CIM cmdlets
Published March 26, 2013The CIM cmdlets are found in the CIMcmdlets module.
Get-Command -Module CimCmdlets produces this list of names. I’ve added some information on the tasks they perform
Get-CimAssociatedInstance is for working with WMI associated classes
Get-CimClass is for discovering the properties and methods of a WMI class
Get-CimInstance is analogous to Get-WmiObject
Get-CimSession
Invoke-CimMethod is analogous to Invoke-WMIMethod
New-CimInstance can be used for creating a new WMI instance in certain circumstances
New-CimSession
New-CimSessionOption
Register-CimIndicationEvent is analogous to Register-WMIEvent
Remove-CimInstance is analogous to Remove-WMIObject
Remove-CimSession
Set-CimInstance is analogous to Set-WMIInstance
The CIM session cmdlets are for working with the CIm sessions which are analogous to PowerShell remoting sessions but are used by the CIM cmdlets AND the new WMI based cmdlets in Windows 8/2012 such as the networking cmdlets
WMI vs CIM
Published March 24, 2013An email debate yesterday regarding the use of the CIM cmdlets (new in PowerShell 3) vs the WMI cmdlets made me realise that other people are probably wondering the same thing,
The question is really part of a the semi-philosophical debate about when you should adopt new technology.
In the case of the WMI/CIM cmdlets the resolution is fairly straightforward.
If you are using PowerShell v2 you have to use the WMI cmdlets.
If you are using PowerShell v3 – even if you are accessing legacy systems I would recommend the CIM cmdlets. There are a number of benefits to using the CIM cmdlets:
- use of WSMAN for remote access – no more DCOM error. You can drop back to DCOM for accessing systems with WSMAN 2 installed
- use of CIM sessions for accessing multiple machines
- Get-CIMClass for investigating WMI classes
- improved way of dealing with WMI associations
As far as I am aware the only thing the CIM cmdlets can’t do is access amended qualifiers such as the class description. Seeing that many classes don’t that set it’s not a major hardship.
Now that I’ve recommended you should use them I’d better show you how – that will cover a mini-series of posts over the next few days
UK PowerShell group session postponement
Published March 21, 2013I’m postponing the 26 March session on PowerShell and Hyper-V until 9 April. Invites will go out shortly
PowerShell 3 SDK samples
Published March 21, 2013A sample pack for the SDK is now available - see http://blogs.msdn.com/b/powershell/archive/2013/03/17/windows-powershell-3-0-sample-pack.aspx
Network Adapters–Disable/Enable
Published March 11, 2013Last time we saw the Get-NetAdapter cmdlet from the NetAdapter module
PS> Get-NetAdapter | ft Name, InterfaceDescription, Status -a
Name InterfaceDescription Status
---- -------------------- ------
Ethernet NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet Up
WiFi Qualcomm Atheros AR5007 802.11b/g WiFi Adapter Up
If you look in the module you also find Disable-NetAdapter & Enable-NetAdapter
PS> Disable-NetAdapter -Name Wifi -Confirm:$false
PS> Get-NetAdapter | ft Name, InterfaceDescription, Status -a
Name InterfaceDescription Status
---- -------------------- ------
Ethernet NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet Up
WiFi Qualcomm Atheros AR5007 802.11b/g WiFi Adapter Disabled
PS> Enable-NetAdapter -Name Wifi -Confirm:$false
PS> Get-NetAdapter | ft Name, InterfaceDescription, Status -a
Name InterfaceDescription Status
---- -------------------- ------
Ethernet NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet Up
WiFi Qualcomm Atheros AR5007 802.11b/g WiFi Adapter Up
You can also enable/disable based on an Input Object, the alias (-ifalias) or the description (-InterfaceDescription)
PS> Get-NetAdapter -Name Wifi | Disable-NetAdapter -Confirm:$false
PS> Get-NetAdapter | ft Name, InterfaceDescription, Status -a
Name InterfaceDescription Status
---- -------------------- ------
Ethernet NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet Up
WiFi Qualcomm Atheros AR5007 802.11b/g WiFi Adapter Disabled
PS> Get-NetAdapter -Name Wifi | Enable-NetAdapter -Confirm:$false
PS> Get-NetAdapter | ft Name, InterfaceDescription, Status -a
Name InterfaceDescription Status
---- -------------------- ------
Ethernet NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet Up
WiFi Qualcomm Atheros AR5007 802.11b/g WiFi Adapter Up
What’s the alias?
PS> Get-NetAdapter | ft Name, InterfaceDescription, ifAlias, InterfaceAlias -a
Name InterfaceDescription ifAlias InterfaceAlias
---- -------------------- ------- --------------
Ethernet NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet Ethernet Ethernet
WiFi Qualcomm Atheros AR5007 802.11b/g WiFi Adapter WiFi WiFi
If you want to use these cmdlets against remote machines you can run them through a CIMsession
Network adapters
Published March 4, 2013The WMI classes Win32_NetworkAdapter and Win32_NetworkAdapterConfiguration have seen a lot of use over the years. They can be a bit fiddly to use which is why the NetAdapter module in Windows 8/2012 is a so welcome.
Lets start by looking at basic information gathering
PS> Get-NetAdapter | ft -a
Name InterfaceDescription ifIndex Status MacAddress LinkSpeed
---- -------------------- ------- ------ ---------- ---------
Ethernet NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet 13 Up 00-1F-16-63-F5-DF 100 Mbps
WiFi Qualcomm Atheros AR5007 802.11b/g WiFi Adapter 12 Up 00-24-2B-2F-9C-A5 54 Mbps
We get the Name & description, status, MAC address and link speed as the default display. Contrast with Win32_NetworkAdapter for the same two interfaces
ServiceName : athr
MACAddress : 00:24:2B:2F:9C:A5
AdapterType : Ethernet 802.3
DeviceID : 10
Name : Qualcomm Atheros AR5007 802.11b/g WiFi Adapter
NetworkAddresses :
Speed : 54000000
ServiceName : NVNET
MACAddress : 00:1F:16:63:F5:DF
AdapterType : Ethernet 802.3
DeviceID : 11
Name : NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
NetworkAddresses :
Speed : 100000000
Notice the ifIndex from Get-NetAdapter & DeviceId from Win32_NetworkAdapter. Two different numbers to identify the device.
What else can Get-NetAdapter tell us:
PS> Get-NetAdapter -Name Ethernet | fl *
ifAlias : Ethernet
InterfaceAlias : Ethernet
ifIndex : 13
ifDesc : NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
ifName : Ethernet_7
DriverVersion : 73.3.0.0
LinkLayerAddress : 00-1F-16-63-F5-DF
MacAddress : 00-1F-16-63-F5-DF
Status : Up
LinkSpeed : 100 Mbps
MediaType : 802.3
PhysicalMediaType : 802.3
AdminStatus : Up
MediaConnectionState : Connected
DriverInformation : Driver Date 2010-03-04 Version 73.3.0.0 NDIS 6.20
DriverFileName : nvmf6232.sys
NdisVersion : 6.20
ifOperStatus : Up
Caption :
Description :
ElementName :
InstanceID : {188C370D-AD90-46F3-8AD2-0C10AFB6490C}
CommunicationStatus :
DetailedStatus :
HealthState :
InstallDate :
Name : Ethernet
OperatingStatus :
OperationalStatus :
PrimaryStatus :
StatusDescriptions :
AvailableRequestedStates :
EnabledDefault : 2
EnabledState : 5
OtherEnabledState :
RequestedState : 12
TimeOfLastStateChange :
TransitioningToState : 12
AdditionalAvailability :
Availability :
CreationClassName : MSFT_NetAdapter
DeviceID : {188C370D-AD90-46F3-8AD2-0C10AFB6490C}
ErrorCleared :
ErrorDescription :
IdentifyingDescriptions :
LastErrorCode :
MaxQuiesceTime :
OtherIdentifyingInfo :
PowerManagementCapabilities :
PowerManagementSupported :
PowerOnHours :
StatusInfo :
SystemCreationClassName : CIM_NetworkPort
SystemName : RSLAPTOP01
TotalPowerOnHours :
MaxSpeed :
OtherPortType :
PortType :
RequestedSpeed :
Speed : 100000000
UsageRestriction :
ActiveMaximumTransmissionUnit : 1500
AutoSense :
FullDuplex : True
LinkTechnology :
NetworkAddresses : {001F1663F5DF}
OtherLinkTechnology :
OtherNetworkPortType :
PermanentAddress : 001F1663F5DF
PortNumber : 0
SupportedMaximumTransmissionUnit :
AdminLocked : False
ComponentID : pci\ven_10de&dev_0760
ConnectorPresent : True
DeviceName : \Device\{188C370D-AD90-46F3-8AD2-0C10AFB6490C}
DeviceWakeUpEnable : False
DriverDate : 2010-03-04
DriverDateData : 129121344000000000
DriverDescription : NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
DriverMajorNdisVersion : 6
DriverMinorNdisVersion : 20
DriverName : \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\nvmf6232.sys
DriverProvider : NVIDIA
DriverVersionString : 73.3.0.0
EndPointInterface : False
HardwareInterface : True
Hidden : False
HigherLayerInterfaceIndices : {26}
IMFilter : False
InterfaceAdminStatus : 1
InterfaceDescription : NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
InterfaceGuid : {188C370D-AD90-46F3-8AD2-0C10AFB6490C}
InterfaceIndex : 13
InterfaceName : Ethernet_7
InterfaceOperationalStatus : 1
InterfaceType : 6
iSCSIInterface : False
LowerLayerInterfaceIndices :
MajorDriverVersion : 73
MediaConnectState : 1
MediaDuplexState : 2
MinorDriverVersion : 30
MtuSize : 1500
NdisMedium : 0
NdisPhysicalMedium : 14
NetLuid : 1688849977704448
NetLuidIndex : 7
NotUserRemovable : False
OperationalStatusDownDefaultPortNotAuthenticated : False
OperationalStatusDownInterfacePaused : False
OperationalStatusDownLowPowerState : False
OperationalStatusDownMediaDisconnected : False
PnPDeviceID : PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0760&SUBSYS_360A103C&REV_A2\3&2411E6FE&0&50
PromiscuousMode : False
ReceiveLinkSpeed : 100000000
State : 2
TransmitLinkSpeed : 100000000
Virtual : False
VlanID :
WdmInterface : False
PSComputerName :
CimClass : ROOT/StandardCimv2:MSFT_NetAdapter
CimInstanceProperties : {Caption, Description, ElementName, InstanceID...}
CimSystemProperties : Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.CimSystemProperties
Notice the CimClass property ROOT/StandardCimv2:MSFT_NetAdapter - this is one of the new WMI classes introduced in Windows 8. Does this class have any methods?
Get-CimClass -Namespace ROOT/StandardCimv2 -ClassName MSFT_NetAdapter | select -ExpandProperty CimClassMethods
Name
----
RequestStateChange
SetPowerState
Reset
EnableDevice
OnlineDevice
QuiesceDevice
SaveProperties
RestoreProperties
Enable
Disable
Restart
Lock
Unlock
Rename
These will be investigated in other posts – maybe we get cmdlets to work with these as well
Windows 8 Kindle app
Published March 1, 2013Amazon have released an update for the Windows 8 Kindle app that appears to have resolved the corrupted display issue that occurred after every few pages of reading.
I would recommend updating the app immediately. The app now seems to be usable.