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] [-Namespace ] [-ComputerName ] [-Authentication ] [-Impersonation ] [-Credential ] [-EnableAllPrivileges] [-Authority ] [-Locale ] [-UICulture ] [-Name ] [-Filter ] [-Property ] [-AsJob] [-ThrottleLimit ] [-AuthenticationLevel ] [-OperationTimeout ] [-ImpersonationLevel ] [-CimSession ] [-ThrottleInterval ] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] []

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

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