Net Commands

NT Admin Tip #332: Net commands

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The Microsoft NET command is a must-know for administrators. Study it. A list of the major commands:


C:\>net /?
The syntax of this command is:


NET [ ACCOUNTS | COMPUTER | CONFIG | CONTINUE | FILE | GROUP | HELP |
      HELPMSG | LOCALGROUP | NAME | PAUSE | PRINT | SEND | SESSION |
      SHARE | START | STATISTICS | STOP | TIME | USE | USER | VIEW ]

To get detailed help for one of the commands, for example, net computer, use the net help syntax:


C:\>net help computer
The syntax of this command is:


NET COMPUTER \\computername {/ADD | /DEL}

  NET COMPUTER adds or deletes computers from a domain database. This 
  command is available only on Windows NT Servers.

\\computername    Specifies the computer to add or delete from
                  the domain.
/ADD              Adds the specified computer to the domain.
/DEL              Removes the specified computer from the domain.

A brief summary follows:

net accounts	Updates user accounts and modifies password and logon requirements.
net computer	Adds or deletes computers from a domain.
net config	Displays configuration info for workstation or server services.
net continue	Reactivates a service that has been suspended by NET PAUSE.
net file	Closes a shared file and removes file locks.
net group	Adds, displays, or modifies global groups on servers.
net helpmsg	Displays info about network messages such as error, warning, and alert messages.
net localgroup	Modifies local groups on computers.
net name	Adds or deletes an alias name for a computer.
net pause	Suspends a service or resource. Pausing a service puts it on hold.
net print	Displays print jobs and shared queues. For each queue, the display lists jobs, showing the size and status of each job, and the status of the queue.
net send	Sends messages to other users or computers. The Messenger service must be running to receive messages.
net session	Lists or disconnects sessions between the computer and other computers on the network.
net share	Makes resources available to network users. When used without options, it lists information about all resources being shared on the computer.
net start	Lists running services.
net statistics	Displays the statistics log for the local Workstation or Server service.
net stop	Stops services.
net time	Synchronizes the computer's clock with the domain.
net use	Connects a computer to a shared resource or disconnects a computer from a shared resource.
net user	Creates and modifies user accounts on computers. When used without switches, it lists the user accounts for the computer.
net view	Displays a list of resources being shared on a computer. When used without options, it displays a list of computers in the current domain or network.