Starting Active Directory management tools from the command-line

I needed to manage a Windows Server 2003 member server, but the Active Directory management shortcut icons were missing from the Start menu and Administrative Tools group. If you run into a similar situation, it is helpful to know that you can still start the tools you need (such as Active Directory Users and Computers) from the command-line. These tools are Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-ins, and thus .MSC files (which are XML files in Windows Server 2003, by the way).

Here's a list of the three Active Directory tools you often need:

• Active Directory Users and Computers: dsa.msc
• Active Directory Sites and Services: dssite.msc
• Active Directory Domains and Trusts: domain.msc

You can easily launch these tools from the Start/Run command, or from the command-line. Here's another tip for you: if you want to quickly locate where a program is in the current Path, use the Where.exe command. In the command-line, simply type:

where dsa.msc

This returns a simple line, such as:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\dsa.msc

The Where command also supports wildcards.