Invoke-Command

Reference

Module:: Microsoft.PowerShell.Core

Runs commands on local and remote computers.

Syntax

Invoke-Command
      [-ScriptBlock] <ScriptBlock>
      [-NoNewScope]
      [-InputObject <PSObject>]
      [-ArgumentList <Object[]>]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Invoke-Command
      [[-Session] <PSSession[]>]
      [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
      [-AsJob]
      [-HideComputerName]
      [-JobName <String>]
      [-ScriptBlock] <ScriptBlock>
      [-InputObject <PSObject>]
      [-ArgumentList <Object[]>]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Invoke-Command
      [[-Session] <PSSession[]>]
      [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
      [-AsJob]
      [-HideComputerName]
      [-JobName <String>]
      [-FilePath] <String>
      [-InputObject <PSObject>]
      [-ArgumentList <Object[]>]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Invoke-Command
      [[-ComputerName] <String[]>]
      [-Credential <PSCredential>]
      [-Port <Int32>]
      [-UseSSL]
      [-ConfigurationName <String>]
      [-ApplicationName <String>]
      [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
      [-AsJob]
      [-InDisconnectedSession]
      [-SessionName <String[]>]
      [-HideComputerName]
      [-JobName <String>]
      [-ScriptBlock] <ScriptBlock>
      [-SessionOption <PSSessionOption>]
      [-Authentication <AuthenticationMechanism>]
      [-EnableNetworkAccess]
      [-InputObject <PSObject>]
      [-ArgumentList <Object[]>]
      [-CertificateThumbprint <String>]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Invoke-Command
      [[-ComputerName] <String[]>]
      [-Credential <PSCredential>]
      [-Port <Int32>]
      [-UseSSL]
      [-ConfigurationName <String>]
      [-ApplicationName <String>]
      [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
      [-AsJob]
      [-InDisconnectedSession]
      [-SessionName <String[]>]
      [-HideComputerName]
      [-JobName <String>]
      [-FilePath] <String>
      [-SessionOption <PSSessionOption>]
      [-Authentication <AuthenticationMechanism>]
      [-EnableNetworkAccess]
      [-InputObject <PSObject>]
      [-ArgumentList <Object[]>]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Invoke-Command
      [-Credential <PSCredential>]
      [-ConfigurationName <String>]
      [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
      [[-ConnectionUri] <Uri[]>]
      [-AsJob]
      [-InDisconnectedSession]
      [-HideComputerName]
      [-JobName <String>]
      [-FilePath] <String>
      [-AllowRedirection]
      [-SessionOption <PSSessionOption>]
      [-Authentication <AuthenticationMechanism>]
      [-EnableNetworkAccess]
      [-InputObject <PSObject>]
      [-ArgumentList <Object[]>]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Invoke-Command
      [-Credential <PSCredential>]
      [-ConfigurationName <String>]
      [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
      [[-ConnectionUri] <Uri[]>]
      [-AsJob]
      [-InDisconnectedSession]
      [-HideComputerName]
      [-JobName <String>]
      [-ScriptBlock] <ScriptBlock>
      [-AllowRedirection]
      [-SessionOption <PSSessionOption>]
      [-Authentication <AuthenticationMechanism>]
      [-EnableNetworkAccess]
      [-InputObject <PSObject>]
      [-ArgumentList <Object[]>]
      [-CertificateThumbprint <String>]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Invoke-Command cmdlet runs commands on a local or remote computer and returns all output from the commands, including errors. Using a single Invoke-Command command, you can run commands on multiple computers.

To run a single command on a remote computer, use the ComputerName parameter. To run a series of related commands that share data, use the New-PSSession cmdlet to create a PSSession (a persistent connection) on the remote computer, and then use the Session parameter of Invoke-Command to run the command in the PSSession. To run a command in a disconnected session, use the InDisconnectedSession parameter. To run a command in a background job, use the AsJob parameter.

You can also use Invoke-Command on a local computer to a script block as a command. PowerShell runs the script block immediately in a child scope of the current scope.

Before using Invoke-Command to run commands on a remote computer, read about_Remote.

Some code samples use splatting to reduce the line length. For more information, see about_Splatting.

Examples

Example 1: Run a script on a server

This example runs the Test.ps1 script on the Server01 computer.

Invoke-Command -FilePath c:\scripts\test.ps1 -ComputerName Server01

The FilePath parameter specifies a script that is located on the local computer. The script runs on the remote computer and the results are returned to the local computer.

Example 2: Run a command on a remote server

This example runs a Get-Culture command on the Server01 remote computer.

Invoke-Command -ComputerName Server01 -Credential Domain01\User01 -ScriptBlock { Get-Culture }

The ComputerName parameter specifies the name of the remote computer. The Credential parameter is used to run the command in the security context of Domain01\User01, a user who has permission to run commands. The ScriptBlock parameter specifies the command to be run on the remote computer.

In response, PowerShell requests the password and an authentication method for the User01 account. It then runs the command on the Server01 computer and returns the result.

Example 3: Run a command in a persistent connection

This example runs the same Get-Culture command in a session, using a persistent connection, on the remote computer named Server02.

$s = New-PSSession -ComputerName Server02 -Credential Domain01\User01
Invoke-Command -Session $s -ScriptBlock {Get-Culture}

The New-PSSession cmdlet creates a session on the Server02 remote computer and saves it in the $s variable. Typically, you create a session only when you run a series of commands on the remote computer.

The Invoke-Command cmdlet runs the Get-Culture command on Server02. The Session parameter specifies the session saved in the $s variable.

In response, PowerShell runs the command in the session on the Server02 computer.

This example compares the effects of using ComputerName and Session parameters of Invoke-Command. It shows how to use a session to run a series of commands that share the same data.

Invoke-Command -ComputerName Server02 -ScriptBlock {$p = Get-Process PowerShell}
Invoke-Command -ComputerName Server02 -ScriptBlock {$p.VirtualMemorySize}
$s = New-PSSession -ComputerName Server02
Invoke-Command -Session $s -ScriptBlock {$p = Get-Process PowerShell}
Invoke-Command -Session $s -ScriptBlock {$p.VirtualMemorySize}

17930240

The first two commands use the ComputerName parameter of Invoke-Command to run commands on the Server02 remote computer. The first command uses the Get-Process cmdlet to get the PowerShell process on the remote computer and to save it in the $p variable. The second command gets the value of the VirtualMemorySize property of the PowerShell process.

When you use the ComputerName parameter, PowerShell creates a new session to run the command. The session is closed when the command completes. The $p variable was created in one connection, but it doesn't exist in the connection created for the second command.

The problem is solved by creating a persistent session on the remote computer, then running both of the commands in the same session.

The New-PSSession cmdlet creates a persistent session on the computer Server02 and saves the session in the $s variable. The Invoke-Command lines that follow use the Session parameter to run both of the commands in the same session. Since both commands run in the same session, the $p value remains active.

Example 5: Enter a command stored in a local variable

This example shows how to create a command that is stored as a script block in a local variable. When the script block is saved in a local variable, you can specify the variable as the value of the ScriptBlock parameter.

$command = { Get-EventLog -LogName "Windows PowerShell" |
  Where-Object {$_.Message -like "*certificate*"} }
Invoke-Command -ComputerName S1, S2 -ScriptBlock $command

The $command variable stores the Get-EventLog command that's formatted as a script block. The Invoke-Command runs the command stored in $command on the S1 and S2 remote computers.

Example 6: Run a single command on several computers

This example demonstrates how to use Invoke-Command to run a single command on multiple computers.

$parameters = @{
  ComputerName = "Server01", "Server02", "TST-0143", "localhost"
  ConfigurationName = 'MySession.PowerShell'
  ScriptBlock = { Get-EventLog "Windows PowerShell" }
}
Invoke-Command @parameters

The ComputerName parameter specifies a comma-separated list of computer names. The list of computers includes the localhost value, which represents the local computer. The ConfigurationName parameter specifies an alternate session configuration. The ScriptBlock parameter runs Get-EventLog to get the Windows PowerShell event logs from each computer.

Example 7: Get the version of the host program on multiple computers

This example gets the version of the PowerShell host program running on 200 remote computers.

$version = Invoke-Command -ComputerName (Get-Content Machines.txt) -ScriptBlock {(Get-Host).Version}

Because only one command is run, you don't have to create persistent connections to each of the computers. Instead, the command uses the ComputerName parameter to indicate the computers. To specify the computers, it uses the Get-Content cmdlet to get the contents of the Machine.txt file, a file of computer names.

The Invoke-Command cmdlet runs a Get-Host command on the remote computers. It uses dot notation to get the Version property of the PowerShell host.

These commands run one at a time. When the commands complete, the output of the commands from all of the computers is saved in the $version variable. The output includes the name of the computer from which the data originated.

Example 8: Run a background job on several remote computers

This example runs a command on two remote computers. The Invoke-Command command uses the AsJob parameter so that the command runs as a background job. The commands run on the remote computers, but the job exists on the local computer. The results are transmitted to the local computer.

$s = New-PSSession -ComputerName Server01, Server02
Invoke-Command -Session $s -ScriptBlock {Get-EventLog system} -AsJob

Id   Name    State      HasMoreData   Location           Command
---  ----    -----      -----         -----------        ---------------
1    Job1    Running    True          Server01,Server02  Get-EventLog system

$j = Get-Job
$j | Format-List -Property *

HasMoreData   : True
StatusMessage :
Location      : Server01,Server02
Command       : Get-EventLog system
JobStateInfo  : Running
Finished      : System.Threading.ManualResetEvent
InstanceId    : e124bb59-8cb2-498b-a0d2-2e07d4e030ca
Id            : 1
Name          : Job1
ChildJobs     : {Job2, Job3}
Output        : {}
Error         : {}
Progress      : {}
Verbose       : {}
Debug         : {}
Warning       : {}
StateChanged  :

$results = $j | Receive-Job

The New-PSSession cmdlet creates sessions on the Server01 and Server02 remote computers. The Invoke-Command cmdlet runs a background job in each of the sessions. The command uses the AsJob parameter to run the command as a background job. This command returns a job object that contains two child job objects, one for each of the jobs run on the two remote computers.

The Get-Job command saves the job object in the $j variable. The $j variable is then piped to the Format-List cmdlet to display all properties of the job object in a list. The last command gets the results of the jobs. It pipes the job object in $j to the Receive-Job cmdlet and stores the results in the $results variable.

Example 9: Include local variables in a command run on a remote computer

This example shows how to include the values of local variables in a command run on a remote computer. The command uses the Using scope modifier to identify a local variable in a remote command. By default, all variables are assumed to be defined in the remote session. The Using scope modifier was introduced in PowerShell 3.0. For more information about the Using scope modifier, see about_Remote_Variables and about_Scopes.

$Log = "Windows PowerShell"
Invoke-Command -ComputerName Server01 -ScriptBlock { Get-EventLog -LogName $Using:Log -Newest 10 }

The $Log variable stores the name of the event log, Windows PowerShell. The Invoke-Command cmdlet runs Get-EventLog on Server01 to get the ten newest events from the event log. The value of the LogName parameter is the $Log variable, which is prefixed by the Using scope modifier to indicate that it was created in the local session, not in the remote session.

Example 10: Hide the computer name

This example shows the effect of using the HideComputerName parameter of Invoke-Command. HideComputerName doesn't change the object that this cmdlet returns. It changes only the display. You can still use the Format cmdlets to display the PsComputerName property of any of the affected objects.

Invoke-Command -ComputerName S1, S2 -ScriptBlock {Get-Process PowerShell}

PSComputerName    Handles  NPM(K)    PM(K)      WS(K) VM(M)   CPU(s)     Id   ProcessName
--------------    -------  ------    -----      ----- -----   ------     --   -----------
S1                575      15        45100      40988   200     4.68     1392 PowerShell
S2                777      14        35100      30988   150     3.68     67   PowerShell

Invoke-Command -ComputerName S1, S2 -ScriptBlock {Get-Process PowerShell} -HideComputerName

Handles  NPM(K)    PM(K)      WS(K) VM(M)   CPU(s)     Id   ProcessName
-------  ------    -----      ----- -----   ------     --   -----------
575      15        45100      40988   200     4.68     1392 PowerShell
777      14        35100      30988   150     3.68     67   PowerShell

The first two commands use Invoke-Command to run a Get-Process command for the PowerShell process. The output of the first command includes the PsComputerName property, which contains the name of the computer on which the command ran. The output of the second command, which uses HideComputerName, doesn't include the PsComputerName column.

Example 11: Use the Param keyword in a script block

The Param keyword and the ArgumentList parameter are used to pass variable values to named parameters in a script block. This example displays file names that begin with the letter a and have the .pdf extension.

For more information about the Param keyword, see about_Language_Keywords.

$parameters = @{
    ComputerName = "Server01"
    ScriptBlock = { Param ($param1,$param2) Get-ChildItem -Name $param1 -Include $param2 }
    ArgumentList = "a*", "*.pdf"
}
Invoke-Command @parameters

aa.pdf
ab.pdf
ac.pdf
az.pdf

Invoke-Command uses the ScriptBlock parameter that defines two variables, $param1 and $param2. Get-ChildItem uses the named parameters, Name and Include with the variable names. The ArgumentList passes the values to the variables.

Example 12: Use the $args automatic variable in a script block

The $args automatic variable and the ArgumentList parameter are used to pass array values to parameter positions in a script block. This example displays a server's directory contents of .txt files. The Get-ChildItem Path parameter is position 0 and the Filter parameter is position 1.

For more information about the $args variable, see about_Automatic_Variables

$parameters = @{
    ComputerName = "Server01"
    ScriptBlock = { Get-ChildItem $args[0] $args[1] }
    ArgumentList = "C:\Test", "*.txt*"
}
Invoke-Command @parameters

Directory: C:\Test

Mode                 LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                 -------------         ------ ----
-a---           6/12/2019    15:15            128 alog.txt
-a---           7/27/2019    15:16            256 blog.txt
-a---           9/28/2019    17:10             64 zlog.txt

Invoke-Command uses a ScriptBlock parameter and Get-ChildItem specifies the $args[0] and $args[1] array values. The ArgumentList passes the $args array values to the Get-ChildItem parameter positions for Path and Filter.

Example 13: Run a script on all the computers listed in a text file

This example uses the Invoke-Command cmdlet to run the Sample.ps1 script on all the computers listed in the Servers.txt file. The command uses the FilePath parameter to specify the script file. This command lets you run the script on the remote computers, even if the script file isn't accessible to the remote computers.

Invoke-Command -ComputerName (Get-Content Servers.txt) -FilePath C:\Scripts\Sample.ps1 -ArgumentList Process, Service

When you submit the command, the content of the Sample.ps1 file is copied into a script block and the script block is run on each of the remote computers. This procedure is equivalent to using the ScriptBlock parameter to submit the contents of the script.

Example 14: Run a command on a remote computer by using a URI

This example shows how to run a command on a remote computer that's identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). This particular example runs a Set-Mailbox command on a remote Exchange server.

$LiveCred = Get-Credential
$parameters = @{
  ConfigurationName = 'Microsoft.Exchange'
  ConnectionUri = 'https://ps.exchangelabs.com/PowerShell'
  Credential = $LiveCred
  Authentication = 'Basic'
  ScriptBlock = {Set-Mailbox Dan -DisplayName "Dan Park"}
}
Invoke-Command @parameters

The first line uses the Get-Credential cmdlet to store Windows Live ID credentials in the $LiveCred variable. PowerShell prompts the user to enter Windows Live ID credentials.

The $parameters variable is a hash table containing the parameters to be passed to the Invoke-Command cmdlet. The Invoke-Command cmdlet runs a Set-Mailbox command using the Microsoft.Exchange session configuration. The ConnectionURI parameter specifies the URL of the Exchange server endpoint. The Credential parameter specifies the credentials stored in the $LiveCred variable. The AuthenticationMechanism parameter specifies the use of basic authentication. The ScriptBlock parameter specifies a script block that contains the command.

Example 15: Use a session option

This example shows how to create and use a SessionOption parameter.

$so = New-PSSessionOption -SkipCACheck -SkipCNCheck -SkipRevocationCheck
Invoke-Command -ComputerName server01 -UseSSL -ScriptBlock { Get-HotFix } -SessionOption $so -Credential server01\user01

The New-PSSessionOption cmdlet creates a session option object that causes the remote end not to verify the Certificate Authority, Canonical Name, and Revocation Lists while evaluating the incoming HTTPS connection. The SessionOption object is saved in the $so variable.

Note

Disabling these checks is convenient for troubleshooting, but obviously not secure.

The Invoke-Command cmdlet runs a Get-HotFix command remotely. The SessionOption parameter is given the $so variable.

Example 16: Manage URI redirection in a remote command

This example shows how to use the AllowRedirection and SessionOption parameters to manage URI redirection in a remote command.

$max = New-PSSessionOption -MaximumRedirection 1
$parameters = @{
  ConnectionUri = "https://ps.exchangelabs.com/PowerShell"
  ScriptBlock = { Get-Mailbox dan }
  AllowRedirection = $true
  SessionOption = $max
}
Invoke-Command @parameters

The New-PSSessionOption cmdlet creates a PSSessionOption object that is saved in the $max variable. The command uses the MaximumRedirection parameter to set the MaximumConnectionRedirectionCount property of the PSSessionOption object to 1.

The Invoke-Command cmdlet runs a Get-Mailbox command on a remote Microsoft Exchange Server. The AllowRedirection parameter provides explicit permission to redirect the connection to an alternate endpoint. The SessionOption parameter uses the session object stored in the $max variable.

As a result, if the remote computer specified by ConnectionURI returns a redirection message, PowerShell redirects the connection, but if the new destination returns another redirection message, the redirection count value of 1 is exceeded, and Invoke-Command returns a non-terminating error.

This example shows how to access a network share from a remote session. Three computers are used to demonstrate the example. Server01 is the local computer, Server02 is the remote computer, and Net03 contains the network share. Server01 connects to Server02, and then Server02 does a second hop to Net03 to access the network share. For more information about how PowerShell Remoting supports hops between computers, see Making the second hop in PowerShell Remoting.

The required Credential Security Support Provider (CredSSP) delegation is enabled in the client settings on the local computer, and in the service settings on the remote computer. To run the commands in this example, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer and the remote computer.

Enable-WSManCredSSP -Role Client -DelegateComputer Server02
$s = New-PSSession Server02
Invoke-Command -Session $s -ScriptBlock {Enable-WSManCredSSP -Role Server -Force}
$parameters = @{
  Session = $s
  ScriptBlock = { Get-Item \\Net03\Scripts\LogFiles.ps1 }
  Authentication = "CredSSP"
  Credential = "Domain01\Admin01"
}
Invoke-Command @parameters

The Enable-WSManCredSSP cmdlet enables CredSSP delegation from the Server01 local computer to the Server02 remote computer. The Role parameter specifies Client to configure the CredSSP client setting on the local computer.

New-PSSession creates a PSSession object for Server02 and stores the object in the $s variable.

The Invoke-Command cmdlet uses the $s variable to connect to the remote computer, Server02. The ScriptBlock parameter runs Enable-WSManCredSSP on the remote computer. The Role parameter specifies Server to configure the CredSSP server setting on the remote computer.

The $parameters variable contains the parameter values to connect to the network share. The Invoke-Command cmdlet runs a Get-Item command in the session in $s. This command gets a script from the \\Net03\Scripts network share. The command uses the Authentication parameter with a value of CredSSP and the Credential parameter with a value of Domain01\Admin01.

Example 18: Start scripts on many remote computers

This example runs a script on more than a hundred computers. To minimize the impact on the local computer, it connects to each computer, starts the script, and then disconnects from each computer. The script continues to run in the disconnected sessions.

$parameters = @{
  ComputerName = (Get-Content -Path C:\Test\Servers.txt)
  InDisconnectedSession = $true
  FilePath = "\\Scripts\Public\ConfigInventory.ps1"
  SessionOption = @{OutputBufferingMode="Drop";IdleTimeout=43200000}
}
Invoke-Command @parameters

The command uses Invoke-Command to run the script. The value of the ComputerName parameter is a Get-Content command that gets the names of the remote computers from a text file. The InDisconnectedSession parameter disconnects the sessions as soon as it starts the command. The value of the FilePath parameter is the script that Invoke-Command runs on each computer.

The value of SessionOption is a hash table. The OutputBufferingMode value is set to Drop and the IdleTimeout value is set to 43200000 milliseconds (12 hours).

To get the results of commands and scripts that run in disconnected sessions, use the Receive-PSSession cmdlet.

Parameters

-AllowRedirection

Allows redirection of this connection to an alternate Uniform Resource Identifier (URI).

When you use the ConnectionURI parameter, the remote destination can return an instruction to redirect to a different URI. By default, PowerShell doesn't redirect connections, but you can use this parameter to allow it to redirect the connection.

You can also limit the number of times the connection is redirected by changing the MaximumConnectionRedirectionCount session option value. Use the MaximumRedirection parameter of the New-PSSessionOption cmdlet or set the MaximumConnectionRedirectionCount property of the $PSSessionOption preference variable. The default value is 5.

Type:	SwitchParameter
Position:	Named
Default value:	False
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-ApplicationName

Specifies the application name segment of the connection URI. Use this parameter to specify the application name when you aren't using the ConnectionURI parameter in the command.

The default value is the value of the $PSSessionApplicationName preference variable on the local computer. If this preference variable isn't defined, the default value is WSMAN. This value is appropriate for most uses. For more information, see about_Preference_Variables.

The WinRM service uses the application name to select a listener to service the connection request. The value of this parameter should match the value of the URLPrefix property of a listener on the remote computer.

Type:	String
Position:	Named
Default value:	$PSSessionApplicationName if set on the local computer, otherwise WSMAN
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	True
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-ArgumentList

Supplies the values of local variables in the command. The variables in the command are replaced by these values before the command is run on the remote computer. Enter the values in a comma-separated list. Values are associated with variables in the order that they're listed. The alias for ArgumentList is Args.

The values in the ArgumentList parameter can be actual values, such as 1024, or they can be references to local variables, such as $max.

To use local variables in a command, use the following command format:

{param($<name1>[, $<name2>]...) <command-with-local-variables>} -ArgumentList <value> -or- <local-variable>

The param keyword lists the local variables that are used in the command. ArgumentList supplies the values of the variables, in the order that they're listed.

Type:	Object[]
Aliases:	Args
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-AsJob

Indicates that this cmdlet runs the command as a background job on a remote computer. Use this parameter to run commands that take an extensive time to finish.

When you use 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 while the job finishes. To manage the job, use the *-Job cmdlets. To get the job results, use the Receive-Job cmdlet.

The AsJob parameter resembles using the Invoke-Command cmdlet to run a Start-Job cmdlet remotely. However, with AsJob, the job is created on the local computer, even though the job runs on a remote computer. The results of the remote job are automatically returned to the local computer.

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

Type:	SwitchParameter
Position:	Named
Default value:	False
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-Authentication

Specifies the mechanism that's used to authenticate the user's credentials. CredSSP authentication is available only in Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, and later versions of the Windows operating system.

The acceptable values for this parameter are as follows:

Default
Basic
Credssp
Digest
Kerberos
Negotiate
NegotiateWithImplicitCredential

The default value is Default.

For more information about the values of this parameter, see AuthenticationMechanism Enumeration.

Caution

Credential Security Support Provider (CredSSP) authentication, in which the user's credentials are passed to a remote computer to be authenticated, is designed for commands that require authentication on more than one resource, such as accessing a remote network share. This mechanism increases the security risk of the remote operation. If the remote computer is compromised, the credentials that are passed to it can be used to control the network session. For more information, see Credential Security Support Provider.

Type:	AuthenticationMechanism
Accepted values:	Basic, Default, Credssp, Digest, Kerberos, Negotiate, NegotiateWithImplicitCredential
Position:	Named
Default value:	Default
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-CertificateThumbprint

Specifies the digital public key certificate (X509) of a user account that has permission to connect to the disconnected session. Enter the certificate thumbprint of the certificate.

Certificates are used in client certificate-based authentication. They can be mapped only to local user accounts and they don't work with domain accounts.

To get a certificate thumbprint, use a Get-Item or Get-ChildItem command in the PowerShell Cert: drive.

Type:	String
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-ComputerName

Specifies the computers on which the command runs. The default is the local computer.

When you use the ComputerName parameter, PowerShell creates a temporary connection that's used only to run the specified command and is then closed. If you need a persistent connection, use the Session parameter.

Type the NETBIOS name, IP address, or fully qualified domain name of one or more computers in a comma-separated list. To specify the local computer, type the computer name, localhost, or a dot (.).

To use an IP address in the value of ComputerName, the command must include the Credential parameter. The computer must be configured for the HTTPS transport or the IP address of the remote computer must be included in the local computer's WinRM TrustedHosts list. For instructions to add a computer name to the TrustedHosts list, see How to Add a Computer to the Trusted Host List.

On Windows Vista and later versions of the Windows operating system, to include the local computer in the value of ComputerName, you must run PowerShell using the Run as administrator option.

Type:	String[]
Aliases:	Cn
Position:	0
Default value:	Local computer
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-ConfigurationName

Specifies the session configuration that is used for the new PSSession.

Enter a configuration name or the fully qualified resource URI for a session configuration. If you specify only the configuration name, the following schema URI is prepended: https://schemas.microsoft.com/PowerShell.

The session configuration for a session is located on the remote computer. If the specified session configuration doesn't exist on the remote computer, the command fails.

The default value is the value of the $PSSessionConfigurationName preference variable on the local computer. If this preference variable isn't set, the default is Microsoft.PowerShell. For more information, see about_Preference_Variables.

Type:	String
Position:	Named
Default value:	$PSSessionConfigurationName if set on the local computer, otherwise Microsoft.PowerShell
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	True
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-ConnectionUri

Specifies a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that defines the connection endpoint of the session. The URI must be fully qualified.

The format of this string is as follows:

<Transport>://<ComputerName>:<Port>/<ApplicationName>

The default value is as follows:

https://localhost:5985/WSMAN

If you don't specify a connection URI, you can use the UseSSL and Port parameters to specify the connection URI values.

Valid values for the Transport segment of the URI are HTTP and HTTPS. If you specify a connection URI with a Transport segment, but don't specify a port, the session is created with the standards ports: 80 for HTTP and 443 for HTTPS. To use the default ports for PowerShell remoting, specify port 5985 for HTTP or 5986 for HTTPS.

If the destination computer redirects the connection to a different URI, PowerShell prevents the redirection unless you use the AllowRedirection parameter in the command.

Type:	Uri[]
Aliases:	URI, CU
Position:	0
Default value:	https://localhost:5985/WSMAN
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-Credential

Specifies a user account that has permission to perform this action. The default is the current user.

Type a user name, such as User01 or Domain01\User01. Or, enter a PSCredential object, such as one generated by the Get-Credential cmdlet. If you type a user name, this cmdlet prompts you for a password.

Type:	PSCredential
Position:	Named
Default value:	Current user
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	True
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-EnableNetworkAccess

Indicates that this cmdlet adds an interactive security token to loopback sessions. The interactive token lets you run commands in the loopback session that get data from other computers. For example, you can run a command in the session that copies XML files from a remote computer to the local computer.

A loopback session is a PSSession that originates and ends on the same computer. To create a loopback session, omit the ComputerName parameter or set its value to dot (.), localhost, or the name of the local computer.

By default, loopback sessions are created by using a network token, which might not provide sufficient permission to authenticate to remote computers.

The EnableNetworkAccess parameter is effective only in loopback sessions. If you use EnableNetworkAccess when you create a session on a remote computer, the command succeeds, but the parameter is ignored.

You can allow remote access in a loopback session by using the CredSSP value of the Authentication parameter, which delegates the session credentials to other computers.

To protect the computer from malicious access, disconnected loopback sessions that have interactive tokens, which are those created by using EnableNetworkAccess, can be reconnected only from the computer on which the session was created. Disconnected sessions that use CredSSP authentication can be reconnected from other computers. For more information, see Disconnect-PSSession.

This parameter was introduced in PowerShell 3.0.

Type:	SwitchParameter
Position:	Named
Default value:	False
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-FilePath

Specifies a local script that this cmdlet runs on one or more remote computers. Enter the path and file name of the script, or pipe a script path to Invoke-Command. The script must reside on the local computer or in a directory that the local computer can access. Use ArgumentList to specify the values of parameters in the script.

When you use this parameter, PowerShell converts the contents of the specified script file to a script block, transmits the script block to the remote computer, and runs it on the remote computer.

Type:	String
Aliases:	PSPath
Position:	1
Default value:	None
Required:	True
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-HideComputerName

Indicates that this cmdlet omits the computer name of each object from the output display. By default, the name of the computer that generated the object appears in the display.

This parameter affects only the output display. It doesn't change the object.

Type:	SwitchParameter
Aliases:	HCN
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-InDisconnectedSession

Indicates that this cmdlet runs a command or script in a disconnected session.

When you use the InDisconnectedSession parameter, Invoke-Command creates a persistent session on each remote computer, starts the command specified by the ScriptBlock or FilePath parameter, and then disconnects from the session. The commands continue to run in the disconnected sessions. InDisconnectedSession enables you to run commands without maintaining a connection to the remote sessions. And, because the session is disconnected before any results are returned, InDisconnectedSession makes sure that all command results are returned to the reconnected session, instead of being split between sessions.

You can't use InDisconnectedSession with the Session parameter or the AsJob parameter.

Commands that use InDisconnectedSession return a PSSession object that represents the disconnected session. They don't return the command output. To connect to the disconnected session, use the Connect-PSSession or Receive-PSSession cmdlets. To get the results of commands that ran in the session, use the Receive-PSSession cmdlet. To run commands that generate output in a disconnected session, set the value of the OutputBufferingMode session option to Drop. If you intend to connect to the disconnected session, set the idle time-out in the session so that it provides sufficient time for you to connect before deleting the session.

You can set the output buffering mode and idle time-out in the SessionOption parameter or in the $PSSessionOption preference variable. For more information about session options, see New-PSSessionOption and about_Preference_Variables.

For more information about the Disconnected Sessions feature, see about_Remote_Disconnected_Sessions.

This parameter was introduced in PowerShell 3.0.

Type:	SwitchParameter
Aliases:	Disconnected
Position:	Named
Default value:	False
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-InputObject

Specifies input to the command. Enter a variable that contains the objects or type a command or expression that gets the objects.

When using the InputObject parameter, use the $Input automatic variable in the value of the ScriptBlock parameter to represent the input objects.

Type:	PSObject
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	True
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-JobName

Specifies a friendly name for the background job. By default, jobs are named Job<n>, where <n> is an ordinal number.

If you use the JobName parameter in a command, the command is run as a job, and Invoke-Command returns a job object, even if you don't include AsJob in the command.

For more information about PowerShell background jobs, see about_Jobs.

Type:	String
Position:	Named
Default value:	Job<n>
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-NoNewScope

Indicates that this cmdlet runs the specified command in the current scope. By default, Invoke-Command runs commands in their own scope.

This parameter is valid only in commands that are run in the current session, that is, commands that omit both the ComputerName and Session parameters.

This parameter was introduced in PowerShell 3.0.

Type:	SwitchParameter
Position:	Named
Default value:	False
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-Port

Specifies the network port on the remote computer that is used for this command. To connect to a remote computer, the remote computer must be listening on the port that the connection uses. The default ports are 5985, which is the WinRM port for HTTP, and 5986, which is the WinRM port for HTTPS.

Before using an alternate port, configure the WinRM listener on the remote computer to listen at that port. To configure the listener, type the following two commands at the PowerShell prompt:

Remove-Item -Path WSMan:\Localhost\listener\listener* -Recurse

New-Item -Path WSMan:\Localhost\listener -Transport http -Address * -Port \<port-number\>

Don't use the Port parameter unless you must. The port that is set in the command applies to all computers or sessions on which the command runs. An alternate port setting might prevent the command from running on all computers.

Type:	Int32
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-ScriptBlock

Specifies the commands to run. Enclose the commands in curly braces { } to create a script block. This parameter is required.

By default, any variables in the command are evaluated on the remote computer. To include local variables in the command, use ArgumentList.

Type:	ScriptBlock
Aliases:	Command
Position:	0
Default value:	None
Required:	True
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-Session

Specifies an array of sessions in which this cmdlet runs the command. Enter a variable that contains PSSession objects or a command that creates or gets the PSSession objects, such as a New-PSSession or Get-PSSession command.

When you create a PSSession, PowerShell establishes a persistent connection to the remote computer. Use a PSSession to run a series of related commands that share data. To run a single command or a series of unrelated commands, use the ComputerName parameter. For more information, see about_PSSessions.

Type:	PSSession[]
Position:	0
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-SessionName

Specifies a friendly name for a disconnected session. You can use the name to refer to the session in subsequent commands, such as a Get-PSSession command. This parameter is valid only with the InDisconnectedSession parameter.

This parameter was introduced in PowerShell 3.0.

Type:	String[]
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-SessionOption

Specifies advanced options for the session. Enter a SessionOption object, such as one that you create by using the New-PSSessionOption cmdlet, or a hash table in which the keys are session option names and the values are session option values.

The default values for the options are determined by the value of the $PSSessionOption preference variable, if it's set. Otherwise, the default values are established by options set in the session configuration.

The session option values take precedence over default values for sessions set in the $PSSessionOption preference variable and in the session configuration. However, they don't take precedence over maximum values, quotas, or limits set in the session configuration.

For a description of the session options that includes the default values, see New-PSSessionOption. For information about the $PSSessionOption preference variable, see about_Preference_Variables. For more information about session configurations, see about_Session_Configurations.

Type:	PSSessionOption
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-ThrottleLimit

Specifies the maximum number of concurrent connections that can be established to run this command. If you omit this parameter or enter a value of 0, the default value, 32, is used.

The throttle limit applies only to the current command, not to the session or to the computer.

Type:	Int32
Position:	Named
Default value:	32
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-UseSSL

Indicates that this cmdlet uses the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol to establish a connection to the remote computer. By default, SSL isn't used.

WS-Management encrypts all PowerShell content transmitted over the network. The UseSSL parameter is an additional protection that sends the data across an HTTPS, instead of HTTP.

If you use this parameter, but SSL isn't available on the port that's used for the command, the command fails.

Type:	SwitchParameter
Position:	Named
Default value:	False
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

Inputs

ScriptBlock

You can pipe a command in a script block to Invoke-Command. Use the $Input automatic variable to represent the input objects in the command.

Outputs

System.Management.Automation.PSRemotingJob, System.Management.Automation.Runspaces.PSSession, or the output of the invoked command

This cmdlet returns a job object, if you use the AsJob parameter. If you specify the InDisconnectedSession parameter, Invoke-Command returns a PSSession object. Otherwise, it returns the output of the invoked command, which is the value of the ScriptBlock parameter.

Notes

On Windows Vista, and later versions of the Windows operating system, to use the ComputerName parameter of Invoke-Command to run a command on the local computer, you must run PowerShell using the Run as administrator option.

When you run commands on multiple computers, PowerShell connects to the computers in the order in which they appear in the list. However, the command output is displayed in the order that it's received from the remote computers, which might be different.

Errors that result from the command that Invoke-Command runs are included in the command results. Errors that would be terminating errors in a local command are treated as non-terminating errors in a remote command. This strategy makes sure that terminating errors on one computer don't close the command on all computers on which it's run. This practice is used even when a remote command is run on a single computer.

If the remote computer isn't in a domain that the local computer trusts, the computer might not be able to authenticate the user's credentials. To add the remote computer to the list of trusted hosts in WS-Management, use the following command in the WSMAN provider, where <Remote-Computer-Name> is the name of the remote computer:

Set-Item -Path WSMan:\Localhost\Client\TrustedHosts -Value \<Remote-Computer-Name\>

When you disconnect a PSSession, by using the InDisconnectedSession parameter, the session state is Disconnected and the availability is None. The value of the State property is relative to the current session. A value of Disconnected means that the PSSession isn't connected to the current session. However, it doesn't mean that the PSSession is disconnected from all sessions. It might be connected to a different session. To determine whether you can connect or reconnect to the session, use the Availability property.

An Availability value of None indicates that you can connect to the session. A value of Busy indicates that you can't connect to the PSSession because it's connected to another session. For more information about the values of the State property of sessions, see RunspaceState. For more information about the values of the Availability property of sessions, see RunspaceAvailability.

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Invoke-Command

Syntax

Description

Examples

Example 1: Run a script on a server

Example 2: Run a command on a remote server

Example 3: Run a command in a persistent connection

Example 4: Use a session to run a series of commands that share data

Example 5: Enter a command stored in a local variable

Example 6: Run a single command on several computers

Example 7: Get the version of the host program on multiple computers

Example 8: Run a background job on several remote computers

Example 9: Include local variables in a command run on a remote computer

Example 10: Hide the computer name

Example 11: Use the Param keyword in a script block

Example 12: Use the $args automatic variable in a script block

Example 13: Run a script on all the computers listed in a text file

Example 14: Run a command on a remote computer by using a URI

Example 15: Use a session option

Example 16: Manage URI redirection in a remote command

Example 17: Access a network share in a remote session

Example 18: Start scripts on many remote computers

Parameters

-AllowRedirection

-ApplicationName

-ArgumentList

-AsJob

-Authentication

-CertificateThumbprint

-ComputerName

-ConfigurationName

-ConnectionUri

-Credential

-EnableNetworkAccess

-FilePath

-HideComputerName

-InDisconnectedSession

-InputObject

-JobName

-NoNewScope

-Port

-ScriptBlock

-Session

-SessionName

-SessionOption

-ThrottleLimit

-UseSSL

Inputs

Outputs

Notes

Related Links

Additional resources