Getting a list of users on a network domain - vb.net

Question

I want to get back to get a list of users on a network domain using VB.Net.
I will have the domain name available to me for use.
Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

It might throw an error in the select query.
Please check this:
Did you add a reference to the System.Management assembly to your project? If you haven't, do this:
In VS, click on Project menu > add reference.
On the .Net tab, scroll down until you see System.Management. Click on it to select, then click OK.
Now back in your code, at the very top of your class, put in "Imports System.Management", and you should be all set.
Source:
http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=560422
It worked for me without any issues. I am able to get all user names for the domain.

Answer 2

Something like this might point you in the right direction, using System.DirectoryServices and System.DirectoryServices.ActiveDirectory:
Private Function GetDomainUsers(ByVal domainDirectoryEntry As DirectoryEntry, ByRef userList As IList) As Integer
Try
userList = New ArrayList()
Using domainDirectoryEntry
Dim ds As New DirectorySearcher(domainDirectoryEntry, "(&(objectCategory=person)(objectClass=user))", New String() {"distinguishedName"})
Using src As SearchResultCollection = ds.FindAll()
For Each sr As SearchResult In src
userList.Add(sr.Properties("distinguishedName")(0))
Next
End Using
End Using
Return userList.Count
Catch generatedExceptionName As Exception
userList = Nothing
Return -1
Finally
domainDirectoryEntry = Nothing
End Try
End Function

Answer 3

Imports System.Management
Imports System.Management.Instrumentation
Sub PrintDomainUsers()
Dim domainName As String = System.Environment.UserDomainName.ToString
Dim userQuery As SelectQuery = New SelectQuery("Win32_UserAccount", "Domain='" & domainName & "'")
Try
Dim userSearch As ManagementObjectSearcher = New ManagementObjectSearcher(userQuery)
For Each domainUser In userSearch.Get
Console.WriteLine(domainUser("Name"))
Next
Catch ex As Exception
Throw ex
End Try
End Sub
This works but how do i filter by a certain group. Im getting THOUSANDS of resutls

Answer 4

Another option would be exploring System.Management and System.Management.Instrumentation.Here is a short snippet of how you pull the users of a particular domain using these namespaces.
Imports System.Management
Imports System.Management.Instrumentation
Sub PrintDomainUsers()
Dim domainName As String = System.Environment.UserDomainName.ToString
Dim userQuery As SelectQuery = New SelectQuery("Win32_UserAccount", "Domain='" & domainName & "'")
Try
Dim userSearch As ManagementObjectSearcher = New ManagementObjectSearcher(userQuery)
For Each domainUser In userSearch.Get
Console.WriteLine(domainUser("Name"))
Next
Catch ex As Exception
Throw ex
End Try
End Sub