ASP.NET How to get List of Groups in Active Directory

Question

How can I get a full list of Groups in my Active Directory?

Answer 1

Hi Pedro.

Maybe the following page can help you:

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/system/everythingInAD.aspx

/Regards Vinblad

Answer 2

Microsoft .NET Framework provides a standard library for working with Active Directory: System.DirectoryServices namespace in the System.DirectoryServices.dll.

Microsoft recommends using two main classes from the System.DirectoryServices namespace: DirectoryEntry and DirectorySearcher. In most cases, it is enough to use DirectorySearcher class only.

You can find some examples in this CodeProject article.

Answer 3

Check out System.DirectoryServices:

C#-example to get groups:

using System.DirectoryServices; 
public class test
{ 

private void main() 
{ 
foreach (string @group in GetGroups()) { 
    Debug.Print(@group); 
} 
} 

public List<string> GetGroups() 
{ 
    DirectoryEntry objADAM = default(DirectoryEntry); 
    // Binding object. 
    DirectoryEntry objGroupEntry = default(DirectoryEntry); 
    // Group Results. 
    DirectorySearcher objSearchADAM = default(DirectorySearcher); 
    // Search object. 
    SearchResultCollection objSearchResults = default(SearchResultCollection); 
    // Results collection. 
    string strPath = null; 
    // Binding path. 
    List<string> result = new List<string>(); 

    // Construct the binding string. 
    strPath = "LDAP://stefanserver.stefannet.local"; 
    //Change to your ADserver 

    // Get the AD LDS object. 
    try { 
        objADAM = new DirectoryEntry(strPath); 
        objADAM.RefreshCache(); 
    } 
    catch (Exception e) { 
        throw e; 
    } 

    // Get search object, specify filter and scope, 
    // perform search. 
    try { 
        objSearchADAM = new DirectorySearcher(objADAM); 
        objSearchADAM.Filter = "(&(objectClass=group))"; 
        objSearchADAM.SearchScope = SearchScope.Subtree; 
        objSearchResults = objSearchADAM.FindAll(); 
    } 
    catch (Exception e) { 
        throw e; 
    } 

    // Enumerate groups 
    try { 
        if (objSearchResults.Count != 0) { 
            SearchResult objResult = default(SearchResult); 
            foreach (var objResult in objSearchResults) { 
                objGroupEntry = objResult.GetDirectoryEntry; 
                result.Add(objGroupEntry.Name); 
            } 
        } 
        else { 
            throw new Exception("No groups found"); 
        } 
    } 
    catch (Exception e) { 
        throw new Exception(e.Message); 
    } 

    return null; 
} 
}

VB-example to get groups:

Imports System.DirectoryServices

Public Class Form1

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
    For Each group As String In GetGroups()
        Debug.Print(group)
    Next
End Sub

Public Function GetGroups() As List(Of String)
    Dim objADAM As DirectoryEntry                   ' Binding object.
    Dim objGroupEntry As DirectoryEntry             ' Group Results.
    Dim objSearchADAM As DirectorySearcher          ' Search object.
    Dim objSearchResults As SearchResultCollection  ' Results collection.
    Dim strPath As String                           ' Binding path.
    Dim result As New List(Of String)

    ' Construct the binding string.        
    strPath = "LDAP://stefanserver.stefannet.local" 'Change to your ADserver

    ' Get the AD LDS object.
    Try
        objADAM = New DirectoryEntry(strPath)
        objADAM.RefreshCache()
    Catch e As Exception
        Throw e
    End Try

    ' Get search object, specify filter and scope,
    ' perform search.
    Try
        objSearchADAM = New DirectorySearcher(objADAM)
        objSearchADAM.Filter = "(&(objectClass=group))"
        objSearchADAM.SearchScope = SearchScope.Subtree
        objSearchResults = objSearchADAM.FindAll()
    Catch e As Exception
        Throw e
    End Try

    ' Enumerate groups
    Try
        If objSearchResults.Count <> 0 Then
            Dim objResult As SearchResult
            For Each objResult In objSearchResults
                objGroupEntry = objResult.GetDirectoryEntry
                result.Add(objGroupEntry.Name)
            Next objResult
        Else
            Throw New Exception("No groups found")
        End If
    Catch e As Exception
        Throw New Exception(e.Message)
    End Try

    Return Nothing
End Function

End Class