Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support Tools

This post describes updates to the Windows Support Tools that are included in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). If you are a support person or a network administrator, you can use the Windows Support Tools to manage networks and to troubleshoot problems.

Windows XP SP2 includes updates for the following Support Tools:

• Ipseccmd.exe
• Httpcfg.exe
• Replmon.exe
• Iadstools.dll
• Extract.exe
• Bitsadmin.exe
• Netdom.exe

The Support Tools are not automatically installed when you install Windows XP SP2. To install the Support Tools on a computer that is running Windows XP, run the Setup.exe file from the \Support\Tools folder on the Windows XP CD.

The Windows XP Support Tools Help file is located in the Support.cab file. This Help file includes a description of each file and its associated syntax, sample output, and notes. See this Help for specific usage information for these tools. For additional help, type tool name/help at a command prompt, and then press ENTER.

Ipseccmd.exe
Use the Ipseccmd.exe tool to manage and monitor IPSec policies on computers that are running Windows XP. This tool has been updated to provide the following features:

• Support for policy import or export operations.
• Improved online help that you can access by using the /? option.
• The removal of the Active Directory directory service storage option.
• A persistent storage option.
• A Show option to generate Group Policy object information.
• The ability to dynamically turn on or turn off Oakley logging.

HTTPCfg.exe
The HTTP Configuration Utility (Httpcfg.exe) is included in the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Support Tools. This tool is now included with the Windows XP Support Tools. Use this tool to set, delete, and query configuration information such as Namespace Reservation information, SSL Server Certificate information, and IP Listen List information for the HTTP driver (HTTP.SYS).

Replmon.exe
With the Active Directory Replication Monitor tool (Replmon.exe), you can view Active Directory replication, synchronization, and topology. This file is updated to resolve a problem where Replmon.exe cannot display more than 200 replication partners.

Iadstools.dll
The Iadstools.dll file is a helper DLL for the Active Directory Service Interfaces (ADSI). This file is updated to resolve a problem where the GetDirectPartnersEx function does not support more than 200 ConnectionObjects.

Extract.exe
With the Extract.exe tool, you can extract files from a CAB file. This file is updated to include bounds-checking to the option that you pass to the Extract command.

Bitsadmin.exe
The BITS Administration Utility is a command-line tool that controls the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) in Windows. This tool has been updated to provide the following functionality:

• The /TRANSFER option transfers a single file by using a single command.
• The /ADDFILESET option adds multiple files to a job by using a single command.
• The /ADDFILEWITHRANGES option adds a file where only certain sections of that file must be downloaded.
• The /REPLACEREMOTEPREFIX option changes the download location of a group of files.
• The /SETACLFALGS option and the /GETACLFLAGS option enable the copying of file Access Control List (ACL) entries.
• The /UTIL /SETIEPROXY option and the /UTIL /GETIEPROXY option set and retrieve the Internet Explorer proxy settings for the current user.
• The /UTIL /VERSION option retrieves version information for the currently installed version of BITS.
• The /UTIL /REPAIRSERVICE option repairs a corrupted BITS installation.

Netdom.exe
You can use the Netdom.exe command-line tool to join a computer to a domain or to manage a computer account.

• The /JOINDOMAIN option joins a computer to a domain.
• The /JOINWORKGROUP option joins a computer to a workgroup.
• The /RENAME option renames the computer on the domain.