Adding MAC addresses to PHPIPAM using ARP

Posted on November 4, 2022.

After finding this feature wasn’t implemented [1][2], I spent some time this evening learning phpIPAM‘s REST API and writing a short bash script to update phpIPAM’s mac field.

The script will need the username and password of a user that has write permission to the addresses you want to update.
You will need to create an api app, as described in the documentation.
The script gets info on a single interface and updates addresses in a single subnet.
The script will check that the mac needs updating and only update if necessery.
The script will ignore addresses tagged as (3) “reserved” or (4) “dhcp”.
The script won’t add new addresses, only update existing ones.
The script will check local interface ips as well (as these aren’t in ARP)
The script requires “iproute2”, “curl” and “jq” (Command-line JSON processor).

Code available at https://github.com/lazynooblet/scripts/tree/main/bash/phpipam-update-mac-from-arp

Leave a Comment

VBScript wrapper for PowerShell scripts to hide window

Posted on October 10, 2022.

Even with PowerShell’s command-line argument “NoWindow”, a minimized powershell prompt is seen briefly by the user.

Using VBScripts ability to load console applications completely hidden, we can run PowerShell without interrupting the user.

The VBScript takes a single argument which is the filename of the powershell script. The VBScript needs to be in the same folder as the powershell script as it will work out its own scriptpath and use this to find the PowerShell script.

Dim objShell,objFSO,objFile

Set objShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set objArgs = Wscript.Arguments

' Get the VBS script full path and extrapolate its parent directory
strScriptPath = Wscript.ScriptFullName
Set objScriptFile = objFSO.GetFile(strScriptPath)
strFolder = objFSO.GetParentFolderName(objScriptFile)

' Take the string from arguments and prefix the parent directory
strPath = strFolder & "\" & objArgs(0)

'verify file exists
If objFSO.FileExists(strPath) Then
  'return short path name
  set objFile=objFSO.GetFile(strPath)
  strCMD="powershell -nologo -executionpolicy bypass -command " & Chr(34) & "&{" & objFile.ShortPath & "}" & Chr(34)

  'use 0 to hide window
  objShell.Run strCMD,0

Else

  'Display error message
  WScript.Echo "Failed to find " & strPath
  WScript.Quit

End If

Dim objShell,objFSO,objFile

Set objShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Set objArgs = Wscript.Arguments

' Get the VBS script full path and extrapolate its parent directory

strScriptPath = Wscript.ScriptFullName

Set objScriptFile = objFSO.GetFile(strScriptPath)

strFolder = objFSO.GetParentFolderName(objScriptFile)

' Take the string from arguments and prefix the parent directory

strPath = strFolder & "\" & objArgs(0)

'verify file exists

If objFSO.FileExists(strPath) Then

'return short path name

set objFile=objFSO.GetFile(strPath)

strCMD="powershell -nologo -executionpolicy bypass -command " & Chr(34) & "&{" & objFile.ShortPath & "}" & Chr(34)

'use 0 to hide window

objShell.Run strCMD,0

Else

'Display error message

WScript.Echo "Failed to find " & strPath

WScript.Quit

End If

Leave a Comment

Minimize applications with PowerShell

Posted on October 10, 2022.

I have adjusted the previous 3CX script from 2020 to simply minimize a list of applications. The script will search for matching processes for up to 30 seconds and minimize them. I have this script run on logon. It currently minimizes both 3CX and Voicemeeter Macro Button app.

$processes = @(
    @{
        Name = '3CXDesktopApp'
        Result = $false
    },
    @{
        Name = 'VoicemeeterMacroButtons'
        Result = $false
    }
)

# how long to wait (in seconds) for processes to load before we give up
$wait = 30

#################################################
# idea from https://community.idera.com/database-tools/powershell/ask_the_experts/f/powershell_for_windows-12/11584/how-to-script-clicking-on-x-to-close-window
function Close-Window {
    param(
        [Parameter()]
        $handle = (Get-Process -Id $pid).MainWindowHandle
    )

    # expose "SendMessage" function
    $winAPI = Add-Type -MemberDefinition @'
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
public static extern int SendMessage(int hWnd, uint Msg, int wParam, int lParam);
'@ -Name "Win32CloseWindow" -Namespace Win32Functions -PassThru
   
    # close window
    $winAPI::SendMessage($handle, 0x0112, 0xF060, 0)
}
#################################################

# Set start time, used to determine when to stop
$startTime = Get-Date

# Check if loop has been running longer than $wait
while (((New-TimeSpan -Start $startTime -End (Get-Date)).TotalSeconds) -le $wait) {
    # if this is still true at end of loop, we break
    $found = $true
    Foreach ($item in $processes.Keys) {
        if ($true -ne $item.Result) {
            $process = (Get-Process -Name $item.Name)
            if ($process.length -gt 0) {
                # minimize process
                # Handles that equal 0 are already minimized/hidden
                $process.MainWindowHandle | Where-Object { [int]$_ -gt 0 } | ForEach-Object { Close-Window $_ }
                # mark we have completed this one
                $processes[$item].Result = $true
            } else {
                $found = $false
            }
            Start-Sleep 1
        }
    }
    # still true after loop, so we found all the processes
    if ($found) { break }
}

$processes = @(

Name = '3CXDesktopApp'

Result = $false

Name = 'VoicemeeterMacroButtons'

Result = $false

}

)

# how long to wait (in seconds) for processes to load before we give up

$wait = 30

#################################################

# idea from https://community.idera.com/database-tools/powershell/ask_the_experts/f/powershell_for_windows-12/11584/how-to-script-clicking-on-x-to-close-window

function Close-Window {

param(

[Parameter()]

$handle = (Get-Process -Id $pid).MainWindowHandle

)

# expose "SendMessage" function

$winAPI = Add-Type -MemberDefinition @'

[DllImport("user32.dll")]

public static extern int SendMessage(int hWnd, uint Msg, int wParam, int lParam);

'@ -Name "Win32CloseWindow" -Namespace Win32Functions -PassThru

# close window

$winAPI::SendMessage($handle, 0x0112, 0xF060, 0)

}

#################################################

# Set start time, used to determine when to stop

$startTime = Get-Date

# Check if loop has been running longer than $wait

while (((New-TimeSpan -Start $startTime -End (Get-Date)).TotalSeconds) -le $wait) {

# if this is still true at end of loop, we break

$found = $true

Foreach ($item in $processes.Keys) {

if ($true -ne $item.Result) {

$process = (Get-Process -Name $item.Name)

if ($process.length -gt 0) {

# minimize process

# Handles that equal 0 are already minimized/hidden

$process.MainWindowHandle | Where-Object { [int]$_ -gt 0 } | ForEach-Object { Close-Window $_ }

# mark we have completed this one

$processes[$item].Result = $true

} else {

$found = $false

}

Start-Sleep 1

}

# still true after loop, so we found all the processes

if ($found) { break }

}

Leave a Comment

Automatically minimize 3CX Phone for Windows

Posted on April 5, 2020.

One of the popular requests from users over at the 3CX forum is how to load up the client minimized. See https://www.google.com/search?q=3cx+minimize+on+startup

Today I’ve written some powershell that when also run at startup will close the 3CX Phone for Windows application automatically. I run this as a scheduled task triggered on login.

The script first checks if 3CX is currently setup to start automatically, and if not, will start 3CX Phone for Windows.

The script then checks once a second for the app to load and will close to tray. The script will wait $wait seconds before closing if the app is not loaded.

# 3cx-minimize.ps1
# Written by Steve Allison - https://nooblet.org/

# path to the default location of the startup entry
$startupPath = "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp\3CXPhone for Windows.lnk"

# path to the default location of the 3CXPhone executable
$3cxPath = "C:\ProgramData\3CXPhone for Windows\PhoneApp\3CXWin8Phone.exe"

# processName to search for
$3cxProcess = "3CXWin8Phone"

# how long to wait (in seconds) for 3cx to load before we give up
$wait = 30

#################################################
# idea from https://community.idera.com/database-tools/powershell/ask_the_experts/f/powershell_for_windows-12/11584/how-to-script-clicking-on-x-to-close-window
function Close-Window {
    param(
        [Parameter()]
        $handle = (Get-Process -Id $pid).MainWindowHandle
    )

    # expose "SendMessage" function
    $winAPI = Add-Type -MemberDefinition @'
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
public static extern int SendMessage(int hWnd, uint Msg, int wParam, int lParam);
'@ -Name "Win32CloseWindow" -Namespace Win32Functions -PassThru
   
    # close window
    $winAPI::SendMessage($handle, 0x0112, 0xF060, 0)
}
#################################################

# If 3CX is installed, lets see if we need to start it
if ((Test-Path($3cxPath))) {
    # if 3CX isn't set to startup automatically, then we need to start it
    if (!(Test-Path($startupPath))) {
        # Start 3CX
        Start-Process $3cxPath
    }
}

# Set start time, used to determine when to stop
$startTime = Get-Date

# Check if loop has been running longer than $wait
while ((New-TimeSpan -Start $startTime -End (Get-Date)).TotalSeconds -le $wait) {
    # Get 3cx process details
    $process = (Get-Process -Name $3cxProcess)
    if ($process.length -gt 0) {
        # minimize process
        # Handles that equal 0 are already minimized/hidden
        $process.MainWindowHandle | Where-Object { [int]$_ -gt 0 } | ForEach-Object { Close-Window $_ }
        break
    }
    Start-Sleep 1
}

# 3cx-minimize.ps1

# Written by Steve Allison - https://nooblet.org/

# path to the default location of the startup entry

$startupPath = "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp\3CXPhone for Windows.lnk"

# path to the default location of the 3CXPhone executable

$3cxPath = "C:\ProgramData\3CXPhone for Windows\PhoneApp\3CXWin8Phone.exe"

# processName to search for

$3cxProcess = "3CXWin8Phone"

# how long to wait (in seconds) for 3cx to load before we give up

$wait = 30

#################################################

# idea from https://community.idera.com/database-tools/powershell/ask_the_experts/f/powershell_for_windows-12/11584/how-to-script-clicking-on-x-to-close-window

function Close-Window {

param(

[Parameter()]

$handle = (Get-Process -Id $pid).MainWindowHandle

)

# expose "SendMessage" function

$winAPI = Add-Type -MemberDefinition @'

[DllImport("user32.dll")]

public static extern int SendMessage(int hWnd, uint Msg, int wParam, int lParam);

'@ -Name "Win32CloseWindow" -Namespace Win32Functions -PassThru

# close window

$winAPI::SendMessage($handle, 0x0112, 0xF060, 0)

}

#################################################

# If 3CX is installed, lets see if we need to start it

if ((Test-Path($3cxPath))) {

# if 3CX isn't set to startup automatically, then we need to start it

if (!(Test-Path($startupPath))) {

# Start 3CX

Start-Process $3cxPath

}

# Set start time, used to determine when to stop

$startTime = Get-Date

# Check if loop has been running longer than $wait

while ((New-TimeSpan -Start $startTime -End (Get-Date)).TotalSeconds -le $wait) {

# Get 3cx process details

$process = (Get-Process -Name $3cxProcess)

if ($process.length -gt 0) {

# minimize process

# Handles that equal 0 are already minimized/hidden

$process.MainWindowHandle | Where-Object { [int]$_ -gt 0 } | ForEach-Object { Close-Window $_ }

break

}

Start-Sleep 1

}

Leave a Comment

Renaming a Domain Controller

Posted on January 6, 2018.

You can use netdom to rename any computer, including a domain controller:

netdom computername <old fqdn> /add:<new fqdn>
netdom computername <old fqdn> /makeprimary:<new fqdn>
# reboot
netdom computername <new fqdn> /remove:<old fqdn>

netdom computername <old fqdn> /add:<new fqdn>

netdom computername <old fqdn> /makeprimary:<new fqdn>

# reboot

netdom computername <new fqdn> /remove:<old fqdn>

However this will leave the attribute msDS-AdditionalDnsHostName with the old name. Check this in ADUC attribute editor (or ADSIEDIT.msc):

Remove the old name and restart.

PS. This fixes not being able to re-use the old name on another computer. You get the error The operation failed because SPN value provided for addition/modification is not unique forest-wide, and you will see the old domain name when you run setspn -l <oldname>. Performing the above attribute changes fixes this.

18 Comments

#!/usr/bin/nooblet.org

/* not just your average nub */

Adding MAC addresses to PHPIPAM using ARP

VBScript wrapper for PowerShell scripts to hide window

Minimize applications with PowerShell

Automatically minimize 3CX Phone for Windows

Renaming a Domain Controller