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

rathkopf_10119 0
Viewed 150919

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

Thank 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.

networking configuration .net c#
7 Answers

Just made this in a few minutes:

using System;
using System.Management;

namespace WindowsFormsApplication_CS
{
  class NetworkManagement
  {
    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"])
        {
          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);
        }
      }
    }

    public void setGateway(string gateway)
    {
      ManagementClass objMC = new ManagementClass("Win32_NetworkAdapterConfiguration");
      ManagementObjectCollection objMOC = objMC.GetInstances();

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

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

          setGateway = objMO.InvokeMethod("SetGateways", newGateway, null);
        }
      }
    }

    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 you are using the System.Net.NetworkInformation.NetworkInterface
          // you'll need to change this line to
          // if (objMO["Caption"].ToString().Contains(NIC))
          // and pass in the Description property instead of the name 
          if (objMO["Caption"].Equals(NIC))
          {
            ManagementBaseObject newDNS =
              objMO.GetMethodParameters("SetDNSServerSearchOrder");
            newDNS["DNSServerSearchOrder"] = DNS.Split(',');
            ManagementBaseObject setDNS =
              objMO.InvokeMethod("SetDNSServerSearchOrder", newDNS, null);
          }
        }
      }
    }

    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))
          {
            ManagementBaseObject setWINS;
            ManagementBaseObject wins =
            objMO.GetMethodParameters("SetWINSServer");
            wins.SetPropertyValue("WINSPrimaryServer", priWINS);
            wins.SetPropertyValue("WINSSecondaryServer", secWINS);

            setWINS = objMO.InvokeMethod("SetWINSServer", wins, null);
          }
        }
      }
    } 
  }
}
balexandre_280040

A far more clear solution is to use the command netsh to change the IP (or setting it back to DHCP)

netsh interface ip set address "Local Area Connection" static 192.168.0.10 255.255.255.0

Where "Local Area Connection" is the name of the network adapter. You could find it in the windows Network Connections, sometimes it is simply named "Ethernet".

Here are two methods to set the IP and also to set the IP back to DHCP "Obtain an IP address automatically"

public bool SetIP(string networkInterfaceName, string ipAddress, string subnetMask, string gateway = null)
{
    var networkInterface = NetworkInterface.GetAllNetworkInterfaces().FirstOrDefault(nw => nw.Name == networkInterfaceName);
    var ipProperties = networkInterface.GetIPProperties();
    var ipInfo = ipProperties.UnicastAddresses.FirstOrDefault(ip => ip.Address.AddressFamily == AddressFamily.InterNetwork);
    var currentIPaddress = ipInfo.Address.ToString();
    var currentSubnetMask = ipInfo.IPv4Mask.ToString();
    var isDHCPenabled = ipProperties.GetIPv4Properties().IsDhcpEnabled;

    if (!isDHCPenabled && currentIPaddress == ipAddress && currentSubnetMask == subnetMask)
        return true;    // no change necessary

    var process = new Process
    {
        StartInfo = new ProcessStartInfo("netsh", $"interface ip set address \"{networkInterfaceName}\" static {ipAddress} {subnetMask}" + (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(gateway) ? "" : $"{gateway} 1")) { Verb = "runas" }
    };
    process.Start();
    var successful = process.ExitCode == 0;
    process.Dispose();
    return successful;
}

public bool SetDHCP(string networkInterfaceName)
{
    var networkInterface = NetworkInterface.GetAllNetworkInterfaces().FirstOrDefault(nw => nw.Name == networkInterfaceName);
    var ipProperties = networkInterface.GetIPProperties();
    var isDHCPenabled = ipProperties.GetIPv4Properties().IsDhcpEnabled;

    if (isDHCPenabled)
        return true;    // no change necessary

    var process = new Process
    {
        StartInfo = new ProcessStartInfo("netsh", $"interface ip set address \"{networkInterfaceName}\" dhcp") { Verb = "runas" }
    };
    process.Start();
    var successful = process.ExitCode == 0;
    process.Dispose();
    return successful;
}
user_97586870

This maybe more clear:

static NetworkInterface GetNetworkInterface(string macAddress)
{
    foreach(NetworkInterface ni in NetworkInterface.GetAllNetworkInterfaces())
    {
        if (macAddress == ni.GetPhysicalAddress().ToString())
            return ni;
    }
    return null;
}
static ManagementObject GetNetworkInterfaceManagementObject(string macAddress)
{
    NetworkInterface ni = GetNetworkInterface(macAddress);
    if (ni == null)
        return null;
    ManagementClass managementClass = new ManagementClass("Win32_NetworkAdapterConfiguration");
    ManagementObjectCollection moc = managementClass.GetInstances();
    foreach(ManagementObject mo in moc)
    {
        if (mo["settingID"].ToString() == ni.Id)
            return mo;
    }
    return null;
}
static bool SetupNIC(string macAddress, string ip, string subnet, string gateway, string dns)
{
    try
    {
        ManagementObject mo = GetNetworkInterfaceManagementObject(macAddress);

        //Set IP
        ManagementBaseObject mboIP = mo.GetMethodParameters("EnableStatic");
        mboIP["IPAddress"] = new string[] { ip };
        mboIP["SubnetMask"] = new string[] { subnet };
        mo.InvokeMethod("EnableStatic", mboIP, null);

        //Set Gateway
        ManagementBaseObject mboGateway = mo.GetMethodParameters("SetGateways");
        mboGateway["DefaultIPGateway"] = new string[] { gateway };
        mboGateway["GatewayCostMetric"] = new int[] { 1 };
        mo.InvokeMethod("SetGateways", mboGateway, null);

        //Set DNS
        ManagementBaseObject mboDNS = mo.GetMethodParameters("SetDNSServerSearchOrder");
        mboDNS["DNSServerSearchOrder"] = new string[] { dns };
        mo.InvokeMethod("SetDNSServerSearchOrder", mboDNS, null);

        return true;
    }
    catch (Exception e)
    {
        return false;
    }
}
user_61537590
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