Using WMI Management Tools

You can manage WMI by using the following tools:

• WMI Control

• MOF Compiler (MOFComp.exe)

• WinMgmt.exe

WMI Control is the primary tool for managing WMI. It can be used to control WMI logging, execute WMI backups and restores, and control WMI security. On computers with WMI 1.5 or later (including computers running Windows 2000, Windows XP, or the Windows Server 2003 family), you access WMI Control by opening the Computer Management console.

To access WMI Control

1. On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click the Administrative Tools icon, and then double-click Computer Management.

3. In the Computer Management console, expand Services and Applications, right-click WMI Control, and then click Properties.

The Computer Management console can also be opened by right-clicking the My Computer icon and clicking Manage.

On computers with WMI earlier than version 1.5 (possibly including computers running Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0), WMI Control can be found in Control Panel (or you can run Wbemcntl.exe from the %Windir%\System32\wbem directory). This version of WMI Control does not manage WMI security. You must manage WMI security by running Wbemperm.exe from the %Windir%\System32\wbem directory.

To make the contents of a MOF file effective (by placing them in the CIM Repository), the file must be compiled. MOF files are usually automatically compiled during the installation of the systems with which they are provided, but you can also compile MOF files by using the MOF Compiler (Mofcomp.exe). The MOF Compiler is available in the %Windir%\System32\wbem directory. You must specify the MOF file as the parameter of the MOF Compiler. You can also specify an Autorecover switch if you want the MOF file to be automatically recompiled if the CIM Repository ever has to be automatically recovered. For more information, type Mofcomp /? at the command prompt.

Another tool that you can use to manage WMI is Winmgmt.exe. This tool is located in the %Windir%\System32\wbem directory. For a list of the available switches, type WinMgmt /? at the command prompt.

Table B.3 WinMgmt.exe Switches

Switch	Description	Comment
/kill	Causes all instances of WMI to stop.	Use NET START "Windows Management Instrumentation" to restart WMI, or restart the computer.
/regserver	Invokes self-registration.	Only needed if the WMI service registry entries are corrupted.
/unregserver	Removes the registry entries.	Only needed if the WMI service registry entries are corrupted.
/backup <file name>	Backs up the repository. A file must be specified.	If you do not specify a path for the file, it is put in the %Windir%\System32 directory.
/restore <file name> <flag>	Restores the repository. A file must be specified. The flag must be 1 to disconnect users prior to the restore, or 0 to restore only if no users are connected.
/resyncperf <WMI PID>	Registers the computer's performance libraries with WMI. WMI PID is the process ID for the WMI service.	Only needed if the performance monitor classes are not returning reliable results.
/clearadap	Clears prior /resycperf information from the registry.	Only needed if the performance monitor classes are not returning reliable results.

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