Package 4
#

#Load Altiris ASDK
$coll = New-Object -comObject Altiris.ASDK.NS.CollectionManagement
$item = New-Object -comObject Altiris.ASDk.NS.ItemManagement
$res = New-Object -comObject Altiris.ASDK.NS.ResourceManagement
$report = New-Object -comObject Altiris.ASDK.NS.ReportManagement

#Establish connections to Altiris Notification Server
$report.targetserver = $nsserver
$report.authenticate()
$item.targetserver = $nsserver
$item.authenticate()
$coll.targetserver = $nsserver
$coll.authenticate()
$res.targetserver = $nsserver
$res.authenticate()

#Retrieve GUID of the Major resource collection
$maincollectionguid = ($item.getItemsByName($maincollection)).GetValue(0).Guid

#Ask user to enter hostnames of old and new pc
$oldpc = Read-Host "Old PC"
$newpc = Read-Host "New PC"

#Retrieve GUIDs of computers
$oldpcguid = $res.getComputerByNameAndDomain($oldpc,$domain)
$newpcguid = $res.getComputerByNameAndDomain($newpc,$domain)

#Check if we don't have an empty GUID for one of the computers
if(($oldpcguid.length -gt 0) -and ($newpcguid.length -gt 0)){

#Retrieve all software collections
$softwarecoll = $item.GetItemsInFolder($maincollectionguid) | foreach-object -process { $item.GetItemsInFolder($_.Guid) | where-object { $_.parentfoldername -match $softinstallcollection } }

#Enumerate all software collections
$softwarecoll | foreach-object -process{
$softguid = $_.guid

#Check if OldPC is in software collection
$result = $coll.getinclusions($softguid,"Resource") | where-object { $_.name -eq $oldpc}
if($result -ne $null){
$softname = $_.Name

#Display and log that OldPC has this piece of software
Write-Host "$oldpc $softname"
Add-Content ".\$newpc.txt" -value "$oldpc $softname"

#Add NewPC to software collection
$coll.addinclusions($softguid,$newpcguid)

#Check if NewPC is in software collection
$result = $coll.getinclusions($softguid,"Resource") | where-object { $_.name -eq $newpc}
if($result -ne $null){

#Display and log that NewPC has this piece of software
Write-Host "$newpc $softname"
Add-Content ".\$newpc.txt" -value "$newpc $softname"
}

#Refresh the software collection
$coll.updatecollections($softguid)
}
#Write-Host "Result:$result"
}
}else{

#One of the GUIDs could not be found. Most likely computername is wrong or it does not exist in Notification Server
Write-Host "Problem finding GUID for Old/New PC"
Write-Host "Old PC: $oldpcguid"
Write-Host "New PC: $newpcguid"
}