Windows 2000 Administration in a Nutshell

Name

Command Interpreter

Synopsis

Performs text-based command-line functions.

To Launch

• Start → Programs → Accessories → Command Prompt

• Command interpreter → cmd

• Command interpreter → start cmd (opens a new window)

Description

The Windows 2000 command-line interpreter, cmd.exe, is similar to that of Windows NT but has been enhanced with additional features. Windows 2000 also enhances the usefulness of the interpreter with new services and command-line utilities. For example:

• Windows 2000 includes all the commands available in Windows NT, plus some important new ones:

  • The powerful netsh (Netshell) command that can be used for administering networking components on local or remote computers from the command line. This is accomplished through the use of Helper DLLs, which extend the functionality of netsh for specific networking services such as DHCP, WINS, and Routing and Remote Access.

  • Sets of commands for administering Certificate Services, Cluster Service, Removable Storage, Site Server ILS Service, and Terminal Services from the command line.

• Both Windows 2000 Server and Professional include a Telnet Server service, which is a real boon to remote administration. Using the telnet command on one computer, you can log on to a remote computer and remotely execute any text-based command in the Windows 2000 repertoire.

• The Windows 2000 command line includes an enhanced autocompletion feature that is turned on by typing cmd /f:on at a command prompt. Instead of typing the complete names of files ...