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 information about the current logon.
Options:
| /forcelogoff:<minutes or no> | Minutes until the user gets logged off after logon hours expire. No means a forced logoff will not occur |
| /lockoutthreshold:<number of failed attempts> | This parameter allows you to configure the number of failed logon attempts before the account is locked. The range is 1 to 999. |
| /lockoutduration:<minutes> | This parameter specifies the number of minutes accounts remain locked before automatically becoming unlocked. The range is 1 to 99999. |
| /lockoutwindow:<minutes> | This parameter lets you configure the maximum number of minutes between two consecutive failed logon attempts before an account is locked. The range is 1 to 99999. |
| /minpwlen:<length> | Minimum number of characters for the password. Default is 6, valid range is between 0 and 14 |
| /maxpwage:<days> | Maximum number of days a password is valid. Default is 90, valid range is between 0 and 49710 |
| /minpwage:<days> | Number of days that must occur before the password can be changed. Default is 0, valid range is between 0 and maxpwage |
| /uniquepw:<number> | 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:
| \\<computer name> | 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 give details of the current configuration
Options:
| /autodisconnect:<minutes> | Number of minutes an account may be inactive before disconnection. Default is 15, valid range between 1 and 65535. -1 means never disconnected. |
| /srvcomment:"text" | Set the comment for the machine |
| /hidden:<yes or no> | Specified is the computer is hidden in the listing of computers |
net config workstation
Allows modifications to the workstation service. Entered with no parameters give details of the current configuration
Options:
| /charcount:<bytes> | Number of bytes to be collected before data is sent. The default is 16, valid range is between 0 and 65535. |
| /chartime:<msec> | Number of milliseconds NT waits before sending data. If charcount is also set whichever is satisfied first is used. Default is 250, valid range is between 0 and 65535000. |
| /charwait:<seconds> | Number of seconds NT waits for a communications device to become available. Default is 3600, valid is between 0 and 65535. |
net continue <service name>
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 global groups.
Syntax:
net group <group name> \[/command:"<text>"\] \[/domain\]
net group <group name> \[/add \[/comment:"<text>"\] or /delete\] \[/domain\]
net group <group name> <user name> /add or /delete \[/domain\]
Options:
| groupname | Name of the global group |
| /comment:"<text>" | 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 the command 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 <service name>
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 to everyone in the group |
| /domain:<domain name> | 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 current sessions.
Options:
| \\<computer name> | The computer of whose session to close |
| /delete | Closes the session to the computer specified. Omitting a computer name will close all sessions |
net share
Used to manage shares from the command line.
Syntax:
net share <sharename>=<drive>:\<directory> \[/users=<number> or /unlimited\] \[/remark:"text"\]
net share <sharename> \[/users=<number> or /unlimited\] \[/remark:"text"\]
net share <sharename or device name or drive and path> /delete
Options:
| <sharename> | Name of the share |
| <device name> | Used to specify the printer name if specifying a printer share |
| <drive>:<path> | Absolute path |
| /users:<number> | Number of simultaneous connections to the share |
| /unlimited | Unlimited usage |
| /remark:"<text>" | Comment for the share |
| /delete | Delete the specifed share |
net start <service name>
Start the specified service
net statistics \[workstation or service\]
Gives information about either the server or workstation service.
net stop <service name>
Stops the specified service
net time
Used to synchronize the time of a computer.
Options:
| \\<computer name> | The name of the computer to which synchronize the time |
| /domain:<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 lists the current network mappings.
Syntax:
net use <device name> or * \\<computer name>\<share name> \[password or *\] \[/user:\[domain\user\] /delete or \[persistent:\[yes or no\]\]
net use <device name> /home /delete or /persistent:\[yes or no\]
Options:
| <device name> | 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:<domain>\<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 <username> \[password or *\] \[/add\] \[options\] \[/domain\]
net user <username\] /delete /domain
| username | The name of the account |
| password | Assigns or changes a password |
| * | Gives a prompt for the password |
| /domain | perform on a domain |
| /add | Creates the account |
| /delete | Removes the account |
| /active:\[yes or no\] | Activates or deactivates the account |
| /comment:"<text>" | Adds a descriptive comment |
| /counterycode.nnn | nnn is the number operating system code. Use 0 for the operating systems default |
| /expires:<date or never> | The expiry date of the account. Date format is mm,dd,yy or dd,mm,yy which is determined by the country code |
| /fullname:"<name>" | The full name of the account |
| /homedir:<path> | 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:<path> | Used to specify the profile path |
| /scriptpath:<path> | Path of the logon script |
| /times:<times or all> | Hours user may logon |
| /usercomment:"<text>" | A comment for the account |
| /workstations:<machine names> | Names the user may logon to. * means all. |
net view
Lists shared resources on a domain. Used with no parameters lists all machine accounts in a domain.
Options:
| \\computer name | Specifies the computer whose resource should be viewed |
| /domain:<domain name> | The domain to be used |
| /network:<NetWare network> | A NetWare network to be used |
