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Provider name

WSMan

Drives

WSMan:

Short description

Provides access to Web Services for Management (WS-Management) configuration information.

Detailed description

This information only applies to PowerShell running on Windows.

The WSMan provider for PowerShell lets you add, change, clear, and delete WS-Management configuration data on local or remote computers.

The WSMan provider exposes a PowerShell drive with a directory structure that corresponds to a logical grouping of WS-Management configuration settings. These groupings are known as containers.

Beginning in Windows PowerShell 3.0, the WSMan provider has been updated to support new properties for session configurations, such as OutputBufferingMode. The session configurations appear as items in the Plugin directory of the WSMan: drive and the properties appear as items in each session configuration.

The WSMan provider supports the following cmdlets, which are covered in this article.

Note

You can use commands in the WSMan: drive to change the values of the new properties. However, you cannot use the WSMan: drive in PowerShell 2.0 to change properties that are introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0. Although no error is generated, the commands are not effective To change these settings, use the WSMan drive in Windows PowerShell 3.0.

Organization of the WSMan: Drive

  • Client: You can configure various aspects of the WS-Management client. The configuration information is stored in the registry.

  • Service: You can configure various aspects of the WS-Management service. The configuration information is stored in the registry.

    Note

    Service configuration is sometimes referred to as Server configuration.

  • Shell: You can configure various aspects of the WS-Management shell, such as the setting to allow remote shell access (AllowRemoteShellAccess) and the maximum number of concurrent users allowed (MaxConcurrentUsers).

  • Listener: You can create and configure a listener. A listener is a management service that implements the WS-Management protocol to send and to receive messages.

  • Plugin: Plug-ins are loaded and used by the WS-Management service to provide various functions. By default, PowerShell provides three plug-ins:

    • The Event Forwarding plug-in.
    • The Microsoft.PowerShell plug-in.
    • The Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Provider plug-in. These three plug-ins support event forwarding, configuration, and WMI access.

  • ClientCertificate: You can create and configure a client certificate. A client certificate is used when the WS-Management client is configured to use certificate authentication.

Directory Hierarchy of the WSMan Provider

The directory hierarchy of the WSMan provider for the local computer is as follows.

WSMan:\localhost
--- Client
--- Service
--- Shell
--- Listener
------ <Specific_Listener>
--- Plugin
------ Event Forwarding Plugin
--------- InitializationParameters
--------- Resources
------------ Security
------ Microsoft.Powershell
--------- InitializationParameters
--------- Resources
------------ Security
------ WMI Provider
--------- InitializationParameters
--------- Resources
------------ Security
--- ClientCertificate

The directory hierarchy of the WSMan provider for a remote computer is the same as a local computer. However, in order to access the configuration settings of a remote computer, you need to make a connection to the remote computer using Connect-WSMan. Once a connection is made to a remote computer, the name of the remote computer shows up in the provider.

WSMan:\<Remote_Computer_Name>

This command uses the Set-Location cmdlet to change the current location to the WSMan: drive.

Set-Location WSMan:

To return to a file system drive, type the drive name. For example, type.

Set-Location C:

This command uses the Set-Location command to change the current location to the root location in the remote system store location. Use a backslash \ or forward slash / to indicate a level of the WSMan: drive.

Set-Location -Path  WSMan:\SERVER01

Note

The above command assume that a connection to the remote system already exists.

Displaying the Contents of the WSMan: Drive

This command uses the Get-Childitem cmdlet to display the WS-Management stores in the Localhost store location.

Get-ChildItem -path WSMan:\Localhost

If you are in the WSMan: drive, you can omit the drive name.

This command uses the Get-Childitem cmdlet to display the WS-Management stores in the remote computer "SERVER01" store location.

Get-ChildItem -path WSMan:\SERVER01

Note

The above command assume that a connection to the remote system already exists.

Setting the value of items in the WSMAN: drive

You can use the Set-Item cmdlet to change configuration settings in the WSMAN drive. The following example sets the TrustedHosts value to accept all hosts with the suffix "contoso.com".

# You do not need to specify the -Path parameter name when using Set-Item.
PS WSMAN:\localhost\Client> Set-Item .\TrustedHosts -Value "*.contoso.com"

The Set-Item cmdlet supports an additional parameter -Concatenate that appends a value instead of changing it. The following example will append a new value "*.domain2.com" to the old value stored in TrustedHost:

Set-Item WSMAN:\localhost\Client\TrustedHosts *.domain2.com -Concatenate

Creating items in the WSMAN: drive

Creating a new listener

The New-Item cmdlet creates items within a provider drive. Each provider has different item types that you can create. In the WSMAN: drive, you can create Listeners which you configure to receive and respond to remote requests. The following command creates a new HTTP listener using the New-Item cmdlet.

New-Item -Path WSMan:\localhost\Listener -Address * -Transport HTTP -force

Creating a new plug-in

This command creates (registers) a plug-in for the WS-Management service.

New-Item -Path WSMan:\localhost\Plugin `
         -Plugin TestPlugin `
         -FileName %systemroot%\system32\WsmWmiPl.dll `
         -Resource http://schemas.dmtf.org/wbem/wscim/2/cim-schema `
         -SDKVersion 1 `
         -Capability "Get","Put","Invoke","Enumerate" `
         -XMLRenderingType text

Creating a new resource entry

This command creates a resource entry in the Resources directory of a TestPlugin. This command assumes that a TestPlugin has been created using a separate command.

New-Item -Path WSMan:\localhost\Plugin\TestPlugin\Resources `
         -ResourceUri http://schemas.dmtf.org/wbem/wscim/3/cim-schema `
         -Capability "Enumerate"

Creating a new security entry for a resource

This command creates a security entry in the Security directory of Resource_5967683 (a specific resource). This command assumes that the resource entry has been created using a separate command.

$path = "WSMan:\localhost\Plugin\TestPlugin\Resources\Resource_5967683"
New-Item -Path $path\Security `
         -Sddl "O:NSG:BAD:P(A;;GA;;;BA)S:P(AU;FA;GA;;;WD)(AU;SA;GWGX;;;WD)"

Creating a new Client Certificate

This command creates ClientCertificate entry that can be used by the WS-Management client. The new ClientCertificate will show up under the ClientCertificate directory as "ClientCertificate_1234567890". All of the parameters are mandatory. The Issuer needs to be thumbprint of the issuers certificate.

$cred = Get-Credential
New-Item -Path WSMan:\localhost\ClientCertificate `
         -Issuer 1b3fd224d66c6413fe20d21e38b304226d192dfe `
         -URI wmicimv2/* `
         -Credential $cred;

Creating a new Initialization Parameter

This command creates an Initialization parameter named "testparametername" in the "InitializationParameters" directory. This command assumes that the "TestPlugin" has been created using a separate command.

New-Item -Path WSMan:\localhost\Plugin\TestPlugin\InitializationParameters `
         -ParamName testparametername `
         -ParamValue testparametervalue

Dynamic parameters

Dynamic parameters are cmdlet parameters that are added by a PowerShell provider and are available only when the cmdlet is being used in the provider-enabled drive.

Address <String>

Specifies the address for which this listener was created. The value can be one of the following:

  • The literal string "*". (The wildcard character (*) makes the command bind all the IP addresses on all the network adapters.)
  • The literal string "IP:" followed by a valid IP address in either IPv4 dotted-decimal format or in IPv6 cloned-hexadecimal format.
  • The literal string "MAC:" followed by the MAC address of an adapter. For example: MAC:32-a3-58-90-be-cc.

Note

The Address value is set when creating a Listener.

Cmdlets supported

Capability <Enumeration>

When working with Plug-ins this parameter specifies an operation that is supported on this Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). You have to create one entry for each type of operation that the URI supports. You can specify any valid attributes for a given operation, if the operation supports it.

These attributes include SupportsFiltering and SupportsFragment.

  • Create: Create operations are supported on the URI.
    • The SupportFragment attribute is used if the Create operation supports the concept.
    • The SupportFiltering attribute is NOT valid for Create operations and should be set to "False".

    Note

    This operation is not valid for a URI if Shell operations are also supported.

  • Delete: Delete operations are supported on the URI.
    • The SupportFragment attribute is used if the Delete operation supports the concept.
    • The SupportFiltering attribute is NOT valid for Delete operations and should be set to "False".

    Note

    This operation is not valid for a URI if Shell operations are also supported.

  • Enumerate: Enumerate operations are supported on the URI.
    • The SupportFragment attribute is NOT supported for Enumerate operations and should be set to False.
    • The SupportFiltering attribute is valid, and if the plug-in supports filtering, this attribute should be set to "True".

    Note

    This operation is not valid for a URI if Shell operations are also supported.

  • Get: Get operations are supported on the URI.
    • The SupportFragment attribute is used if the Get operation supports the concept.
    • The SupportFiltering attribute is NOT valid for Get operations and should be set to "False".

    Note

    This operation is not valid for a URI if Shell operations are also supported.

  • Invoke: Invoke operations are supported on the URI.
    • The SupportFragment attribute is not supported for Invoke operations and should be set to False.
    • The SupportFiltering attribute is not valid and should be set to "False".

    Note

    This operation is not valid for a URI if Shell operations are also supported.

  • Put: Put operations are supported on the URI.
    • The SupportFragment attribute is used if the Put operation supports the concept.
    • The SupportFiltering attribute is not valid for Put operations and should be set to "False".

    Note

    This operation is not valid for a URI if Shell operations are also supported.

  • Subscribe: Subscribe operations are supported on the URI.
    • The SupportFragment attribute is not supported for Subscribe operations and should be set to False.
    • The SupportFiltering attribute is not valid for Subscribe operations and should be set to "False".

    Note

    This operation is not valid for a URI if Shell operations are also supported.

  • Shell: Shell operations are supported on the URI.
    • The SupportFragment attribute is not supported for Shell operations and should be set to "False".
    • The SupportFiltering attribute is not valid for Shell operations and should be set to "False".

    Note

    This operation is not valid for a URI if ANY other operation is also supported.

    Note

    If a Shell operation is configured for a URI, Get, Put, Create, Delete, Invoke, and Enumerate operations are processed internally within the WS-Management (WinRM) service to manage shells. As a result, the plug-in cannot handle the operations.

Cmdlets supported

CertificateThumbprint <String>

Specifies the thumbprint of the service certificate.

This value represents the string of two-digit hexadecimal values in the Thumbprint field of the certificate. It specifies the digital public key certificate (X509) of a user account that has permission to perform this action. Certificates are used in client certificate-based authentication. They can be mapped only to local user accounts, and they do not work with domain accounts. To get a certificate thumbprint, use the Get-Item or Get-ChildItem cmdlets in the PowerShell Cert: drive.

Cmdlets supported

Enabled <Boolean>

Specifies whether the listener is enabled or disabled. The default is True.

Cmdlets Supported

FileName (Plugin) <String>

Specifies the file name of the operations plug-in. Any environment variables that are put in this entry will be expanded in the users' context when a request is received. Because each user could have a different version of the same environment variable, each user could have a different plug-in. This entry cannot be blank and must point to a valid plug-in.

Cmdlets Supported

HostName <String>

Specifies the host name of the computer on which the WS-Management (WinRM) service is running.

The value must be a fully qualified domain name, an IPv4 or IPv6 literal string, or a wildcard character.

Cmdlets Supported

Issuer <String>

Specifies the name of the certification authority that issued the certificate.

Cmdlets Supported

Plugin <> WS-Management plug-ins are native dynamic link libraries (DLLs)

that plug in to and extend the functionality of WS-Management . The WSW-Management Plug-in API provides functionality that enables a user to write plug-ins by implementing certain APIs for supported resource URIs and operations. After the plug-ins are configured for either the WS-Management (WinRM) service or for Internet Information Services (IIS), the plug-ins are loaded in the WS-Management host or in the IIS host, respectively. Remote requests are routed to these plug-in entry points to perform operations.

Cmdlets Supported

Port <Unsigned Short Integer>

Specifies the TCP port for which this listener is created. You can specify any value from 1 through 65535.

Cmdlets Supported

Resource <String>

Specifies an endpoint that represents a distinct type of management operation or value. A service exposes one or more resources, and some resources can have more than one instance. A management resource is similar to a WMI class or to a database table, and an instance is similar to an instance of the class or to a row in the table. For example, the Win32_LogicalDisk class represents a resource. Win32_LogicalDisk="C:\\" is a specific instance of the resource.

A Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) contains a prefix and a path to a resource. For example:

http://schemas.microsoft.com/wbem/wsman/1/wmi/root/cimv2/Win32_LogicalDisk

http://schemas.dmtf.org/wbem/wscim/1/cim-schema/2/CIM_NumericSensor

Cmdlets Supported

Resource <String>

Specifies the Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that identifies a specific type of resource, such as a disk or a process, on a computer.

A URI consists of a prefix and a path to a resource. For example:

http://schemas.microsoft.com/wbem/wsman/1/wmi/root/cimv2/Win32_LogicalDisk

http://schemas.dmtf.org/wbem/wscim/1/cim-schema/2/CIM_NumericSensor

Cmdlets Supported

SDKVersion <String>

Specifies the version of the WS-Management plug-in SDK. The only valid value is 1.

Cmdlets Supported

Subject <String>

Specifies the entity that is identified by the certificate.

Cmdlets Supported

Transport <String>

Specifies the transport to use to send and receive WS-Management protocol requests and responses. The value must be either HTTP or HTTPS.

Note: The Transport value is set when creating a Listener.

Cmdlets Supported

URI <String>

Identifies the URI for which access is authorized based on the value of the Sddl parameter.

Cmdlets Supported

URLPrefix <String>

A URL prefix on which to accept HTTP or HTTPS requests. This is a string containing only the characters [a-z], [A-Z], [9-0], underscore (_) and backslash (/). The string must not start with or end with a backslash (/). For example, if the computer name is "SampleComputer", the WS-Management client would specify http://SampleMachine/URLPrefix in the destination address.

Cmdlets Supported

Value <String>

Specifies the value of an initialization parameter, which is a plug-in-specific value that is used to specify configuration options.

Cmdlets Supported

XMLRenderingType <String>

Specifies the format in which XML is passed to plug-ins through the WSMAN_DATA object. The following are valid values:

  • Text: Incoming XML data is contained in a WSMAN_DATA_TYPE_TEXT structure, which represents the XML as a PCWSTR memory buffer.
  • XMLReader: Incoming XML data is contained in a WSMAN_DATA_TYPE_WS_XML_READER structure, which represents the XML as an XmlReader object, which is defined in the "WebServices.h" header file.

Cmdlets Supported

Using the pipeline

Provider cmdlets accept pipeline input. You can use the pipeline to simplify task by sending provider data from one cmdlet to another provider cmdlet. To read more about how to use the pipeline with provider cmdlets, see the cmdlet references provided throughout this article.

Getting help

Beginning in Windows PowerShell 3.0, you can get customized help topics for provider cmdlets that explain how those cmdlets behave in a file system drive.

To get the help topics that are customized for the file system drive, run a Get-Help command in a file system drive or use the -Path parameter of Get-Help to specify a file system drive.

Get-Help Get-ChildItem

Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path wsman:

See also