Assistance with PowerShell Scripting - Windows Scheduled Tasks

I am trying to get PowerShell to run a Scheduled Task if it exists, or create a scheduled task if it doesn't. I have verified the locations of the files and that the computer names are online and reachable (I have one here at my desk as a test). The script looks like it runs, and I don't get any errors, but the task isn't created on the remote machine like it should be.

Did I miss something simple? Or is my code just wrong. I am still trying to learn PowerShell, so either scenario is very possible.

$computers = Get-Content -Path C:\Users\****\Desktop\Computers.txt


$taskname = "McAfee Agent Update"
$taskdescription = "Update McAfee Agent Using Service Account"
$action = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute '\\share\McAfee.bat' `
  -Argument '-NoProfile -WindowStyle Hidden -command "& Restart-Service -displayname \"McUpdates\""'

foreach ($computer in $computers) {

$taskexists = Get-ScheduledTask | Where-Object {$_.TaskName -like $taskname }

if($taskexists) {

Start-ScheduledTask -TaskName $taskname

} else {


$ts = New-TimeSpan -Days 0 -Hours 0 -Minutes 1
$trigger =  New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -Once -At ((Get-Date) + $ts) 
$settings = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet -ExecutionTimeLimit (New-TimeSpan -Minutes 2) -RestartCount 3 -RestartInterval (New-TimeSpan -Minutes 1)


Register-ScheduledTask -Action $action -Trigger $trigger -TaskName $taskname -Description $taskdescription -Settings $settings -User "System"

}

}

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PowershellWindows 10Windows OS

Last Comment

Brad Sims

8/22/2022 - Mon

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

ITguy565

10/30/2018

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Brad Sims

10/30/2018

ASKER

Connecting to remote server ******* failed with the following error message : The WinRM client cannot process the request because the server name cannot be resolved. For more information, see 
the about_Remote_Troubleshooting Help topic.
    + CategoryInfo          : OpenError: (*******:String) [], PSRemotingTransportException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : ComputerNotFound,PSSessionStateBroken

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This gives me an error after I type in my credentials. I tried username@domain and domain\username formats. I also restarted the WinRM service on the remote machine.

Brad Sims

10/30/2018

ASKER

$machine = $computer
[System.Net.Dns]::GetHostEntry($machine)

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I verified DNS is working as well with the statement above. It returned FQDN and IP addresses.

Michael B. Smith

10/30/2018

Well, @ITGuy565 is accurate that your original code did not refer to any remote computers - only the local computer.

I would also use Invoke-Command, normally, to execute something on a remote computer.

But if that isn't working for you, use Test-WsMan to tell you why it isn't working.

However if Test-WsMan fails, you can also try psexec. That may work instead.

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Brad Sims

10/31/2018

ASKER

Thanks for the help. Part of the error was due to a proxy setting. If I would've looked further down the page I originally found the DNS Test Code I would've seen that as well.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/20400599/getting-error-while-trying-to-invoke-a-powershell-command-on-a-remote-machine

I did have to move two lines down to the "else" statement, but it seems to be working now. Thanks for the help!

$computers = Get-Content -Path C:\Users\****\Desktop\Computers.txt
$cred = Get-Credential
$taskname = "McAfee Agent Update"
$taskdescription = "Update McAfee Agent Using Service Account"



foreach ($computer in $computers) {
    invoke-command -computername $computer -Credential $cred -ScriptBlock {
        $action = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute '\\share\McAfee.bat' `
                -Argument '-NoProfile -WindowStyle Hidden -command "& Restart-Service -displayname \"McUpdates\""'
        $taskexists = Get-ScheduledTask | Where-Object {$_.TaskName -like $taskname }

        if($taskexists) {

        Start-ScheduledTask -TaskName $taskname

        } else {
            $taskname = "McAfee Agent Update"
            $taskdescription = "Update McAfee Agent Using Service Account"
            $ts = New-TimeSpan -Days 0 -Hours 0 -Minutes 1
            $trigger =  New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -Once -At ((Get-Date) + $ts) 
            $settings = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet -ExecutionTimeLimit (New-TimeSpan -Minutes 2) -RestartCount 3 -RestartInterval (New-TimeSpan -Minutes 1)
            Register-ScheduledTask -Action $action -Trigger $trigger -TaskName $taskname -Description $taskdescription -Settings $settings -User "System"

            }

    }
}

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