Test-DscConfiguration

Module:

PSDesiredStateConfiguration Module v1.1

Tests whether the actual configuration on the nodes matches the desired configuration.

Syntax

ComputerNameSet (Default)

Test-DscConfiguration
    [[-ComputerName] <String[]>]
    [-Credential <PSCredential>]
    [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
    [-AsJob]
    [-Detailed]
    [<CommonParameters>]

ComputerNameAndPathSet

Test-DscConfiguration
    [[-ComputerName] <String[]>]
    [-Path] <String>
    [-Credential <PSCredential>]
    [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
    [-AsJob]
    [<CommonParameters>]

ComputerNameAndReferenceConfigurationSet

Test-DscConfiguration
    [[-ComputerName] <String[]>]
    -ReferenceConfiguration <String>
    [-Credential <PSCredential>]
    [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
    [-AsJob]
    [<CommonParameters>]

CimSessionAndPathSet

Test-DscConfiguration
    [-Path] <String>
    -CimSession <CimSession[]>
    [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
    [-AsJob]
    [<CommonParameters>]

CimSessionAndReferenceConfigurationSet

Test-DscConfiguration
    -CimSession <CimSession[]>
    -ReferenceConfiguration <String>
    [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
    [-AsJob]
    [<CommonParameters>]

CimSessionSet

Test-DscConfiguration
    -CimSession <CimSession[]>
    [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
    [-AsJob]
    [-Detailed]
    [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Test-DscConfiguration cmdlet tests whether the actual configuration on the nodes matches the desired configuration. Specify which computers for which you want to test configurations by using computer names or Common Information Model (CIM) sessions. If you do not specify a target computer, the cmdlet tests configuration of the local computer.

If the desired and actual configurations match, the cmdlet returns a string value of 'True'. Otherwise, it returns a string value of 'False'.

Examples

Example 1: Test configuration for the local computer

Test-DscConfiguration

This command tests configuration for the local computer.

Example 2: Test configuration for a specified computer

$Session = New-CimSession -ComputerName "Server01" -Credential ACCOUNTS\PattiFuller
Test-DscConfiguration -CimSession $Session

This example test configuration from a computer specified by a CIM session. The example creates a CIM session for a computer named Server01 for use with the cmdlet. Alternatively, create an array of CIM sessions to apply the cmdlet to multiple specified computers.

The first command creates a CIM session by using the New-CimSession cmdlet, and then stores the CimSession object in the $Session variable. The command prompts you for a password. For more information, type Get-Help New-CimSession.

The second command tests configuration for the computers identified by the CimSession objects stored in the $Session variable, in this case, the computer named Server01.

Example 3: Test configurations with detailed results

Test-DscConfiguration -ComputerName "Server01", "Server02", "Server03" -Detailed

This command tests configurations for a set of computers specified by the ComputerName parameter and returns detailed information that includes the overall state, resources that are in the desired state, resources that are not in the desired state and computer name.

Example 4: Test configurations specified in a folder

Test-DscConfiguration -Path "C:\Dsc\Configurations"

This command tests configurations that are defined in a folder specified by the Path parameter. The configurations are tested against a set of computers, each identified by the file name of the configuration file.

Example 5: Test configurations specified in a file

Test-DscConfiguration -ReferenceConfiguration "C:\Dsc\Configurations\WebServer.mof" -ComputerName "Server01", "Server02", "Server03"

This command tests a configuration defined in a file against a set of computers specified by the ComputerName parameter.

Parameters

-AsJob

Indicates that this cmdlet runs the command as a background job.

If you specify the AsJob parameter, the command returns an object that represents the job, and then displays the command prompt. You can continue to work in the session until the job finishes. The job is created on the local computer and the results from remote computers are automatically returned to the local computer. To manage the job, use the Job cmdlets. To get the job results, use the Receive-Job cmdlet.

To use this parameter, the local and remote computers must be configured for remoting, and on Windows Vista and later versions of the Windows operating system, you must open Windows PowerShell with the Run as administrator option. For more information, see about_Remote_Requirements.

For more information about Windows PowerShell background jobs, see about_Jobs and about_Remote_Jobs.

Parameter properties

Type:	SwitchParameter
Default value:	None
Supports wildcards:	False
DontShow:	False

Parameter sets

(All)

Position:	Named
Mandatory:	False
Value from pipeline:	False
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

-CimSession

Runs the cmdlet in a remote session or on a remote computer. Enter a computer name or a session object, such as the output of a New-CimSession or Get-CimSession cmdlet. The default is the current session on the local computer.

Parameter properties

Type:	CimSession[]
Default value:	None
Supports wildcards:	False
DontShow:	False

Parameter sets

CimSessionAndPathSet

Position:	Named
Mandatory:	True
Value from pipeline:	True
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

CimSessionAndReferenceConfigurationSet

Position:	Named
Mandatory:	True
Value from pipeline:	True
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

CimSessionSet

Position:	Named
Mandatory:	True
Value from pipeline:	True
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

-ComputerName

Specifies an array of computer names on which this cmdlet tests the configuration. The cmdlet tests the configuration document in the location specified by the Path parameter to these computers.

Parameter properties

Type:	String[]
Default value:	None
Supports wildcards:	False
DontShow:	False
Aliases:	CN, ServerName

Parameter sets

ComputerNameSet

Position:	1
Mandatory:	False
Value from pipeline:	True
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

ComputerNameAndPathSet

Position:	1
Mandatory:	False
Value from pipeline:	True
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

ComputerNameAndReferenceConfigurationSet

Position:	1
Mandatory:	False
Value from pipeline:	True
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

-Credential

Specifies a user name and password, as a PSCredential object, for the target computer. To obtain a PSCredential object, use the Get-Credential cmdlet. For more information, type Get-Help Get-Credential.

Parameter properties

Type:	PSCredential
Default value:	None
Supports wildcards:	False
DontShow:	False

Parameter sets

ComputerNameSet

Position:	Named
Mandatory:	False
Value from pipeline:	False
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

ComputerNameAndPathSet

Position:	Named
Mandatory:	False
Value from pipeline:	False
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

ComputerNameAndReferenceConfigurationSet

Position:	Named
Mandatory:	False
Value from pipeline:	False
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

-Detailed

Indicates that this cmdlet returns a detailed result of comparing the configuration document with the desired state of the nodes. The result includes information such as overall state, resources that are in the desired state, resources that are not in desired state, and computer name.

Parameter properties

Type:	SwitchParameter
Default value:	None
Supports wildcards:	False
DontShow:	False

Parameter sets

ComputerNameSet

Position:	Named
Mandatory:	False
Value from pipeline:	False
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

CimSessionSet

Position:	Named
Mandatory:	False
Value from pipeline:	False
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

-Path

Specifies the path of a folder that contains configuration document files. The cmdlet tests the configuration against the desired state of computers specified by the ComputerName or CimSession parameter.

Parameter properties

Type:	String
Default value:	None
Supports wildcards:	False
DontShow:	False

Parameter sets

ComputerNameAndPathSet

Position:	0
Mandatory:	True
Value from pipeline:	False
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

CimSessionAndPathSet

Position:	0
Mandatory:	True
Value from pipeline:	False
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

-ReferenceConfiguration

Specifies the path of the configuration document file. This cmdlet tests the configuration against the actual state of computers specified by the ComputerName or CimSession parameter.

Parameter properties

Type:	String
Default value:	None
Supports wildcards:	False
DontShow:	False

Parameter sets

ComputerNameAndReferenceConfigurationSet

Position:	Named
Mandatory:	True
Value from pipeline:	False
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

CimSessionAndReferenceConfigurationSet

Position:	Named
Mandatory:	True
Value from pipeline:	False
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

-ThrottleLimit

Specifies the maximum number of concurrent operations that can be established to run the cmdlet. If this parameter is omitted or a value of 0 is entered, then Windows PowerShell calculates an optimum throttle limit for the cmdlet based on the number of CIM cmdlets that are running on the computer. The throttle limit applies only to the current cmdlet, not to the session or to the computer.

Parameter properties

Type:	Int32
Default value:	None
Supports wildcards:	False
DontShow:	False

Parameter sets

(All)

Position:	Named
Mandatory:	False
Value from pipeline:	False
Value from pipeline by property name:	False
Value from remaining arguments:	False

CommonParameters

This cmdlet supports the common parameters: -Debug, -ErrorAction, -ErrorVariable, -InformationAction, -InformationVariable, -OutBuffer, -OutVariable, -PipelineVariable, -ProgressAction, -Verbose, -WarningAction, and -WarningVariable. For more information, see about_CommonParameters.

Related Links

• Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration Overview
• Get-DscConfiguration
• Get-DscConfigurationStatus
• Restore-DscConfiguration
• Start-DscConfiguration