How can you change Network settings (IP Address, DNS, WINS, Host Name) with code in C#

Question

I am developing a wizard for a machine that is to be used as a backup of other machines. When it replaces an existing machine, it needs to set its IP address, DNS, WINS, and host name to match the machine being replaced.

Is there a library in .net (C#) which allows me to do this programatically?

There are multiple NICs, each which need to be set individually.

EDIT

Thannk you TimothyP for your example. It got me moving on the right track and the quick reply was awesome.

Thanks balexandre. Your code is perfect. I was in a rush and had already adapted the example TimothyP linked to, but I would have loved to have had your code sooner.

I've also developed a routine using similar techniques for changing the computer name. I'll post it in the future so subscribe to this questions RSS feed if you want to be informed of the update. I may get it up later today or on Monday after a bit of cleanup.

Answer 1

Hi,

I hope you don't mind me sending you to an example, but this is really a perfect example: http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cs/oazswitchnetconfig.aspx

Answer 2

very easy...

just made this in 20 minutes (add to set up VM first) :)

using System;
using System.Management;

namespace WindowsFormsApplication_CS
{
    class NetworkManagement
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Set's a new IP Address and it's Submask of the local machine
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="ip_address">The IP Address</param>
        /// <param name="subnet_mask">The Submask IP Address</param>
        /// <remarks>Requires a reference to the System.Management namespace</remarks>
        public void setIP(string ip_address, string subnet_mask)
        {
            ManagementClass objMC = new ManagementClass("Win32_NetworkAdapterConfiguration");
            ManagementObjectCollection objMOC = objMC.GetInstances();

            foreach (ManagementObject objMO in objMOC)
            {
                if ((bool)objMO["IPEnabled"])
                {
                    try
                    {
                        ManagementBaseObject setIP;
                        ManagementBaseObject newIP =
                            objMO.GetMethodParameters("EnableStatic");

                        newIP["IPAddress"] = new string[] { ip_address };
                        newIP["SubnetMask"] = new string[] { subnet_mask };

                        setIP = objMO.InvokeMethod("EnableStatic", newIP, null);
                    }
                    catch (Exception)
                    {
                        throw;
                    }


                }
            }
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Set's a new Gateway address of the local machine
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="gateway">The Gateway IP Address</param>
        /// <remarks>Requires a reference to the System.Management namespace</remarks>
        public void setGateway(string gateway)
        {
            ManagementClass objMC = new ManagementClass("Win32_NetworkAdapterConfiguration");
            ManagementObjectCollection objMOC = objMC.GetInstances();

            foreach (ManagementObject objMO in objMOC)
            {
                if ((bool)objMO["IPEnabled"])
                {
                    try
                    {
                        ManagementBaseObject setGateway;
                        ManagementBaseObject newGateway =
                            objMO.GetMethodParameters("SetGateways");

                        newGateway["DefaultIPGateway"] = new string[] { gateway };
                        newGateway["GatewayCostMetric"] = new int[] { 1 };

                        setGateway = objMO.InvokeMethod("SetGateways", newGateway, null);
                    }
                    catch (Exception)
                    {
                        throw;
                    }
                }
            }
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Set's the DNS Server of the local machine
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="NIC">NIC address</param>
        /// <param name="DNS">DNS server address</param>
        /// <remarks>Requires a reference to the System.Management namespace</remarks>
        public void setDNS(string NIC, string DNS)
        {
            ManagementClass objMC = new ManagementClass("Win32_NetworkAdapterConfiguration");
            ManagementObjectCollection objMOC = objMC.GetInstances();

            foreach (ManagementObject objMO in objMOC)
            {
                if ((bool)objMO["IPEnabled"])
                {
                    if (objMO["Caption"].Equals(NIC))
                    {
                        try
                        {
                            ManagementBaseObject newDNS =
                                objMO.GetMethodParameters("SetDNSServerSearchOrder");
                            newDNS["DNSServerSearchOrder"] = DNS.Split(',');
                            ManagementBaseObject setDNS =
                                objMO.InvokeMethod("SetDNSServerSearchOrder", newDNS, null);
                        }
                        catch (Exception)
                        {
                            throw;
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Set's WINS of the local machine
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="NIC">NIC Address</param>
        /// <param name="priWINS">Primary WINS server address</param>
        /// <param name="secWINS">Secondary WINS server address</param>
        /// <remarks>Requires a reference to the System.Management namespace</remarks>
        public void setWINS(string NIC, string priWINS, string secWINS)
        {
            ManagementClass objMC = new ManagementClass("Win32_NetworkAdapterConfiguration");
            ManagementObjectCollection objMOC = objMC.GetInstances();

            foreach (ManagementObject objMO in objMOC)
            {
                if ((bool)objMO["IPEnabled"])
                {
                    if (objMO["Caption"].Equals(NIC))
                    {
                        try
                        {
                            ManagementBaseObject setWINS;
                            ManagementBaseObject wins =
                            objMO.GetMethodParameters("SetWINSServer");
                            wins.SetPropertyValue("WINSPrimaryServer", priWINS);
                            wins.SetPropertyValue("WINSSecondaryServer", secWINS);

                            setWINS = objMO.InvokeMethod("SetWINSServer", wins, null);
                        }
                        catch (Exception)
                        {
                            throw;
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        } 
    }
}

ohhh, you already had something ... :( well, was fun to me at least ;)

Answer 3

I like the WMILinq solution. While not exactly the solution to your problem, find below a taste of it :

using (WmiContext context = new WmiContext(@"\\.")) {

  context.ManagementScope.Options.Impersonation = ImpersonationLevel.Impersonate;
  context.Log = Console.Out;

  var dnss = from nic in context.Source<Win32_NetworkAdapterConfiguration>()
          where nic.IPEnabled
          select nic;

  var ips = from s in dnss.SelectMany(dns => dns.DNSServerSearchOrder)
          select IPAddress.Parse(s);
}  

http://www.codeplex.com/linq2wmi