Question

How can I count the number of users in an Active Directory group?

Asked by: amendala

Greetings -

Can anyone provide me with a simple way to count the number of users in an Active Directory group from the command line?  All I want to know is how many *users* exist within an AD distribution or security group.

The result should not traverse nested groups and should count only user objects to eliminate groups as members of groups.

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Asked On
2009-10-19 at 09:37:17ID24824140
Tags

Active Directory

,

Group

,

Users

,

Count

Topics

Active Directory

,

Windows 2003 Server

,

Windows Server 2008

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: askbPosted on 2009-10-19 at 09:46:32ID: 25606781

You could simply do a ldapsearch on the group / OU and count only the list of DN's.

 

by: amendalaPosted on 2009-10-19 at 09:48:35ID: 25606796

Please provide me with specific commands and parameters to accomplish what you're recommending.

 

by: askbPosted on 2009-10-19 at 09:57:30ID: 25606875

You could try using dsget command.

# dsget /? for help

 

by: Jlsdude1Posted on 2009-10-19 at 10:00:37ID: 25606904

This can be performed using the AdFind utility available here:
http://www.joeware.net/freetools/tools/adfind/index.htm

The syntax would be:

adfind -b "dc=domain,dc=com" -f (memberof="CN=Example Group DN,DC=domain,DC=com" -c

Output:

adfind -b "dc=domain,dc=com" -f (memberof="CN=Example Group DN,DC=domain,DC=com") -c

AdFind V01.37.00cpp Joe Richards (joe@joeware.net) June 2007

4 Objects returned

 

by: amendalaPosted on 2009-10-19 at 10:05:32ID: 25606948

I love adfind... it was going to be my next choice but I thought I'd ask for syntax help here.  :)

Your command works but I have a follow-up question, will this return only user objects that are members?  Or all members?  If possible, can it be restricted to return only user members?  This eliminates counting subgroups as members.

Thank you!

Feel free to look at this other question while you're at it if you want more points... I'm sure adfind can do this too:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Software/Server_Software/File_Servers/Active_Directory/Q_24824172.html

 

by: Jlsdude1Posted on 2009-10-19 at 10:13:44ID: 25607028

Sure thing!

adfind -b "dc=domain,dc=com" -f "&(memberof=CN=Example Group DN,DC=domain,DC=com)(objectcategory=person)" -c

 

by: amendalaPosted on 2009-10-19 at 10:17:51ID: 25607060

Perfect!

Again, please look at my other question if you have the time, it would really save me a bunch of time today.  Thanks again, great response.

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Software/Server_Software/File_Servers/Active_Directory/Q_24824172.html

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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