Copy file to multiple remote computers

Question

Hi,

I'm trying to write a script that copies a file to the temp folder of multiple remove computers across the network. I want to to look in a CVS file for the host name, Ping the host name, If it gets a response then copies the file. If not then writes it out to another CSV file so I can copy it at a later date. When i run the below I get the error saying:

else : The term 'else' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.

This is the script im running:

$csv = Import-Csv "C:\temp\computers.csv"
$Source = "\Server1\FileToCopy.exe"
$dest = "C:\temp\"
$Output = "C:\temp\missingworkstations.csv"
$items = @()

reads .csv for workstation NAME.

foreach ($line in $csv)
{

pings each Host. If true, Copy file.

if (Test-Connection $line.Name -count 1 -quiet)
{
    write-Host "true", $line.Name
    $name = "\\" + $line.Name

    #copies the file over to target machine
    Copy-Item -path $Source -Destination $dest

if ping fails, log which workstation and that workstation's IP in a new CSV.

else
{
    write-host "false" $line.Name $line.IP
    $items += New-Object psobject -Property @{IP=$line.IP; Name=$line.Name}
}

}

exports array of workstations that were unreachable for manual processing at a later date.

$items | Export-Csv -NoTypeInformation -Path $Output}

Answer 1

Hi @lee roberts ,

could you please try this (not tested by myself):

$csv = Import-Csv "C:\temp\computers.csv"  
$Source = "\\server1\FileToCopy.exe"  
$dest = "C:\temp\"  
$Output = "C:\temp\missingworkstations.csv"  
$items = @()  
#reads .csv for workstation NAME.  
foreach ($line in $csv) {  
        #pings each Host. If true, Copy file.  
        if (Test-Connection $line.Name -count 1 -quiet) {  
            write-Host "true", $line.Name  
            $name = "\\" + $line.Name  
            #copies the file over to target machine  
            Copy-Item -path $Source -Destination $dest  
            }  
        #if ping fails, log which workstation and that workstation's IP in a new CSV.  
        else {  
            write-host "false" $line.Name $line.IP  
            $items += New-Object psobject -Property @{IP=$line.IP; Name=$line.Name}  
        }  
    }  
    #exports array of workstations that were unreachable for manual processing at a later date.  
    $items | Export-Csv -NoTypeInformation -Path $Output  

----------

(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you)

Regards
Andreas Baumgarten

Answer 2

$csv = Import-Csv "C:\temp\computers.csv"
$Source = "\\server1\FileToCopy.exe"
$dest = "C:\temp\"
$Output = "C:\temp\missingworkstations.csv"
$items = @()
#reads .csv for workstation NAME.
foreach ($line in $csv)
{
#pings each Host. If true, Copy file.
    if (Test-Connection $line.Name -count 1 -quiet)
    {
        write-Host "true", $line.Name
        $name = "\\" + $line.Name

        #copies the file over to target machine
        Copy-Item -path $Source -Destination $dest

#if ping fails, log which workstation and that workstation's IP in a new CSV.
    else
    {
        write-host "false" $line.Name $line.IP
        $items += New-Object psobject -Property @{IP=$line.IP; Name=$line.Name}
    }
}
#exports array of workstations that were unreachable for manual processing at a later date.
$items | Export-Csv -NoTypeInformation -Path $Output}

Answer 3

Hi,

The last closing brace "}" in Line 26 should be moved to Line 17 and the source path in Line 16 is always 'server1'.

 $csv = Import-Csv "C:\temp\computers.csv"  
 $Source = "somefolder\FileToCopy.exe"  
 $dest = "C:\temp\"  
 $Output = "C:\temp\missingworkstations.csv"  
 $items = @()  
 #reads .csv for workstation NAME.  
 foreach ($line in $csv)  
 {  
 #pings each Host. If true, Copy file.  
     if (Test-Connection $line.Name -count 1 -quiet)  
     {  
         write-Host "true", $line.Name  
         $name = "\\" + $line.Name  
             
         #copies the file over to target machine  
         Copy-Item -path $name\$Source -Destination $dest  
      }  
 #if ping fails, log which workstation and that workstation's IP in a new CSV.  
     else  
     {  
         write-host "false" $line.Name $line.IP  
         $items += New-Object psobject -Property @{IP=$line.IP; Name=$line.Name}  
     }  
 }  
 #exports array of workstations that were unreachable for manual processing at a later date.  
 $items | Export-Csv -NoTypeInformation -Path $Output  

Best Regards,
Ian Xue

============================================

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Answer 4

A few things I did to get this to work

Changed:
$dest = "C:\"

To:
$dest = "C$\"

Then line 16 is backwards

Changed:
Copy-Item -path $name\$Source -Destination $dest

To:
Copy-Item -path $Source -Destination $name\$dest

Answer 5

Hi,

where is the script run?

if it's on each computer where you need to copy the file, then why check if it's online?

if it's on a remote computer, how does it work with the -destination "C:...." if not using a PSSession ?