Chapter 23 NET Commands

Why Use NET Command Lines?

NET Command Summary

Before Running NET Commands

This chapter introduces the commands that network users can enter at the system prompt. These commands largely duplicate the interactive functions described in Chapter 20, "Setting Up the Network," Chapter 21, "Using the Network," and Chapter 22, "Optimizing and Maintaining the Network." The choice of using these commands or using the NET program depends on which you find quicker and easier. Refer also to the following section, "Why Use NET Command Lines?"

Chapter 18, "Introduction to Personal NetWare," explains the ideas, terms, and operations you need to use the network. Refer to this information if you are not already familiar with it.

In addition to the commands listed in this chapter, NetWare® commands can be used to achieve many of the same functions, if you are a NetWare client, where they relate to NetWare servers. In some cases, you must use a NetWare command to refer to a NetWare server and a NET command to refer to a workgroup. This is stated where appropriate in the full descriptions of the NET commands, in the "NET Commands" chapter of DOSBook.

To use the interactive NET program, rather than NET command lines, type one of the following at the system prompt:

These operations are all described in Chapter 20, "Setting Up the Network," Chapter 21, "Using the Network," and Chapter 22, "Optimizing and Maintaining the Network."

If you type any other form of the NET command, it executes that command line and returns to the system prompt. A few commands ask you for a password or to press Y to confirm them but other than this they are not interactive.

Why Use NET Command Lines?

NET command lines have the following uses:

Individually, they are quicker than running the interactive NET programs.
Some commands can only be used in command lines.
The output from command lines can be saved to a file, or printed, to provide a permanent record.
NET command lines can be put into batch files. NET SYNC and NET WAIT, for example, do not have an interactive equivalent because they are intended for use in batch files only.
Putting NET commands into batch files simplifies reconnecting to the network, especially when they are used in conjunction with the NET SAVE command. User Bryan, for example, could put the following lines in a file called UPDATEX.BAT:
```
NET MAP G: LIVEDATA
```
```
NET MAP T: TOOLS
```
```
T:UPDATEX G:MARCH %1
```
```
NET MAP DEL G:
```
```
NET MAP DEL T:
```

NET Command Summary

The NET commands fall into the following groups:

Connection commands
Settings commands
- Inquire about network settings
- Change certain network settings
Function commands
- Administration: write to the audit log, share resources, synchronize, close servers
- User features: get online help, print files, send messages, save connections

These commands are all listed in the following tables. Most commands require parameters that are not shown in the tables; for information about these parameters, refer to the full command descriptions in the "NET Commands" chapter of DOSBook.

Connection Commands

You can list available resources, and display, make, or change any connection to them. Use the following NET commands.

Table 23-1
Connection Commands
	To list	To inquire about	To connect	To disconnect
your workgroup		NET INFO	NET LOGIN	NET LOGOUT
any workgroup	NET WGFIND NET WGLIST		NET JOIN	NET LOGOUT
NetWare servers	NET SLIST	NET CONNECT	NET CONNECT	NET LOGOUT
directories	NET WDLIST	NET MAP	NET MAP	NET MAP DEL
printers	NET WPLIST	NET CAPTURE	NET CAPTURE	NET CAPTURE DEL
users	NET ULIST
server extensions	NET XLIST

Note that the output normally seen on your screen can be saved to a file or printed. For example, the following command sends a list of connected (mapped) drive letters to a file named FLIST.TXT:

NET MAP >FLIST.TXT <Enter>

Settings Commands

You can inquire about and change many (but not all) settings. Other settings can only be changed by running NET ADMIN interactively, as described in Chapter 20, "Setting Up the Network."

Table 23-2
Settings Commands
	To inquire about	To set
your computer's details	NET INFO
your workgroup password		NET SETPASS
message reception	NET RECEIVE	NET RECEIVE ON/OFF/time
rights to a directory	NET RIGHTS	NET RIGHTS ADD
audit logging	NET AUDIT	NET ADMIN
NetWare 4.x context	NET CONTEXT	NET CONTEXT
protocol retries and timing	NET LINK	NET LINK
watchdog timer		NET SETDOG

Function Commands

You can perform the following miscellaneous administrative and user functions.

Table 23-3
Function Commands
Function	Use
Write an entry in the audit log	NET AUDIT
Share a directory or printer	NET SHARE
Synchronize servers' clocks	NET NTIME
Synchronize batch files	NET SYNC
Synchronize client's clock	NET TIME
Wait	NET WAIT
Close your server	NET DOWN
Get help on any NET command	NET HELP command
Print a file	NET PRINT
Send a message	NET SEND
Save connections	NET SAVE

Before Running NET Commands

Before you run NET commands at the system prompt, be aware of the following:

The network software must be installed on your computer.
The client software must be loaded. Normally, this means that you must have run STARTNET.BAT.
Some commands require you to be logged in. This is noted in the detailed command descriptions in the "NET Commands" chapter of DOSBook. If you are not logged in, commands that relate to your current workgroup use the last workgroup you logged in to in the current session, if any, or the workgroup set in your NET.CFG file.
Almost all commands can be entered at the system prompt or can be placed in a batch file.

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