RASDIAL - CMD

Overview

RASDIAL is a command-line tool used in Microsoft Windows to manage dial-up and virtual private network (VPN) connections. Primarily, it’s used to connect to or disconnect from a network using the credentials stored in a phonebook file. This command is particularly useful in automation scripts where network connections need to be managed without user interaction.

Syntax

The basic syntax for RASDIAL is:

RASDIAL [connectionname] [username [password | *]] [/DOMAIN:domain] [/PHONE:phonenumber] [/CALLBACK:callbacknumber] [/PHONEBOOK:phonebookfile] [/PREFIXSUFFIX]

connectionname: Specifies the name of the connection to dial.
username: Specifies the username to use.
password: Specifies the password to use. If * is used, Windows prompts for a password.
/DOMAIN: Specifies the domain on which the username account is located.
/PHONE: Overrides the phone number specified in the phonebook.
/CALLBACK: Specifies a callback number.
/PHONEBOOK: Specifies a different phonebook file.
/PREFIXSUFFIX: Applies the current phonebook entry’s prefix and suffix to the specified phone number.

To disconnect, use:

RASDIAL [connectionname] /DISCONNECT

Options/Flags

/DISCONNECT: Disconnects the specified connection.
/DOMAIN:domain: Overrides the domain specified in the phonebook.
/PHONE:phonenumber: Uses the specified phone number instead of the one in the phonebook.
/CALLBACK:callbacknumber: Requests callback at the specified number.
/PHONEBOOK:phonebookfile: Uses a different phonebook file.
/PREFIXSUFFIX: Utilizes prefixes and suffixes from the phonebook entry.

Examples

Connecting using stored credentials:
```
RASDIAL MyVPNConnection
```
Connects to a VPN connection named ‘MyVPNConnection’ using stored credentials.
Connecting with credentials provided:
```
RASDIAL MyVPNConnection myusername mypassword /DOMAIN:mydomain
```
Connects using the specified username, password, and domain.
Disconnecting a connection:
```
RASDIAL MyVPNConnection /DISCONNECT
```
Disconnects the specified VPN connection.

Common Issues

Credentials Not Recognized: Ensure usernames and passwords are correctly typed and relevant to the domain or service you’re trying to connect to.
Phonebook File Issues: If using a specific phonebook file, verify the path and filename are correct.
Connection Timeout: Connection attempts might time out due to network issues. Verify network configuration and server availability.

Integration

RASDIAL can be combined with other commands for scripting purposes:

@echo off
RASDIAL MyVPNConnection || echo Connection failed

This script attempts to connect to MyVPNConnection and displays a message if the connection fails.

RASPHONE: Manages connections and phonebook entries more interactively.
NETSH: Allows configuration and scripting of network components.
IPCONFIG: Useful for viewing/configuring IP network settings.

Visit the Microsoft documentation for RASDIAL here for more detailed information and troubleshooting assistance.