Spreading throught the network

Hello,

I'm new to network and socket programming, I code in C++. I've had a try previously at sockets, but I couldn't understand it, so I don't have the basic theory. My current problem is this : I'd like to be able to pass a file through a LAN so that I can create files onto other computers on this LAN. I am aware that this sounds suspiciously like writing a virus, but this is not my intention, I want to begin to write a program to update my files from one computer to another as we have three on our home network. I am unsure about searching for files, but if I can type the filename, I want this program to copy the file onto my other computers. If anyone could give me tips on where to start, and how things happen, I'd be very grateful.
Thank you,
Korhedron

*cough* google *cough*

You are looking for an implimentation of the FTP protocol :

www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc959/Overview.html

also, you could easily do it with a shell script if you are on linux, or in a batch script in Windows.

Thanks for your response, EvBladeRunnervE. I'm now reading about the FTP protocol. However, how could this be done using a batch script ?

I havent used batch scripts in awhile, but basically what you are looking at is:

1) mount a network drive
2) copy the files over to that drive through basic dos calls

If you have administrator access on the remote pc:

Code:

---

copy "C:\Files\myfile.ext"  "\\remotepc\c$\program files\"

---

I have a vbscript that copies a software patch to a remote pc, executes it and returns the result, if you are interested.

Thanks, Anonytmouse, but how could my program detect the name of remote computers ( remotepc ) and the name of the drive ( c$ ) ? Also, I would have thought that would be done without having admin access, as they are connected to a network, and files can be transferred to and from them.

you are then looking for enumerating your network resources, which I do not know if it is possible to do in batch, look it up on MSDN.

>> Thanks, Anonytmouse, but how could my program detect the name of remote computers <<

With three computers, I would have thought you would just use a list.

>> and the name of the drive ( c$ ) ? <<

c$ is an admin share that is installed by default and points to "C:\". If you want to use another share, again, I would use a list.

However, you can enumverate computers and shares using code and possibly with the "net view" command (try it). You can also do this with a vbscript.

>> Also, I would have thought that would be done without having admin access, as they are connected to a network, and files can be transferred to and from them. <<

As mentioned c$ is an admin share, if you have installed other shares, they may indeed be available to other users.

Can you confirm that your network is Windows 2000/XP or are we talking 98 (everything above applies to 2000/XP only)?

Anonytmous, I was hoping to be able to learn how to find the name of remote computers, to be able to do this without having to have a list, as this would be useful later on, if I have access to larger networks.

As for the admin share, the same goes, I'd like to detect these, if I don't have a list of them.

As for the network, I am dealing with WinXP computers.


Thanks for your help.

OK, enumerating network computers and shares 101:

Replace "YourWorkgroup" with the name of your workgroup or domain and "remotepc" with the name of a computer you want to query.

Using commands:

Code:

---

:: To list network computers.
NET VIEW /DOMAIN:YourWorkgroup

:: To list shares on a computer.
NET VIEW \\remotepc

---

Using C/C++ code:
Use NetServerEnum() and NetShareEnum() or WNetEnumResource().

Using vbscript:

Code:

---

'''' Enumerate computers in a workgroup or domain.

Dim domain    'As IADsDomain, IADsContainer, IADs
Dim computer  'As IADsComputer, IADs

Set domain    = GetObject("WinNT://YourWorkgroup")
domain.Filter = Array("Computer")

For Each computer In domain
        strComputer = computer.Name
        WScript.Echo strComputer
Next


'''' Enumerate shares on a computer using ADSI.

Dim fs      'As IADsFileService, IADsContainer, IADs
Dim share    'As IADsFileShare, IADs

strComputer = "remotepc"
Set fs = GetObject("WinNT://" & strComputer & "/lanmanserver")

For Each share In fs
        Wscript.Echo share.Name 
        WScript.Echo share.HostComputer
        WScript.Echo share.Path
Next


'''' Enumerate shares on a computer using WMI.

strComputer = "remotepc"
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
    & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")

Set colShares = objWMIService.ExecQuery("Select * from Win32_Share")

For each objShare in colShares
    Wscript.Echo "AllowMaximum: " & vbTab &  objShare.AllowMaximum
    Wscript.Echo "Caption: " & vbTab &  objShare.Caption
    Wscript.Echo "MaximumAllowed: " & vbTab &  objShare.MaximumAllowed
    Wscript.Echo "Name: " & vbTab &  objShare.Name
    Wscript.Echo "Path: " & vbTab &  objShare.Path
    Wscript.Echo "Type: " & vbTab &  objShare.Type
Next


MsgBox "End"

---

To execute vbscript, place it in a text file with the extension ".vbs" and double click to run. Note that the WMI method of enumerating shares will return hidden shares but requires admin access to run. I don't think the ADSI method requires admin access(assuming you have one or more accessible shares) but I don't think it will return hidden shares.

Useful ADSI link (for searchers): http://dev.coadmin.dk/Resources/ADSI...HTML/winnt.htm