Net (command)
Command for configurations from the command-line
In computing, net is a command in IBM OS/2 (including eComStation and ArcaOS), Microsoft Windows, and ReactOS used to manage and configure the operating system from the command-line. It is also part of the IBM PC Network Program for DOS.
01Overview
The command is primarily used to manage network resources. It is an external command implemented as net.exe. When used in a batch file, the /Y or /N switches can be used to unconditionally answer Yes or No to questions returned by the command. The net command has several sub-commands that can differ from one implementation or operating system version to another.
On Windows CE .NET 4.2, Windows CE 5.0 and Windows Embedded CE 6.0, it is available as an external command stored in \Windows\net.exe. This version only supports the use and view sub-commands.
| Name | Description | DOS support | OS/2 support | Windows support | ReactOS support | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| access | Manage access | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | |
| accounts | Change Netlogon service role and manage maximum user logon time, password expiration time and other account settings | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | ReactOS 0.4.8 | |
| admin | Run administrative command on a remote server | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | |
| alias | Manage aliases currently defined in the domain | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | |
| app | Manage information about application definitions | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | |
| appparm | No | OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | OS/2 Warp 4.5 and later only | |
| audit | List and clear contents of the network audit log of the server | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | |
| comm | List information about queues for shared serial devices | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | |
| computer | Add or delete computer from domain database | No | No | Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | ReactOS 0.4.8 | |
| config | Display NetBIOS configuration information | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | ReactOS 0.4.8 | |
| continue | Continue paused services | IBM PC Network Program | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | ReactOS 0.4.8 | |
| copy | Copy and append files locally and remotely | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | |
| dasd | Manage and display directory limits | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | |
| device | List statuses of shared serial devices and stop current use of a device | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | |
| diag | Run the Microsoft Network Diagnostic program | No | No | Windows 95, Windows 98 | No | |
| error | List and clear network error log | IBM PC Network Program | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | |
| file | List files opened by remote computers | IBM PC Network Program | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | Unimplemented | |
| forward | Route incoming messages and cancel forwarding | IBM PC Network Program | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | |
| group | Add, display, or modify global groups in domains | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | ReactOS 0.4.8 | |
| help | Display syntax | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | ReactOS 0.4.8 | |
| helpmsg | Display information on error messages | No | No | Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | ReactOS 0.4.8 | |
| init | No | No | Windows 95, Windows 98 | No | ||
| localgroup | Add, display, or modify local groups | No | No | Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | ReactOS 0.4.8 | |
| log | Start/stop saving messages to a file/printer and display information about forwarding the current message log | IBM PC Network Program | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | |
| logoff | No | No | Windows 95, Windows 98 | No | ||
| logon | No | No | Windows 95, Windows 98 | No | ||
| move | Move files locally and remotely | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | |
| name | List or manage NetBIOS names | IBM PC Network Program | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP | Unimplemented | |
| password | Change passwords on a server or in a domain | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows 95, Windows 98 | No | |
| pause | Pause services | IBM PC Network Program | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | ReactOS 0.4.8 | |
| Display printer queue information or print job information, or control print jobs | IBM PC Network Program | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server (Semi-Annual Channel), Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 8 | Unimplemented | Deprecated in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 | |
| riplmach | No | OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | OS/2 Warp 4.5 and later only | |
| riplmclas | No | OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | OS/2 Warp 4.5 and later only | |
| run | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | ||
| send | Send messages to other users or computers | IBM PC Network Program | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP | Unimplemented | |
| separator | Control whether or not a separator page is printed at the beginning of a print file | IBM PC Network Program | No | No | No | |
| session | Manage server computer connections | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1, Windows Server 2012, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 7 with SP1, Windows 8, Windows 10 | Unimplemented | |
| share | Manage shared resources | IBM PC Network Program | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | ReactOS 0.4.8 | |
| start | Start services | IBM PC Network Program | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | ReactOS 0.4.8 | |
| statistics | Display and clear list of usage statistics for a workstation | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | ReactOS 0.4.8 | |
| status | List information about current network shares and server definition settings | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No | |
| stop | Stop services | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | ReactOS 0.4.8 | |
| time | Display remote computer's current time or sync time with remote computer | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | Unimplemented | |
| use | Connect/disconnect computer to/from shared resources, or display information about computer connections | IBM PC Network Program | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows CE .NET 4.2, Windows CE 5.0, Windows Embedded CE 6.0 | ReactOS 0.4.8 | |
| user | Add or modify user accounts, or display user account information | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 | ReactOS 0.4.8 | |
| ver | Display information about workgroup redirector | No | No | Windows 95, Windows 98 | No | |
| view | Display list of domains, computers, or resources shared by specified computers | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows CE .NET 4.2, Windows CE 5.0, Windows Embedded CE 6.0 | Unimplemented | |
| who | List uses who are logged on current or remote domains, display user logon information, and list users with sessions to a specific server | No | IBM OS/2 LAN Server, OS/2 Warp 4.5 | No | No |
02Example
The net use command has several network-related functions.
Connecting network drive and printer
net use can control mounting ("mapping" in Microsoft terminology) drive shares and connecting shared printers in a network environment. This command makes use of the SMB (server message block) and the NetBIOS protocol on port 139 or 445. The basic Windows XP configuration enables this functionality by default. Thus users can connect to and disconnect from shared resources such as computers, printers and drives.
net use can display a list of network-connection information on shared resources.
Null session connections
net use also connects to the IPC$ (interprocess communication share). This is the so-called null session connection, which allows unauthenticated users. The basic syntax for connecting anonymously is:
net use \\IP address\IPC$ "" /u:""For example, typing at the command prompt:
net use \\192.168.1.101\IPC$ "" /u:""attempts to connect to the share IPC$ of the network 192.168.1.101 as an anonymous user with blank password. If successfully connected to the target machine, a lot of information can be gathered such as shares, users, groups, registry keys and more. This would provide a hacker with a lot of information about a remote user. This has changed in Windows NT 4.0 SP6 already. In Windows 2000 "null session connections" could have been enabled after changes of the system-configuration.
03Similar commands in other OSes
- Novell NetWare
- map for mapping volumes (network drives) to drive letters
- capture for capturing print queues to LPT ports
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Net (command)”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- ReactOS-0.4.13 net command 667x610.png by Ghettoblaster, Public domain
- Microsoft Windows CE Version 3.0 (Build 126) net command 800x574.png by Ghettoblaster, Public domain
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