How do I find out which computer is the domain controller in Windows programmatically?

Question

I am looking for a way to determine what the Name/IP Address of the domain controller is for a given domain that a client computer is connected to.

At our company we hav

Answer 1

With the most simple programming language: DOS batch

echo %LOGONSERVER%

Answer 2

In cmd on Windows, type the following commande:

nltest /dclist:{domainname}

It lists all domain controllers in particular domain

Answer 3

Run gpresult at a Windows command prompt. You'll get an abundance of information about the current domain, current user, user & computer security groups, group policy names, Active Directory Distinguished Name, and so on.

Answer 4

In C#/.NET 3.5 you could write a little program to do:

using (PrincipalContext context = new PrincipalContext(ContextType.Domain))
{
    string controller = context.ConnectedServer;
    Console.WriteLine( "Domain Controller:" + controller );
} 

This will list all the users in the current domain:

using (PrincipalContext context = new PrincipalContext(ContextType.Domain))
{
    using (UserPrincipal searchPrincipal = new UserPrincipal(context))
    {
       using (PrincipalSearcher searcher = new PrincipalSearcher(searchPrincipal))
       {
           foreach (UserPrincipal principal in searcher.FindAll())
           {
               Console.WriteLine( principal.SamAccountName);
           }
       }
    }
}

Answer 5

in Powershell: $env:logonserver

Answer 6

To retrieve the information when the DomainController exists in a Domain in which your machine doesn't belong, you need something more.

  DirectoryContext domainContext =  new DirectoryContext(DirectoryContextType.Domain, "targetDomainName", "validUserInDomain", "validUserPassword");

  var domain = System.DirectoryServices.ActiveDirectory.Domain.GetDomain(domainContext);
  var controller = domain.FindDomainController();