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Writing a custom DSC resource with PowerShell classes

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Applies To: Windows PowerShell 5.0

With the introduction of PowerShell classes in Windows PowerShell 5.0, you can now define a DSC resource by creating a class. The class defines both the schema and the implementation of the resource, so there is no need to create a separate MOF file. The folder structure for a class-based resource is also simpler, because a DSCResources folder is not necessary.

In a class-based DSC resource, the schema is defined as properties of the class which can be modified with attributes to specify the property type. The resource is implemented by Get(), Set(), and Test() methods (equivalent to the Get-TargetResource, Set-TargetResource, and Test-TargetResource functions in a script resource.

In this article, we will create a simple resource named NewFile that manages a file in a specified path.

For more information about DSC resources, see Build Custom Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration Resources

Note

Generic collections are not supported in class-based resources.

Folder structure for a class resource

To implement a DSC custom resource with a PowerShell class, create the following folder structure. The class is defined in MyDscResource.psm1 and the module manifest is defined in MyDscResource.psd1.

$env:ProgramFiles\WindowsPowerShell\Modules (folder)
    |- MyDscResource (folder)
        MyDscResource.psm1
        MyDscResource.psd1

Create the class

You use the class keyword to create a PowerShell class. To specify that a class is a DSC resource, use the DscResource() attribute. The name of the class is the name of the DSC resource.

[DscResource()]
class NewFile {
}

Declare properties

The DSC resource schema is defined as properties of the class. We declare three properties as follows.

[DscProperty(Key)]
[string] $path

[DscProperty(Mandatory)]
[ensure] $ensure

[DscProperty()]
[string] $content

[DscProperty(NotConfigurable)]
[MyDscResourceReason[]] $Reasons

Notice that the properties are modified by attributes. The meaning of the attributes is as follows:

  • DscProperty(Key): The property is required. The property is a key. The values of all properties marked as keys must combine to uniquely identify a resource instance within a configuration.
  • DscProperty(Mandatory): The property is required.
  • DscProperty(NotConfigurable): The property is read-only. Properties marked with this attribute cannot be set by a configuration, but are populated by the Get() method when present.
  • DscProperty(): The property is configurable, but it is not required.

The $Path and $SourcePath properties are both strings. The $CreationTime is a DateTime property. The $Ensure property is an enumeration type, defined as follows.

enum Ensure
{
    Absent
    Present
}

Embedding classes

If you would like to include a new type with defined properties that you can use within your resource, just create a class with property types as described above.

class MyDscResourceReason {
    [DscProperty()]
    [string] $Code

    [DscProperty()]
    [string] $Phrase
}

Note

The MyDscResourceReason class is declared here with the module's name as a prefix. While you can give embedded classes any name, if two or more modules define a class with the same name and are both used in a configuration, PowerShell raises an exception.

To avoid exceptions caused by name conflicts in DSC, prefix the names of your embedded classes with the module name. If the name of your embedded class is already unlikely to conflict, you can use it without a prefix.

If your DSC Resource is designed for use with Azure machine configuration, always prefix the name of the embedded class you create for the Reasons property.

Public and Private functions

You can create PowerShell functions within the same module file and use them inside the methods of your DSC class resource. The functions must be declared as public, however the script blocks within those public functions can call functions that are private. The only difference is whether they are listed in the FunctionsToExport property of the module manifest.

<#
   Public Functions
#>

function Get-File {
    param(
        [ensure]$ensure,

        [parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
        [ValidateNotNullOrEmpty()]
        [String]$path,

        [String]$content
    )
    $fileContent        = [MyDscResourceReason]::new()
    $fileContent.code   = 'file:file:content'

    $filePresent        = [MyDscResourceReason]::new()
    $filePresent.code   = 'file:file:path'

    $ensureReturn = 'Absent'

    $fileExists = Test-path $path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

    if ($true -eq $fileExists) {
        $filePresent.phrase     = "The file was expected to be: $ensure`nThe file exists at path: $path"

        $existingFileContent    = Get-Content $path -Raw
        if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($existingFileContent)) {
            $existingFileContent = ''
        }

        if ($false -eq ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($content))) {
            $content = $content | ConvertTo-SpecialChars
        }

        $fileContent.phrase     = "The file was expected to contain: $content`nThe file contained: $existingFileContent"

        if ($content -eq $existingFileContent) {
            $ensureReturn = 'Present'
        }
    }
    else {
        $filePresent.phrase     = "The file was expected to be: $ensure`nThe file does not exist at path: $path"
        $path = 'file not found'
    }

    return @{
        ensure  = $ensureReturn
        path    = $path
        content = $existingFileContent
        Reasons = @($filePresent,$fileContent)
    }
}

function Set-File {
    param(
        [ensure]$ensure = "Present",

        [parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
        [ValidateNotNullOrEmpty()]
        [String]$path,

        [String]$content
    )
    Remove-Item $path -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    if ($ensure -eq "Present") {
        New-Item $path -ItemType File -Force
        if ([ValidateNotNullOrEmpty()]$content) {
            $content | ConvertTo-SpecialChars | Set-Content $path -NoNewline -Force
        }
    }
}

function Test-File {
    param(
        [ensure]$ensure = "Present",

        [parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
        [ValidateNotNullOrEmpty()]
        [String]$path,

        [String]$content
    )
    $test = $false
    $get = Get-File @PSBoundParameters

    if ($get.ensure -eq $ensure) {
        $test = $true
    }
    return $test
}

<#
   Private Functions
#>

function ConvertTo-SpecialChars {
    param(
        [parameter(Mandatory = $true,ValueFromPipeline)]
        [ValidateNotNullOrEmpty()]
        [string]$string
    )
    $specialChars = @{
        '`n' = "`n"
        '\\n' = "`n"
        '`r' = "`r"
        '\\r' = "`r"
        '`t' = "`t"
        '\\t' = "`t"
    }
    foreach ($char in $specialChars.Keys) {
        $string = $string -replace ($char,$specialChars[$char])
    }
    return $string
}

Implementing the methods

The Get(), Set(), and Test() methods are analogous to the Get-TargetResource, Set-TargetResource, and Test-TargetResource functions in a script resource.

As a best practice, minimize the amount of code within the class implementation. Instead, move the majority of your code out to public functions in the module, which can then be independently tested.

<#
    This method is equivalent of the Get-TargetResource script function.
    The implementation should use the keys to find appropriate
    resources. This method returns an instance of this class with the
    updated key properties.
#>
[NewFile] Get() {
    $get = Get-File -ensure $this.ensure -path $this.path -content $this.content
    return $get
}

<#
    This method is equivalent of the Set-TargetResource script function.
    It sets the resource to the desired state.
#>
[void] Set() {
    $set = Set-File -ensure $this.ensure -path $this.path -content $this.content
}

<#
    This method is equivalent of the Test-TargetResource script
    function. It should return True or False, showing whether the
    resource is in a desired state.
#>
[bool] Test() {
    $test = Test-File -ensure $this.ensure -path $this.path -content $this.content
    return $test
}

The complete file

The complete class file follows.

enum ensure {
    Absent
    Present
}

<#
    This class is used within the DSC Resource to standardize how data
    is returned about the compliance details of the machine. Note that
    the class name is prefixed with the module name - this helps prevent
    errors raised when multiple modules with DSC Resources define the
    Reasons property for reporting when they're out-of-state.
#>
class MyDscResourceReason {
    [DscProperty()]
    [string] $Code

    [DscProperty()]
    [string] $Phrase
}

<#
   Public Functions
#>

function Get-File {
    param(
        [ensure]$ensure,

        [parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
        [ValidateNotNullOrEmpty()]
        [String]$path,

        [String]$content
    )
    $fileContent        = [MyDscResourceReason]::new()
    $fileContent.code   = 'file:file:content'

    $filePresent        = [MyDscResourceReason]::new()
    $filePresent.code   = 'file:file:path'

    $ensureReturn = 'Absent'

    $fileExists = Test-path $path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

    if ($true -eq $fileExists) {
        $filePresent.phrase     = "The file was expected to be: $ensure`nThe file exists at path: $path"

        $existingFileContent    = Get-Content $path -Raw
        if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($existingFileContent)) {
            $existingFileContent = ''
        }

        if ($false -eq ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($content))) {
            $content = $content | ConvertTo-SpecialChars
        }

        $fileContent.phrase     = "The file was expected to contain: $content`nThe file contained: $existingFileContent"

        if ($content -eq $existingFileContent) {
            $ensureReturn = 'Present'
        }
    }
    else {
        $filePresent.phrase     = "The file was expected to be: $ensure`nThe file does not exist at path: $path"
        $path = 'file not found'
    }

    return @{
        ensure  = $ensureReturn
        path    = $path
        content = $existingFileContent
        Reasons = @($filePresent,$fileContent)
    }
}

function Set-File {
    param(
        [ensure]$ensure = "Present",

        [parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
        [ValidateNotNullOrEmpty()]
        [String]$path,

        [String]$content
    )
    Remove-Item $path -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    if ($ensure -eq "Present") {
        New-Item $path -ItemType File -Force
        if ([ValidateNotNullOrEmpty()]$content) {
            $content | ConvertTo-SpecialChars | Set-Content $path -NoNewline -Force
        }
    }
}

function Test-File {
    param(
        [ensure]$ensure = "Present",

        [parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
        [ValidateNotNullOrEmpty()]
        [String]$path,

        [String]$content
    )
    $test = $false
    $get = Get-File @PSBoundParameters

    if ($get.ensure -eq $ensure) {
        $test = $true
    }
    return $test
}

<#
   Private Functions
#>

function ConvertTo-SpecialChars {
    param(
        [parameter(Mandatory = $true,ValueFromPipeline)]
        [ValidateNotNullOrEmpty()]
        [string]$string
    )
    $specialChars = @{
        '`n' = "`n"
        '\\n' = "`n"
        '`r' = "`r"
        '\\r' = "`r"
        '`t' = "`t"
        '\\t' = "`t"
    }
    foreach ($char in $specialChars.Keys) {
        $string = $string -replace ($char,$specialChars[$char])
    }
    return $string
}

<#
    This resource manages the file in a specific path.
    [DscResource()] indicates the class is a DSC resource
#>

[DscResource()]
class NewFile {

    <#
        This property is the fully qualified path to the file that is
        expected to be present or absent.

        The [DscProperty(Key)] attribute indicates the property is a
        key and its value uniquely identifies a resource instance.
        Defining this attribute also means the property is required
        and DSC will ensure a value is set before calling the resource.

        A DSC resource must define at least one key property.
    #>
    [DscProperty(Key)]
    [string] $path

    <#
        This property indicates if the settings should be present or absent
        on the system. For present, the resource ensures the file pointed
        to by $Path exists. For absent, it ensures the file point to by
        $Path does not exist.

        The [DscProperty(Mandatory)] attribute indicates the property is
        required and DSC will guarantee it is set.

        If Mandatory is not specified or if it is defined as
        Mandatory=$false, the value is not guaranteed to be set when DSC
        calls the resource.  This is appropriate for optional properties.
    #>
    [DscProperty(Mandatory)]
    [ensure] $ensure

    <#
        This property is optional. When provided, the content of the file
        will be overwridden by this value.
    #>
    [DscProperty()]
    [string] $content

    <#
        This property reports the reasons the machine is or is not compliant.

        [DscProperty(NotConfigurable)] attribute indicates the property is
        not configurable in DSC configuration.  Properties marked this way
        are populated by the Get() method to report additional details
        about the resource when it is present.
    #>
    [DscProperty(NotConfigurable)]
    [MyDscResourceReason[]] $Reasons

    <#
        This method is equivalent of the Get-TargetResource script function.
        The implementation should use the keys to find appropriate
        resources. This method returns an instance of this class with the
        updated key properties.
    #>
    [NewFile] Get() {
        $get = Get-File -ensure $this.ensure -path $this.path -content $this.content
        return $get
    }

    <#
        This method is equivalent of the Set-TargetResource script function.
        It sets the resource to the desired state.
    #>
    [void] Set() {
        $set = Set-File -ensure $this.ensure -path $this.path -content $this.content
    }

    <#
        This method is equivalent of the Test-TargetResource script
        function. It should return True or False, showing whether the
        resource is in a desired state.
    #>
    [bool] Test() {
        $test = Test-File -ensure $this.ensure -path $this.path -content $this.content
        return $test
    }
}

Create a manifest

To make a class-based resource available to the DSC engine, you must include a DscResourcesToExport statement in the manifest file that instructs the module to export the resource. Our manifest looks like this:

@{

    # Script module or binary module file associated with this manifest.
    RootModule = 'NewFile.psm1'

    # Version number of this module.
    ModuleVersion = '1.0.0'

    # ID used to uniquely identify this module
    GUID = 'fad0d04e-65d9-4e87-aa17-39de1d008ee4'

    # Author of this module
    Author = 'Microsoft Corporation'

    # Company or vendor of this module
    CompanyName = 'Microsoft Corporation'

    # Copyright statement for this module
    Copyright = ''

    # Description of the functionality provided by this module
    Description = 'Create and set content of a file'

    # Minimum version of the Windows PowerShell engine required by this module
    PowerShellVersion = '5.0'

    # Functions to export from this module
    FunctionsToExport = @('Get-File','Set-File','Test-File')

    # DSC resources to export from this module
    DscResourcesToExport = @('NewFile')

    # Private data to pass to the module specified in RootModule/ModuleToProcess. This may also contain a PSData hashtable with additional module metadata used by PowerShell.
    PrivateData = @{

        PSData = @{

            # Tags applied to this module. These help with module discovery in online galleries.
            # Tags = @(Power Plan, Energy, Battery)

            # A URL to the license for this module.
            # LicenseUri = ''

            # A URL to the main website for this project.
            # ProjectUri = ''

            # A URL to an icon representing this module.
            # IconUri = ''

            # ReleaseNotes of this module
            # ReleaseNotes = ''

        } # End of PSData hashtable

    }
}

Test the resource

After saving the class and manifest files in the folder structure as described earlier, you can create a configuration that uses the new resource. For information about how to run a DSC configuration, see Enacting configurations. The following configuration will check to see whether the file at /tmp/test.txt exists and if the contents match the string provided by the property 'Content'. If not, the entire file is written.

Configuration MyConfig
{
    Import-DSCResource -ModuleName NewFile
    NewFile testFile
    {
        Path = "/tmp/test.txt"
        Content = "DSC Rocks!"
        Ensure = "Present"
    }
}
MyConfig

Supporting PsDscRunAsCredential

[Note] PsDscRunAsCredential is supported in PowerShell 5.0 and later.

The PsDscRunAsCredential property can be used in DSC configurations resource block to specify that the resource should be run under a specified set of credentials. For more information, see Running DSC with user credentials.

Require or disallow PsDscRunAsCredential for your resource

The DscResource() attribute takes an optional parameter RunAsCredential. This parameter takes one of three values:

  • Optional PsDscRunAsCredential is optional for configurations that call this resource. This is the default value.
  • Mandatory PsDscRunAsCredential must be used for any configuration that calls this resource.
  • NotSupported Configurations that call this resource cannot use PsDscRunAsCredential.
  • Default Same as Optional.

For example, use the following attribute to specify that your custom resource does not support using PsDscRunAsCredential:

[DscResource(RunAsCredential=NotSupported)]
class NewFile {
}

Declaring multiple class resources in a module

A module can define multiple class-based DSC resources. You just need to declare all classes in the same .psm1 file and include each name in the .psd1 manifest.

$env:ProgramFiles\WindowsPowerShell\Modules (folder)
     |- MyDscResource (folder)
        |- MyDscResource.psm1
           MyDscResource.psd1

Access the user context

To access the user context from within a custom resource, you can use the automatic variable $global:PsDscContext.

For example the following code would write the user context under which the resource is running to the verbose output stream:

if (PsDscContext.RunAsUser) {
    Write-Verbose "User: $global:PsDscContext.RunAsUser";
}

See Also

Build Custom Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration Resources