Top 10 Command Line Commands Windows I Use

I use a lot of various network commands through the week. I thought it would be good to list some of the command line commands windows I use the most. So here are the Top 10 command line commands windows I use:

1. I use the ipconfig to determine the IP address of the workstation or server I am working on. Here some uses of ipconfig command:
    a. ipconfig
    b. ipconfig /all    Shows all the IP settings plus DNS and MAC address.
    c. ipconfig /release    Clear the IP address
    d. ipconfig /renew    Request a new IP address.
    e. ipconfig /flushdns    Clears the DNS cache.
    d. ipconfig /registerdns    Registers new DNS settings.

2. I use the netdom command to do the following:

    a. I use the netdom command to list the Primary Domain Controller in a Domain. To list the PDC for Northamerica, type the following at the command prompt:

      netdom query /d:YourDomain PDC

    b. I use the Netdom Query command to view Domain Trusts. To view all the direct trust relationships for the domain xyzDomain, type the following at the command prompt:

      netdom query /d:xyzDomain /Ud:xyzDomain\admin DOMAIN /Direct

    c. I use the Netdom Add command to add a Workstation or Member Server to a Windows Domain. To add the workstation myWorkstation to the Windows Server 2003 domain sales.example.com in the organizational unit (OU) MyCoolOU/workstations, type the following at the command prompt:

   netdom add/d:sales.example.com myWorkstation /OU:OU=MyCoolOU,OU=Workstations,DC=example,DC=com

Note: If the /ou parameter is not specified, the account is created in the Computers container.

    d. I used the Netdom Computername to rename a domain controller in a Windows Server 2003 domain. To rename the domain controller DC to altDC in the example.com domain use the following syntax:

      netdom computername dc /makeprimary:altdc.example.com

To rename a member server you must choose one of the existing alternate names for the computer and make it the new primary name.

3. I use the memsnap command to read a snapshot of memory and write the information to a log. This is useful for identifying processes that are excessively consuming resources. Here is how to use memsnap:

      memsnap /m memsnap.log

4. I use the net command to perform a varitey of tasks. Here are some of the ways I use the net command:
      a. Identify folder shares on a system: net share
      b. Stop a service: net stop [service_name]
      c. Start a service: net start [service_name]
      d. Map a network drive: net use S: \\ServerName\ShareName /user:mydomain\user-name “mypassword”

5. I use the nbtstat command to help me identify computer names and MAC addresses. Here is how I use it to identify a computer name:

      nbtstat -a 192.168.1.55

6. I use the pingcommand to identify see if I can reach a IP addresses on the network. Here is how I use it: ping 192.168.1.55

Note: add -t at the end of that and you can continuously ping an IP address.
Note: to learn more just type nbtstat /?

7. I use the tracert command to see how an IP request travels to reach its destination. Here is how I use tracert: tracert 192.168.1.55

8. I use the nslookup command to identify IP addresses. I typically find this command useful for looking MX records or IP addresses of websites that have multiple IPs. Here are two examples.

a. Let’s say you have a need for identifying all the associated IP addresses for a domain. Open the command prompt and type the following: nslookup google

b. If you need to identify the MX record of a domain:
      nslookup
      set type=mx
      type_the_domain_name

9. When creating a DHCP reservation and you need the MAC address use the arp command. Here is how: are -a 192.168.1.55

10. I use the route command to identify slow network printers. I typically use the route command to view and modify the IP routing table of the system I’m working on. Here is how you can use it:
    a. To view all the routes on your system open the command prompt and type in route and press enter.

    b. To add a route type the following:
      route add 192.168.1.55 mask 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1 metric 3 if 2
Note: the first IP is the destination, the second is the subnet and the last is the default gateway.

c. To delete a route type the following: route delete 192.168.1.55

That concludes the Top 10 Command Line Commands Windows I Use. If you would like to share a command line tool that you use on a regular basis please leave your comment below.

Thanks for taking the time to read this article.

Tom