27.76 runurl

Description

The RUNURL utility is used to find the default web browser on a Windows workstation, and open it with a given starting URL. It can launch Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator in kiosk mode, which fills the screen, removes all window borders and decorations, and disables navigation. It can also disable all the function keys, including Alt,Ctrl, the Windows logo key, and any combination of function keys.

A major use for the RUNURL program is to enable users to reset their own passwords with a secure kiosk account on a Windows NT domain, Windows 2000 active directory or Novell NDS tree.

Requirements

This program is a Win32 executable and can be run from the command prompt of any Windows workstation.

RUNURL.EXE is intended to be run from a public share. The LOGOFF.EXE, CTRLALT.DLL and RUNURL.VXD files must be placed in the same share - LOGOFF.EXE is used to log users out of Win9x workstations, CTRLALT.DLL is used to block the Ctrl and Alt keys and the right mouse button, and RUNURL.VXD is used to disable F1, Ctrl-C, Ctrl-Alt keys, and special keys on internet keyboards for Win9x workstations.

Usage

The RUNURL utility works with the following command-line arguments:

Argument	Description
-url URL	Specify the URL to start in the browser.
-k	Start the default web browser in kiosk mode.
-wait	Wait for the browser to close.
-keylock	Disable Ctrl, Alt keys and the right mouse button. This is implied by -k.
-logoff	Log off from the workstation after the browser closes. On Windows 9x workstations, this invokes LOGOFF.EXE, which should be installed in the same directory as RUNURL.EXE.
-no_icw	Do not pop up Internet Connection Wizard when the user starts up the browser the first time.
-port portNo	The port that the PSLOGSERVICE is listening on, usually 4344.
-server DNSname	The P-Synch server to log output to. This is for remote logging of the program. The server must have PSLOGSERVICE running at the time.
-win9x	Do nothing unless running on a Windows 9x workstation.
-winnt	Do nothing unless running on a Windows NT workstation or server.
-win2k	Do nothing unless running on a Windows 2000 workstation or server.
-run "program, arguments"	Execute this program before exiting, and before logging off.
-reg "path.reg"	Load the named registry file into the registry before terminating runurl. This is used to restore standard registry entries in case runurl was launched during the first login of the help account, using a restrictive security policy, and the user elected to not save settings - which means that registry changes were applied to the default user rather than help.
-nsprofile "profile"	When the default browser is Netscape, use this option to specify which profile Netscape uses.
-noprofile	When the default browser is Netscape, use this option to allow users to choose a profile.
-cfg "FILENAME"	If the command line is too long, use this option to read all arguments from this file. Write the file with the arguments separated by white space.
-nospawn	Keep the RUNURL program running in the foreground, rather than spawning a background execution of the program. This prevents RUNURL from crashing because of a loss of network share on Windows 9x.

Examples

For Windows 9x/2000/NT, access the self-service password reset facility on the P-Synch server (type as a single line):

\\mypdc\netlogon\runurl.exe
   -k -wait -logoff -no_icw
   -url http://password/psynch/nph-pss.exe

See also

• Section HERE for more information about the RUNURL.VXD file.
• Section HERE for more information about the LOGOFF.EXE program.
• Section HERE for more information about the CTRLALT.DLL file.