Get service status from remote server using powershell

Question

How to get the service status for a remote computer that needs a user name and password to log in?

I am trying to find a solution using the following code:

$serviceStatus = get-service -ComputerName $machineName -Name $service

The default syntax for the get-service command is:

Parameter Set: Default
Get-Service [[-Name] <String[]> ] [-ComputerName <String[]> ] [-DependentServices] [-Exclude <String[]> ] [-Include <String[]> ] [-RequiredServices] [ <CommonParameters>]

Parameter Set: DisplayName
Get-Service -DisplayName <String[]> [-ComputerName <String[]> ] [-DependentServices] [-Exclude <String[]> ] [-Include <String[]> ] [-RequiredServices] [ <CommonParameters>]

Parameter Set: InputObject
Get-Service [-ComputerName <String[]> ] [-DependentServices] [-Exclude <String[]> ] [-Include <String[]> ] [-InputObject <ServiceController[]> ] [-RequiredServices] [ <CommonParameters>]

This does not have an option for username and password.

David Brabant · Accepted Answer · 2014-05-02T06:08:52.600

14

As far as I know, Get-Service doesn't accept a credential parameter. However, you can do it through WMI:

$cred = get-Credential -credential <your domain user here>
Get-WMIObject Win32_Service -computer $computer -credential $cred

Update after comment:

You can save credentials as a securestring into a file, and then reload it for manually creating a credential without having a prompt. See information here.

edited May 02 '14 at 06:08

answered May 02 '14 at 05:48

David Brabant

41,623
16
83
111

I am looking for something more silent. I wish to set the script up in TaskScheduler, and having a prompt for each server's password every 10 mins is not appropriate. :) Is there some way by which I can have the `Domein\Username` and `password` set up in the command itself. – debal May 02 '14 at 06:00

score 14 · Answer 2 · answered May 10 '16 at 11:52

14

This also works:

net use \\server\c$ $password /USER:$username
$service = Get-Service $serviceName -ComputerName $server

Note that password should not be in a secure string.

answered May 10 '16 at 11:52

Morten Holmgaard

7,484
8
63
85

1

Are you the only person who knows this? Why is this not the top answer for anyone asking about trying to administer remote machines running Windows? – ArtOfWarfare Apr 08 '19 at 15:30
ArtOfWarfare:: Totally Agreed. Spent a couple of hours researching this. Other methods of getting services on remote machine worked (different protocols?). I'm not entirely clear on how/why this worked. Can someone fill in the details for me? Thx – JohnB Sep 10 '19 at 17:19
Wow, I spent like 2 days trying to find a way to authenticate to remote computer in PowerShell, question, how secure is it to authenticate like this? – metablaster Apr 06 '21 at 12:15

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 17 '20 at 15:22

Invoke-Command can accomplish this.

$Cred = Get-Credential -Credential "<your domain user here>"
$ScriptBlock = {
    param($Service)
    Get-Service -Name "$Service"
}
$ServiceStatus = Invoke-Command -ComputerName $MachineName -Credential $Cred -ScriptBlock $ScriptBlock -ArgumentList "$Service"

Note that in order to pass the variable $Service to the Get-Service cmdlet in the script block, you have to declare the script block beforehand and define the $Service variable in the param block. You can then pass the $Service argument into the script block via the -ArgumentList parameter.

Invoke-Command also supports running on multiple servers by supplying a comma delimited list of computers for the -ComputerName parameter.

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 08 '20 at 16:54

Just like Morton's answer, but using New-PSDrive for the share and Remove the share to tidy up.

New-PSDrive -Name tempDriveName –PSProvider FileSystem –Root “\\server\c$” -Credential $Cred
$service = Get-Service -Name $serviceName -ComputerName $MachineName 
Remove-PSDrive -Name tempDriveName

Get service status from remote server using powershell

4 Answers4

Linked