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c#.netactive-directorydomaincontrollerdomainservices

Determine current domain controller programmatically


I need to query current domain controller, probably primary to change user password.

(P)DC name should be fully qualified, i.e. DC=pdc,DC=example,DC=com (how to properly name such notation?)

How can it be done using C#?


Solution

  • (requires System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement.dll):

    using (var context = new System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement.PrincipalContext(ContextType.Domain))
    {
        string server = context.ConnectedServer; // "pdc.examle.com"
        string[] splitted = server.Split('.'); // { "pdc", "example", "com" }
        IEnumerable<string> formatted = splitted.Select(s => String.Format("DC={0}", s));// { "DC=pdc", "DC=example", "DC=com" }
        string joined = String.Join(",", formatted); // "DC=pdc,DC=example,DC=com"
    
        // or just in one string
    
        string pdc = String.Join(",", context.ConnectedServer.Split('.').Select(s => String.Format("DC={0}", s)));
    }