How do I detect if a Windows server is available after a reboot?

Question

I want to automate a Windows 2000+ server reboot process using Task Scheduler or similar tool to remotely reboot a server and wait for it to come back up. I can issue shutdown or psshutdown to remotely reboot, but I want something better than sleep to wait for it to come back. I need to verify it is back online within n minutes or throw an error.

By 'back online', I would like to verify more than just that it can be pinged, but perhaps its RFC service is responding or some other determinate vital sign.

I'd prefer an NT script approach, but I'm not ruling out writing a custom tool to do this.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

After working on this for a while, I came up with the following VBScript. Feel free to comment/improve.

'
' Remotely reboot a server and
' wait for server to come back up.
'
' Usage:  cscript /nologo /E:VBScript RebootWait.vbs <Server Name>
'
' Shawn Poulson, 2008.09.11
'

'
' Get server name from command line
'
If WScript.Arguments.Count <> 1 Then
   ShowUsage()
   WScript.Quit(1)
End If

ServerName = WScript.Arguments(0)

'
' Verify server is currently up
'
WScript.StdOut.WriteLine Now & ": Verify server '" & ServerName & "' is currently up..."
If Not IsAvailable(ServerName) Then
   WScript.StdOut.WriteLine "Error: Server is down.  Reboot aborted!"
   WScript.Quit(1)
End If
WScript.StdOut.WriteLine Now & ": Server is up."

'
' Reboot server
'
WScript.StdOut.WriteLine Now & ": Rebooting server '" & ServerName & "'..."
RebootStatus = RebootServer(ServerName)
If RebootStatus < 0 Then
   WScript.StdOut.WriteLine "Error: Reboot returned error " & RebootStatus
   WScript.Quit(1)
End If
WScript.StdOut.WriteLine Now & ": Reboot command was successful"

'
' Wait for server to come down
'
WScript.StdOut.Write Now & ": Waiting for server '" & ServerName & "' to go down..."
WaitCount = 0
Do While IsAvailable(ServerName)
   WaitCount = WaitCount + 1
   If WaitCount > 60 Then ' 5 min timeout
      WScript.StdOut.WriteLine "Error: Timeout waiting for server to come down!"
      WScript.Quit(1)
   End If
   WScript.StdOut.Write(".")
   WScript.Sleep(5000)
Loop
WScript.StdOut.WriteLine "Success!"
WScript.StdOut.WriteLine Now & ": Server is down."

'
' Wait for server to come back up
'
WScript.StdOut.Write Now & ": Waiting for server '" & ServerName & "' to come back up..."
WaitCount = 0
Do While Not IsAvailable(ServerName)
   WaitCount = WaitCount + 1
   If WaitCount > 240 Then ' 20 min timeout
      WScript.StdOut.WriteLine "Error: Timeout waiting for server to come back up!"
      WScript.Quit(1)
   End If
   WScript.StdOut.Write(".")
   WScript.Sleep(5000)
Loop
WScript.StdOut.WriteLine "Success!"
WScript.StdOut.WriteLine Now & ": Server is back up after reboot."

'
' Success!
'
WScript.Quit(0)


Sub ShowUsage()
   WScript.Echo "Usage: " & WScript.ScriptName & " <Server name>"
End Sub

' Returns:
' 1 = Successfully issued reboot command
' -2 = Could not reach server
' -3 = Reboot command failed
Function RebootServer(ServerName)
   Dim OpSystem
   On Error Resume Next
   For Each OpSystem in GetObject("winmgmts:{(Shutdown)}!\\" & ServerName & "\root\CIMV2").ExecQuery("select * from Win32_OperatingSystem where Primary=true")
      On Error GoTo 0

      If IsObject(OpSystem) Then
         ' Invoke forced reboot
         If OpSystem.Win32Shutdown(6, 0) = 0 Then
            ' Success
            RebootServer = 1
         Else
            ' Command failed
            RebootServer = -3
         End If

      Else
         RebootServer = -2

      End If
   Next
End Function

' Return True if available
Function IsAvailable(ServerName)
   ' Use Windows RPC service state as vital sign
   IsAvailable = (GetServiceState(ServerName, "RpcSs") = "Running")
End Function

' Return one of:
'  Stopped, Start Pending, Stop Pending,
'  Running, Continue Pending, Pause Pending,
'  Paused, Unknown
Function GetServiceState(ServerName, ServiceName)
   Dim Service
   On Error Resume Next
   Set Service = GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & ServerName & "\root\CIMV2:Win32_Service='" & ServiceName & "'")
   On Error GoTo 0
   If IsObject(Service) Then GetServiceState = Service.State
End Function

Answer 2

Your remote restart script could start the server, wait n minutes, then query your RFC service. You could also have a local script on the server do the same thing.