Question

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

Answer 1

Check out System.DirectoryServices (An ASP.NET 2.0 reference):

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)             {                 foreach (SearchResult 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 result;     }  } 

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 result End Function End Class