Vista - finding the logged on user (user name) with powershell using WMI?

whats a good way of finding out the currently logged in user of a
particular machine?

i do

get-WmiObject -computer . Win32_LoggedOnUser

but it returns alot of rows, including network services, users for my
VMWARE, etc etc

plus it seems i'd have to parse the actual user name out of a string
looking like this

Win32_LoggedOnUser.Antecedent="\\\\.\\root\\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain=\"DCLSW2B1\",Name=\"ANONYMOUS

LOGON\"",Dependent="\\\\.\\root\\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId=\"84152\""

or

parse it out of the get properties value

Name : Antecedent
Value :
\\.\root\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain="DCLSW2B1",Name="NETWORK SERVICE"
Type : Reference
IsLocal : True
IsArray : False
Origin : CIM_Dependency
Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
Name : Dependent
Value : \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId="996"
Type : Reference
IsLocal : True
IsArray : False
Origin : CIM_Dependency
Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}


Name : Antecedent
Value :
\\.\root\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain="DCLSW2B1",Name="__vmware_user__"
Type : Reference
IsLocal : True
IsArray : False
Origin : CIM_Dependency
Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
Name : Dependent
Value : \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId="97553"
Type : Reference
IsLocal : True
IsArray : False
Origin : CIM_Dependency
Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}


Name : Antecedent
Value :
\\.\root\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain="KARLDOMAIN",Name="kprosser"
Type : Reference
IsLocal : True
IsArray : False
Origin : CIM_Dependency
Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
Name : Dependent
Value : \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId="133927"
Type : Reference
IsLocal : True
IsArray : False
Origin : CIM_Dependency
Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}



if i have to , its not a biggie to write an expression to parse the
name out of the value, but also i am wanting to user who is logged into
the desktop, and i have no way to distinquish between kprosser and the
others (other than ignoring some common ones)

Help anybody?
Karl

Karl,

As I understand the login subsystem, and anyone please correct me if I am
wrong, there is no one "logged in" or "desktop" user. Specifically, all
interactive users are provided one or more desktops with which to interact.
Additionally, there is no way to guarantee that any given console session is
actually running through the physically connected input and output devices.
The console session dedicated to the physically attached console, session 0,
is used by RDP connections to Windows XP systems or Windows Server 2003
systems when specifically requested. On server systems, additional console
sessions are allocated when session 0 is not explicitly requested. On a
related note, console sessions that are not actively logged in by a user
also have desktops for the purposes of providing login mechanisms.

Is there something more specific that you are trying to achieve?

- Alex B Chalmers


<klumsy@xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
news:1158880817.192591.42750@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> whats a good way of finding out the currently logged in user of a
> particular machine?
>
> i do
>
> get-WmiObject -computer . Win32_LoggedOnUser
>
> but it returns alot of rows, including network services, users for my
> VMWARE, etc etc
>
> plus it seems i'd have to parse the actual user name out of a string
> looking like this
>
> Win32_LoggedOnUser.Antecedent="\\\\.\\root\\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain=\"DCLSW2B1\",Name=\"ANONYMOUS
>
> LOGON\"",Dependent="\\\\.\\root\\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId=\"84152\""
>
> or
>
> parse it out of the get properties value
>
> Name : Antecedent
> Value :
> \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain="DCLSW2B1",Name="NETWORK SERVICE"
> Type : Reference
> IsLocal : True
> IsArray : False
> Origin : CIM_Dependency
> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
> Name : Dependent
> Value : \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId="996"
> Type : Reference
> IsLocal : True
> IsArray : False
> Origin : CIM_Dependency
> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
>
>
> Name : Antecedent
> Value :
> \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain="DCLSW2B1",Name="__vmware_user__"
> Type : Reference
> IsLocal : True
> IsArray : False
> Origin : CIM_Dependency
> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
> Name : Dependent
> Value : \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId="97553"
> Type : Reference
> IsLocal : True
> IsArray : False
> Origin : CIM_Dependency
> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
>
>
> Name : Antecedent
> Value :
> \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain="KARLDOMAIN",Name="kprosser"
> Type : Reference
> IsLocal : True
> IsArray : False
> Origin : CIM_Dependency
> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
> Name : Dependent
> Value : \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId="133927"
> Type : Reference
> IsLocal : True
> IsArray : False
> Origin : CIM_Dependency
> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
>
>
>
> if i have to , its not a biggie to write an expression to parse the
> name out of the value, but also i am wanting to user who is logged into
> the desktop, and i have no way to distinquish between kprosser and the
> others (other than ignoring some common ones)
>
> Help anybody?
> Karl
>

(gwmi -class win32_computerSystem).username

will show the user currently logged onto the machine. Doesnt retrun results
as far as I know for "guest" users on the machine.

-Jake


"klumsy@xtra.co.nz" wrote:

> whats a good way of finding out the currently logged in user of a
> particular machine?
>
> i do
>
> get-WmiObject -computer . Win32_LoggedOnUser
>
> but it returns alot of rows, including network services, users for my
> VMWARE, etc etc
>
> plus it seems i'd have to parse the actual user name out of a string
> looking like this
>
> Win32_LoggedOnUser.Antecedent="\\\\.\\root\\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain=\"DCLSW2B1\",Name=\"ANONYMOUS
>
> LOGON\"",Dependent="\\\\.\\root\\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId=\"84152\""
>
> or
>
> parse it out of the get properties value
>
> Name : Antecedent
> Value :
> \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain="DCLSW2B1",Name="NETWORK SERVICE"
> Type : Reference
> IsLocal : True
> IsArray : False
> Origin : CIM_Dependency
> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
> Name : Dependent
> Value : \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId="996"
> Type : Reference
> IsLocal : True
> IsArray : False
> Origin : CIM_Dependency
> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
>
>
> Name : Antecedent
> Value :
> \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain="DCLSW2B1",Name="__vmware_user__"
> Type : Reference
> IsLocal : True
> IsArray : False
> Origin : CIM_Dependency
> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
> Name : Dependent
> Value : \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId="97553"
> Type : Reference
> IsLocal : True
> IsArray : False
> Origin : CIM_Dependency
> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
>
>
> Name : Antecedent
> Value :
> \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain="KARLDOMAIN",Name="kprosser"
> Type : Reference
> IsLocal : True
> IsArray : False
> Origin : CIM_Dependency
> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
> Name : Dependent
> Value : \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId="133927"
> Type : Reference
> IsLocal : True
> IsArray : False
> Origin : CIM_Dependency
> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
>
>
>
> if i have to , its not a biggie to write an expression to parse the
> name out of the value, but also i am wanting to user who is logged into
> the desktop, and i have no way to distinquish between kprosser and the
> others (other than ignoring some common ones)
>
> Help anybody?
> Karl
>
>

Alex is right. That said, your PowerShell session runs under a particular
security context, so if what you are trying to achieve is to get the
corresponding account you can use this:

[System.Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()

Jacques

"Alex B Chalmers" <alex@alexbchalmers.com> a écrit dans le message de news:
1AF402DD-CEBD-4DA6-8946-FF4B56484EC6@microsoft.com...
> Karl,
>
> As I understand the login subsystem, and anyone please correct me if I am
> wrong, there is no one "logged in" or "desktop" user. Specifically, all
> interactive users are provided one or more desktops with which to
> interact. Additionally, there is no way to guarantee that any given
> console session is actually running through the physically connected input
> and output devices. The console session dedicated to the physically
> attached console, session 0, is used by RDP connections to Windows XP
> systems or Windows Server 2003 systems when specifically requested. On
> server systems, additional console sessions are allocated when session 0
> is not explicitly requested. On a related note, console sessions that are
> not actively logged in by a user also have desktops for the purposes of
> providing login mechanisms.
>
> Is there something more specific that you are trying to achieve?
>
> - Alex B Chalmers
>
>
> <klumsy@xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
> news:1158880817.192591.42750@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>> whats a good way of finding out the currently logged in user of a
>> particular machine?
>>
>> i do
>>
>> get-WmiObject -computer . Win32_LoggedOnUser
>>
>> but it returns alot of rows, including network services, users for my
>> VMWARE, etc etc
>>
>> plus it seems i'd have to parse the actual user name out of a string
>> looking like this
>>
>> Win32_LoggedOnUser.Antecedent="\\\\.\\root\\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain=\"DCLSW2B1\",Name=\"ANONYMOUS
>>
>> LOGON\"",Dependent="\\\\.\\root\\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId=\"84152\""
>>
>> or
>>
>> parse it out of the get properties value
>>
>> Name : Antecedent
>> Value :
>> \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain="DCLSW2B1",Name="NETWORK SERVICE"
>> Type : Reference
>> IsLocal : True
>> IsArray : False
>> Origin : CIM_Dependency
>> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
>> Name : Dependent
>> Value : \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId="996"
>> Type : Reference
>> IsLocal : True
>> IsArray : False
>> Origin : CIM_Dependency
>> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
>>
>>
>> Name : Antecedent
>> Value :
>> \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain="DCLSW2B1",Name="__vmware_user__"
>> Type : Reference
>> IsLocal : True
>> IsArray : False
>> Origin : CIM_Dependency
>> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
>> Name : Dependent
>> Value : \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId="97553"
>> Type : Reference
>> IsLocal : True
>> IsArray : False
>> Origin : CIM_Dependency
>> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
>>
>>
>> Name : Antecedent
>> Value :
>> \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_Account.Domain="KARLDOMAIN",Name="kprosser"
>> Type : Reference
>> IsLocal : True
>> IsArray : False
>> Origin : CIM_Dependency
>> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
>> Name : Dependent
>> Value : \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_LogonSession.LogonId="133927"
>> Type : Reference
>> IsLocal : True
>> IsArray : False
>> Origin : CIM_Dependency
>> Qualifiers : {CIMTYPE, key}
>>
>>
>>
>> if i have to , its not a biggie to write an expression to parse the
>> name out of the value, but also i am wanting to user who is logged into
>> the desktop, and i have no way to distinquish between kprosser and the
>> others (other than ignoring some common ones)
>>
>> Help anybody?
>> Karl
>>
>