How do I pass variables with the Invoke-Command cmdlet?

Question

I have to get Event-Logs from some servers and I don't want to read in the credentials for each server which is found.

I've tried to pass my variables by using the ArgumentList parameter but I doesn't work.

This is my code:

$User = Read-Host -Prompt "Enter Username"
$Password = Read-Host -Prompt "Enter Password" -AsSecureString
$BSTR = [System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::SecureStringToBSTR($Password)
$UnsecurePassword = [System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::PtrToStringAuto($BSTR)

Get-ADComputer -Filter "OperatingSystem -Like '*Server*'" | Sort-Object Name |
ForEach-Object{
    if($_.Name -like '*2008*'){
        Invoke-Command -ComputerName $_.Name -ArgumentList $User, $UnsecurePassword -ScriptBlock {  
            net use P: \\Server\dir1\dir2 /persistent:no /user:$User $UnsecurePassword
            Get-EventLog -LogName System -After (Get-Date).AddHours(-12) -EntryType Error, Warning | format-list | 
            out-file P:\EventLog_$env:COMPUTERNAME.log
            net use P: /delete /yes
        }
    }
}

How can I use the variables in the Invoke-Command ScriptBlock?

Solution 1

Either you declare the parameters at the beginning of your scriptblock:

   {  
        param($user,$unsecurepassword)
        net use P: \\Server\dir1\dir2 /persistent:no /user:$User $UnsecurePassword
        Get-EventLog -LogName System -After (Get-Date).AddHours(-12) -EntryType Error, Warning | format-list | 
        out-file P:\EventLog_$env:COMPUTERNAME.log
        net use P: /delete /yes
    }

Or you acces your arguments using the $args variable:

#first passed parameter
$args[0]
#second passed parameter
$args[1]
....

Documentation: MSDN

Solution 2

Alternatively you can use the $Using:scope. See Example 5 under this link.

Example:

$servicesToSearchFor = "*"
Invoke-Command -ComputerName $computer -Credential (Get-Credential) -ScriptBlock { Get-Service $Using:servicesToSearchFor }

With $Using: you don't need the -ArgumentList parameter and the param block in the scriptblock.

Comments

[nkasco]

Just make sure your variables in param() match up with the ones you pass in through the -ArgumentList. I learned that one the hard way when my $computer kept showing up as my user ID lol

[Danijel-James W]

This works WAY better than param and the like! Thank you!