Net.exe reference.

John Savill

March 4, 1999

6 Min Read
ITPro Today logo in a gray background | ITPro Today

A. Below is a summary of all the net.exe usage methods.

net accounts

Used to modify user accounts. Specified on its own will give informationabout the current logon.

Options:

/forcelogoff:

Minutes until the user gets logged off after logon hours expire. No means aforced logoff will not occur

/lockoutthreshold:

This parameter allows you to configure the number of failed logon attemptsbefore the account is locked. The range is 1 to 999.

/lockoutduration: 

This parameter specifies the number of minutes accounts remain lockedbefore automatically becoming unlocked. The range is 1 to 99999.

/lockoutwindow: 

 This parameter lets you configure the maximum number of minutesbetween two consecutive failed logon attempts before an account is locked. Therange is 1 to 99999.

/minpwlen:

Minimum number of characters for the password. Default is 6, valid range isbetween 0 and 14

/maxpwage:

Maximum number of days a password is valid. Default is 90, valid range isbetween 0 and 49710

/minpwage:

Number of days that must occur before the password can be changed. Defaultis 0, valid range is between 0 and maxpwage

/uniquepw:

Password may not be reused for number attempts

/sync

Forces a domain sync

/domain

Performs any of the above actions on the domain controller

net computer

Used to add and remove computer accounts from the domain.

Options:

\

Name of the computer to be added or removed

/add

Add the specified computer

/del

Removes the specified computer

net config server

Allows modifications to the server service. Entered with no parameters givedetails of the current configuration

Options:

/autodisconnect:

Number of minutes an account may be inactive before disconnection. Defaultis 15, valid range between 1 and 65535. -1 means never disconnected.

/srvcomment:"text"

Set the comment for the machine

/hidden:

Specified is the computer is hidden in the listing of computers

net config workstation

Allows modifications to the workstation service. Entered with no parametersgive details of the current configuration

Options:

/charcount:

Number of bytes to be collected before data is sent. The default is 16,valid range is between 0 and 65535.

/chartime:

Number of milliseconds NT waits before sending data. If charcount is alsoset whichever is satisfied first is used. Default is 250, valid range isbetween 0 and 65535000.

/charwait:

Number of seconds NT waits for a communications device to become available.Default is 3600, valid is between 0 and 65535.

net continue

Restarts the specified paused service.

net file

Lists any files that are open/locked via a network share.

Options:

id

Identification of the file (given by entering net file on its own)

/close

Close the specified lock

See Q. How can I tell who has which files open on a machine? for more details.

net group

Adds/modifies global groups on servers. Without parameters will list globalgroups.

Syntax:

net group [/command:""][/domain]
net group [/add [/comment:""] or/delete] [/domain]
net group /add or /delete [/domain]

Options:

groupname

Name of the global group

/comment:""

Comment if a new global group is created. Up to 48 characters

/domain

Performs the function on the primary domain controller

username

Username to which apply the operation

/add

Adds the specified user to the group or the group to the domain

/delete

Removes a group from a domain or a user from a group

net localgroup

Performs actions on local groups. Same parameters as net group.

net name

Adds/removes a name to which messaging may be directed to. Running thecommand on its own will list all messaging names eligible on the machine.

Options:

name

The messaging name to be added/removed

/add

Add the name

/delete

Remove the name

net pause

Used to pause a service from the command line.

net print

Used to list/modify print jobs.

Options:

\computername

Indicates the computer that hosts the printer queue

sharename

Name of the printer queue

job

The job number to modify

/hold

Pauses a job on the print queue

/release

Removes the hold status of a job on the print queue

/delete

Deletes a job off of the print queue

net send

Sends a message to a computer, user or messaging name.

Options:

name

Name of the user, computer or messaging name. Can also use * to send toeveryone in the group

/domain:

All users in the current domain or the specified domain

/users

To all users connected to the server

message

The message to send

net session

Lists or disconnects sessions. Used with no options lists the currentsessions.

Options:

\

The computer of whose session to close

/delete

Closes the session to the computer specified. Omitting a computer name willclose all sessions

net share

Used to manage shares from the command line.

Syntax:

net share =:[/users= or /unlimited] [/remark:"text"]
net share [/users= or /unlimited][/remark:"text"]
net share /delete

Options:

Name of the share

Used to specify the printer name if specifying a printer share

:

Absolute path

/users:

Number of simultaneous connections to the share

/unlimited

Unlimited usage

/remark:""

Comment for the share

/delete

Delete the specifed share

net start

Start the specified service

net statistics [workstation or service]

Gives information about either the server or workstation service.

net stop

Stops the specified service

net time

Used to synchronize the time of a computer.

Options:

\

The name of the computer to which synchronize the time

/domain:

Synchronize the time with the specified domain

/set

Sets the time

net use

Connects or disconnects to a network share. Used with no qualifiers liststhe current network mappings.

Syntax:

net use or * \[password or *] [/user:[domainuser] /delete or [persistent:[yes or no]]
net use /home /delete or /persistent:[yes or no]

Options:

Name of the device to map to. Use * to use the next available device name

\computer name

The name of the computer controlling the resource

sharename

Name of the share

volume

Name of the volume if on a NetWare server

password

Password to which to map

*

Gives a prompt to which to enter the password

/user:

Specifies the user to connect as

/home

Connects to a users home directory

/delete

Closes a connection

/persistent:[yes or no>

Sets if the connection should be reconnected at next logon

net user

Used to add/create/modify user accounts

Syntax:

net user [password or *] [/add] [options] [/domain]
net user usernameThe name of the accountpasswordAssigns or changes a password*Gives a prompt for the password/domainperform on a domain/addCreates the account/deleteRemoves the account/active:[yes or no]Activates or deactivates the account/comment:""Adds a descriptive comment/counterycode.nnnnnn is the number operating system code. Use 0 for the operating systemsdefault/expires:The expiry date of the account. Date format is mm,dd,yy or dd,mm,yy whichis determined by the country code/fullname:""The full name of the account/homedir:Path for the users home directory/passwordchg:[yes or no]Used to specify if the user can modify the password/passwordreq:[yes or no]Used to determine if the account needs a password/profilepath:Used to specify the profile path/scriptpath:Path of the logon script/times:Hours user may logon/usercomment:""A comment for the account/workstations:Names the user may logon to. * means all.net viewLists shared resources on a domain. Used with no parameters lists allmachine accounts in a domain.Options: \computer nameSpecifies the computer whose resource should be viewed/domain:The domain to be used/network:A NetWare network to be used

About the Author

Sign up for the ITPro Today newsletter
Stay on top of the IT universe with commentary, news analysis, how-to's, and tips delivered to your inbox daily.

You May Also Like