MAC address of server returns "Access Denied"

[lidds]

Can anyone help me please, I currently have a vb.net app that has an SQL database running on a companies server. I am currently trying to get the MAC address of the server using the below code. This code works fine for a networked computer but not for the server (I guess because it has additional security, which would make sense). Can anyone advise me on a better way to get this info or how I can solve my original code.

Note: I don't want to use a stored procedure (if this is possible) as people are able to tamper, and this is used for licensing of my app.

' this is the hostname of the server
dim hostName as string = "server0001"

Try
                Dim cls As New ManagementClass("\\" & hostName & "\root\cimv2", "Win32_NetworkAdapter", _
                    New ObjectGetOptions(Nothing, TimeSpan.MaxValue, False))
                Dim col As Object
                col = cls.GetInstances()

                Dim obj As ManagementObject
                For Each obj In col
                    If Not obj.Properties("MACAddress").Value Is Nothing Then
                        msgbox(obj.Properties("MACAddress").Value.ToString().Replace(":", "-"))
                    End If
                Next
            Catch ex As Exception
                msgbox(ex.Message)
            End Try 

Thanks in advance

Simon

[Asgorath]

The MAC address is stored in the registry Search key NetworkAddress.
Jorge

[stanav]

Hi, try this function then... You can pass in either the host name or ip address and it'll spit out the MAC address for that machine.

Private Function GetMACAddress(ByVal strHostNameOrIP As String) As String
        Dim strIP As String = String.Empty
        Dim IPHost As System.Net.IPHostEntry = Nothing
        Dim outputResult As String = String.Empty
        Dim psi As ProcessStartInfo = Nothing
        Dim proc As Process = Nothing
        Try
            IPHost = System.Net.Dns.GetHostEntry(strHostNameOrIP)
            strIP = IPHost.AddressList.GetValue(0).ToString
            psi = New ProcessStartInfo()
            psi.FileName = "nbtstat"
            psi.RedirectStandardInput = False
            psi.RedirectStandardOutput = True
            psi.Arguments = "-A " & strIP
            psi.UseShellExecute = False
            psi.CreateNoWindow = True
            proc = Process.Start(psi)
            outputResult = proc.StandardOutput.ReadLine.Trim
            While outputResult.ToUpper.IndexOf("MAC ADDRESS", 0) < 0
                outputResult = proc.StandardOutput.ReadLine.Trim
            End While
            proc.WaitForExit()
        Catch ex As Exception
            MsgBox(ex.Message)
        End Try
        Return outputResult
    End Function 

[lidds]

I have tried your code but unfortunately it does not seem to work on the server but does work on my computer, maybe it is another security issue.

It throws an error 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object'

Thanks

Simon

[stanav]

Originally Posted by lidds

I have tried your code but unfortunately it does not seem to work on the server but does work on my computer, maybe it is another security issue.

It throws an error 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object'

Thanks

Simon

I use this code to get the MAC address of the systems on my LAN (both servers and client PCs)... I works everytime. I never had any problem with it.
So I really don't know why it doesn't work for you.... Can you verify this: open command prompt and type in "nbtstat -a serverName" or "nbtstat -A xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" (where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is the IP address of the server) then press enter key. If the command runs successfully then the problem is from somewhere else, not from the code I showed you.

[Asgorath]

It works fine on my computer. Can't you search the server's registry, it should be easy if you have a administrative account.