Managing Network and System Settings Using the 'net' Command (with examples)

The ’net’ command is a versatile system utility in Windows operating systems that allows users to view and modify network-related settings and manage services and local groups. This command is particularly useful for system administrators and power users who need to control networking features and service statuses remotely or locally. Below are several practical use cases for the ’net’ command along with examples that demonstrate its capabilities.

Starting or Stopping a Windows Service Synchronously

Code:

net start|stop service

Motivation: Managing Windows services is a crucial task for system administrators to ensure that necessary services are running efficiently or stopped when not needed to free up system resources. Using the ’net’ command allows you to start or stop a service directly from the command line without navigating through the graphical user interface.

Explanation:

• net: Calls the net utility.
• start|stop: Specifies whether you want to start or stop a service.
• service: The name of the service you wish to manage, such as wuauserv for Windows Update or spooler for the Print Spooler service.

Example Output:

The Print Spooler service is starting.
The Print Spooler service was started successfully.

or

The Windows Update service is stopping.
The Windows Update service was stopped successfully.

Ensuring an SMB Share is Available in the Current Console

Code:

net use \\smb_shared_folder /USER:username

Motivation: Connecting to a network share is often necessary when accessing shared files or resources. Using ’net use’, you can map an SMB share to your local machine, simplifying the process of managing network folders and ensuring their availability.

Explanation:

• net use: Initiates a connection to a shared resource.
• \\smb_shared_folder: Specifies the network path of the shared folder.
• /USER:username: Provides the username to authenticate access to the share, which is necessary if the shared resource requires credentials for access.

Example Output:

The command completed successfully.

Displaying the Folders Currently Shared Over SMB

Code:

net share

Motivation: It’s essential for system administrators to have an overview of shared resources on a network. Using ’net share’ provides a list of directories currently available for sharing, aiding in resource management and security checks.

Explanation:

• net share: Displays shared folders on the local device.

Example Output:

Share name  Resource                       Remark
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C$          C:\                            Default share
D$          D:\                            Default share
shared_doc  C:\Documents\                  Public documents

Showing Who is Using Your SMB Shares

Code:

net session

Motivation: Monitoring who is accessing shared network resources helps maintain security and track resource usage. ’net session’, when run in an elevated console, lists all active sessions connected to your computer.

Explanation:

• net session: Displays all current client sessions with a detailed list.

Example Output:

Computer               User name            Client type              Opens    Idle time 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\\Workstation1         guest                Windows 10               2        00:05:30

Viewing Users in a Local Security Group

Code:

net localgroup "Administrators"

Motivation: Knowing which users belong to specific local security groups is crucial for ensuring that access permissions align with organizational security policies. ’net localgroup’ allows you to manage and review group memberships directly through the command line.

Explanation:

• net localgroup: Manages local group memberships.
• "Administrators": Specifies the name of the local group to display its members.

Example Output:

Aliases for \\THISCOMPUTER

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrator
Domain Admins
JohnDoe

Adding a User to the Local Security Group

Code:

net localgroup "Administrators" username /add

Motivation: Managing user access rights efficiently often involves adding users to security groups. Using the ’net’ command, you can quickly add a user to a group, modifying permissions without needing to open various system configuration settings.

Explanation:

• "Administrators": The target local group to which the user will be added.
• username: The account name of the user you want to include.
• /add: Specifies the action of adding a user to the group.

Example Output:

The command completed successfully.

Displaying Help for a Subcommand

Code:

net help subcommand

Motivation: Understanding the various functions of ’net’ subcommands is essential for effective system management. Requesting help outputs detailed information on specific subcommands, providing guidance on their usage and options.

Explanation:

• net help: Calls the help feature for the ’net’ command.
• subcommand: The specific command you need further information about, such as net use or net share.

Example Output:

The syntax of this command is:

NET USE
[devicename | *] [\\computername\sharedfolder[\volume] [password | *]]
  [/USER:[domainname\]username]

Displaying Help for the Net Command

Code:

net help

Motivation: To fully utilize the ’net’ command, it is beneficial to have access to comprehensive help and information about all its capabilities. The help feature provides an overview of the various commands and subcommands available under the net utility.

Explanation:

• net: Invokes the ’net’ command utility.
• help: Displays a list of all possible commands and their basic functions.

Example Output:

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 ]

Conclusion:

The Windows ’net’ command is an indispensable tool for managing network settings, services, and user access control from the command line. Its versatility extends from starting and stopping services to connecting network shares, providing an efficient means of administration. This article demonstrated common use cases of the ’net’ command, each designed to streamline network and system management tasks while enhancing accessibility for IT professionals.