Get-WmiObject is a Windows PowerShell command that allows you to access Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) objects. WMI is a set of specifications from Microsoft that provides access to managed data and objects from Windows-based systems. It is used to manage and monitor Windows-based systems, including hardware, software, and system processes. Get-WmiObject is a powerful tool that can be used to query and manage WMI objects on a local or remote computer.
In this guide, we will discuss the syntax, parameters, inputs, outputs, examples, and tips for using the Get-WmiObject command. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of how to use the Get-WmiObject command and how it can be used to manage and monitor Windows-based systems.
Syntax of Get-WmiObject
The syntax of the Get-WmiObject command is as follows:
Get-WmiObject [-Class]
Parameters of Get-WmiObject
The Get-WmiObject command has several parameters that can be used to customize the command. The parameters are:
- -Class: Specifies the WMI class to be queried.
- -Namespace: Specifies the WMI namespace to be queried.
- -ComputerName: Specifies the name of the computer to be queried.
- -Authentication: Specifies the authentication level to be used.
- -Impersonation: Specifies the impersonation level to be used.
- -Credential: Specifies the credentials to be used.
- -EnableAllPrivileges: Specifies whether all privileges should be enabled.
- -Authority: Specifies the authority to be used.
- -Locale: Specifies the locale to be used.
- -UICulture: Specifies the UI culture to be used.
- -Name: Specifies the name of the WMI object to be queried.
- -Filter: Specifies the filter to be used.
- -Property: Specifies the properties to be returned.
- -AsJob: Specifies whether the command should be executed as a job.
- -ThrottleLimit: Specifies the throttle limit to be used.
- -AuthenticationLevel: Specifies the authentication level to be used.
- -OperationTimeout: Specifies the operation timeout to be used.
- -ImpersonationLevel: Specifies the impersonation level to be used.
- -CimSession: Specifies the CIM session to be used.
- -ThrottleInterval: Specifies the throttle interval to be used.
- -WhatIf: Specifies whether the command should be run in WhatIf mode.
- -Confirm: Specifies whether the command should be run in Confirm mode.
Inputs of Get-WmiObject
The Get-WmiObject command requires several inputs in order to execute properly. These inputs are:
- ClassName: The name of the WMI class to be queried.
- Namespace: The name of the WMI namespace to be queried.
- ComputerName: The name of the computer to be queried.
- Authentication: The authentication level to be used.
- Impersonation: The impersonation level to be used.
- Credential: The credentials to be used.
- EnableAllPrivileges: Whether all privileges should be enabled.
- Authority: The authority to be used.
- Locale: The locale to be used.
- UICulture: The UI culture to be used.
- Name: The name of the WMI object to be queried.
- Filter: The filter to be used.
- Property: The properties to be returned.
- AsJob: Whether the command should be executed as a job.
- ThrottleLimit: The throttle limit to be used.
- AuthenticationLevel: The authentication level to be used.
- OperationTimeout: The operation timeout to be used.
- ImpersonationLevel: The impersonation level to be used.
- CimSession: The CIM session to be used.
- ThrottleInterval: The throttle interval to be used.
- WhatIf: Whether the command should be run in WhatIf mode.
- Confirm: Whether the command should be run in Confirm mode.
Outputs of Get-WmiObject
The Get-WmiObject command produces several outputs. These outputs are:
- Object: The WMI object that was queried.
- Property: The properties of the WMI object that were returned.
- Error: Any errors that were encountered during the execution of the command.
Examples of Get-WmiObject
The Get-WmiObject command can be used in a variety of ways. Here are some examples of how the command can be used:
- To query the WMI class “Win32_Process” on the local computer:
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Process
- To query the WMI class “Win32_Process” on a remote computer:
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Process -ComputerName
- To query the WMI class “Win32_Process” and return only the “Name” and “ProcessId” properties:
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Process -Property Name, ProcessId
- To query the WMI class “Win32_Process” and filter the results to only return processes with a “Name” of “notepad.exe”:
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Process -Filter “Name=’notepad.exe'”
Tips for Using Get-WmiObject
Here are some tips for using the Get-WmiObject command:
- Use the -ComputerName parameter