How to run multiple commands via Invoke-Command on remote server

Question

In the below example, only the Get-Process in my scriptblock is being executed. "deh" does not print for some reason

Invoke-Command -ComputerName mycomputer -Credential $mycreds -ScriptBlock {
    Get-Process
    Write-Host "deh"
}

If I remove -ComputerName and execute on local, then it runs both commands just fine.

EDIT:

Here I am trying to execute IIS cmdlets against remote server. The following command works

Invoke-Command -ComputerName mycomputer -ScriptBlock { 
    Trace-Command CommandDiscovery {
        Import-Module webAdministration
        Start-WebAppPool -Name DefaultAppPool
    } -PSHost 
}

but this does not work

Invoke-Command -ComputerName mycomputer -ScriptBlock { 
    Import-Module webAdministration
    Start-WebAppPool -Name DefaultAppPool
}

what is special about Trace-Command that it is helping Start-WebAppPool to work? this is really odd and I can't explain why this functionality..

It executes both commands when removing the -ComputerName parameter, so it seems something to do with calling on remote computer — Eric Furspan, May 03 '17 at 13:20

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered May 03 '17 at 12:55

3

No, the Invoke-Command cmdlet takes a scriptblock where you can put multiple commands. You should also be able to see the Write-Host output.

answered May 03 '17 at 12:55

Martin Brandl

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Hmm, you are right. It seems to execute both commands when I remove the -ComputerName parameter and execute on local machine. Any idea for what reasons this would be? – Eric Furspan May 03 '17 at 13:01
`Write-host` writes to the console, so I think you wouldn't see it because it would occur within the remote session. – Mark Wragg May 03 '17 at 13:08
4

@MarkWragg You will get the output. Thought the same but tested it ;-) – Martin Brandl May 03 '17 at 13:09

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered May 05 '17 at 02:52

1

You can do a Trace-Command on the remote machine via Invoke-Command to see what is happening. I'm not able to reproduce this.

Invoke-Command -ComputerName mycomputer -Credential $Creds -ScriptBlock { Trace-Command CommandDiscovery {get-process;write-host 'deh'} -PSHost }

answered May 05 '17 at 02:52

Prasoon Karunan V

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something about Trace-Command is allowing my IIS Cmdlets to work against remote servers. But without it, they do not work. Really odd. I have updated OP. any ideas? – Eric Furspan May 05 '17 at 15:46
If you are in PS v 3.0 or later, you just try without Importing the WebAdministration module – Prasoon Karunan V May 07 '17 at 09:42

score -2 · Answer 3 · answered May 03 '17 at 13:06

-2

Try to separate the commands using a semicolon:

  Invoke-Command -ComputerName mycomputer -Credential $mycreds -ScriptBlock {
        Get-Process ; 
        Write-Host "deh"
    }

answered May 03 '17 at 13:06

Michael Hoffmann

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3

1

Thats not necessary. – Martin Brandl May 03 '17 at 13:07
"deh" does not print. no difference – Eric Furspan May 03 '17 at 13:12

How to run multiple commands via Invoke-Command on remote server

3 Answers3