Скачать или смотреть How to Retrieve Local Administrator Groups from Older Windows Systems Using PowerShell

Learn how to retrieve local administrator group details from remote systems with PowerShell versions older than 5.1 using the `net.exe` command.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/63408055/ asked by the user 'SQLDoctor' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/3155869/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/63408445/ provided by the user 'Karolina Ochlik' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/5720797/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Retrieving Local Administrator Groups from Remote Systems with PowerShell

PowerShell is a powerful tool for system administrators, allowing them to manage local and remote systems effectively. However, when working with older systems that run PowerShell versions prior to 5.1, you might encounter challenges retrieving information such as local administrator group details. In this guide, we’ll explain how you can overcome this issue and successfully retrieve the local administrators from remote systems that run older versions of PowerShell.

The Challenge

You may find yourself in a situation where you need to get a list of local administrators from a remote machine, but the version of PowerShell installed on that machine is older than 5.1. The Get-LocalGroupMember cmdlet, which is specifically designed for this purpose, was introduced in PowerShell 5.1. Consequently, if your target system does not meet this requirement, you will not be able to use this cmdlet.

Example of Current Attempt

Here’s a snippet of the script that some users may currently be using to retrieve local group members:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The command above works well on systems running PowerShell 5.1 or newer, but it will fail on older versions.

A Reliable Solution: Using net.exe Command

To retrieve the local administrator group details from a remote system that runs a version of PowerShell older than 5.1, you can use the net.exe command. net.exe is a command-line utility that is available on all Windows systems and can provide the same information.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Using net localgroup Command:
The command you will use is:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This command will list all the members of the local Administrators group.

Executing the Command on a Remote System:
You can run this command using the Invoke-Command cmdlet as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Replace $server with the name of the target machine.

Parsing the Output (If Needed):
Depending on how you want to manipulate the output, you may need to add some parsing logic to filter or format the results. However, this command will provide you with a straightforward list, making it easy to see which accounts are in the Administrators group.

Key Benefits of Using net.exe

Compatibility: Works with all Windows systems, regardless of PowerShell version.

Quick and Efficient: Provides instant results without needing complex handling.

Ease of Use: Simple command-line syntax that requires minimal setup.

Conclusion

In situations where you're working with older versions of PowerShell and need to access local groups, leveraging net.exe is a practical solution. By using the command outlined above, you can efficiently gather the necessary information from remote machines without getting bogged down by compatibility issues.

Now you are equipped with the knowledge to retrieve local administrator group details, even from older systems. Embrace the full power of your administrative capabilities, and ensure your systems are managed effectively!