Windows Server 2008 R2 Command-line Tools

Just like all other versions of Windows, Windows Server 2008 R2 provides the user with the option to execute commands from a command-prompt window. This chapter of Windows Server 2008 R2 Essentials is intended to provide an overview of the different commands currently provided in the command-prompt.

Contents

Accessing the Command Window

On an installed and running system the Windows command-prompt window may be accessed from the main panel of the Start menu. In this scenario the command-prompt may be launched with or without administrative privileges. By default the tool will start without administrative privileges. To launch with privileges, right click on the item in the start menu and select Run as administrator from the popup menu.

The command-prompt may also be accessed during the Windows Server 2008 R2 installation process by pressing Shift+F10 at any point before the actual installation process begins (i.e. the point at which the Setup program starts copying files).

Once invoked, the command prompt window will appear as illustrated in the following figure:

Windows Server 2008 Command-line Tool Summary

The following table provides a list of each command line tool together with a brief explanation: <google>ADSDAQBOX_FLOW</google>

Command	Description
Arp	Display and modify the IP to physical address translation tables used by the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP).
Assoc	Display and modify file extension associations.
Attrib	Display and change file attributes.
Break	Configure extended Ctrl-C checking.
Bcdedit	Configure properties in name database to control boot loading.
Cacls	Display or modify access control lists of files.
Call	Call a script or script label as a procedure.
CD/Chdir	Display the name of or changes the current directory.
Chcp	Display or set the active code page number.
Chkdsk	Check a disk for errors and display a report.
Chkntfs	Display the status of volumes. Set or exclude volumes from automatic system checking during system boot.
Choice	Create a selection list from which users can select a choice in batch scripts.
Cls	Clear the console window.
Cmd	Start a new instance of the Windows command shell.
Color	Set the colors of the command-shell window.
Comp	Compare the contents of two files or sets of files.
Compact	Display or modify the compression of files or sets of files.
Convert	Convert FAT volumes to NTFS.
Copy	Copy or combine files.
Date	Display or set the system date.
Del	Delete one or more files.
Dir	Display a list of files and subdirectories within a directory.
Diskcomp	Compare the contents of two floppy disks.
Diskcopy	Copy the contents of one floppy disk to another.
Diskpart	Invoke a text-mode command interpreter so that you can manage disks, partitions, and volumes using a separate command prompt and commands that are internal to Diskpart.
Doskey	Edit command lines, recall Windows commands, and create macros.
Driverquery	Display the current device driver properties and status.
Echo	Display messages, or turns command echoing on or off.
Endlocal	End localization of environment changes in a batch file.
Erase	See Del.
Exit	Exit the command interpreter.
Expand	Uncompress files.
FC	Compare two files and display the differences between them.
Find/Findstr	Search for a text string in files.
For	Run a specified command for each file in a set of files.
Format	Format a floppy disk or hard drive.
Fsutil	File system utility - displays and configures file system properties.
Ftp	Transfer files.
Ftype	Display or modify file types used in file extension associations
Goto	Direct the Windows command interpreter to a labeled line in a script.
Gpresult	Display Group Policy information for a machine or user.
Graftabl	Enable Windows to display extended character sets in graphics mode.
Help	Display Help information for Windows commands.
Hostname	Display the computer name.
ICACLS	Display, modify, backup, and restore ACLs for files and directories.
IF	Perform conditional processing in batch programs.
Ipconfig	Display TCP/IP configuration.
Label	Create, change, or delete the volume label of a disk.
Md/Mkdir	Create a directory or subdirectory.
Mklink	Create symbolic and hard links.
Mode	Configure a system device.
More	Display output one screen at a time.
Mountvol	Manage a volume mount point.
Move	Move files from one directory to another directory on the same drive.
Openfiles	Display files opened by remote users for a file share.
Nbtstat	Display status of NetBIOS.
Net Accounts	Manage user account and password policies.
Net Computer	Add or remove computers from a domain.
Net Config Server	Display or modify configuration of Server service.
Net Config Workstation	Display or modify configuration of Workstation service.
Net Continue	Resume a paused service.
Net File	Display or manage open files on a server.
Net Group	Display or manage global groups.
Net Localgroup	Display or manage local group accounts.
Net Pause	Suspend a service.
Net Print	Display or manage print jobs and shared queues.
Net Session	List or disconnect sessions.
Net Share	Display or manage shared printers and directories.
Net Start	List or start network services.
Net Statistics	Display workstation and server statistics.
Net Stop	Stop services.
Net Time	Display or synchronize network time.
Net Use	Display or manage remote connections.
Net User	Display or manage local user accounts.
Net View	Display network resources or computers.
Netsh	Invoke a separate command prompt that allows you to manage the configuration of various network services on local and remote computers.
Netstat	Display status of network connections.
Path	Display or set a search path for executable files in the current command window.
Pathping	Trace routes and provides packet loss information.
Pause	Suspend processing of a script and wait for keyboard input.
Ping	Determine if a network connection can be established.
Popd	Change to the directory stored by Pushd.
Print	Print a text file.
Prompt	Change the Windows command prompt.
Pushd	Save the current directory then changes to a new directory.
Rd/Rmdir	Remove a directory.
Recover	Recover readable information from a bad or defective disk.
Reg Add	Add a new subkey or entry to the Registry.
Reg Compare	Compare Registry subkeys or entries.
Reg Copy	Copy a Registry entry to a specified key path on a local or remote system.
Reg Delete	Delete a subkey or entries from the Registry.
Reg Query	List the entries under a key and the names of subkeys (if any).
Reg Restore	Write saved subkeys and entries back to the Registry.
Reg Save	Save a copy of specified subkeys, entries, and values to a file.
Regsvr32	Register and unregister DLLs.
Rem	Add comments to scripts.
Ren	Rename a file.
Replace	Replace a file.
Route	Manage network routing tables.
Rmdir	Remove a directory.
Set	Display or modify Windows environment variables. Also used to evaluate numeric expressions at the command line.
Setlocal	Begin localization of environment changes in a batch file.
Sc	Display and configure background processes (services).
Schtasks	Schedule commands and programs to run on a system.
Sfc	Scans and verifies protected operating system files.
Shift	Shifts the position of replaceable parameters in scripts.
Shutdown	Perform system shutdown.
Sort	Sort input.
Start	Start a new command-shell window to run a specified program or command.
Subst	Maps a path to a drive letter.
Systeminfo	Display machine properties and configuration.
Tasklist	Display currently running tasks and services.
Taskkill	Kill or stop a running process or application.
Time	Display or sets the system time.
Title	Sets the title for the command-shell window.
Tracert	Display the path between computers.
Tree	Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or path.
Type	Display the contents of a text file.
Ver	Display the Windows version.
Verify	Tells Windows whether to verify that your files are written correctly to a disk.
Vol	Display a disk volume label and serial number.
Xcopy	Copy files and directories.
WMI	Display WMI information.

Displaying a List of Commands

A list of commands may be obtained at any time by typing help into the command prompt window.

Obtaining Help Information about Command-line Tools

Help on command line tools can be obtained using the Help system as follows:

help ftp

help xcopy

Alternatively enter the name of the command followed by '/?'. For example, to display help information for the Net command:

net /?

To obtain information on a particular command line argument for a command simply enter the command name, the argument and the '/?':

net time /?