Invoke-cimmethod PowerShell Command

PowerShell is an incredibly powerful tool for automating tasks and managing Windows systems. One of the most powerful commands in PowerShell is Invoke-CimMethod, which allows you to call a method on a CIM class. In this article, we’ll explore what Invoke-CimMethod is, how to use it, and some examples of how it can be used to automate tasks.

What is Invoke-CimMethod?

Invoke-CimMethod is a PowerShell command that allows you to call a method on a CIM class. CIM stands for Common Information Model, and is a standard for representing management information. CIM classes are used to represent the data and methods associated with a particular type of managed object, such as a computer system, a network adapter, or a printer.

Invoke-CimMethod allows you to call a method on a CIM class. This means that you can use it to perform tasks such as creating a new user account, setting a registry value, or changing the system time. It is a powerful tool for automating tasks and managing Windows systems.

Syntax and Parameters

The syntax for Invoke-CimMethod is as follows:

Invoke-CimMethod [-ClassName] [-MethodName] [-Arguments] [-ComputerName] [-CimSession] [-ThrottleLimit ] [-AsJob] [-InputObject] [-Namespace] [-OperationTimeoutSec ] [-Options ] [-Query] [-QueryDialect] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] []

The parameters for Invoke-CimMethod are as follows:

Parameter Description
ClassName The name of the CIM class.
MethodName The name of the method to call.
Arguments A hashtable containing the arguments for the method.
ComputerName The name of the computer to run the command on.
CimSession The CimSession to use for the command.
ThrottleLimit The maximum number of concurrent operations that can be established to run the command.
AsJob Runs the command as a background job.
InputObject The CimInstance object to use for the command.
Namespace The CIM namespace to use for the command.
OperationTimeoutSec The maximum amount of time (in seconds) to wait for the operation to complete.
Options The CimOperationOptions to use for the command.
Query The WQL query to use for the command.
QueryDialect The dialect of the WQL query to use for the command.
WhatIf Shows what would happen if the command were to run.
Confirm Prompts the user for confirmation before running the command.

Inputs and Outputs

Invoke-CimMethod takes a CIM class and a method name as inputs, and returns an object that contains the output of the method. The output of the method will depend on the method being called, but it can be anything from a simple string to a complex object.

Examples

Here are some examples of how Invoke-CimMethod can be used to automate tasks:

  • Create a new user account:
    Invoke-CimMethod -ClassName Win32_UserAccount -MethodName Create -Arguments @{Name=”John Doe”; Password=”password”; FullName=”John Doe”; Description=”John Doe’s account”; Disabled=False}
  • Set a registry value:
    Invoke-CimMethod -ClassName StdRegProv -MethodName SetStringValue -Arguments @{hDefKey=2147483650; sSubKeyName=”Software\MyApp”; sValueName=”MyValue”; sValue=”MyValue”}
  • Change the system time:
    Invoke-CimMethod -ClassName Win32_OperatingSystem -MethodName SetDateTime -Arguments @{DateTime=”2021-01-01 12:00:00″}

Tips for Using Invoke-CimMethod

Invoke-CimMethod is a powerful tool for automating tasks and managing Windows systems. Here are some tips for using it:

  • Make sure you have the correct CIM class and method name for the task you are trying to perform.
  • Be aware of the different parameters that can be used with Invoke-CimMethod, such as ComputerName, CimSession, and ThrottleLimit.
  • Use the WhatIf parameter to see what would happen if the command were to run.
  • Use the Confirm parameter to prompt the user for confirmation before running the command.
  • Use the OperationTimeoutSec parameter to set a maximum amount of time (in seconds) to wait for the operation to complete.

Conclusion

Invoke-CimMethod is a powerful PowerShell command that allows you to call a method on a CIM class. It is a useful tool for automating tasks and managing Windows systems. In this article, we’ve explored what Invoke-CimMethod is, how to use it, and some examples of how it can be used to automate tasks. We’ve also looked at some tips for using Invoke-CimMethod.

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