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Virtual Server 2005

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Add Solution

Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Compact?

Source: microsoft.public.virtualserver
Sent: 01/13/2005
From: kfrost
Message:

Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd and restart it.

If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use the
harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a new thread as the
last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a harddiskconnectionS
method but not a harddiskconnection method.

Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have been working on
this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a working sample because
I need to get this done and move on. :)

Thanks.

kris

Post Reply | This is Spam! | Mark as Spam

Related Messages

RE: Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Compact?

Sent: 01/13/2005
From: kfrost
Message:

For anybody interested I found a script here.

I had to make the following modifications because the findvirtualmachine
function wouldn't work.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/disks/vsdsvb07.mspx

On Error Resume Next

Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
set colVMs = objVS.VirtualMachines

For Each objVM in colVMS
If objVM.Name = "w2k3Panda" Then
WScript.echo objVM.Name
Set colHardDiskConnections = objVM.HardDiskConnections
For Each objDrive in colHardDiskConnections
Set objHardDisk = objDrive.HardDisk
objHardDisk.Compact()
Next

End If
Next

"kfrost" wrote:

Show quoted text

> Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd and restart it.
>
> If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use the
> harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a new thread as the
> last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a harddiskconnectionS
> method but not a harddiskconnection method.
>
> Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have been working on
> this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a working sample because
> I need to get this done and move on. :)
>
> Thanks.
>
> kris
>
>

Re: Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Compact?

Sent: 01/14/2005
From: "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)>
Message:

objHardDisk.Compact() won't free up physical space unless you zero out the
bits inside the VM first. VHDPrecompactor comes on a Auto-Start ISO, so it
is as easy as first popping in the ISO into the VM's CD Drive, waiting on
CPU utilization to go to near 0% (there is no way for Host to "wait" on an
action in the Guest), and then shutdown + compact.

--
//David
IIS
http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
//
"kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...
For anybody interested I found a script here.

I had to make the following modifications because the findvirtualmachine
function wouldn't work.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/disks/vsdsvb07.mspx

On Error Resume Next

Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
set colVMs = objVS.VirtualMachines

For Each objVM in colVMS
If objVM.Name = "w2k3Panda" Then
WScript.echo objVM.Name
Set colHardDiskConnections = objVM.HardDiskConnections
For Each objDrive in colHardDiskConnections
Set objHardDisk = objDrive.HardDisk
objHardDisk.Compact()
Next

End If
Next

"kfrost" wrote:

it.
the
because

Show quoted text

> Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd and restart
>
> If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use the
> harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a new thread as
> last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a harddiskconnectionS
> method but not a harddiskconnection method.
>
> Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have been working on
> this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a working sample
> I need to get this done and move on. :)
>
> Thanks.
>
> kris
>
>

Re: Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Compact?

Sent: 01/15/2005
From: "Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias>
Message:

David,

How do I zero out the bits inside VM? Run defrag?

Thanks,
Bhargav

"David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...

Show quoted text

> objHardDisk.Compact() won't free up physical space unless you zero out
> the
> bits inside the VM first. VHDPrecompactor comes on a Auto-Start ISO, so
> it
> is as easy as first popping in the ISO into the VM's CD Drive, waiting on
> CPU utilization to go to near 0% (there is no way for Host to "wait" on an
> action in the Guest), and then shutdown + compact.
>
> --
> //David
> IIS
> http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights.
> //
> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> news:(email address - cut out)...
> For anybody interested I found a script here.
>
> I had to make the following modifications because the findvirtualmachine
> function wouldn't work.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/disks/vsdsvb07.mspx
>
> On Error Resume Next
>
> Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> set colVMs = objVS.VirtualMachines
>
> For Each objVM in colVMS
> If objVM.Name = "w2k3Panda" Then
> WScript.echo objVM.Name
> Set colHardDiskConnections = objVM.HardDiskConnections
> For Each objDrive in colHardDiskConnections
> Set objHardDisk = objDrive.HardDisk
> objHardDisk.Compact()
> Next
>
> End If
> Next
>
> "kfrost" wrote:
>
>> Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd and restart
> it.
>>
>> If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use the
>> harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a new thread as
> the
>> last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a harddiskconnectionS
>> method but not a harddiskconnection method.
>>
>> Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have been working on
>> this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a working sample
> because
>> I need to get this done and move on. :)
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> kris
>>
>>
>
>

Re: Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Compact?

Sent: 01/15/2005
From: "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)>
Message:

http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/vpcfaq/VPCFAQ5-GeneralTipsandTri.html

Tip 5.11

All these steps can be automated on VS2005 because it has a scriptable Admin
API.

--
//David
IIS
http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
//
"Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...
David,

How do I zero out the bits inside VM? Run defrag?

Thanks,
Bhargav

"David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/disks/vsdsvb07.mspx

Show quoted text

> objHardDisk.Compact() won't free up physical space unless you zero out
> the
> bits inside the VM first. VHDPrecompactor comes on a Auto-Start ISO, so
> it
> is as easy as first popping in the ISO into the VM's CD Drive, waiting on
> CPU utilization to go to near 0% (there is no way for Host to "wait" on an
> action in the Guest), and then shutdown + compact.
>
> --
> //David
> IIS
> http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights.
> //
> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> news:(email address - cut out)...
> For anybody interested I found a script here.
>
> I had to make the following modifications because the findvirtualmachine
> function wouldn't work.
>
>
>
> On Error Resume Next
>
> Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> set colVMs = objVS.VirtualMachines
>
> For Each objVM in colVMS
> If objVM.Name = "w2k3Panda" Then
> WScript.echo objVM.Name
> Set colHardDiskConnections = objVM.HardDiskConnections
> For Each objDrive in colHardDiskConnections
> Set objHardDisk = objDrive.HardDisk
> objHardDisk.Compact()
> Next
>
> End If
> Next
>
> "kfrost" wrote:
>
>> Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd and restart
> it.
>>
>> If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use the
>> harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a new thread as
> the
>> last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a harddiskconnectionS
>> method but not a harddiskconnection method.
>>
>> Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have been working on
>> this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a working sample
> because
>> I need to get this done and move on. :)
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> kris
>>
>>
>
>

Re: Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Compact?

Sent: 01/15/2005
From: "Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias>
Message:

Thanks David. This is helpful.

"David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...

Show quoted text

> http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/vpcfaq/VPCFAQ5-GeneralTipsandTri.html
>
> Tip 5.11
>
> All these steps can be automated on VS2005 because it has a scriptable
> Admin
> API.
>
> --
> //David
> IIS
> http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights.
> //
> "Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias> wrote in message
> news:(email address - cut out)...
> David,
>
> How do I zero out the bits inside VM? Run defrag?
>
> Thanks,
> Bhargav
>
> "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> news:(email address - cut out)...
>> objHardDisk.Compact() won't free up physical space unless you zero out
>> the
>> bits inside the VM first. VHDPrecompactor comes on a Auto-Start ISO, so
>> it
>> is as easy as first popping in the ISO into the VM's CD Drive, waiting on
>> CPU utilization to go to near 0% (there is no way for Host to "wait" on
>> an
>> action in the Guest), and then shutdown + compact.
>>
>> --
>> //David
>> IIS
>> http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights.
>> //
>> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>> news:(email address - cut out)...
>> For anybody interested I found a script here.
>>
>> I had to make the following modifications because the findvirtualmachine
>> function wouldn't work.
>>
>>
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/disks/vsdsvb07.mspx
>>
>> On Error Resume Next
>>
>> Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
>> set colVMs = objVS.VirtualMachines
>>
>> For Each objVM in colVMS
>> If objVM.Name = "w2k3Panda" Then
>> WScript.echo objVM.Name
>> Set colHardDiskConnections = objVM.HardDiskConnections
>> For Each objDrive in colHardDiskConnections
>> Set objHardDisk = objDrive.HardDisk
>> objHardDisk.Compact()
>> Next
>>
>> End If
>> Next
>>
>> "kfrost" wrote:
>>
>>> Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd and restart
>> it.
>>>
>>> If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use the
>>> harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a new thread
>>> as
>> the
>>> last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a harddiskconnectionS
>>> method but not a harddiskconnection method.
>>>
>>> Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have been working
>>> on
>>> this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a working sample
>> because
>>> I need to get this done and move on. :)
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> kris
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>

Re: Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Comp

Sent: 01/20/2005
From: kfrost
Message:

First of all, anybody else that reads this thread, to zero the bits there is
an ISO image included with Virtual PC 2004 SP 1 called Virtual Disk
Precompactor.iso. You need to copy this to the Virtual server in order to
run it.

Also, I've been able to attach the image and have it autorun. However, it
still prompts with the yes/no window I'm having trouble getting it to run
without user intervention. Is there a way to suppress this pop-up when
starting with autoplay?

If not, there is a silent command with the precompact.exe. I've thought
about copying it locally and trying to figure out a way to kick it off via a
command ran on the host. I see there is an ExecuteCommand in the GuestOS
object but it doesn't seem to take parameters.

Open to suggestions here. If you have something, please post a code sample
if possible instead of just posting links all over the place.

Thanks.

"Bhargav Shukla" wrote:

Show quoted text

> Thanks David. This is helpful.
>
> "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> news:(email address - cut out)...
> > http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/vpcfaq/VPCFAQ5-GeneralTipsandTri.html
> >
> > Tip 5.11
> >
> > All these steps can be automated on VS2005 because it has a scriptable
> > Admin
> > API.
> >
> > --
> > //David
> > IIS
> > http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
> > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> > rights.
> > //
> > "Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias> wrote in message
> > news:(email address - cut out)...
> > David,
> >
> > How do I zero out the bits inside VM? Run defrag?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Bhargav
> >
> > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> > news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> objHardDisk.Compact() won't free up physical space unless you zero out
> >> the
> >> bits inside the VM first. VHDPrecompactor comes on a Auto-Start ISO, so
> >> it
> >> is as easy as first popping in the ISO into the VM's CD Drive, waiting on
> >> CPU utilization to go to near 0% (there is no way for Host to "wait" on
> >> an
> >> action in the Guest), and then shutdown + compact.
> >>
> >> --
> >> //David
> >> IIS
> >> http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> >> rights.
> >> //
> >> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> >> news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> For anybody interested I found a script here.
> >>
> >> I had to make the following modifications because the findvirtualmachine
> >> function wouldn't work.
> >>
> >>
> > http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/disks/vsdsvb07.mspx
> >>
> >> On Error Resume Next
> >>
> >> Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> >> set colVMs = objVS.VirtualMachines
> >>
> >> For Each objVM in colVMS
> >> If objVM.Name = "w2k3Panda" Then
> >> WScript.echo objVM.Name
> >> Set colHardDiskConnections = objVM.HardDiskConnections
> >> For Each objDrive in colHardDiskConnections
> >> Set objHardDisk = objDrive.HardDisk
> >> objHardDisk.Compact()
> >> Next
> >>
> >> End If
> >> Next
> >>
> >> "kfrost" wrote:
> >>
> >>> Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd and restart
> >> it.
> >>>
> >>> If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use the
> >>> harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a new thread
> >>> as
> >> the
> >>> last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a harddiskconnectionS
> >>> method but not a harddiskconnection method.
> >>>
> >>> Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have been working
> >>> on
> >>> this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a working sample
> >> because
> >>> I need to get this done and move on. :)
> >>>
> >>> Thanks.
> >>>
> >>> kris
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

Re: Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Comp

Sent: 01/20/2005
From: "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)>
Message:

Unfortunately, GuestOS.ExecuteCommand is not allowed for security reasons,
so the API up-front does not support Host executing commands in Guest.
However, it is possible to have the Host automate the scheduling of VHD
compaction... and this is what I did.

1. I repackaged the VMAdditions ISO that ships with Virtual Server so that
it autoruns and install VM Additions SILENTLY without user intervention.
You do this by modifying AUTORUN.INF at the root of the ISO to be:
[autorun]
run=WINDOWS\SETUP.EXE -s -v"/qn"

In a generic sense, this is what you need to run whenever you call GuestOS
commands and it fails -- because you need VM Additions.

2. Using VM Additions, the GuestOS object becomes usable. In particular,
notice that GuestOS.SetParameter() allows the Host to make a modification in
a documented spot in the Guest's Registry. You can write your own little
daemon that runs in the Guest, monitor this Registry key for strings which
the daemon execute as commands. You roll your own GuestOS.ExecuteCommand,
essentially. :-)

Realistically speaking, it makes no sense to run the VHD Precompactor
without immediately saving/stopping the GuestOS and running compact on the
hard drive -- so I'm not certain the UI popup matters. I actually use a
couple of command lines that sequence the compacting of a VM, rebooting it.
Treat it like doing cleanup once a couple of months.

--
//David
IIS
http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
//
"kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...
First of all, anybody else that reads this thread, to zero the bits there is
an ISO image included with Virtual PC 2004 SP 1 called Virtual Disk
Precompactor.iso. You need to copy this to the Virtual server in order to
run it.

Also, I've been able to attach the image and have it autorun. However, it
still prompts with the yes/no window I'm having trouble getting it to run
without user intervention. Is there a way to suppress this pop-up when
starting with autoplay?

If not, there is a silent command with the precompact.exe. I've thought
about copying it locally and trying to figure out a way to kick it off via a
command ran on the host. I see there is an ExecuteCommand in the GuestOS
object but it doesn't seem to take parameters.

Open to suggestions here. If you have something, please post a code sample
if possible instead of just posting links all over the place.

Thanks.

"Bhargav Shukla" wrote:

so
on
findvirtualmachine
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/disks/vsdsvb07.mspx
restart
harddiskconnectionS

Show quoted text

> Thanks David. This is helpful.
>
> "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> news:(email address - cut out)...
> > http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/vpcfaq/VPCFAQ5-GeneralTipsandTri.html
> >
> > Tip 5.11
> >
> > All these steps can be automated on VS2005 because it has a scriptable
> > Admin
> > API.
> >
> > --
> > //David
> > IIS
> > http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
> > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> > rights.
> > //
> > "Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias> wrote in message
> > news:(email address - cut out)...
> > David,
> >
> > How do I zero out the bits inside VM? Run defrag?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Bhargav
> >
> > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> > news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> objHardDisk.Compact() won't free up physical space unless you zero out
> >> the
> >> bits inside the VM first. VHDPrecompactor comes on a Auto-Start ISO,
> >> it
> >> is as easy as first popping in the ISO into the VM's CD Drive, waiting
> >> CPU utilization to go to near 0% (there is no way for Host to "wait" on
> >> an
> >> action in the Guest), and then shutdown + compact.
> >>
> >> --
> >> //David
> >> IIS
> >> http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> >> rights.
> >> //
> >> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> >> news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> For anybody interested I found a script here.
> >>
> >> I had to make the following modifications because the
> >> function wouldn't work.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >>
> >> On Error Resume Next
> >>
> >> Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> >> set colVMs = objVS.VirtualMachines
> >>
> >> For Each objVM in colVMS
> >> If objVM.Name = "w2k3Panda" Then
> >> WScript.echo objVM.Name
> >> Set colHardDiskConnections = objVM.HardDiskConnections
> >> For Each objDrive in colHardDiskConnections
> >> Set objHardDisk = objDrive.HardDisk
> >> objHardDisk.Compact()
> >> Next
> >>
> >> End If
> >> Next
> >>
> >> "kfrost" wrote:
> >>
> >>> Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd and
> >> it.
> >>>
> >>> If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use the
> >>> harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a new thread
> >>> as
> >> the
> >>> last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a
> >>> method but not a harddiskconnection method.
> >>>
> >>> Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have been working
> >>> on
> >>> this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a working sample
> >> because
> >>> I need to get this done and move on. :)
> >>>
> >>> Thanks.
> >>>
> >>> kris
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

Re: Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Comp

Sent: 01/21/2005
From: kfrost
Message:

David,

Again, first of all I do appreciate the effort to try and help but since
Microsoft sends out all these surveys about wanting to know customer
satisfaction with support. If you are going to respond to something like a
scripting question, please respond with a working script. Not 4 paragraphs
of your opinions that don't offer a solution to the question asked.

Contrary to what you wrote I am certain that the UI popup does matter. I've
explained we are working around a problem with Virtual Server and we
certainly don't want to have to monitor and do any of the steps involved in
the process. This needs to be completely automated so as not to waste man
hours on a MS problem.

Again, I know in a forum like this this sounds unappreciative and probably
hateful but that's not my intent. I worked for MS for 8 years in alliance
and just left in June so I do know what it's like on your side of things.
But when a customer ask for a resolution and you answer in a forum like this,
either give a solution or not. Or if you have partial info, state that
because if you post responses like you do, people who may know the answer may
browse on past thinking the question has been answered. Also, it is very
frustrated when somebody from Microsoft answers a post to a link to somewhere
else in most cases. Especially when you're asking for a code sample and get
directed to a link that has no code. Again, I'm sure there are others out
there like me that get through on these tasks and have to do it with no
intentions about learning how to script VS anymore than they have too unlike
you to where it's your job.

For anybody concerned and following this thread, I've figured out how to do
this. Not sure it's the best way but the first working go at it. I launch
precompact with autorun and in this case the popup window has focus. I then
send the key_enter command to the guest OS and the compaction runs.

The only lacking thing I have now is trying to determine when precompact is
finished. David has suggested watching the processor utilization on the
guest but I haven't found a way to do that from the host. The only way I've
come up with now which is really crappy is to just sleep the thread for 30
minutes. I was looking for a way to search for the process on the guest as
well but doubt there are these capabilities.

Here what should be a working sample of what I threw together. I didn't put
error checking or what not into it and I'm sure there is a better way to
mount the iso image than what a I came up with but again this is a working
sample to get somebody started.

On Error Resume Next

strVmName = "vm"

Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines

For Each objVM in colVMS

" Wscript.Echo objVM.Name

If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
" Wscript.Echo "Attaching Image"

Set colDVDDrives = objVM.DVDROMDrives
Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
"Set objMouse = objVM.Mouse

For Each objDrive in colDVDDrives
objDrive.ReleaseImage()
errReturn = objDrive.AttachImage _
("C:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual Server\Virtual Machine
Additions\Virtual Disk Precompactor.iso")
Next
End If
Next
" Have to make these calls in order to select yes for the precompact to run
Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines

For Each objVM in colVMS
" Pause for 5 seconds before calling the enter key
Wscript.Sleep 5000
If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
"Calling the Enter for yes to precompact prompt
errReturn = objKeyboard.PressKey("Key_Enter")
Wscript.Echo "Called press key"

End If
Next

"kfrost" wrote:

Show quoted text

> First of all, anybody else that reads this thread, to zero the bits there is
> an ISO image included with Virtual PC 2004 SP 1 called Virtual Disk
> Precompactor.iso. You need to copy this to the Virtual server in order to
> run it.
>
> Also, I've been able to attach the image and have it autorun. However, it
> still prompts with the yes/no window I'm having trouble getting it to run
> without user intervention. Is there a way to suppress this pop-up when
> starting with autoplay?
>
> If not, there is a silent command with the precompact.exe. I've thought
> about copying it locally and trying to figure out a way to kick it off via a
> command ran on the host. I see there is an ExecuteCommand in the GuestOS
> object but it doesn't seem to take parameters.
>
> Open to suggestions here. If you have something, please post a code sample
> if possible instead of just posting links all over the place.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
> "Bhargav Shukla" wrote:
>
> > Thanks David. This is helpful.
> >
> > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> > news:(email address - cut out)...
> > > http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/vpcfaq/VPCFAQ5-GeneralTipsandTri.html
> > >
> > > Tip 5.11
> > >
> > > All these steps can be automated on VS2005 because it has a scriptable
> > > Admin
> > > API.
> > >
> > > --
> > > //David
> > > IIS
> > > http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
> > > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> > > rights.
> > > //
> > > "Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias> wrote in message
> > > news:(email address - cut out)...
> > > David,
> > >
> > > How do I zero out the bits inside VM? Run defrag?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Bhargav
> > >
> > > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> > > news:(email address - cut out)...
> > >> objHardDisk.Compact() won't free up physical space unless you zero out
> > >> the
> > >> bits inside the VM first. VHDPrecompactor comes on a Auto-Start ISO, so
> > >> it
> > >> is as easy as first popping in the ISO into the VM's CD Drive, waiting on
> > >> CPU utilization to go to near 0% (there is no way for Host to "wait" on
> > >> an
> > >> action in the Guest), and then shutdown + compact.
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> //David
> > >> IIS
> > >> http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
> > >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> > >> rights.
> > >> //
> > >> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> > >> news:(email address - cut out)...
> > >> For anybody interested I found a script here.
> > >>
> > >> I had to make the following modifications because the findvirtualmachine
> > >> function wouldn't work.
> > >>
> > >>
> > > http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/disks/vsdsvb07.mspx
> > >>
> > >> On Error Resume Next
> > >>
> > >> Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> > >> set colVMs = objVS.VirtualMachines
> > >>
> > >> For Each objVM in colVMS
> > >> If objVM.Name = "w2k3Panda" Then
> > >> WScript.echo objVM.Name
> > >> Set colHardDiskConnections = objVM.HardDiskConnections
> > >> For Each objDrive in colHardDiskConnections
> > >> Set objHardDisk = objDrive.HardDisk
> > >> objHardDisk.Compact()
> > >> Next
> > >>
> > >> End If
> > >> Next
> > >>
> > >> "kfrost" wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd and restart
> > >> it.
> > >>>
> > >>> If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use the
> > >>> harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a new thread
> > >>> as
> > >> the
> > >>> last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a harddiskconnectionS
> > >>> method but not a harddiskconnection method.
> > >>>
> > >>> Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have been working
> > >>> on
> > >>> this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a working sample
> > >> because
> > >>> I need to get this done and move on. :)
> > >>>
> > >>> Thanks.
> > >>>
> > >>> kris
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >

Re: Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Comp

Sent: 01/21/2005
From: kfrost
Message:

Bhargav,

You've got to be kidding me, free of charge? How else do you politely ask
somebody to not clutter up your posts if they don't have a solution and
making personal comments about they feel there isn't a need for somebody. I
said nothing to you. I've been in David's shoes for 8 years and trust me
he's not working for free. And the last time I checked with 50 billion in
cash in the bank I think MS is doing ok. David works for Microsoft and this
is the only forum for support for Virtual Server right now to my knowledge.
If they'd open up the support lines I would have gladly paid for the support.
I'm just playing by the rules. If this was an open public forum to where
persons such as you or I were posting these responses, you are most correct,
I would just appreciate and go on. But this is David and others jobs at
Microsoft jobs to monitor and answer these questions. I get survey popups
about every other time I visit the sites and when I call support. I'm
offering free survey to Microsoft. I am in no way slamming David as a
individual and if you would have read the post, I did thank him in the spirit
of trying. But if this is the best he's going to do I would prefer he keep
his comments to himself and let somebody such as Ben Armstrong or the others
respond.

David, if you are not in MS support assigned to helping customers with VS
problems, I do sincerely apologize and if that's the case I would suggest
taking the msft of your posts as it insinuates to me you are being paid by MS
to help customers.

Bharga, we bring MS a lot of business and I do pay for the products so I
will post any comments I feel compelled to post when they do not meet my
levels of customer satisfaction and what I expect from Microsoft. And again,
I'm not bashing Microsoft but offerring constructive criticism.

If there is another avenue for MS support on VS that's fee based, I would
have much rather have paid for something and be done with it versus wasting
about 2 or 3 weeks on and off on this. If it's out there as of right now,
please let me know.

Thanks.

"Bhargav Shukla" wrote:

Show quoted text

> Boy this is a big turn off for someone willing to help. It's not good to see
> how Microsoft gets all this after all help for free. You are right that "in
> a forum like this this sounds unappreciative and probably hateful". If you
> already know it is... why don't stop posting such things that makes you a
> person being "unappreciative".
>
> All this for posting what you have figured out already? It's good to help
> someone and it's okay to ask for help but it's not okay to slam someone with
> such hatred when they are spending their valuable time for your problems.
> Not to forget.... for FREE.
>
> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> news:(email address - cut out)...
> > David,
> >
> > Again, first of all I do appreciate the effort to try and help but since
> > Microsoft sends out all these surveys about wanting to know customer
> > satisfaction with support. If you are going to respond to something like
> > a
> > scripting question, please respond with a working script. Not 4
> > paragraphs
> > of your opinions that don't offer a solution to the question asked.
> >
> > Contrary to what you wrote I am certain that the UI popup does matter.
> > I've
> > explained we are working around a problem with Virtual Server and we
> > certainly don't want to have to monitor and do any of the steps involved
> > in
> > the process. This needs to be completely automated so as not to waste man
> > hours on a MS problem.
> >
> > Again, I know in a forum like this this sounds unappreciative and probably
> > hateful but that's not my intent. I worked for MS for 8 years in alliance
> > and just left in June so I do know what it's like on your side of things.
> > But when a customer ask for a resolution and you answer in a forum like
> > this,
> > either give a solution or not. Or if you have partial info, state that
> > because if you post responses like you do, people who may know the answer
> > may
> > browse on past thinking the question has been answered. Also, it is very
> > frustrated when somebody from Microsoft answers a post to a link to
> > somewhere
> > else in most cases. Especially when you're asking for a code sample and
> > get
> > directed to a link that has no code. Again, I'm sure there are others out
> > there like me that get through on these tasks and have to do it with no
> > intentions about learning how to script VS anymore than they have too
> > unlike
> > you to where it's your job.
> >
> > For anybody concerned and following this thread, I've figured out how to
> > do
> > this. Not sure it's the best way but the first working go at it. I
> > launch
> > precompact with autorun and in this case the popup window has focus. I
> > then
> > send the key_enter command to the guest OS and the compaction runs.
> >
> > The only lacking thing I have now is trying to determine when precompact
> > is
> > finished. David has suggested watching the processor utilization on the
> > guest but I haven't found a way to do that from the host. The only way
> > I've
> > come up with now which is really crappy is to just sleep the thread for 30
> > minutes. I was looking for a way to search for the process on the guest
> > as
> > well but doubt there are these capabilities.
> >
> > Here what should be a working sample of what I threw together. I didn't
> > put
> > error checking or what not into it and I'm sure there is a better way to
> > mount the iso image than what a I came up with but again this is a working
> > sample to get somebody started.
> >
> > On Error Resume Next
> >
> > strVmName = "vm"
> >
> > Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> > Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines
> >
> > For Each objVM in colVMS
> >
> > " Wscript.Echo objVM.Name
> >
> > If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
> > " Wscript.Echo "Attaching Image"
> >
> > Set colDVDDrives = objVM.DVDROMDrives
> > Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
> > "Set objMouse = objVM.Mouse
> >
> > For Each objDrive in colDVDDrives
> > objDrive.ReleaseImage()
> > errReturn = objDrive.AttachImage _
> > ("C:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual Server\Virtual Machine
> > Additions\Virtual Disk Precompactor.iso")
> > Next
> > End If
> > Next
> > " Have to make these calls in order to select yes for the precompact to
> > run
> > Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> > Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines
> >
> > For Each objVM in colVMS
> > " Pause for 5 seconds before calling the enter key
> > Wscript.Sleep 5000
> > If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
> > Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
> > "Calling the Enter for yes to precompact prompt
> > errReturn = objKeyboard.PressKey("Key_Enter")
> > Wscript.Echo "Called press key"
> >
> > End If
> > Next
> >
> >
> >
> > "kfrost" wrote:
> >
> >> First of all, anybody else that reads this thread, to zero the bits there
> >> is
> >> an ISO image included with Virtual PC 2004 SP 1 called Virtual Disk
> >> Precompactor.iso. You need to copy this to the Virtual server in order
> >> to
> >> run it.
> >>
> >> Also, I've been able to attach the image and have it autorun. However,
> >> it
> >> still prompts with the yes/no window I'm having trouble getting it to run
> >> without user intervention. Is there a way to suppress this pop-up when
> >> starting with autoplay?
> >>
> >> If not, there is a silent command with the precompact.exe. I've thought
> >> about copying it locally and trying to figure out a way to kick it off
> >> via a
> >> command ran on the host. I see there is an ExecuteCommand in the GuestOS
> >> object but it doesn't seem to take parameters.
> >>
> >> Open to suggestions here. If you have something, please post a code
> >> sample
> >> if possible instead of just posting links all over the place.
> >>
> >> Thanks.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> "Bhargav Shukla" wrote:
> >>
> >> > Thanks David. This is helpful.
> >> >
> >> > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> >> > news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> > > http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/vpcfaq/VPCFAQ5-GeneralTipsandTri.html
> >> > >
> >> > > Tip 5.11
> >> > >
> >> > > All these steps can be automated on VS2005 because it has a
> >> > > scriptable
> >> > > Admin
> >> > > API.
> >> > >
> >> > > --
> >> > > //David
> >> > > IIS
> >> > > http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
> >> > > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> >> > > rights.
> >> > > //
> >> > > "Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias> wrote in message
> >> > > news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> > > David,
> >> > >
> >> > > How do I zero out the bits inside VM? Run defrag?
> >> > >
> >> > > Thanks,
> >> > > Bhargav
> >> > >
> >> > > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> >> > > news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> > >> objHardDisk.Compact() won't free up physical space unless you zero
> >> > >> out
> >> > >> the
> >> > >> bits inside the VM first. VHDPrecompactor comes on a Auto-Start
> >> > >> ISO, so
> >> > >> it
> >> > >> is as easy as first popping in the ISO into the VM's CD Drive,
> >> > >> waiting on
> >> > >> CPU utilization to go to near 0% (there is no way for Host to "wait"
> >> > >> on
> >> > >> an
> >> > >> action in the Guest), and then shutdown + compact.
> >> > >>
> >> > >> --
> >> > >> //David
> >> > >> IIS
> >> > >> http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
> >> > >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> >> > >> rights.
> >> > >> //
> >> > >> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> >> > >> news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> > >> For anybody interested I found a script here.
> >> > >>
> >> > >> I had to make the following modifications because the
> >> > >> findvirtualmachine
> >> > >> function wouldn't work.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > > http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/disks/vsdsvb07.mspx
> >> > >>
> >> > >> On Error Resume Next
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> >> > >> set colVMs = objVS.VirtualMachines
> >> > >>
> >> > >> For Each objVM in colVMS
> >> > >> If objVM.Name = "w2k3Panda" Then
> >> > >> WScript.echo objVM.Name
> >> > >> Set colHardDiskConnections = objVM.HardDiskConnections
> >> > >> For Each objDrive in colHardDiskConnections
> >> > >> Set objHardDisk = objDrive.HardDisk
> >> > >> objHardDisk.Compact()
> >> > >> Next
> >> > >>
> >> > >> End If
> >> > >> Next
> >> > >>
> >> > >> "kfrost" wrote:
> >> > >>
> >> > >>> Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd and
> >> > >>> restart
> >> > >> it.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>> If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use the
> >> > >>> harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a new
> >> > >>> thread
> >> > >>> as
> >> > >> the
> >> > >>> last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a
> >> > >>> harddiskconnectionS
> >> > >>> method but not a harddiskconnection method.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>> Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have been
> >> > >>> working
> >> > >>> on
> >> > >>> this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a working
> >> > >>> sample
> >> > >> because
> >> > >>> I need to get this done and move on. :)
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>> Thanks.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>> kris
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
>
>
>

Re: Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Comp

Sent: 01/21/2005
From: "Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias>
Message:

Boy this is a big turn off for someone willing to help. It's not good to see
how Microsoft gets all this after all help for free. You are right that "in
a forum like this this sounds unappreciative and probably hateful". If you
already know it is... why don't stop posting such things that makes you a
person being "unappreciative".

All this for posting what you have figured out already? It's good to help
someone and it's okay to ask for help but it's not okay to slam someone with
such hatred when they are spending their valuable time for your problems.
Not to forget.... for FREE.

"kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...

Show quoted text

> David,
>
> Again, first of all I do appreciate the effort to try and help but since
> Microsoft sends out all these surveys about wanting to know customer
> satisfaction with support. If you are going to respond to something like
> a
> scripting question, please respond with a working script. Not 4
> paragraphs
> of your opinions that don't offer a solution to the question asked.
>
> Contrary to what you wrote I am certain that the UI popup does matter.
> I've
> explained we are working around a problem with Virtual Server and we
> certainly don't want to have to monitor and do any of the steps involved
> in
> the process. This needs to be completely automated so as not to waste man
> hours on a MS problem.
>
> Again, I know in a forum like this this sounds unappreciative and probably
> hateful but that's not my intent. I worked for MS for 8 years in alliance
> and just left in June so I do know what it's like on your side of things.
> But when a customer ask for a resolution and you answer in a forum like
> this,
> either give a solution or not. Or if you have partial info, state that
> because if you post responses like you do, people who may know the answer
> may
> browse on past thinking the question has been answered. Also, it is very
> frustrated when somebody from Microsoft answers a post to a link to
> somewhere
> else in most cases. Especially when you're asking for a code sample and
> get
> directed to a link that has no code. Again, I'm sure there are others out
> there like me that get through on these tasks and have to do it with no
> intentions about learning how to script VS anymore than they have too
> unlike
> you to where it's your job.
>
> For anybody concerned and following this thread, I've figured out how to
> do
> this. Not sure it's the best way but the first working go at it. I
> launch
> precompact with autorun and in this case the popup window has focus. I
> then
> send the key_enter command to the guest OS and the compaction runs.
>
> The only lacking thing I have now is trying to determine when precompact
> is
> finished. David has suggested watching the processor utilization on the
> guest but I haven't found a way to do that from the host. The only way
> I've
> come up with now which is really crappy is to just sleep the thread for 30
> minutes. I was looking for a way to search for the process on the guest
> as
> well but doubt there are these capabilities.
>
> Here what should be a working sample of what I threw together. I didn't
> put
> error checking or what not into it and I'm sure there is a better way to
> mount the iso image than what a I came up with but again this is a working
> sample to get somebody started.
>
> On Error Resume Next
>
> strVmName = "vm"
>
> Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines
>
> For Each objVM in colVMS
>
> " Wscript.Echo objVM.Name
>
> If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
> " Wscript.Echo "Attaching Image"
>
> Set colDVDDrives = objVM.DVDROMDrives
> Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
> "Set objMouse = objVM.Mouse
>
> For Each objDrive in colDVDDrives
> objDrive.ReleaseImage()
> errReturn = objDrive.AttachImage _
> ("C:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual Server\Virtual Machine
> Additions\Virtual Disk Precompactor.iso")
> Next
> End If
> Next
> " Have to make these calls in order to select yes for the precompact to
> run
> Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines
>
> For Each objVM in colVMS
> " Pause for 5 seconds before calling the enter key
> Wscript.Sleep 5000
> If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
> Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
> "Calling the Enter for yes to precompact prompt
> errReturn = objKeyboard.PressKey("Key_Enter")
> Wscript.Echo "Called press key"
>
> End If
> Next
>
>
>
> "kfrost" wrote:
>
>> First of all, anybody else that reads this thread, to zero the bits there
>> is
>> an ISO image included with Virtual PC 2004 SP 1 called Virtual Disk
>> Precompactor.iso. You need to copy this to the Virtual server in order
>> to
>> run it.
>>
>> Also, I've been able to attach the image and have it autorun. However,
>> it
>> still prompts with the yes/no window I'm having trouble getting it to run
>> without user intervention. Is there a way to suppress this pop-up when
>> starting with autoplay?
>>
>> If not, there is a silent command with the precompact.exe. I've thought
>> about copying it locally and trying to figure out a way to kick it off
>> via a
>> command ran on the host. I see there is an ExecuteCommand in the GuestOS
>> object but it doesn't seem to take parameters.
>>
>> Open to suggestions here. If you have something, please post a code
>> sample
>> if possible instead of just posting links all over the place.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>>
>>
>> "Bhargav Shukla" wrote:
>>
>> > Thanks David. This is helpful.
>> >
>> > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>> > news:(email address - cut out)...
>> > > http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/vpcfaq/VPCFAQ5-GeneralTipsandTri.html
>> > >
>> > > Tip 5.11
>> > >
>> > > All these steps can be automated on VS2005 because it has a
>> > > scriptable
>> > > Admin
>> > > API.
>> > >
>> > > --
>> > > //David
>> > > IIS
>> > > http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
>> > > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> > > rights.
>> > > //
>> > > "Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias> wrote in message
>> > > news:(email address - cut out)...
>> > > David,
>> > >
>> > > How do I zero out the bits inside VM? Run defrag?
>> > >
>> > > Thanks,
>> > > Bhargav
>> > >
>> > > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>> > > news:(email address - cut out)...
>> > >> objHardDisk.Compact() won't free up physical space unless you zero
>> > >> out
>> > >> the
>> > >> bits inside the VM first. VHDPrecompactor comes on a Auto-Start
>> > >> ISO, so
>> > >> it
>> > >> is as easy as first popping in the ISO into the VM's CD Drive,
>> > >> waiting on
>> > >> CPU utilization to go to near 0% (there is no way for Host to "wait"
>> > >> on
>> > >> an
>> > >> action in the Guest), and then shutdown + compact.
>> > >>
>> > >> --
>> > >> //David
>> > >> IIS
>> > >> http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
>> > >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> > >> rights.
>> > >> //
>> > >> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>> > >> news:(email address - cut out)...
>> > >> For anybody interested I found a script here.
>> > >>
>> > >> I had to make the following modifications because the
>> > >> findvirtualmachine
>> > >> function wouldn't work.
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > > http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/disks/vsdsvb07.mspx
>> > >>
>> > >> On Error Resume Next
>> > >>
>> > >> Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
>> > >> set colVMs = objVS.VirtualMachines
>> > >>
>> > >> For Each objVM in colVMS
>> > >> If objVM.Name = "w2k3Panda" Then
>> > >> WScript.echo objVM.Name
>> > >> Set colHardDiskConnections = objVM.HardDiskConnections
>> > >> For Each objDrive in colHardDiskConnections
>> > >> Set objHardDisk = objDrive.HardDisk
>> > >> objHardDisk.Compact()
>> > >> Next
>> > >>
>> > >> End If
>> > >> Next
>> > >>
>> > >> "kfrost" wrote:
>> > >>
>> > >>> Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd and
>> > >>> restart
>> > >> it.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use the
>> > >>> harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a new
>> > >>> thread
>> > >>> as
>> > >> the
>> > >>> last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a
>> > >>> harddiskconnectionS
>> > >>> method but not a harddiskconnection method.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have been
>> > >>> working
>> > >>> on
>> > >>> this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a working
>> > >>> sample
>> > >> because
>> > >>> I need to get this done and move on. :)
>> > >>>
>> > >>> Thanks.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> kris
>> > >>>
>> > >>>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> >

Re: Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Comp

Sent: 01/21/2005
From: kfrost
Message:

Bhargav,

No need for an apology. I appreciate your comments. I wasn't aware that
they took calls on VS at this time. It's my fault for not going that route
then. I thought you had to go through the newsgroups until it released.

One thing I will point out, I'm pretty sure the persons that have msft or
microsoft by their tags either have a review goal or it's part of their job
description to answer the threads on this forum and pass along the info back
to the product groups so it's their jobs and I would expect a better effort
from them. But you are correct for another user such as you or myself, I
would never offer constructive criticism such as that for somebody trying to
help me out of the kindness.

Thanks for the info and the feedback.

"Bhargav Shukla" wrote:

Show quoted text

> I didn't understand your point here. You said in this post that "If they'd
> open up the support lines I would have gladly paid for the support"
>
> Microsoft does have articles on KB on support site about virtual server
> problems and their professional support phone lines does respond and support
> Virtual Server for troubleshooting so it's not the question of them not
> supporting their product via other means and that this is the only way to
> get support on Virtual Server. This is a public forum for Virtual Server and
> not a primary method to get support that you think would be critical for
> production or otherwise.
>
> It's probably true that they might have very limited KB articles but that is
> not surprising for product not so mature. I expect that KB to grow as they
> gather more real world scenarios and solutions to it via their support
> channels. They still will help you and fix the issue if you call
> professional support.
>
> Being said that, the clutter in newsgroup is very common. I have seen many
> posts sidetracked by personal opinions and other discussions. I can't blame
> someone for that. Newsgroup is for sharing information and helping others
> voluntarily.
>
> Anyway, it's none related to your original question about scripting so I'll
> end here before you blame me for messing the thread by sidetracking. Sorry
> for inconvenience.
>
> Thanks,
> Bhargav
>
> P.S.: I am no advocate for anyone (including Microsoft) and should not be
> considered one. I just opine.
>
> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> news:(email address - cut out)...
> > Bhargav,
> >
> > You've got to be kidding me, free of charge? How else do you politely ask
> > somebody to not clutter up your posts if they don't have a solution and
> > making personal comments about they feel there isn't a need for somebody.
> > I
> > said nothing to you. I've been in David's shoes for 8 years and trust me
> > he's not working for free. And the last time I checked with 50 billion in
> > cash in the bank I think MS is doing ok. David works for Microsoft and
> > this
> > is the only forum for support for Virtual Server right now to my
> > knowledge.
> > If they'd open up the support lines I would have gladly paid for the
> > support.
> > I'm just playing by the rules. If this was an open public forum to where
> > persons such as you or I were posting these responses, you are most
> > correct,
> > I would just appreciate and go on. But this is David and others jobs at
> > Microsoft jobs to monitor and answer these questions. I get survey popups
> > about every other time I visit the sites and when I call support. I'm
> > offering free survey to Microsoft. I am in no way slamming David as a
> > individual and if you would have read the post, I did thank him in the
> > spirit
> > of trying. But if this is the best he's going to do I would prefer he
> > keep
> > his comments to himself and let somebody such as Ben Armstrong or the
> > others
> > respond.
> >
> > David, if you are not in MS support assigned to helping customers with VS
> > problems, I do sincerely apologize and if that's the case I would suggest
> > taking the msft of your posts as it insinuates to me you are being paid by
> > MS
> > to help customers.
> >
> > Bharga, we bring MS a lot of business and I do pay for the products so I
> > will post any comments I feel compelled to post when they do not meet my
> > levels of customer satisfaction and what I expect from Microsoft. And
> > again,
> > I'm not bashing Microsoft but offerring constructive criticism.
> >
> > If there is another avenue for MS support on VS that's fee based, I would
> > have much rather have paid for something and be done with it versus
> > wasting
> > about 2 or 3 weeks on and off on this. If it's out there as of right now,
> > please let me know.
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> >
> >
> > "Bhargav Shukla" wrote:
> >
> >> Boy this is a big turn off for someone willing to help. It's not good to
> >> see
> >> how Microsoft gets all this after all help for free. You are right that
> >> "in
> >> a forum like this this sounds unappreciative and probably hateful". If
> >> you
> >> already know it is... why don't stop posting such things that makes you a
> >> person being "unappreciative".
> >>
> >> All this for posting what you have figured out already? It's good to help
> >> someone and it's okay to ask for help but it's not okay to slam someone
> >> with
> >> such hatred when they are spending their valuable time for your problems.
> >> Not to forget.... for FREE.
> >>
> >> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> >> news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> > David,
> >> >
> >> > Again, first of all I do appreciate the effort to try and help but
> >> > since
> >> > Microsoft sends out all these surveys about wanting to know customer
> >> > satisfaction with support. If you are going to respond to something
> >> > like
> >> > a
> >> > scripting question, please respond with a working script. Not 4
> >> > paragraphs
> >> > of your opinions that don't offer a solution to the question asked.
> >> >
> >> > Contrary to what you wrote I am certain that the UI popup does matter.
> >> > I've
> >> > explained we are working around a problem with Virtual Server and we
> >> > certainly don't want to have to monitor and do any of the steps
> >> > involved
> >> > in
> >> > the process. This needs to be completely automated so as not to waste
> >> > man
> >> > hours on a MS problem.
> >> >
> >> > Again, I know in a forum like this this sounds unappreciative and
> >> > probably
> >> > hateful but that's not my intent. I worked for MS for 8 years in
> >> > alliance
> >> > and just left in June so I do know what it's like on your side of
> >> > things.
> >> > But when a customer ask for a resolution and you answer in a forum like
> >> > this,
> >> > either give a solution or not. Or if you have partial info, state that
> >> > because if you post responses like you do, people who may know the
> >> > answer
> >> > may
> >> > browse on past thinking the question has been answered. Also, it is
> >> > very
> >> > frustrated when somebody from Microsoft answers a post to a link to
> >> > somewhere
> >> > else in most cases. Especially when you're asking for a code sample
> >> > and
> >> > get
> >> > directed to a link that has no code. Again, I'm sure there are others
> >> > out
> >> > there like me that get through on these tasks and have to do it with no
> >> > intentions about learning how to script VS anymore than they have too
> >> > unlike
> >> > you to where it's your job.
> >> >
> >> > For anybody concerned and following this thread, I've figured out how
> >> > to
> >> > do
> >> > this. Not sure it's the best way but the first working go at it. I
> >> > launch
> >> > precompact with autorun and in this case the popup window has focus. I
> >> > then
> >> > send the key_enter command to the guest OS and the compaction runs.
> >> >
> >> > The only lacking thing I have now is trying to determine when
> >> > precompact
> >> > is
> >> > finished. David has suggested watching the processor utilization on
> >> > the
> >> > guest but I haven't found a way to do that from the host. The only way
> >> > I've
> >> > come up with now which is really crappy is to just sleep the thread for
> >> > 30
> >> > minutes. I was looking for a way to search for the process on the
> >> > guest
> >> > as
> >> > well but doubt there are these capabilities.
> >> >
> >> > Here what should be a working sample of what I threw together. I
> >> > didn't
> >> > put
> >> > error checking or what not into it and I'm sure there is a better way
> >> > to
> >> > mount the iso image than what a I came up with but again this is a
> >> > working
> >> > sample to get somebody started.
> >> >
> >> > On Error Resume Next
> >> >
> >> > strVmName = "vm"
> >> >
> >> > Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> >> > Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines
> >> >
> >> > For Each objVM in colVMS
> >> >
> >> > " Wscript.Echo objVM.Name
> >> >
> >> > If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
> >> > " Wscript.Echo "Attaching Image"
> >> >
> >> > Set colDVDDrives = objVM.DVDROMDrives
> >> > Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
> >> > "Set objMouse = objVM.Mouse
> >> >
> >> > For Each objDrive in colDVDDrives
> >> > objDrive.ReleaseImage()
> >> > errReturn = objDrive.AttachImage _
> >> > ("C:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual Server\Virtual Machine
> >> > Additions\Virtual Disk Precompactor.iso")
> >> > Next
> >> > End If
> >> > Next
> >> > " Have to make these calls in order to select yes for the precompact
> >> > to
> >> > run
> >> > Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> >> > Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines
> >> >
> >> > For Each objVM in colVMS
> >> > " Pause for 5 seconds before calling the enter key
> >> > Wscript.Sleep 5000
> >> > If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
> >> > Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
> >> > "Calling the Enter for yes to precompact prompt
> >> > errReturn = objKeyboard.PressKey("Key_Enter")
> >> > Wscript.Echo "Called press key"
> >> >
> >> > End If
> >> > Next
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "kfrost" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> First of all, anybody else that reads this thread, to zero the bits
> >> >> there
> >> >> is
> >> >> an ISO image included with Virtual PC 2004 SP 1 called Virtual Disk
> >> >> Precompactor.iso. You need to copy this to the Virtual server in
> >> >> order
> >> >> to
> >> >> run it.
> >> >>
> >> >> Also, I've been able to attach the image and have it autorun.
> >> >> However,
> >> >> it
> >> >> still prompts with the yes/no window I'm having trouble getting it to
> >> >> run
> >> >> without user intervention. Is there a way to suppress this pop-up
> >> >> when
> >> >> starting with autoplay?
> >> >>
> >> >> If not, there is a silent command with the precompact.exe. I've
> >> >> thought
> >> >> about copying it locally and trying to figure out a way to kick it off
> >> >> via a
> >> >> command ran on the host. I see there is an ExecuteCommand in the
> >> >> GuestOS
> >> >> object but it doesn't seem to take parameters.
> >> >>
> >> >> Open to suggestions here. If you have something, please post a code
> >> >> sample
> >> >> if possible instead of just posting links all over the place.
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> "Bhargav Shukla" wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> > Thanks David. This is helpful.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> >> >> > news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> >> > > http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/vpcfaq/VPCFAQ5-GeneralTipsandTri.html
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > Tip 5.11
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > All these steps can be automated on VS2005 because it has a
> >> >> > > scriptable
> >> >> > > Admin
> >> >> > > API.
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > --
> >> >> > > //David
> >> >> > > IIS
> >> >> > > http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
> >> >> > > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> >> >> > > no
> >> >> > > rights.
> >> >> > > //
> >> >> > > "Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias> wrote in message
> >> >> > > news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> >> > > David,
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > How do I zero out the bits inside VM? Run defrag?
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > Thanks,
> >> >> > > Bhargav
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in
> >> >> > > message
> >> >> > > news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> >> > >> objHardDisk.Compact() won't free up physical space unless you
> >> >> > >> zero
> >> >> > >> out
> >> >> > >> the
> >> >> > >> bits inside the VM first. VHDPrecompactor comes on a Auto-Start
> >> >> > >> ISO, so
> >> >> > >> it
> >> >> > >> is as easy as first popping in the ISO into the VM's CD Drive,
> >> >> > >> waiting on
> >> >> > >> CPU utilization to go to near 0% (there is no way for Host to
> >> >> > >> "wait"
> >> >> > >> on
> >> >> > >> an
> >> >> > >> action in the Guest), and then shutdown + compact.
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >> --
> >> >> > >> //David
> >> >> > >> IIS
> >> >> > >> http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
> >> >> > >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> >> >> > >> no
> >> >> > >> rights.
> >> >> > >> //
> >> >> > >> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> >> >> > >> news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> >> > >> For anybody interested I found a script here.
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >> I had to make the following modifications because the
> >> >> > >> findvirtualmachine
> >> >> > >> function wouldn't work.
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > > http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/disks/vsdsvb07.mspx
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >> On Error Resume Next
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >> Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> >> >> > >> set colVMs = objVS.VirtualMachines
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >> For Each objVM in colVMS
> >> >> > >> If objVM.Name = "w2k3Panda" Then
> >> >> > >> WScript.echo objVM.Name
> >> >> > >> Set colHardDiskConnections = objVM.HardDiskConnections
> >> >> > >> For Each objDrive in colHardDiskConnections
> >> >> > >> Set objHardDisk = objDrive.HardDisk
> >> >> > >> objHardDisk.Compact()
> >> >> > >> Next
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >> End If
> >> >> > >> Next
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >> "kfrost" wrote:
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >>> Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd and
> >> >> > >>> restart
> >> >> > >> it.
> >> >> > >>>
> >> >> > >>> If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use the
> >> >> > >>> harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a new
> >> >> > >>> thread
> >> >> > >>> as
> >> >> > >> the
> >> >> > >>> last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a
> >> >> > >>> harddiskconnectionS
> >> >> > >>> method but not a harddiskconnection method.
> >> >> > >>>
> >> >> > >>> Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have been
> >> >> > >>> working
> >> >> > >>> on
> >> >> > >>> this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a working
> >> >> > >>> sample
> >> >> > >> because
> >> >> > >>> I need to get this done and move on. :)
> >> >> > >>>
> >> >> > >>> Thanks.
> >> >> > >>>
> >> >> > >>> kris
> >> >> > >>>
> >> >> > >>>
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

Re: Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Comp

Sent: 01/21/2005
From: "Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias>
Message:

I didn't understand your point here. You said in this post that "If they'd
open up the support lines I would have gladly paid for the support"

Microsoft does have articles on KB on support site about virtual server
problems and their professional support phone lines does respond and support
Virtual Server for troubleshooting so it's not the question of them not
supporting their product via other means and that this is the only way to
get support on Virtual Server. This is a public forum for Virtual Server and
not a primary method to get support that you think would be critical for
production or otherwise.

It's probably true that they might have very limited KB articles but that is
not surprising for product not so mature. I expect that KB to grow as they
gather more real world scenarios and solutions to it via their support
channels. They still will help you and fix the issue if you call
professional support.

Being said that, the clutter in newsgroup is very common. I have seen many
posts sidetracked by personal opinions and other discussions. I can't blame
someone for that. Newsgroup is for sharing information and helping others
voluntarily.

Anyway, it's none related to your original question about scripting so I'll
end here before you blame me for messing the thread by sidetracking. Sorry
for inconvenience.

Thanks,
Bhargav

P.S.: I am no advocate for anyone (including Microsoft) and should not be
considered one. I just opine.

"kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...

Show quoted text

> Bhargav,
>
> You've got to be kidding me, free of charge? How else do you politely ask
> somebody to not clutter up your posts if they don't have a solution and
> making personal comments about they feel there isn't a need for somebody.
> I
> said nothing to you. I've been in David's shoes for 8 years and trust me
> he's not working for free. And the last time I checked with 50 billion in
> cash in the bank I think MS is doing ok. David works for Microsoft and
> this
> is the only forum for support for Virtual Server right now to my
> knowledge.
> If they'd open up the support lines I would have gladly paid for the
> support.
> I'm just playing by the rules. If this was an open public forum to where
> persons such as you or I were posting these responses, you are most
> correct,
> I would just appreciate and go on. But this is David and others jobs at
> Microsoft jobs to monitor and answer these questions. I get survey popups
> about every other time I visit the sites and when I call support. I'm
> offering free survey to Microsoft. I am in no way slamming David as a
> individual and if you would have read the post, I did thank him in the
> spirit
> of trying. But if this is the best he's going to do I would prefer he
> keep
> his comments to himself and let somebody such as Ben Armstrong or the
> others
> respond.
>
> David, if you are not in MS support assigned to helping customers with VS
> problems, I do sincerely apologize and if that's the case I would suggest
> taking the msft of your posts as it insinuates to me you are being paid by
> MS
> to help customers.
>
> Bharga, we bring MS a lot of business and I do pay for the products so I
> will post any comments I feel compelled to post when they do not meet my
> levels of customer satisfaction and what I expect from Microsoft. And
> again,
> I'm not bashing Microsoft but offerring constructive criticism.
>
> If there is another avenue for MS support on VS that's fee based, I would
> have much rather have paid for something and be done with it versus
> wasting
> about 2 or 3 weeks on and off on this. If it's out there as of right now,
> please let me know.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
> "Bhargav Shukla" wrote:
>
>> Boy this is a big turn off for someone willing to help. It's not good to
>> see
>> how Microsoft gets all this after all help for free. You are right that
>> "in
>> a forum like this this sounds unappreciative and probably hateful". If
>> you
>> already know it is... why don't stop posting such things that makes you a
>> person being "unappreciative".
>>
>> All this for posting what you have figured out already? It's good to help
>> someone and it's okay to ask for help but it's not okay to slam someone
>> with
>> such hatred when they are spending their valuable time for your problems.
>> Not to forget.... for FREE.
>>
>> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>> news:(email address - cut out)...
>> > David,
>> >
>> > Again, first of all I do appreciate the effort to try and help but
>> > since
>> > Microsoft sends out all these surveys about wanting to know customer
>> > satisfaction with support. If you are going to respond to something
>> > like
>> > a
>> > scripting question, please respond with a working script. Not 4
>> > paragraphs
>> > of your opinions that don't offer a solution to the question asked.
>> >
>> > Contrary to what you wrote I am certain that the UI popup does matter.
>> > I've
>> > explained we are working around a problem with Virtual Server and we
>> > certainly don't want to have to monitor and do any of the steps
>> > involved
>> > in
>> > the process. This needs to be completely automated so as not to waste
>> > man
>> > hours on a MS problem.
>> >
>> > Again, I know in a forum like this this sounds unappreciative and
>> > probably
>> > hateful but that's not my intent. I worked for MS for 8 years in
>> > alliance
>> > and just left in June so I do know what it's like on your side of
>> > things.
>> > But when a customer ask for a resolution and you answer in a forum like
>> > this,
>> > either give a solution or not. Or if you have partial info, state that
>> > because if you post responses like you do, people who may know the
>> > answer
>> > may
>> > browse on past thinking the question has been answered. Also, it is
>> > very
>> > frustrated when somebody from Microsoft answers a post to a link to
>> > somewhere
>> > else in most cases. Especially when you're asking for a code sample
>> > and
>> > get
>> > directed to a link that has no code. Again, I'm sure there are others
>> > out
>> > there like me that get through on these tasks and have to do it with no
>> > intentions about learning how to script VS anymore than they have too
>> > unlike
>> > you to where it's your job.
>> >
>> > For anybody concerned and following this thread, I've figured out how
>> > to
>> > do
>> > this. Not sure it's the best way but the first working go at it. I
>> > launch
>> > precompact with autorun and in this case the popup window has focus. I
>> > then
>> > send the key_enter command to the guest OS and the compaction runs.
>> >
>> > The only lacking thing I have now is trying to determine when
>> > precompact
>> > is
>> > finished. David has suggested watching the processor utilization on
>> > the
>> > guest but I haven't found a way to do that from the host. The only way
>> > I've
>> > come up with now which is really crappy is to just sleep the thread for
>> > 30
>> > minutes. I was looking for a way to search for the process on the
>> > guest
>> > as
>> > well but doubt there are these capabilities.
>> >
>> > Here what should be a working sample of what I threw together. I
>> > didn't
>> > put
>> > error checking or what not into it and I'm sure there is a better way
>> > to
>> > mount the iso image than what a I came up with but again this is a
>> > working
>> > sample to get somebody started.
>> >
>> > On Error Resume Next
>> >
>> > strVmName = "vm"
>> >
>> > Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
>> > Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines
>> >
>> > For Each objVM in colVMS
>> >
>> > " Wscript.Echo objVM.Name
>> >
>> > If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
>> > " Wscript.Echo "Attaching Image"
>> >
>> > Set colDVDDrives = objVM.DVDROMDrives
>> > Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
>> > "Set objMouse = objVM.Mouse
>> >
>> > For Each objDrive in colDVDDrives
>> > objDrive.ReleaseImage()
>> > errReturn = objDrive.AttachImage _
>> > ("C:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual Server\Virtual Machine
>> > Additions\Virtual Disk Precompactor.iso")
>> > Next
>> > End If
>> > Next
>> > " Have to make these calls in order to select yes for the precompact
>> > to
>> > run
>> > Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
>> > Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines
>> >
>> > For Each objVM in colVMS
>> > " Pause for 5 seconds before calling the enter key
>> > Wscript.Sleep 5000
>> > If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
>> > Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
>> > "Calling the Enter for yes to precompact prompt
>> > errReturn = objKeyboard.PressKey("Key_Enter")
>> > Wscript.Echo "Called press key"
>> >
>> > End If
>> > Next
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "kfrost" wrote:
>> >
>> >> First of all, anybody else that reads this thread, to zero the bits
>> >> there
>> >> is
>> >> an ISO image included with Virtual PC 2004 SP 1 called Virtual Disk
>> >> Precompactor.iso. You need to copy this to the Virtual server in
>> >> order
>> >> to
>> >> run it.
>> >>
>> >> Also, I've been able to attach the image and have it autorun.
>> >> However,
>> >> it
>> >> still prompts with the yes/no window I'm having trouble getting it to
>> >> run
>> >> without user intervention. Is there a way to suppress this pop-up
>> >> when
>> >> starting with autoplay?
>> >>
>> >> If not, there is a silent command with the precompact.exe. I've
>> >> thought
>> >> about copying it locally and trying to figure out a way to kick it off
>> >> via a
>> >> command ran on the host. I see there is an ExecuteCommand in the
>> >> GuestOS
>> >> object but it doesn't seem to take parameters.
>> >>
>> >> Open to suggestions here. If you have something, please post a code
>> >> sample
>> >> if possible instead of just posting links all over the place.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "Bhargav Shukla" wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > Thanks David. This is helpful.
>> >> >
>> >> > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>> >> > news:(email address - cut out)...
>> >> > > http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/vpcfaq/VPCFAQ5-GeneralTipsandTri.html
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Tip 5.11
>> >> > >
>> >> > > All these steps can be automated on VS2005 because it has a
>> >> > > scriptable
>> >> > > Admin
>> >> > > API.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > --
>> >> > > //David
>> >> > > IIS
>> >> > > http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
>> >> > > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
>> >> > > no
>> >> > > rights.
>> >> > > //
>> >> > > "Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias> wrote in message
>> >> > > news:(email address - cut out)...
>> >> > > David,
>> >> > >
>> >> > > How do I zero out the bits inside VM? Run defrag?
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Thanks,
>> >> > > Bhargav
>> >> > >
>> >> > > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in
>> >> > > message
>> >> > > news:(email address - cut out)...
>> >> > >> objHardDisk.Compact() won't free up physical space unless you
>> >> > >> zero
>> >> > >> out
>> >> > >> the
>> >> > >> bits inside the VM first. VHDPrecompactor comes on a Auto-Start
>> >> > >> ISO, so
>> >> > >> it
>> >> > >> is as easy as first popping in the ISO into the VM's CD Drive,
>> >> > >> waiting on
>> >> > >> CPU utilization to go to near 0% (there is no way for Host to
>> >> > >> "wait"
>> >> > >> on
>> >> > >> an
>> >> > >> action in the Guest), and then shutdown + compact.
>> >> > >>
>> >> > >> --
>> >> > >> //David
>> >> > >> IIS
>> >> > >> http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
>> >> > >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
>> >> > >> no
>> >> > >> rights.
>> >> > >> //
>> >> > >> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>> >> > >> news:(email address - cut out)...
>> >> > >> For anybody interested I found a script here.
>> >> > >>
>> >> > >> I had to make the following modifications because the
>> >> > >> findvirtualmachine
>> >> > >> function wouldn't work.
>> >> > >>
>> >> > >>
>> >> > > http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/disks/vsdsvb07.mspx
>> >> > >>
>> >> > >> On Error Resume Next
>> >> > >>
>> >> > >> Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
>> >> > >> set colVMs = objVS.VirtualMachines
>> >> > >>
>> >> > >> For Each objVM in colVMS
>> >> > >> If objVM.Name = "w2k3Panda" Then
>> >> > >> WScript.echo objVM.Name
>> >> > >> Set colHardDiskConnections = objVM.HardDiskConnections
>> >> > >> For Each objDrive in colHardDiskConnections
>> >> > >> Set objHardDisk = objDrive.HardDisk
>> >> > >> objHardDisk.Compact()
>> >> > >> Next
>> >> > >>
>> >> > >> End If
>> >> > >> Next
>> >> > >>
>> >> > >> "kfrost" wrote:
>> >> > >>
>> >> > >>> Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd and
>> >> > >>> restart
>> >> > >> it.
>> >> > >>>
>> >> > >>> If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use the
>> >> > >>> harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a new
>> >> > >>> thread
>> >> > >>> as
>> >> > >> the
>> >> > >>> last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a
>> >> > >>> harddiskconnectionS
>> >> > >>> method but not a harddiskconnection method.
>> >> > >>>
>> >> > >>> Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have been
>> >> > >>> working
>> >> > >>> on
>> >> > >>> this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a working
>> >> > >>> sample
>> >> > >> because
>> >> > >>> I need to get this done and move on. :)
>> >> > >>>
>> >> > >>> Thanks.
>> >> > >>>
>> >> > >>> kris
>> >> > >>>
>> >> > >>>
>> >> > >>
>> >> > >>
>> >> > >
>> >> > >
>> >> > >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>>
>>
>>

Re: Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Comp

Sent: 01/21/2005
From: "Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias>
Message:

Hey,

Nothing against you either. I actually called Professional Support Line
before answering this post to make sure they offer support on it. From my
understanding they offer the phone support as soon as they release the
product (RTM). They might not have support for Beta other than Beta
newsgroups but that is different story.

I'm not sure how it works inside Microsoft for what you mentioned but I
would expect they monitor the newsgroup even if not required as that will
help them improve the products.

Thanks,
Bhargav

"kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...

Show quoted text

> Bhargav,
>
> No need for an apology. I appreciate your comments. I wasn't aware that
> they took calls on VS at this time. It's my fault for not going that
> route
> then. I thought you had to go through the newsgroups until it released.
>
> One thing I will point out, I'm pretty sure the persons that have msft or
> microsoft by their tags either have a review goal or it's part of their
> job
> description to answer the threads on this forum and pass along the info
> back
> to the product groups so it's their jobs and I would expect a better
> effort
> from them. But you are correct for another user such as you or myself, I
> would never offer constructive criticism such as that for somebody trying
> to
> help me out of the kindness.
>
> Thanks for the info and the feedback.
>
> "Bhargav Shukla" wrote:
>
>> I didn't understand your point here. You said in this post that "If
>> they'd
>> open up the support lines I would have gladly paid for the support"
>>
>> Microsoft does have articles on KB on support site about virtual server
>> problems and their professional support phone lines does respond and
>> support
>> Virtual Server for troubleshooting so it's not the question of them not
>> supporting their product via other means and that this is the only way to
>> get support on Virtual Server. This is a public forum for Virtual Server
>> and
>> not a primary method to get support that you think would be critical for
>> production or otherwise.
>>
>> It's probably true that they might have very limited KB articles but that
>> is
>> not surprising for product not so mature. I expect that KB to grow as
>> they
>> gather more real world scenarios and solutions to it via their support
>> channels. They still will help you and fix the issue if you call
>> professional support.
>>
>> Being said that, the clutter in newsgroup is very common. I have seen
>> many
>> posts sidetracked by personal opinions and other discussions. I can't
>> blame
>> someone for that. Newsgroup is for sharing information and helping others
>> voluntarily.
>>
>> Anyway, it's none related to your original question about scripting so
>> I'll
>> end here before you blame me for messing the thread by sidetracking.
>> Sorry
>> for inconvenience.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Bhargav
>>
>> P.S.: I am no advocate for anyone (including Microsoft) and should not be
>> considered one. I just opine.
>>
>> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>> news:(email address - cut out)...
>> > Bhargav,
>> >
>> > You've got to be kidding me, free of charge? How else do you politely
>> > ask
>> > somebody to not clutter up your posts if they don't have a solution and
>> > making personal comments about they feel there isn't a need for
>> > somebody.
>> > I
>> > said nothing to you. I've been in David's shoes for 8 years and trust
>> > me
>> > he's not working for free. And the last time I checked with 50 billion
>> > in
>> > cash in the bank I think MS is doing ok. David works for Microsoft and
>> > this
>> > is the only forum for support for Virtual Server right now to my
>> > knowledge.
>> > If they'd open up the support lines I would have gladly paid for the
>> > support.
>> > I'm just playing by the rules. If this was an open public forum to
>> > where
>> > persons such as you or I were posting these responses, you are most
>> > correct,
>> > I would just appreciate and go on. But this is David and others jobs
>> > at
>> > Microsoft jobs to monitor and answer these questions. I get survey
>> > popups
>> > about every other time I visit the sites and when I call support. I'm
>> > offering free survey to Microsoft. I am in no way slamming David as a
>> > individual and if you would have read the post, I did thank him in the
>> > spirit
>> > of trying. But if this is the best he's going to do I would prefer he
>> > keep
>> > his comments to himself and let somebody such as Ben Armstrong or the
>> > others
>> > respond.
>> >
>> > David, if you are not in MS support assigned to helping customers with
>> > VS
>> > problems, I do sincerely apologize and if that's the case I would
>> > suggest
>> > taking the msft of your posts as it insinuates to me you are being paid
>> > by
>> > MS
>> > to help customers.
>> >
>> > Bharga, we bring MS a lot of business and I do pay for the products so
>> > I
>> > will post any comments I feel compelled to post when they do not meet
>> > my
>> > levels of customer satisfaction and what I expect from Microsoft. And
>> > again,
>> > I'm not bashing Microsoft but offerring constructive criticism.
>> >
>> > If there is another avenue for MS support on VS that's fee based, I
>> > would
>> > have much rather have paid for something and be done with it versus
>> > wasting
>> > about 2 or 3 weeks on and off on this. If it's out there as of right
>> > now,
>> > please let me know.
>> >
>> > Thanks.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "Bhargav Shukla" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Boy this is a big turn off for someone willing to help. It's not good
>> >> to
>> >> see
>> >> how Microsoft gets all this after all help for free. You are right
>> >> that
>> >> "in
>> >> a forum like this this sounds unappreciative and probably hateful". If
>> >> you
>> >> already know it is... why don't stop posting such things that makes
>> >> you a
>> >> person being "unappreciative".
>> >>
>> >> All this for posting what you have figured out already? It's good to
>> >> help
>> >> someone and it's okay to ask for help but it's not okay to slam
>> >> someone
>> >> with
>> >> such hatred when they are spending their valuable time for your
>> >> problems.
>> >> Not to forget.... for FREE.
>> >>
>> >> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>> >> news:(email address - cut out)...
>> >> > David,
>> >> >
>> >> > Again, first of all I do appreciate the effort to try and help but
>> >> > since
>> >> > Microsoft sends out all these surveys about wanting to know customer
>> >> > satisfaction with support. If you are going to respond to something
>> >> > like
>> >> > a
>> >> > scripting question, please respond with a working script. Not 4
>> >> > paragraphs
>> >> > of your opinions that don't offer a solution to the question asked.
>> >> >
>> >> > Contrary to what you wrote I am certain that the UI popup does
>> >> > matter.
>> >> > I've
>> >> > explained we are working around a problem with Virtual Server and we
>> >> > certainly don't want to have to monitor and do any of the steps
>> >> > involved
>> >> > in
>> >> > the process. This needs to be completely automated so as not to
>> >> > waste
>> >> > man
>> >> > hours on a MS problem.
>> >> >
>> >> > Again, I know in a forum like this this sounds unappreciative and
>> >> > probably
>> >> > hateful but that's not my intent. I worked for MS for 8 years in
>> >> > alliance
>> >> > and just left in June so I do know what it's like on your side of
>> >> > things.
>> >> > But when a customer ask for a resolution and you answer in a forum
>> >> > like
>> >> > this,
>> >> > either give a solution or not. Or if you have partial info, state
>> >> > that
>> >> > because if you post responses like you do, people who may know the
>> >> > answer
>> >> > may
>> >> > browse on past thinking the question has been answered. Also, it is
>> >> > very
>> >> > frustrated when somebody from Microsoft answers a post to a link to
>> >> > somewhere
>> >> > else in most cases. Especially when you're asking for a code sample
>> >> > and
>> >> > get
>> >> > directed to a link that has no code. Again, I'm sure there are
>> >> > others
>> >> > out
>> >> > there like me that get through on these tasks and have to do it with
>> >> > no
>> >> > intentions about learning how to script VS anymore than they have
>> >> > too
>> >> > unlike
>> >> > you to where it's your job.
>> >> >
>> >> > For anybody concerned and following this thread, I've figured out
>> >> > how
>> >> > to
>> >> > do
>> >> > this. Not sure it's the best way but the first working go at it. I
>> >> > launch
>> >> > precompact with autorun and in this case the popup window has focus.
>> >> > I
>> >> > then
>> >> > send the key_enter command to the guest OS and the compaction runs.
>> >> >
>> >> > The only lacking thing I have now is trying to determine when
>> >> > precompact
>> >> > is
>> >> > finished. David has suggested watching the processor utilization on
>> >> > the
>> >> > guest but I haven't found a way to do that from the host. The only
>> >> > way
>> >> > I've
>> >> > come up with now which is really crappy is to just sleep the thread
>> >> > for
>> >> > 30
>> >> > minutes. I was looking for a way to search for the process on the
>> >> > guest
>> >> > as
>> >> > well but doubt there are these capabilities.
>> >> >
>> >> > Here what should be a working sample of what I threw together. I
>> >> > didn't
>> >> > put
>> >> > error checking or what not into it and I'm sure there is a better
>> >> > way
>> >> > to
>> >> > mount the iso image than what a I came up with but again this is a
>> >> > working
>> >> > sample to get somebody started.
>> >> >
>> >> > On Error Resume Next
>> >> >
>> >> > strVmName = "vm"
>> >> >
>> >> > Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
>> >> > Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines
>> >> >
>> >> > For Each objVM in colVMS
>> >> >
>> >> > " Wscript.Echo objVM.Name
>> >> >
>> >> > If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
>> >> > " Wscript.Echo "Attaching Image"
>> >> >
>> >> > Set colDVDDrives = objVM.DVDROMDrives
>> >> > Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
>> >> > "Set objMouse = objVM.Mouse
>> >> >
>> >> > For Each objDrive in colDVDDrives
>> >> > objDrive.ReleaseImage()
>> >> > errReturn = objDrive.AttachImage _
>> >> > ("C:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual Server\Virtual Machine
>> >> > Additions\Virtual Disk Precompactor.iso")
>> >> > Next
>> >> > End If
>> >> > Next
>> >> > " Have to make these calls in order to select yes for the
>> >> > precompact
>> >> > to
>> >> > run
>> >> > Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
>> >> > Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines
>> >> >
>> >> > For Each objVM in colVMS
>> >> > " Pause for 5 seconds before calling the enter key
>> >> > Wscript.Sleep 5000
>> >> > If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
>> >> > Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
>> >> > "Calling the Enter for yes to precompact prompt
>> >> > errReturn = objKeyboard.PressKey("Key_Enter")
>> >> > Wscript.Echo "Called press key"
>> >> >
>> >> > End If
>> >> > Next
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > "kfrost" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> First of all, anybody else that reads this thread, to zero the bits
>> >> >> there
>> >> >> is
>> >> >> an ISO image included with Virtual PC 2004 SP 1 called Virtual Disk
>> >> >> Precompactor.iso. You need to copy this to the Virtual server in
>> >> >> order
>> >> >> to
>> >> >> run it.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Also, I've been able to attach the image and have it autorun.
>> >> >> However,
>> >> >> it
>> >> >> still prompts with the yes/no window I'm having trouble getting it
>> >> >> to
>> >> >> run
>> >> >> without user intervention. Is there a way to suppress this pop-up
>> >> >> when
>> >> >> starting with autoplay?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> If not, there is a silent command with the precompact.exe. I've
>> >> >> thought
>> >> >> about copying it locally and trying to figure out a way to kick it
>> >> >> off
>> >> >> via a
>> >> >> command ran on the host. I see there is an ExecuteCommand in the
>> >> >> GuestOS
>> >> >> object but it doesn't seem to take parameters.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Open to suggestions here. If you have something, please post a
>> >> >> code
>> >> >> sample
>> >> >> if possible instead of just posting links all over the place.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Thanks.
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "Bhargav Shukla" wrote:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> > Thanks David. This is helpful.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in
>> >> >> > message
>> >> >> > news:(email address - cut out)...
>> >> >> > > http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/vpcfaq/VPCFAQ5-GeneralTipsandTri.html
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> > > Tip 5.11
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> > > All these steps can be automated on VS2005 because it has a
>> >> >> > > scriptable
>> >> >> > > Admin
>> >> >> > > API.
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> > > --
>> >> >> > > //David
>> >> >> > > IIS
>> >> >> > > http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
>> >> >> > > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>> >> >> > > confers
>> >> >> > > no
>> >> >> > > rights.
>> >> >> > > //
>> >> >> > > "Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias> wrote in message
>> >> >> > > news:(email address - cut out)...
>> >> >> > > David,
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> > > How do I zero out the bits inside VM? Run defrag?
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> > > Thanks,
>> >> >> > > Bhargav
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> > > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in
>> >> >> > > message
>> >> >> > > news:(email address - cut out)...
>> >> >> > >> objHardDisk.Compact() won't free up physical space unless you
>> >> >> > >> zero
>> >> >> > >> out
>> >> >> > >> the
>> >> >> > >> bits inside the VM first. VHDPrecompactor comes on a
>> >> >> > >> Auto-Start
>> >> >> > >> ISO, so
>> >> >> > >> it
>> >> >> > >> is as easy as first popping in the ISO into the VM's CD Drive,
>> >> >> > >> waiting on
>> >> >> > >> CPU utilization to go to near 0% (there is no way for Host to
>> >> >> > >> "wait"
>> >> >> > >> on
>> >> >> > >> an
>> >> >> > >> action in the Guest), and then shutdown + compact.
>> >> >> > >>
>> >> >> > >> --
>> >> >> > >> //David
>> >> >> > >> IIS
>> >> >> > >> http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
>> >> >> > >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>> >> >> > >> confers
>> >> >> > >> no
>> >> >> > >> rights.
>> >> >> > >> //
>> >> >> > >> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>> >> >> > >> news:(email address - cut out)...
>> >> >> > >> For anybody interested I found a script here.
>> >> >> > >>
>> >> >> > >> I had to make the following modifications because the
>> >> >> > >> findvirtualmachine
>> >> >> > >> function wouldn't work.
>> >> >> > >>
>> >> >> > >>
>> >> >> > > http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/disks/vsdsvb07.mspx
>> >> >> > >>
>> >> >> > >> On Error Resume Next
>> >> >> > >>
>> >> >> > >> Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
>> >> >> > >> set colVMs = objVS.VirtualMachines
>> >> >> > >>
>> >> >> > >> For Each objVM in colVMS
>> >> >> > >> If objVM.Name = "w2k3Panda" Then
>> >> >> > >> WScript.echo objVM.Name
>> >> >> > >> Set colHardDiskConnections = objVM.HardDiskConnections
>> >> >> > >> For Each objDrive in colHardDiskConnections
>> >> >> > >> Set objHardDisk = objDrive.HardDisk
>> >> >> > >> objHardDisk.Compact()
>> >> >> > >> Next
>> >> >> > >>
>> >> >> > >> End If
>> >> >> > >> Next
>> >> >> > >>
>> >> >> > >> "kfrost" wrote:
>> >> >> > >>
>> >> >> > >>> Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd
>> >> >> > >>> and
>> >> >> > >>> restart
>> >> >> > >> it.
>> >> >> > >>>
>> >> >> > >>> If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use
>> >> >> > >>> the
>> >> >> > >>> harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a
>> >> >> > >>> new
>> >> >> > >>> thread
>> >> >> > >>> as
>> >> >> > >> the
>> >> >> > >>> last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a
>> >> >> > >>> harddiskconnectionS
>> >> >> > >>> method but not a harddiskconnection method.
>> >> >> > >>>
>> >> >> > >>> Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have
>> >> >> > >>> been
>> >> >> > >>> working
>> >> >> > >>> on
>> >> >> > >>> this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a
>> >> >> > >>> working
>> >> >> > >>> sample
>> >> >> > >> because
>> >> >> > >>> I need to get this done and move on. :)
>> >> >> > >>>
>> >> >> > >>> Thanks.
>> >> >> > >>>
>> >> >> > >>> kris
>> >> >> > >>>
>> >> >> > >>>
>> >> >> > >>
>> >> >> > >>
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

Re: Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Comp

Sent: 01/21/2005
From: "Ben Armstrong [MSFT]" <(email address - cut out)>
Message:

Hi Kfrost,

Actually - it is a Microsoft policy that any Microsoft employee posting
to any Microsoft newsgroup tag their names with [MSFT]. Also - no one
at Microsoft is paid to monitor these newsgroups (AFAIK).

And while some of us do have newsgroup participation as a "review goal"
- most of us are here out of a desire to help our customers - and many
of us do it outside of work hours. David does not evern work on the
virtual machine team - so I appreciate the advice that he does give.
--
Cheers,
Benjamin Armstrong
===============================
Virtual machine Program Manager

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
You assume all risk for your use.

kfrost wrote:

Show quoted text

> Bhargav,
>
> No need for an apology. I appreciate your comments. I wasn't aware that
> they took calls on VS at this time. It's my fault for not going that route
> then. I thought you had to go through the newsgroups until it released.
>
> One thing I will point out, I'm pretty sure the persons that have msft or
> microsoft by their tags either have a review goal or it's part of their job
> description to answer the threads on this forum and pass along the info back
> to the product groups so it's their jobs and I would expect a better effort
> from them. But you are correct for another user such as you or myself, I
> would never offer constructive criticism such as that for somebody trying to
> help me out of the kindness.
>
> Thanks for the info and the feedback.
>
> "Bhargav Shukla" wrote:
>
>
>>I didn't understand your point here. You said in this post that "If they'd
>>open up the support lines I would have gladly paid for the support"
>>
>>Microsoft does have articles on KB on support site about virtual server
>>problems and their professional support phone lines does respond and support
>>Virtual Server for troubleshooting so it's not the question of them not
>>supporting their product via other means and that this is the only way to
>>get support on Virtual Server. This is a public forum for Virtual Server and
>>not a primary method to get support that you think would be critical for
>>production or otherwise.
>>
>>It's probably true that they might have very limited KB articles but that is
>>not surprising for product not so mature. I expect that KB to grow as they
>>gather more real world scenarios and solutions to it via their support
>>channels. They still will help you and fix the issue if you call
>>professional support.
>>
>>Being said that, the clutter in newsgroup is very common. I have seen many
>>posts sidetracked by personal opinions and other discussions. I can't blame
>>someone for that. Newsgroup is for sharing information and helping others
>>voluntarily.
>>
>>Anyway, it's none related to your original question about scripting so I'll
>>end here before you blame me for messing the thread by sidetracking. Sorry
>>for inconvenience.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Bhargav
>>
>>P.S.: I am no advocate for anyone (including Microsoft) and should not be
>>considered one. I just opine.
>>
>>"kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>>news:(email address - cut out)...
>>
>>>Bhargav,
>>>
>>>You've got to be kidding me, free of charge? How else do you politely ask
>>>somebody to not clutter up your posts if they don't have a solution and
>>>making personal comments about they feel there isn't a need for somebody.
>>>I
>>>said nothing to you. I've been in David's shoes for 8 years and trust me
>>>he's not working for free. And the last time I checked with 50 billion in
>>>cash in the bank I think MS is doing ok. David works for Microsoft and
>>>this
>>>is the only forum for support for Virtual Server right now to my
>>>knowledge.
>>>If they'd open up the support lines I would have gladly paid for the
>>>support.
>>>I'm just playing by the rules. If this was an open public forum to where
>>>persons such as you or I were posting these responses, you are most
>>>correct,
>>>I would just appreciate and go on. But this is David and others jobs at
>>>Microsoft jobs to monitor and answer these questions. I get survey popups
>>>about every other time I visit the sites and when I call support. I'm
>>>offering free survey to Microsoft. I am in no way slamming David as a
>>>individual and if you would have read the post, I did thank him in the
>>>spirit
>>>of trying. But if this is the best he's going to do I would prefer he
>>>keep
>>>his comments to himself and let somebody such as Ben Armstrong or the
>>>others
>>>respond.
>>>
>>>David, if you are not in MS support assigned to helping customers with VS
>>>problems, I do sincerely apologize and if that's the case I would suggest
>>>taking the msft of your posts as it insinuates to me you are being paid by
>>>MS
>>>to help customers.
>>>
>>>Bharga, we bring MS a lot of business and I do pay for the products so I
>>>will post any comments I feel compelled to post when they do not meet my
>>>levels of customer satisfaction and what I expect from Microsoft. And
>>>again,
>>>I'm not bashing Microsoft but offerring constructive criticism.
>>>
>>>If there is another avenue for MS support on VS that's fee based, I would
>>>have much rather have paid for something and be done with it versus
>>>wasting
>>>about 2 or 3 weeks on and off on this. If it's out there as of right now,
>>>please let me know.
>>>
>>>Thanks.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>"Bhargav Shukla" wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Boy this is a big turn off for someone willing to help. It's not good to
>>>>see
>>>>how Microsoft gets all this after all help for free. You are right that
>>>>"in
>>>>a forum like this this sounds unappreciative and probably hateful". If
>>>>you
>>>>already know it is... why don't stop posting such things that makes you a
>>>>person being "unappreciative".
>>>>
>>>>All this for posting what you have figured out already? It's good to help
>>>>someone and it's okay to ask for help but it's not okay to slam someone
>>>>with
>>>>such hatred when they are spending their valuable time for your problems.
>>>>Not to forget.... for FREE.
>>>>
>>>>"kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>>>>news:(email address - cut out)...
>>>>
>>>>>David,
>>>>>
>>>>>Again, first of all I do appreciate the effort to try and help but
>>>>>since
>>>>>Microsoft sends out all these surveys about wanting to know customer
>>>>>satisfaction with support. If you are going to respond to something
>>>>>like
>>>>>a
>>>>>scripting question, please respond with a working script. Not 4
>>>>>paragraphs
>>>>>of your opinions that don't offer a solution to the question asked.
>>>>>
>>>>>Contrary to what you wrote I am certain that the UI popup does matter.
>>>>>I've
>>>>>explained we are working around a problem with Virtual Server and we
>>>>>certainly don't want to have to monitor and do any of the steps
>>>>>involved
>>>>>in
>>>>>the process. This needs to be completely automated so as not to waste
>>>>>man
>>>>>hours on a MS problem.
>>>>>
>>>>>Again, I know in a forum like this this sounds unappreciative and
>>>>>probably
>>>>>hateful but that's not my intent. I worked for MS for 8 years in
>>>>>alliance
>>>>>and just left in June so I do know what it's like on your side of
>>>>>things.
>>>>>But when a customer ask for a resolution and you answer in a forum like
>>>>>this,
>>>>>either give a solution or not. Or if you have partial info, state that
>>>>>because if you post responses like you do, people who may know the
>>>>>answer
>>>>>may
>>>>>browse on past thinking the question has been answered. Also, it is
>>>>>very
>>>>>frustrated when somebody from Microsoft answers a post to a link to
>>>>>somewhere
>>>>>else in most cases. Especially when you're asking for a code sample
>>>>>and
>>>>>get
>>>>>directed to a link that has no code. Again, I'm sure there are others
>>>>>out
>>>>>there like me that get through on these tasks and have to do it with no
>>>>>intentions about learning how to script VS anymore than they have too
>>>>>unlike
>>>>>you to where it's your job.
>>>>>
>>>>>For anybody concerned and following this thread, I've figured out how
>>>>>to
>>>>>do
>>>>>this. Not sure it's the best way but the first working go at it. I
>>>>>launch
>>>>>precompact with autorun and in this case the popup window has focus. I
>>>>>then
>>>>>send the key_enter command to the guest OS and the compaction runs.
>>>>>
>>>>>The only lacking thing I have now is trying to determine when
>>>>>precompact
>>>>>is
>>>>>finished. David has suggested watching the processor utilization on
>>>>>the
>>>>>guest but I haven't found a way to do that from the host. The only way
>>>>>I've
>>>>>come up with now which is really crappy is to just sleep the thread for
>>>>>30
>>>>>minutes. I was looking for a way to search for the process on the
>>>>>guest
>>>>>as
>>>>>well but doubt there are these capabilities.
>>>>>
>>>>>Here what should be a working sample of what I threw together. I
>>>>>didn't
>>>>>put
>>>>>error checking or what not into it and I'm sure there is a better way
>>>>>to
>>>>>mount the iso image than what a I came up with but again this is a
>>>>>working
>>>>>sample to get somebody started.
>>>>>
>>>>>On Error Resume Next
>>>>>
>>>>>strVmName = "vm"
>>>>>
>>>>>Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
>>>>>Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines
>>>>>
>>>>>For Each objVM in colVMS
>>>>>
>>>>>" Wscript.Echo objVM.Name
>>>>>
>>>>>If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
>>>>>" Wscript.Echo "Attaching Image"
>>>>>
>>>>>Set colDVDDrives = objVM.DVDROMDrives
>>>>>Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
>>>>>"Set objMouse = objVM.Mouse
>>>>>
>>>>>For Each objDrive in colDVDDrives
>>>>>objDrive.ReleaseImage()
>>>>>errReturn = objDrive.AttachImage _
>>>>>("C:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual Server\Virtual Machine
>>>>>Additions\Virtual Disk Precompactor.iso")
>>>>>Next
>>>>>End If
>>>>>Next
>>>>>" Have to make these calls in order to select yes for the precompact
>>>>>to
>>>>>run
>>>>>Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
>>>>>Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines
>>>>>
>>>>>For Each objVM in colVMS
>>>>>" Pause for 5 seconds before calling the enter key
>>>>>Wscript.Sleep 5000
>>>>>If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
>>>>>Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
>>>>>"Calling the Enter for yes to precompact prompt
>>>>>errReturn = objKeyboard.PressKey("Key_Enter")
>>>>>Wscript.Echo "Called press key"
>>>>>
>>>>>End If
>>>>>Next
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>"kfrost" wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>First of all, anybody else that reads this thread, to zero the bits
>>>>>>there
>>>>>>is
>>>>>>an ISO image included with Virtual PC 2004 SP 1 called Virtual Disk
>>>>>>Precompactor.iso. You need to copy this to the Virtual server in
>>>>>>order
>>>>>>to
>>>>>>run it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Also, I've been able to attach the image and have it autorun.
>>>>>>However,
>>>>>>it
>>>>>>still prompts with the yes/no window I'm having trouble getting it to
>>>>>>run
>>>>>>without user intervention. Is there a way to suppress this pop-up
>>>>>>when
>>>>>>starting with autoplay?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>If not, there is a silent command with the precompact.exe. I've
>>>>>>thought
>>>>>>about copying it locally and trying to figure out a way to kick it off
>>>>>>via a
>>>>>>command ran on the host. I see there is an ExecuteCommand in the
>>>>>>GuestOS
>>>>>>object but it doesn't seem to take parameters.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Open to suggestions here. If you have something, please post a code
>>>>>>sample
>>>>>>if possible instead of just posting links all over the place.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Thanks.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"Bhargav Shukla" wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Thanks David. This is helpful.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>"David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>>>>>>>news:(email address - cut out)...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/vpcfaq/VPCFAQ5-GeneralTipsandTri.html
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Tip 5.11
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>All these steps can be automated on VS2005 because it has a
>>>>>>>>scriptable
>>>>>>>>Admin
>>>>>>>>API.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>--
>>>>>>>>//David
>>>>>>>>IIS
>>>>>>>>http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
>>>>>>>>This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
>>>>>>>>no
>>>>>>>>rights.
>>>>>>>>//
>>>>>>>>"Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>news:(email address - cut out)...
>>>>>>>>David,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>How do I zero out the bits inside VM? Run defrag?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Thanks,
>>>>>>>>Bhargav
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>"David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in
>>>>>>>>message
>>>>>>>>news:(email address - cut out)...
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>objHardDisk.Compact() won't free up physical space unless you
>>>>>>>>>zero
>>>>>>>>>out
>>>>>>>>>the
>>>>>>>>>bits inside the VM first. VHDPrecompactor comes on a Auto-Start
>>>>>>>>>ISO, so
>>>>>>>>>it
>>>>>>>>>is as easy as first popping in the ISO into the VM's CD Drive,
>>>>>>>>>waiting on
>>>>>>>>>CPU utilization to go to near 0% (there is no way for Host to
>>>>>>>>>"wait"
>>>>>>>>>on
>>>>>>>>>an
>>>>>>>>>action in the Guest), and then shutdown + compact.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>--
>>>>>>>>>//David
>>>>>>>>>IIS
>>>>>>>>>http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
>>>>>>>>>This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
>>>>>>>>>no
>>>>>>>>>rights.
>>>>>>>>>//
>>>>>>>>>"kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>>news:(email address - cut out)...
>>>>>>>>>For anybody interested I found a script here.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I had to make the following modifications because the
>>>>>>>>>findvirtualmachine
>>>>>>>>>function wouldn't work.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/disks/vsdsvb07.mspx
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>On Error Resume Next
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
>>>>>>>>>set colVMs = objVS.VirtualMachines
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>For Each objVM in colVMS
>>>>>>>>> If objVM.Name = "w2k3Panda" Then
>>>>>>>>>WScript.echo objVM.Name
>>>>>>>>>Set colHardDiskConnections = objVM.HardDiskConnections
>>>>>>>>>For Each objDrive in colHardDiskConnections
>>>>>>>>>Set objHardDisk = objDrive.HardDisk
>>>>>>>>>objHardDisk.Compact()
>>>>>>>>>Next
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>End If
>>>>>>>>>Next
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>"kfrost" wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd and
>>>>>>>>>>restart
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>it.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use the
>>>>>>>>>>harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a new
>>>>>>>>>>thread
>>>>>>>>>>as
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>the
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a
>>>>>>>>>>harddiskconnectionS
>>>>>>>>>>method but not a harddiskconnection method.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have been
>>>>>>>>>>working
>>>>>>>>>>on
>>>>>>>>>>this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a working
>>>>>>>>>>sample
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>because
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>I need to get this done and move on. :)
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Thanks.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>kris
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>

Re: Does anybody have a vbscript sample of using the HardDisk.Comp

Sent: 01/22/2005
From: "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)>
Message:

Ah, I see that Ben has beaten me to my own reply today.

Just to clarify:
1. I do work for Microsoft.
2. My day job is actually in a completely different group (IIS), which
really has no interaction with Virtual Server other than authenticating a
remote user over HTTP and launching the CGI that constitutes Virtual
Server's admin webpage.
3. Since I work in a product group, I am definitely not paid to monitor
newsgroups. There are PSS and various support personel, also from Microsoft,
who must monitor newsgroups as a part of their job. I am not in that
category (though I admit you really have no way to tell).
4. In fact, I spend at least an hour of my personal time every day to
monitor several newsgroups that I have personal interest or have a lot of
knowledge about, and I try to help as many people as I can.

So, you can say that I am absolutely motivated on my own to participate and
help customers better utilize the technologies that I am familiar with. Even
without a review goal, I would still be here. Because of personal interest,
I have spent a significant amount of time understanding Virtual Server's
administration API as well as how to utilize it to do many things (that
happen to be a part of my day job -- so I've probably already figured out
how to do most of the automation tasks you are asking).

Here are some code snippets for your questions. This post has pretty much
consumed all my time today so I'm not going to get too fancy. I haven't
syntax checked anything, but this should get you a lot closer to something
that works.

//
// 1. Wait for a particular objVM CPU utilization to drop below an
IdleThreshold value for
// IdleTimeoutCounter seconds
//
// i.e. wait for VM Foo to have CPU usage of 5% or less for 30 seconds, and
return when that happens
//

var counter = 0;
var IdleThreshold = 5;
var IdleTimeoutCounter = 30;
var GUEST_OS_TIME_RESOLUTION = 1 * 1000; //wait in 1 second increments

while ( true ) {
var cpu = objVM.Accountant.CPUUtilization;

if ( cpu < IdleThreshold ) {
counter++;

if ( counter > IdleTimeoutCounter )
break;
} else {
counter = 0;
}

WScript.Sleep( GUEST_OS_TIME_RESOLUTION );
}

//
// 2. How to launch commands inside the VM
//

//
// Some script running on Host
//
var CMD_START = "GO";
var cmd = "notepad";

objVM.GuestOS.SetParameter( "PhysicalHostNameFullyQualified", cmd );
objVM.GuestOS.SetParameter( "PhysicalHostName", CMD_START );

//
// Some script running in Guest (preferring in the startup group or Windows
registry to Auto Run)
//
var REG_VM_PHYSICAL_HOSTNAME_FQDN = "HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\Virtual
Machine\\Guest\\Parameters\\PhysicalHostNameFullyQualified";
var REG_VM_PHYSICAL_HOSTNAME = "HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\Virtual
Machine\\Guest\\Parameters\\PhysicalHostName";
var GUEST_OS_TIME_RESOLUTION = 5 * 1000;
var WAIT = true;
var VISIBLE = 1;
var HIDDEN = 0;
var CMD_START = "GO";
var CMD_NONE = "";
var CMD_WAIT = "WAIT";

var WshShell = new ActiveXObject ("WScript.Shell");

while ( true ) {
try {
do {
WScript.Sleep( GUEST_OS_TIME_RESOLUTION );
} while (WshShell.RegRead( REG_VM_PHYSICAL_HOSTNAME ) != CMD_START )

var Command = WshShell.RegRead( REG_VM_PHYSICAL_HOSTNAME_FQDN );
// Reset state so that we can accept future command.
WshShell.RegWrite( REG_VM_PHYSICAL_HOSTNAME, CMD_WAIT, "REG_SZ" );
WshShell.RegWrite( REG_VM_PHYSICAL_HOSTNAME_FQDN, CMD_NONE,
"REG_SZ" );

WshShell.Run( Command, VISIBLE, !WAIT );
} catch ( e ) {
WScript.Echo( e.number + ": " + e.description );
}
}

--
//David
IIS
http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
//
"kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...
Bhargav,

No need for an apology. I appreciate your comments. I wasn't aware that
they took calls on VS at this time. It's my fault for not going that route
then. I thought you had to go through the newsgroups until it released.

One thing I will point out, I'm pretty sure the persons that have msft or
microsoft by their tags either have a review goal or it's part of their job
description to answer the threads on this forum and pass along the info back
to the product groups so it's their jobs and I would expect a better effort
from them. But you are correct for another user such as you or myself, I
would never offer constructive criticism such as that for somebody trying to
help me out of the kindness.

Thanks for the info and the feedback.

"Bhargav Shukla" wrote:

support
and
is
blame
I'll
ask
somebody.
me
in
where
popups
VS
suggest
by
would
now,
to
a
help
problems.
matter.
waste
like
that
others
no
I
way
for
to
off
message
http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/vpcfaq/VPCFAQ5-GeneralTipsandTri.html
Auto-Start
confers
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/disks/vsdsvb07.mspx
and
new

Show quoted text

> I didn't understand your point here. You said in this post that "If they'd
> open up the support lines I would have gladly paid for the support"
>
> Microsoft does have articles on KB on support site about virtual server
> problems and their professional support phone lines does respond and
> Virtual Server for troubleshooting so it's not the question of them not
> supporting their product via other means and that this is the only way to
> get support on Virtual Server. This is a public forum for Virtual Server
> not a primary method to get support that you think would be critical for
> production or otherwise.
>
> It's probably true that they might have very limited KB articles but that
> not surprising for product not so mature. I expect that KB to grow as they
> gather more real world scenarios and solutions to it via their support
> channels. They still will help you and fix the issue if you call
> professional support.
>
> Being said that, the clutter in newsgroup is very common. I have seen many
> posts sidetracked by personal opinions and other discussions. I can't
> someone for that. Newsgroup is for sharing information and helping others
> voluntarily.
>
> Anyway, it's none related to your original question about scripting so
> end here before you blame me for messing the thread by sidetracking. Sorry
> for inconvenience.
>
> Thanks,
> Bhargav
>
> P.S.: I am no advocate for anyone (including Microsoft) and should not be
> considered one. I just opine.
>
> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> news:(email address - cut out)...
> > Bhargav,
> >
> > You've got to be kidding me, free of charge? How else do you politely
> > somebody to not clutter up your posts if they don't have a solution and
> > making personal comments about they feel there isn't a need for
> > I
> > said nothing to you. I've been in David's shoes for 8 years and trust
> > he's not working for free. And the last time I checked with 50 billion
> > cash in the bank I think MS is doing ok. David works for Microsoft and
> > this
> > is the only forum for support for Virtual Server right now to my
> > knowledge.
> > If they'd open up the support lines I would have gladly paid for the
> > support.
> > I'm just playing by the rules. If this was an open public forum to
> > persons such as you or I were posting these responses, you are most
> > correct,
> > I would just appreciate and go on. But this is David and others jobs at
> > Microsoft jobs to monitor and answer these questions. I get survey
> > about every other time I visit the sites and when I call support. I'm
> > offering free survey to Microsoft. I am in no way slamming David as a
> > individual and if you would have read the post, I did thank him in the
> > spirit
> > of trying. But if this is the best he's going to do I would prefer he
> > keep
> > his comments to himself and let somebody such as Ben Armstrong or the
> > others
> > respond.
> >
> > David, if you are not in MS support assigned to helping customers with
> > problems, I do sincerely apologize and if that's the case I would
> > taking the msft of your posts as it insinuates to me you are being paid
> > MS
> > to help customers.
> >
> > Bharga, we bring MS a lot of business and I do pay for the products so I
> > will post any comments I feel compelled to post when they do not meet my
> > levels of customer satisfaction and what I expect from Microsoft. And
> > again,
> > I'm not bashing Microsoft but offerring constructive criticism.
> >
> > If there is another avenue for MS support on VS that's fee based, I
> > have much rather have paid for something and be done with it versus
> > wasting
> > about 2 or 3 weeks on and off on this. If it's out there as of right
> > please let me know.
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> >
> >
> > "Bhargav Shukla" wrote:
> >
> >> Boy this is a big turn off for someone willing to help. It's not good
> >> see
> >> how Microsoft gets all this after all help for free. You are right that
> >> "in
> >> a forum like this this sounds unappreciative and probably hateful". If
> >> you
> >> already know it is... why don't stop posting such things that makes you
> >> person being "unappreciative".
> >>
> >> All this for posting what you have figured out already? It's good to
> >> someone and it's okay to ask for help but it's not okay to slam someone
> >> with
> >> such hatred when they are spending their valuable time for your
> >> Not to forget.... for FREE.
> >>
> >> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> >> news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> > David,
> >> >
> >> > Again, first of all I do appreciate the effort to try and help but
> >> > since
> >> > Microsoft sends out all these surveys about wanting to know customer
> >> > satisfaction with support. If you are going to respond to something
> >> > like
> >> > a
> >> > scripting question, please respond with a working script. Not 4
> >> > paragraphs
> >> > of your opinions that don't offer a solution to the question asked.
> >> >
> >> > Contrary to what you wrote I am certain that the UI popup does
> >> > I've
> >> > explained we are working around a problem with Virtual Server and we
> >> > certainly don't want to have to monitor and do any of the steps
> >> > involved
> >> > in
> >> > the process. This needs to be completely automated so as not to
> >> > man
> >> > hours on a MS problem.
> >> >
> >> > Again, I know in a forum like this this sounds unappreciative and
> >> > probably
> >> > hateful but that's not my intent. I worked for MS for 8 years in
> >> > alliance
> >> > and just left in June so I do know what it's like on your side of
> >> > things.
> >> > But when a customer ask for a resolution and you answer in a forum
> >> > this,
> >> > either give a solution or not. Or if you have partial info, state
> >> > because if you post responses like you do, people who may know the
> >> > answer
> >> > may
> >> > browse on past thinking the question has been answered. Also, it is
> >> > very
> >> > frustrated when somebody from Microsoft answers a post to a link to
> >> > somewhere
> >> > else in most cases. Especially when you're asking for a code sample
> >> > and
> >> > get
> >> > directed to a link that has no code. Again, I'm sure there are
> >> > out
> >> > there like me that get through on these tasks and have to do it with
> >> > intentions about learning how to script VS anymore than they have too
> >> > unlike
> >> > you to where it's your job.
> >> >
> >> > For anybody concerned and following this thread, I've figured out how
> >> > to
> >> > do
> >> > this. Not sure it's the best way but the first working go at it. I
> >> > launch
> >> > precompact with autorun and in this case the popup window has focus.
> >> > then
> >> > send the key_enter command to the guest OS and the compaction runs.
> >> >
> >> > The only lacking thing I have now is trying to determine when
> >> > precompact
> >> > is
> >> > finished. David has suggested watching the processor utilization on
> >> > the
> >> > guest but I haven't found a way to do that from the host. The only
> >> > I've
> >> > come up with now which is really crappy is to just sleep the thread
> >> > 30
> >> > minutes. I was looking for a way to search for the process on the
> >> > guest
> >> > as
> >> > well but doubt there are these capabilities.
> >> >
> >> > Here what should be a working sample of what I threw together. I
> >> > didn't
> >> > put
> >> > error checking or what not into it and I'm sure there is a better way
> >> > to
> >> > mount the iso image than what a I came up with but again this is a
> >> > working
> >> > sample to get somebody started.
> >> >
> >> > On Error Resume Next
> >> >
> >> > strVmName = "vm"
> >> >
> >> > Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> >> > Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines
> >> >
> >> > For Each objVM in colVMS
> >> >
> >> > " Wscript.Echo objVM.Name
> >> >
> >> > If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
> >> > " Wscript.Echo "Attaching Image"
> >> >
> >> > Set colDVDDrives = objVM.DVDROMDrives
> >> > Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
> >> > "Set objMouse = objVM.Mouse
> >> >
> >> > For Each objDrive in colDVDDrives
> >> > objDrive.ReleaseImage()
> >> > errReturn = objDrive.AttachImage _
> >> > ("C:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual Server\Virtual Machine
> >> > Additions\Virtual Disk Precompactor.iso")
> >> > Next
> >> > End If
> >> > Next
> >> > " Have to make these calls in order to select yes for the precompact
> >> > to
> >> > run
> >> > Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> >> > Set colVMS = objVS.VirtualMachines
> >> >
> >> > For Each objVM in colVMS
> >> > " Pause for 5 seconds before calling the enter key
> >> > Wscript.Sleep 5000
> >> > If objVM.Name = strVmName Then
> >> > Set objKeyBoard = objVM.Keyboard
> >> > "Calling the Enter for yes to precompact prompt
> >> > errReturn = objKeyboard.PressKey("Key_Enter")
> >> > Wscript.Echo "Called press key"
> >> >
> >> > End If
> >> > Next
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "kfrost" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> First of all, anybody else that reads this thread, to zero the bits
> >> >> there
> >> >> is
> >> >> an ISO image included with Virtual PC 2004 SP 1 called Virtual Disk
> >> >> Precompactor.iso. You need to copy this to the Virtual server in
> >> >> order
> >> >> to
> >> >> run it.
> >> >>
> >> >> Also, I've been able to attach the image and have it autorun.
> >> >> However,
> >> >> it
> >> >> still prompts with the yes/no window I'm having trouble getting it
> >> >> run
> >> >> without user intervention. Is there a way to suppress this pop-up
> >> >> when
> >> >> starting with autoplay?
> >> >>
> >> >> If not, there is a silent command with the precompact.exe. I've
> >> >> thought
> >> >> about copying it locally and trying to figure out a way to kick it
> >> >> via a
> >> >> command ran on the host. I see there is an ExecuteCommand in the
> >> >> GuestOS
> >> >> object but it doesn't seem to take parameters.
> >> >>
> >> >> Open to suggestions here. If you have something, please post a code
> >> >> sample
> >> >> if possible instead of just posting links all over the place.
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> "Bhargav Shukla" wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> > Thanks David. This is helpful.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in
> >> >> > news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > Tip 5.11
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > All these steps can be automated on VS2005 because it has a
> >> >> > > scriptable
> >> >> > > Admin
> >> >> > > API.
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > --
> >> >> > > //David
> >> >> > > IIS
> >> >> > > http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
> >> >> > > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> >> >> > > no
> >> >> > > rights.
> >> >> > > //
> >> >> > > "Bhargav Shukla" <(email address - cut out)alias> wrote in message
> >> >> > > news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> >> > > David,
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > How do I zero out the bits inside VM? Run defrag?
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > Thanks,
> >> >> > > Bhargav
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > "David Wang [Msft]" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in
> >> >> > > message
> >> >> > > news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> >> > >> objHardDisk.Compact() won't free up physical space unless you
> >> >> > >> zero
> >> >> > >> out
> >> >> > >> the
> >> >> > >> bits inside the VM first. VHDPrecompactor comes on a
> >> >> > >> ISO, so
> >> >> > >> it
> >> >> > >> is as easy as first popping in the ISO into the VM's CD Drive,
> >> >> > >> waiting on
> >> >> > >> CPU utilization to go to near 0% (there is no way for Host to
> >> >> > >> "wait"
> >> >> > >> on
> >> >> > >> an
> >> >> > >> action in the Guest), and then shutdown + compact.
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >> --
> >> >> > >> //David
> >> >> > >> IIS
> >> >> > >> http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
> >> >> > >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
> >> >> > >> no
> >> >> > >> rights.
> >> >> > >> //
> >> >> > >> "kfrost" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> >> >> > >> news:(email address - cut out)...
> >> >> > >> For anybody interested I found a script here.
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >> I had to make the following modifications because the
> >> >> > >> findvirtualmachine
> >> >> > >> function wouldn't work.
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >> On Error Resume Next
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >> Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
> >> >> > >> set colVMs = objVS.VirtualMachines
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >> For Each objVM in colVMS
> >> >> > >> If objVM.Name = "w2k3Panda" Then
> >> >> > >> WScript.echo objVM.Name
> >> >> > >> Set colHardDiskConnections = objVM.HardDiskConnections
> >> >> > >> For Each objDrive in colHardDiskConnections
> >> >> > >> Set objHardDisk = objDrive.HardDisk
> >> >> > >> objHardDisk.Compact()
> >> >> > >> Next
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >> End If
> >> >> > >> Next
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >> "kfrost" wrote:
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >>> Trying this again, I'm trying to stop a vm, compact it's vhd
> >> >> > >>> restart
> >> >> > >> it.
> >> >> > >>>
> >> >> > >>> If anybody has a working example of a script on how to use the
> >> >> > >>> harddisk.compact method I would appreciate. I'm starting a
> >> >> > >>> thread
> >> >> > >>> as
> >> >> > >> the
> >> >> > >>> last one was pretty uneventful. Note that VM has a
> >> >> > >>> harddiskconnectionS
> >> >> > >>> method but not a harddiskconnection method.
> >> >> > >>>
> >> >> > >>> Also, I've been through the "iffy" documentation and have been
> >> >> > >>> working
> >> >> > >>> on
> >> >> > >>> this a couple of days. Please only post if you have a working
> >> >> > >>> sample
> >> >> > >> because
> >> >> > >>> I need to get this done and move on. :)
> >> >> > >>>
> >> >> > >>> Thanks.
> >> >> > >>>
> >> >> > >>> kris
> >> >> > >>>
> >> >> > >>>
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >>
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

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