Howto get just servers from Active Directory

[CoolBreeze812]

Hello,

I'm using the following code to get the list of computers joined to a
domain in Active Directory and using the System.Director yServices
namespace.

DirectoryEntry dirEntry = new DirectoryEntry( "LDAP://spencenet.com") ;
DirectorySearch er dirSearch = new
DirectorySearch er(dirEntry);
dirSearch.Filte r = "(objectClass=C omputer)";
foreach (SearchResult sr in dirSearch.FindA ll())
{
try
{

listBox1.Items. Add(sr.GetDirec toryEntry().Nam e.ToString().Su bstring(3));
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show (ex.Message, "LDAP: Error",
MessageBoxButto ns.OK, MessageBoxIcon. Error);
}
listBox1.Select edIndex = 0;
}

The problem is that it returns all computers, both servers and
workstations. I would like to limit this to only servers being listed
in the listbox. I have tried objectClass=Ser ver, but nothing was
returned and I haven't been able to find any other attribute that would
list only the servers in the domain.

I have a test domain setup and tried the code both on a Windows 2003
server and an XP workstation that is joined to the domain with the
objectClass=Ser ver, both did not populate the listbox with only the
listing of the Windows 2003 server. FYI, I have the Windows 2003 server
configured with a role of Domain Controller and DNS Server only.

Does anyone know how I can retrieve only servers within an Active
Directory Domain?

Thanks,
-- Lance

[Willy Denoyette [MVP]]

"CoolBreeze 812" <ls********@gma il.comwrote in message
news:11******** **************@ 16g2000cwy.goog legroups.com...

Hello,

I'm using the following code to get the list of computers joined to a
domain in Active Directory and using the System.Director yServices
namespace.

DirectoryEntry dirEntry = new DirectoryEntry( "LDAP://spencenet.com") ;
DirectorySearch er dirSearch = new
DirectorySearch er(dirEntry);
dirSearch.Filte r = "(objectClass=C omputer)";
foreach (SearchResult sr in dirSearch.FindA ll())
{
try
{

listBox1.Items. Add(sr.GetDirec toryEntry().Nam e.ToString().Su bstring(3));
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show (ex.Message, "LDAP: Error",
MessageBoxButto ns.OK, MessageBoxIcon. Error);
}
listBox1.Select edIndex = 0;
}

The problem is that it returns all computers, both servers and
workstations. I would like to limit this to only servers being listed
in the listbox. I have tried objectClass=Ser ver, but nothing was
returned and I haven't been able to find any other attribute that would
list only the servers in the domain.

I have a test domain setup and tried the code both on a Windows 2003
server and an XP workstation that is joined to the domain with the
objectClass=Ser ver, both did not populate the listbox with only the
listing of the Windows 2003 server. FYI, I have the Windows 2003 server
configured with a role of Domain Controller and DNS Server only.

Does anyone know how I can retrieve only servers within an Active
Directory Domain?

Thanks,
-- Lance

The directory only knows "computer" as object type, that means that there is no way to make
a distinction between a "workstatio n" and a "server". All you can do to make a distinction
between both is by querying for the OS version installed on the "computer" another option is
to put servers in a distinct OU from the "workstatio ns".

Willy.

[CoolBreeze812]

Thanks for the reply. Using the code I presented, how would I query
the OS version?

-- Lance

On Dec 10, 10:28 am, "Willy Denoyette [MVP]"
<willy.denoye.. [e-mail] te:

"CoolBreeze 812" <lspence...@gma il.comwrote in messagenews:11* *************** ******@16g2000c wy.googlegroups .com...

Hello,

I'm using the following code to get the list of computers joined to a
domain in Active Directory and using the System.Director yServices
namespace.

DirectoryEntry dirEntry = new DirectoryEntry( "LDAP://spencenet.com") ;
DirectorySearch er dirSearch = new
DirectorySearch er(dirEntry);
dirSearch.Filte r = "(objectClass=C omputer)";
foreach (SearchResult sr in dirSearch.FindA ll())
{
try
{

listBox1.Items. Add(sr.GetDirec toryEntry().Nam e.ToString().Su bstring(3));
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show (ex.Message, "LDAP: Error",
MessageBoxButto ns.OK, MessageBoxIcon. Error);
}
listBox1.Select edIndex = 0;
}

The problem is that it returns all computers, both servers and
workstations. I would like to limit this to only servers being listed
in the listbox. I have tried objectClass=Ser ver, but nothing was
returned and I haven't been able to find any other attribute that would
list only the servers in the domain.

I have a test domain setup and tried the code both on a Windows 2003
server and an XP workstation that is joined to the domain with the
objectClass=Ser ver, both did not populate the listbox with only the
listing of the Windows 2003 server. FYI, I have the Windows 2003 server
configured with a role of Domain Controller and DNS Server only.

Does anyone know how I can retrieve only servers within an Active
Directory Domain?

Thanks,
-- LanceThe directory only knows "computer" as object type, that means that there is no way to make

a distinction between a "workstatio n" and a "server". All you can do to make a distinction
between both is by querying for the OS version installed on the "computer" another option is
to put servers in a distinct OU from the "workstatio ns".

Willy.

[Willy Denoyette [MVP]]

"CoolBreeze 812" <ls********@gma il.comwrote in message
news:11******** **************@ l12g2000cwl.goo glegroups.com.. .

Thanks for the reply. Using the code I presented, how would I query
the OS version?

-- Lance

Supposed all computers are contained in computers (as per default), you can simply do
something like this:

// bind to and get at the "computers" container
using (DirectoryEntry computers = new
DirectoryEntry( "LDAP://spencenet.com/cn=computers");
{
foreach(Directo ryEntry comp in computers.Child ren)
{
Console.WriteLi ne(comp.Propert ies["operatingsyste m"].Value);
}
}

this should return something like:
Windows Server 2003
Windows XP Professional
Windows VistaT Ultimate

another option is to get the operatingsystem version property, this will return something
like:
5.2 (3790)
5.1 (2600)
6.0 (6000)

obviously you'l have to parse the string to determine the computer type, in which case it's
preferable to parse the version string.

Willy.

[CoolBreeze812]

Again thank you very much for your help.
-- Lance

On Dec 10, 11:21 am, "Willy Denoyette [MVP]"
<willy.denoye.. [e-mail] te:

"CoolBreeze 812" <lspence...@gma il.comwrote in messagenews:11* *************** ******@l12g2000 cwl.googlegroup s.com...

Thanks for the reply. Using the code I presented, how would I query
the OS version?

-- LanceSupposed all computers are contained in computers (as per default), you can simply do

something like this:

// bind to and get at the "computers" container
using (DirectoryEntry computers = new
DirectoryEntry( "LDAP://spencenet.com/cn=computers");
{
foreach(Directo ryEntry comp in computers.Child ren)
{
Console.WriteLi ne(comp.Propert ies["operatingsyste m"].Value);
}
}

this should return something like:
Windows Server 2003
Windows XP Professional
Windows VistaT Ultimate

another option is to get the operatingsystem version property, this will return something
like:
5.2 (3790)
5.1 (2600)
6.0 (6000)

obviously you'l have to parse the string to determine the computer type, in which case it's
preferable to parse the version string.

Willy.

[CoolBreeze812]

Again thank you Willy for your help. I tried your example and
unfortunately couldn't get it to work. What I'd really like to do is
adjust the following code to accomplish what I'm after, but I am having
a hard time doing so. Do you have any pointers on how I might be able
to do this. As you can see I'm a newbie, so I welcome any refactoring
suggestions as well.

private void wsrMainForm_Loa d(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
int versionCompareR esult;

DirectoryEntry dirEntry = new
DirectoryEntry( "LDAP://spencenet.com") ;
DirectorySearch er dirSearch = new
DirectorySearch er(dirEntry);
ManagementObjec tSearcher serverQuery = new
ManagementObjec tSearcher("SELE CT * FROM Win32_Operating System");
ManagementObjec tCollection serverQueryColl ection =
serverQuery.Get ();
dirSearch.Filte r = "(objectClass=c omputer)";

foreach (ManagementObje ct mo in serverQueryColl ection)
{
versionCompareR esult =
String.Compare( mo["version"].ToString(), "5.1 (2600)");
mo["version"].ToString();
if (versionCompare Result 0)
{
try
{
foreach (SearchResult sr in
dirSearch.FindA ll())
{

computersListBo x.Items.Add(sr. GetDirectoryEnt ry().Name.ToStr ing().Substring (3));
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show (ex.Message, "LDAP: Error",
MessageBoxButto ns.OK, MessageBoxIcon. Error);
}
computersListBo x.SelectedIndex = 0;
}
}
}
On Dec 10, 11:21 am, "Willy Denoyette [MVP]"
<willy.denoye.. [e-mail] te:

"CoolBreeze 812" <lspence...@gma il.comwrote in messagenews:11* *************** ******@l12g2000 cwl.googlegroup s.com...

Thanks for the reply. Using the code I presented, how would I query
the OS version?

-- LanceSupposed all computers are contained in computers (as per default), you can simply do

something like this:

// bind to and get at the "computers" container
using (DirectoryEntry computers = new
DirectoryEntry( "LDAP://spencenet.com/cn=computers");
{
foreach(Directo ryEntry comp in computers.Child ren)
{
Console.WriteLi ne(comp.Propert ies["operatingsyste m"].Value);
}
}

this should return something like:
Windows Server 2003
Windows XP Professional
Windows VistaT Ultimate

another option is to get the operatingsystem version property, this will return something
like:
5.2 (3790)
5.1 (2600)
6.0 (6000)

obviously you'l have to parse the string to determine the computer type, in which case it's
preferable to parse the version string.

Willy.

[Willy Denoyette [MVP]]

"CoolBreeze 812" <ls********@gma il.comwrote in message
news:11******** **************@ j44g2000cwa.goo glegroups.com.. .

Again thank you Willy for your help. I tried your example and
unfortunately couldn't get it to work. What I'd really like to do is
adjust the following code to accomplish what I'm after, but I am having
a hard time doing so. Do you have any pointers on how I might be able
to do this. As you can see I'm a newbie, so I welcome any refactoring
suggestions as well.

private void wsrMainForm_Loa d(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
int versionCompareR esult;

DirectoryEntry dirEntry = new
DirectoryEntry( "LDAP://spencenet.com") ;
DirectorySearch er dirSearch = new
DirectorySearch er(dirEntry);
ManagementObjec tSearcher serverQuery = new
ManagementObjec tSearcher("SELE CT * FROM Win32_Operating System");
ManagementObjec tCollection serverQueryColl ection =
serverQuery.Get ();
dirSearch.Filte r = "(objectClass=c omputer)";

foreach (ManagementObje ct mo in serverQueryColl ection)
{
versionCompareR esult =
String.Compare( mo["version"].ToString(), "5.1 (2600)");
mo["version"].ToString();
if (versionCompare Result 0)
{
try
{
foreach (SearchResult sr in
dirSearch.FindA ll())
{

computersListBo x.Items.Add(sr. GetDirectoryEnt ry().Name.ToStr ing().Substring (3));
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show (ex.Message, "LDAP: Error",
MessageBoxButto ns.OK, MessageBoxIcon. Error);
}
computersListBo x.SelectedIndex = 0;
}
}
}

You don't have to use System.Manageme nt to get at the OS version, this is all stored in the
AD.

You ca do something like this, if you like to bind to the root of the AD....
...
using (DirectoryEntry root = new DirectoryEntry( "LDAP://spencenet.com") ;
{
DirectorySearch er dirSearch = new DirectorySearch er(root);
dirSearch.Filte r = "(objectClass=C omputer)";
foreach (SearchResult sr in dirSearch.FindA ll())
{
// enumerate each computer entry in the directory.
using (DirectoryEntry computer = sr.GetDirectory Entry())
{
// fetch osversion
string version =
computer.Proper ties["operatingsyste mversion"].Value.Substrin g(0, 3);
switch (version)
{
case "4.0":
// NT4 Server or WKST, here you'll have to parse
"operatingsyste m" property !
// fill list ...
break;
case "5.0":
// Windows 2000 Server or WKST, here you'll have to parse
"operatingsyste m" property !
...
break;
case "5.1":
// Windows XP, this is a WKST OS
...
break;
case "5.2":
// Windows 2003 Server, this is a Server OS
...
break;
case "6.0":
// Vista, this is a WKST OS
...
break;
default:
// Unknown
break;

}
}
}
}

But, it's faster to bind to the root of the container if possible, for instance the
"computers" container contains all computers in a domain (default), you can change the code
into this:

using (DirectoryEntry root = new DirectoryEntry( "LDAP://spencenet.com, cn=computers");
{
..

Willy.

[CoolBreeze812]

Thanks for the sample. I believe I'm on the right track now.

-- Lance

On Dec 10, 3:30 pm, "Willy Denoyette [MVP]"
<willy.denoye.. [e-mail] te:

"CoolBreeze 812" <lspence...@gma il.comwrote in messagenews:11* *************** ******@j44g2000 cwa.googlegroup s.com...

Again thank you Willy for your help. I tried your example and
unfortunately couldn't get it to work. What I'd really like to do is
adjust the following code to accomplish what I'm after, but I am having
a hard time doing so. Do you have any pointers on how I might be able
to do this. As you can see I'm a newbie, so I welcome any refactoring
suggestions as well.

private void wsrMainForm_Loa d(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
int versionCompareR esult;

DirectoryEntry dirEntry = new
DirectoryEntry( "LDAP://spencenet.com") ;
DirectorySearch er dirSearch = new
DirectorySearch er(dirEntry);
ManagementObjec tSearcher serverQuery = new
ManagementObjec tSearcher("SELE CT * FROM Win32_Operating System");
ManagementObjec tCollection serverQueryColl ection =
serverQuery.Get ();
dirSearch.Filte r = "(objectClass=c omputer)";

foreach (ManagementObje ct mo in serverQueryColl ection)
{
versionCompareR esult =
String.Compare( mo["version"].ToString(), "5.1 (2600)");
mo["version"].ToString();
if (versionCompare Result 0)
{
try
{
foreach (SearchResult sr in
dirSearch.FindA ll())
{

computersListBo x.Items.Add(sr. GetDirectoryEnt ry().Name.ToStr ing().Substring (3));
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show (ex.Message, "LDAP: Error",
MessageBoxButto ns.OK, MessageBoxIcon. Error);
}
computersListBo x.SelectedIndex = 0;
}
}
}You don't have to use System.Manageme nt to get at the OS version, this is all stored in the

AD.

You ca do something like this, if you like to bind to the root of the AD....
...
using (DirectoryEntry root = new DirectoryEntry( "LDAP://spencenet.com") ;
{
DirectorySearch er dirSearch = new DirectorySearch er(root);
dirSearch.Filte r = "(objectClass=C omputer)";
foreach (SearchResult sr in dirSearch.FindA ll())
{
// enumerate each computer entry in the directory.
using (DirectoryEntry computer = sr.GetDirectory Entry())
{
// fetch osversion
string version =
computer.Proper ties["operatingsyste mversion"].Value.Substrin g(0, 3);
switch (version)
{
case "4.0":
// NT4 Server or WKST, here you'll have to parse
"operatingsyste m" property !
// fill list ...
break;
case "5.0":
// Windows 2000 Server or WKST, here you'll have to parse
"operatingsyste m" property !
...
break;
case "5.1":
// Windows XP, this is a WKST OS
...
break;
case "5.2":
// Windows 2003 Server, this is a Server OS
...
break;
case "6.0":
// Vista, this is a WKST OS
...
break;
default:
// Unknown
break;

}
}
}
}

But, it's faster to bind to the root of the container if possible, for instance the
"computers" container contains all computers in a domain (default), you can change the code
into this:

using (DirectoryEntry root = new DirectoryEntry( "LDAP://spencenet.com, cn=computers");
{
..

Willy.