Recently, all Windows XP workstation users within a corporate domain were required to request and install a certificate from the Enterprise Certificate Authority (CA). Typically, the Certificate Manager Management console Snap-in Control (certmgr.msc) is used to request new certificates, as in the screenshot shown below. So, I was required to automate this process using a script that could be pushed to all the Windows XP workstations and executed.

A tool called certreq.exe enables command-line execution of the steps performed by certmgr.msc. Hence, I developed a simple MS-DOS batch script using certreq.exe to automate the process of requesting new certificates from a CA. You may download the ZIP file below to view/use the script:

Download RequestCert.zip

Instructions to use RequestCert.zip:

(1)   Unzip RequestCert.zip using WinZip, 7-zip or your favourite decompression software. A directory called RequestCert will be created with the following files:

• RequestCert.bat : This is the MS-DOS batch file that uses certreq.exe to automate the Certificate Request process
• RequestCert.inf : This is the setup file containing information required by certreq.exe.
• certreq.exe : Microsoft tool (bundled with Windows SDK) 

(2)    Edit RequestCert.bat and set the value for the variables CA_SERVER (FQDN/IP/hostname of the CA server) and CA_NAME (Name of the CA).

(3)    Edit RequestCert.inf and set the value of CertificateTemplate, if required.

(4)    Execute RequestCert.bat

NOTE: RequestCert.bat met my requirement which was really basic. You may amend the script and the INF file to automate Certificate Requests for other requirements.

If your radio has been disconnected from your battery for whatever reason, then you’ll need to enter a Radio Code to use your radio again. In some countries, a trip to the nearest Honda dealer will suffice, but at times, dealers may provide you the radio code via phone if you provide them your car’s Serial Number (S/N). I performed the following steps to obtain my car’s (Honda Fit/Jazz 2007) S/N number (as I couldn’t find it anywhere in/on the car).

1. Turn your ignition key to the position wherein the radio may be turned on, but your engine does not start.
2. Ensure your radio is off.
3. Press preset buttons 1 and 6 together and while these buttons are pressed, turn your radio ON. And voila! Your S/N will be displayed on the radio’s display.

Comprehensive Perl Archive Network (CPAN) is a one-stop shop for all your Perl module requirements. While installing Foswiki, I had a requirement to install the HTML::Tree Perl module and this is the procedure which I used successfully:

STEP 1: Download the Perl module from CPAN.

I downloaded the gzipped, tarred module HTML-Tree-4.1.tar.gz from CPAN

STEP 2: Unpack the Perl module

I extracted the gzipped, tarred Perl module as follows and a directory HTML-Tree-4.1 was created :

tar xvzf HTML-Tree-4.1.tar.gz

STEP 3: Build the Perl Module

The HTML-Tree-4.1 directory (as will all Perl modules) contains a README which provided the usual installation instructions of ./Build; ./Build test and ./Build install. I did not have the Module::Build module and its dependencies and was put off by having to get all that stuff, but I had root privileges. So, I did the following as the root user, to install the HTML::Tree Perl Module:

perl Makefile.PL
make
make install