in reply to Socket or not

If I understand your question, you basically would like to Telnet to the Windows box and run some scripts - which would execute on the remote Windows box. This is like the *nix paradigm

Unfortunately, Windows doesn't work like that. There is a Telnet service for Windows - not sure if it's installed by default or only available on Windows Server flavors, but that would require each user to have login credentials (you say they don't have remote log on access).

VNC or Windows equivalent - Terminal Services - is an option, but again, remote log on access is required for TS and VNC would require users knowing a shared password for direct remote console access.

Finally, there is psexec.exe from SysInternals. This also requires remote credentials.

The socket path you're going down seems reasonable, but without any authentication/authorization, couldn't anyone connect and force your scripts to run? That doesn't seem so secure.

Do you have any code done yet? Can you post something so we could be more help?