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Get-Counter

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Diagnostics

Gets performance counter data from local and remote computers.

Syntax

Get-Counter
   [[-Counter] <String[]>]
   [-SampleInterval <Int32>]
   [-MaxSamples <Int64>]
   [-Continuous]
   [-ComputerName <String[]>]
   [<CommonParameters>]
Get-Counter
   [-ListSet] <String[]>
   [-ComputerName <String[]>]
   [<CommonParameters>]

Description

This cmdlet is only available on the Windows platform.

The Get-Counter cmdlet gets performance counter data directly from the performance monitoring instrumentation in the Windows family of operating systems. Get-Counter gets performance data from a local computer or remote computers.

You can use the Get-Counter parameters to specify one or more computers, list the performance counter sets and the instances they contain, set the sample intervals, and specify the maximum number of samples. Without parameters, Get-Counter gets performance counter data for a set of system counters.

Many counter sets are protected by access control lists (ACL). To see all counter sets, open PowerShell with the Run as administrator option.

This cmdlet was reintroduced in PowerShell 7.

Note

Performance counter names are localized. The examples shown here use the English names of the performance objects, counters, and instances. The names will be different on a system that uses another language. Use the Get-Counter -ListSet command to see the localized names.

Examples

Example 1: Get the counter set list

This example gets the local computer's list of counter sets.

Get-Counter -ListSet *

CounterSetName     : Processor
MachineName        : .
CounterSetType     : MultiInstance
Description        : The Processor performance object consists of counters that measure aspects ...
                     computer that performs arithmetic and logical computations, initiates ...
                     computer can have multiple processors.  The processor object represents ...
Paths              : {\Processor(*)\% Processor Time, \Processor(*)\% User Time, ...
PathsWithInstances : {\Processor(0)\% Processor Time, \Processor(1)\% Processor Time, ...
Counter            : {\Processor(*)\% Processor Time, \Processor(*)\% User Time, ...

Get-Counter uses the ListSet parameter with an asterisk (*) to get the list of counter sets. The dot (.) in the MachineName column represents the local computer.

Example 2: Specify the SampleInterval and MaxSamples

This examples gets the counter data for all processors on the local computer. Data is collected at two-second intervals until there are three samples.

Get-Counter -Counter "\Processor(_Total)\% Processor Time" -SampleInterval 2 -MaxSamples 3

Timestamp                 CounterSamples
---------                 --------------
6/18/2019 14:39:56        \\Computer01\processor(_total)\% processor time :
                          20.7144271584086

6/18/2019 14:39:58        \\Computer01\processor(_total)\% processor time :
                          10.4391790575511

6/18/2019 14:40:01        \\Computer01\processor(_total)\% processor time :
                          37.5968799396998

Get-Counter uses the Counter parameter to specify the counter path \Processor(_Total)\% Processor Time. The SampleInterval parameter sets a two-second interval to check the counter. MaxSamples determines that three is the maximum number of times to check the counter.

Example 3: Get continuous samples of a counter

This examples gets continuous samples for a counter every second. To stop the command, press CTRL+C. To specify a longer interval between samples, use the SampleInterval parameter.

Get-Counter -Counter "\Processor(_Total)\% Processor Time" -Continuous

Timestamp                 CounterSamples
---------                 --------------
6/19/2019 15:35:03        \\Computer01\processor(_total)\% processor time :
                          43.8522842937022

6/19/2019 15:35:04        \\Computer01\processor(_total)\% processor time :
                          29.7896844697383

6/19/2019 15:35:05        \\Computer01\processor(_total)\% processor time :
                          29.4962645638135

6/19/2019 15:35:06        \\Computer01\processor(_total)\% processor time :
                          25.5901500127408

Get-Counter uses the Counter parameter to specify the \Processor\% Processor Time counter. The Continuous parameter specifies to get samples every second until the command is stopped with CTRL+C.

Example 4: Alphabetical list of counter sets

This example uses the pipeline to get the counter list set and then sort the list in alphabetical order.

Get-Counter -ListSet * |
  Sort-Object -Property CounterSetName |
    Format-Table CounterSetName, CounterSetType -AutoSize

CounterSetName                        CounterSetType
--------------                        --------------
.NET CLR Data                         SingleInstance
.NET Data Provider for SqlServer      SingleInstance
AppV Client Streamed Data Percentage  SingleInstance
Authorization Manager Applications    SingleInstance
BitLocker                             MultiInstance
Bluetooth Device                      SingleInstance
Cache                                 SingleInstance
Client Side Caching                   SingleInstance

Get-Counter uses the ListSet parameter with an asterisk (*) to get a complete list of counter sets. The CounterSet objects are sent down the pipeline. Sort-Object uses the Property parameter to specify that the objects are sorted by CounterSetName. The objects are sent down the pipeline to Format-Table. The AutoSize parameter adjusts the column widths to minimize truncation.

The dot (.) in the MachineName column represents the local computer.

Example 5: Run a background job to get counter data

In this example, Start-Job runs a Get-Counter command as a background job on the local computer. To view the performance counter output from the job, use the Receive-Job cmdlet.

Start-Job -ScriptBlock {Get-Counter -Counter "\LogicalDisk(_Total)\% Free Space" -MaxSamples 1000}

Id     Name  PSJobTypeName   State    HasMoreData  Location   Command
--     ----  -------------   -----    -----------  --------   -------
1      Job1  BackgroundJob   Running  True         localhost  Get-Counter -Counter

Start-Job uses the ScriptBlock parameter to run a Get-Counter command. Get-Counter uses the Counter parameter to specify the counter path \LogicalDisk(_Total)\% Free Space. The MaxSamples parameter specifies to get 1000 samples of the counter.

Example 6: Get counter data from multiple computers

This example uses a variable to get performance counter data from two computers.

$DiskReads = "\LogicalDisk(C:)\Disk Reads/sec"
$DiskReads | Get-Counter -ComputerName Server01, Server02 -MaxSamples 10

Timestamp                 CounterSamples
---------                 --------------
6/21/2019 10:51:04        \\Server01\logicaldisk(c:)\disk reads/sec :
                          0

                          \\Server02\logicaldisk(c:)\disk reads/sec :
                          0.983050344269146

The $DiskReads variable stores the \LogicalDisk(C:)\Disk Reads/sec counter path. The $DiskReads variable is sent down the pipeline to Get-Counter. Counter is the first position parameter and accepts the path stored in $DiskReads. ComputerName specifies the two computers and MaxSamples specifies to get 10 samples from each computer.

Example 7: Get a counter's instance values from multiple random computers

This example gets the value of a performance counter on 50 random, remote computers in the enterprise. The ComputerName parameter uses random computer names stored in a variable. To update the computer names in the variable, recreate the variable.

An alternative for the server names in the ComputerName parameter is to use a text file. For example:

-ComputerName (Get-Random (Get-Content -Path C:\Servers.txt) -Count 50)

The counter path includes an asterisk (*) in the instance name to get the data for each of the remote computer's processors.

$Servers = Get-Random (Get-Content -Path C:\Servers.txt) -Count 50
$Counter = "\Processor(*)\% Processor Time"
Get-Counter -Counter $Counter -ComputerName $Servers

Timestamp                 CounterSamples
---------                 --------------
6/20/2019 12:20:35        \\Server01\processor(0)\% processor time :
                          6.52610319637854

                          \\Server01\processor(1)\% processor time :
                          3.41030663625782

                          \\Server01\processor(2)\% processor time :
                          9.64189975649925

                          \\Server01\processor(3)\% processor time :
                          1.85240835619747

                          \\Server01\processor(_total)\% processor time :
                          5.35768447160776

The Get-Random cmdlet uses Get-Content to select 50 random computer names from the Servers.txt file. The remote computer names are stored in the $Servers variable. The \Processor(*)\% Processor Time counter's path is stored in the $Counter variable. Get-Counter uses the Counter parameter to specify the counters in the $Counter variable. The ComputerName parameter specifies the computer names in the $Servers variable.

Example 8: Use the Path property to get formatted path names

This example uses the Path property of a counter set to find the formatted path names for the performance counters.

The pipeline is used with the Where-Object cmdlet to find a subset of the path names. To find a counter sets complete list of counter paths, remove the pipeline (|) and Where-Object command.

The $_ is an automatic variable for the current object in the pipeline. For more information, see about_Automatic_Variables.

(Get-Counter -ListSet Memory).Paths | Where-Object { $_ -like "*Cache*" }

\Memory\Cache Faults/sec
\Memory\Cache Bytes
\Memory\Cache Bytes Peak
\Memory\System Cache Resident Bytes
\Memory\Standby Cache Reserve Bytes
\Memory\Standby Cache Normal Priority Bytes
\Memory\Standby Cache Core Bytes
\Memory\Long-Term Average Standby Cache Lifetime (s)

Get-Counter uses the ListSet parameter to specify the Memory counter set. The command is enclosed in parentheses so that the Paths property returns each path as a string. The objects are sent down the pipeline to Where-Object. Where-Object uses the variable $_ to process each object and uses the -like operator to find matches for the string *Cache*. The asterisks (*) are wildcards for any characters.

Example 9: Use the PathsWithInstances property to get formatted path names

This example gets the formatted path names that include the instances for the PhysicalDisk performance counters.

(Get-Counter -ListSet PhysicalDisk).PathsWithInstances

\PhysicalDisk(0 C:)\Current Disk Queue Length
\PhysicalDisk(_Total)\Current Disk Queue Length
\PhysicalDisk(0 C:)\% Disk Time
\PhysicalDisk(_Total)\% Disk Time
\PhysicalDisk(0 C:)\Avg. Disk Queue Length
\PhysicalDisk(_Total)\Avg. Disk Queue Length
\PhysicalDisk(0 C:)\% Disk Read Time
\PhysicalDisk(_Total)\% Disk Read Time

Get-Counter uses the ListSet parameter to specify the PhysicalDisk counter set. The command is enclosed in parentheses so that the PathsWithInstances property returns each path instance as a string.

Example 10: Get a single value for each counter in a counter set

In this example, a single value is returned for each performance counter in the local computer's Memory counter set.

$MemCounters = (Get-Counter -ListSet Memory).Paths
Get-Counter -Counter $MemCounters

Timestamp                 CounterSamples
---------                 --------------
6/19/2019 12:05:00        \\Computer01\memory\page faults/sec :
                          868.772077545597

                          \\Computer01\memory\available bytes :
                          9031176192

                          \\Computer01\memory\committed bytes :
                          8242982912

                          \\Computer01\memory\commit limit :
                          19603333120

Get-Counter uses the ListSet parameter to specify the Memory counter set. The command is enclosed in parentheses so that the Paths property returns each path as a string. The paths are stored in the $MemCounters variable. Get-Counter uses the Counter parameter to specify the counter paths in the $MemCounters variable.

Example 11: Display an object's property values

The property values in the PerformanceCounterSample object represent each data sample. In this example we use the properties of the CounterSamples object to examine, select, sort, and group the data.

$Counter = "\\Server01\Process(Idle)\% Processor Time"
$Data = Get-Counter $Counter
$Data.CounterSamples | Format-List -Property *

Path             : \\Server01\process(idle)\% processor time
InstanceName     : idle
CookedValue      : 198.467899571389
RawValue         : 14329160321003
SecondValue      : 128606459528326201
MultipleCount    : 1
CounterType      : Timer100Ns
Timestamp        : 6/19/2019 12:20:49
Timestamp100NSec : 128606207528320000
Status           : 0
DefaultScale     : 0
TimeBase         : 10000000

The counter path is stored in the $Counter variable. Get-Counter gets one sample of the counter values and stores the results in the $Data variable. The $Data variable uses the CounterSamples property to get the object's properties. The object is sent down the pipeline to Format-List. The Property parameter uses an asterisk (*) wildcard to select all the properties.

Example 12: Performance counter array values

In this example, a variable stores each performance counter. The CounterSamples property is an array that can display specific counter values.

To display each counter sample, use $Counter.CounterSamples.

$Counter = Get-Counter -Counter "\Processor(*)\% Processor Time"
$Counter.CounterSamples[0]

Path                                         InstanceName        CookedValue
----                                         ------------        -----------
\\Computer01\processor(0)\% processor time   0              1.33997091699662

Get-Counter uses the Counter parameter to specify the counter \Processor(*)\% Processor Time. The values are stored in the $Counter variable. $Counter.CounterSamples[0] displays the array value for the first counter value.

Example 13: Compare performance counter values

This example finds the amount of processor time used by each processor on the local computer. The CounterSamples property is used to compare the counter data against a specified value.

To display each counter sample, use $Counter.CounterSamples.

$Counter = Get-Counter -Counter "\Processor(*)\% Processor Time"
$Counter.CounterSamples | Where-Object { $_.CookedValue -lt "20" }

Path                                         InstanceName        CookedValue
----                                         ------------        -----------
\\Computer01\processor(0)\% processor time   0              12.6398025240208
\\Computer01\processor(1)\% processor time   1              15.7598095767344

Get-Counter uses the Counter parameter to specify the counter \Processor(*)\% Processor Time. The values are stored in the $Counter variable. The objects stored in $Counter.CounterSamples are sent down the pipeline. Where-Object uses a script block to compare each objects value against a specified value of 20. The $_.CookedValue is a variable for the current object in the pipeline. Counters with a CookedValue that is less than 20 are displayed.

Example 14: Sort performance counter data

This example shows how to sort performance counter data. The example finds the processes on the computer that are using the most processor time during the sample.

$Procs = Get-Counter -Counter "\Process(*)\% Processor Time"
$Procs.CounterSamples | Sort-Object -Property CookedValue -Descending |
   Format-Table -Property Path, InstanceName, CookedValue -AutoSize

Path                                                         InstanceName             CookedValue
----                                                         ------------             -----------
\\Computer01\process(_total)\% processor time                _total              395.464129650573
\\Computer01\process(idle)\% processor time                  idle                389.356575524695
\\Computer01\process(mssense)\% processor time               mssense             3.05377706293879
\\Computer01\process(csrss#1)\% processor time               csrss               1.52688853146939
\\Computer01\process(microsoftedgecp#10)\% processor time    microsoftedgecp     1.52688853146939
\\Computer01\process(runtimebroker#5)\% processor time       runtimebroker                      0
\\Computer01\process(settingsynchost)\% processor time       settingsynchost                    0
\\Computer01\process(microsoftedgecp#16)\% processor time    microsoftedgecp                    0

Get-Counter uses the Counter parameter to specify the \Process(*)\% Processor Time counter for all the processes on the local computer. The result is stored in the $Procs variable. The $Procs variable with the CounterSamples property sends the PerformanceCounterSample objects down the pipeline. Sort-Object uses the Property parameter to sort the objects by CookedValue in Descending order. Format-Table uses the Property parameter to select the columns for the output. The AutoSize parameter adjusts the column widths to minimize truncation.

Parameters

-ComputerName

Specifies one computer name or a comma-separated array of remote computer names. Use the NetBIOS name, an IP address, or the computer's fully qualified domain name.

To get performance counter data from the local computer, exclude the ComputerName parameter. For output such as a ListSet that contains the MachineName column, a dot (.) indicates the local computer.

Get-Counter doesn't rely on PowerShell remoting. You can use the ComputerName parameter even if your computer isn't configured to run remote commands.

Type:String[]
Aliases:Cn
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Continuous

When the Continuous is specified, Get-Counter gets samples until you press CTRL+C. Samples are obtained every second for each specified performance counter. Use the SampleInterval parameter to increase the interval between continuous samples.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Counter

Specifies the path to one or more counter paths. Paths are input as a comma-separated array, a variable, or values from a text file. You can send counter path strings down the pipeline to Get-Counter.

Counter paths use the following syntax:

\\ComputerName\CounterSet(Instance)\CounterName

\CounterSet(Instance)\CounterName

For example:

\\Server01\Processor(*)\% User Time

\Processor(*)\% User Time

The \\ComputerName is optional in a performance counter path. If the counter path doesn't include the computer name, Get-Counter uses the local computer.

An asterisk (*) in the instance is a wildcard character to get all instances of the counter.

Type:String[]
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:True

-ListSet

Lists the performance counter sets on the computers. Use an asterisk (*) to specify all counter sets. Enter one name or a comma-separated string of counter set names. You can send counter set names down the pipeline.

To get a counter sets formatted counter paths, use the ListSet parameter. The Paths and PathsWithInstances properties of each counter set contain the individual counter paths formatted as a string.

You can save the counter path strings in a variable or use the pipeline to send the string to another Get-Counter command.

For example to send each Processor counter path to Get-Counter:

Get-Counter -ListSet Processor | Get-Counter

Note

In PowerShell 7, Get-Counter can't retrieve the Description property of the counter set. The Description is set to $null.

Type:String[]
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:True

-MaxSamples

Specifies the number of samples to get from each specified performance counter. To get a constant stream of samples, use the Continuous parameter.

If the MaxSamples parameter isn't specified, Get-Counter only gets one sample for each specified counter.

To collect a large data set, run Get-Counter as a PowerShell background job. For more information, see about_Jobs.

Type:Int64
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-SampleInterval

Specifies the number of seconds between samples for each specified performance counter. If the SampleInterval parameter isn't specified, Get-Counter uses a one-second interval.

Type:Int32
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

Inputs

String[]

Get-Counter accepts pipeline input for counter paths and counter set names.

Outputs

Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.GetCounter.CounterSet, Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.GetCounter.PerformanceCounterSampleSet, Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.GetCounter.PerformanceCounterSample

To view an object's properties, send the output down the pipeline to Get-Member. The object types that are output are as follows:

ListSet parameter: Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.GetCounter.CounterSet

Counter parameter: Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.GetCounter.PerformanceCounterSampleSet

CounterSamples property: Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.GetCounter.PerformanceCounterSample

Notes

If no parameters are specified, Get-Counter gets one sample for each specified performance counter. Use the MaxSamples and Continuous parameters to get more samples.

Get-Counter uses a one-second interval between samples. Use the SampleInterval parameter to increase the interval.

The MaxSamples and SampleInterval values apply to all the counters on each computer in the command. To set different values for different counters, enter separate Get-Counter commands.

In PowerShell 7, when using the ListSet parameter, Get-Counter can't retrieve the Description property of the counter set. The Description is set to $null.