Powershell WMI Performance counters - refresher object needed?

Hi,

I am trying to see if using Powershell to access remote performance counters
is a good way to go. I use to use Perfmon but the overhead seems to be a
lot. As I am testing, I wonder if my results are accurate. I access these
perf counters via get-wmiobject and I am only interested in the "_Total"
instance.

gwmi Win32_PerfFormattedData_PerfDisk_LogicalDisk -computername
$computername | %{if ($_.Name -eq "_Total"){
$Disk_Perf=$_.PercentDiskTime
write-host "Value: $_ $Disk_Perf"
}
}

Someone told me that I needed a "refresher object", add counters to the
object, then access values via the object. Does anyone know if this is true?
I have a file with hosts in it, then I go through this file with
$computername.

Thanks in advance,

On 2007-04-02 22:06:03 +0100, Frank <Frank@discussions.microsoft.com> said:

> Hi,
>
> I am trying to see if using Powershell to access remote performance
> counters is a good way to go. I use to use Perfmon but the overhead
> seems to be a lot. As I am testing, I wonder if my results are
> accurate. I access these perf counters via get-wmiobject and I am only
> interested in the "_Total" instance.
> gwmi Win32_PerfFormattedData_PerfDisk_LogicalDisk -computername
> $computername | %{if ($_.Name -eq "_Total"){
> $Disk_Perf=$_.PercentDiskTime
> write-host "Value: $_ $Disk_Perf"
> }
> }
>
> Someone told me that I needed a "refresher object", add counters to the
> object, then access values via the object. Does anyone know if this is
> true? I have a file with hosts in it, then I go through this file with
> $computername.
>
> Thanks in advance,

I've used wmi performance counters in VBScript and I did need to use
some kind of refresher or offset calculation. the WMI provider in
powershell, AFAIK, will act in the same way (I'm sure someone will
correct me if I'm wrong).

the MSDN documents on this topic are numerous. This one might prove
helpful, however:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa393026.aspx

n

If you can get a copy - have a look at PowerGadgets the out-gauge cmdlet
would be useful for what you are doing and you can set a refresh interval
--
Richard Siddaway
Please note that all scripts are supplied "as is" and with no warranty
Blog: http://richardsiddaway.spaces.live.com/
PowerShell User Group: http://www.get-psuguk.org.uk


"n3llyb0y" wrote:

> On 2007-04-02 22:06:03 +0100, Frank <Frank@discussions.microsoft.com> said:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I am trying to see if using Powershell to access remote performance
> > counters is a good way to go. I use to use Perfmon but the overhead
> > seems to be a lot. As I am testing, I wonder if my results are
> > accurate. I access these perf counters via get-wmiobject and I am only
> > interested in the "_Total" instance.
> > gwmi Win32_PerfFormattedData_PerfDisk_LogicalDisk -computername
> > $computername | %{if ($_.Name -eq "_Total"){
> > $Disk_Perf=$_.PercentDiskTime
> > write-host "Value: $_ $Disk_Perf"
> > }
> > }
> >
> > Someone told me that I needed a "refresher object", add counters to the
> > object, then access values via the object. Does anyone know if this is
> > true? I have a file with hosts in it, then I go through this file with
> > $computername.
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
>
> I've used wmi performance counters in VBScript and I did need to use
> some kind of refresher or offset calculation. the WMI provider in
> powershell, AFAIK, will act in the same way (I'm sure someone will
> correct me if I'm wrong).
>
> the MSDN documents on this topic are numerous. This one might prove
> helpful, however:
> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa393026.aspx
>
> n
>
>

you might also take a look at using .NET for this, I wrote a blog entry on
my old blog with some examples and that compares use WMI and .NET for
performance counters :

http://mow001.blogspot.com/2005/12/g...info-from.html

Greetings /\/\o\/\/
http://thePowerShellGuy.com


"RichS" <RichS@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AD8EEEAB-2085-4123-AFCE-A5610ED43C2F@microsoft.com...
> If you can get a copy - have a look at PowerGadgets the out-gauge cmdlet
> would be useful for what you are doing and you can set a refresh interval
> --
> Richard Siddaway
> Please note that all scripts are supplied "as is" and with no warranty
> Blog: http://richardsiddaway.spaces.live.com/
> PowerShell User Group: http://www.get-psuguk.org.uk
>
>
> "n3llyb0y" wrote:
>
>> On 2007-04-02 22:06:03 +0100, Frank <Frank@discussions.microsoft.com>
>> said:
>>
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > I am trying to see if using Powershell to access remote performance
>> > counters is a good way to go. I use to use Perfmon but the overhead
>> > seems to be a lot. As I am testing, I wonder if my results are
>> > accurate. I access these perf counters via get-wmiobject and I am only
>> > interested in the "_Total" instance.
>> > gwmi Win32_PerfFormattedData_PerfDisk_LogicalDisk -computername
>> > $computername | %{if ($_.Name -eq "_Total"){
>> > $Disk_Perf=$_.PercentDiskTime
>> > write-host "Value: $_ $Disk_Perf"
>> > }
>> > }
>> >
>> > Someone told me that I needed a "refresher object", add counters to the
>> > object, then access values via the object. Does anyone know if this is
>> > true? I have a file with hosts in it, then I go through this file with
>> > $computername.
>> >
>> > Thanks in advance,
>>
>> I've used wmi performance counters in VBScript and I did need to use
>> some kind of refresher or offset calculation. the WMI provider in
>> powershell, AFAIK, will act in the same way (I'm sure someone will
>> correct me if I'm wrong).
>>
>> the MSDN documents on this topic are numerous. This one might prove
>> helpful, however:
>> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa393026.aspx
>>
>> n
>>
>>

If you want to use WMI not .NET, some more examples of using WMI you can
find here on my new blog :

http://thepowershellguy.com/blogs/po...fic-words.aspx

and Hey Scripting guy ! did a column :
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...7/hey0326.mspx

did you also note the link in the first post for
http://www.leeholmes.com/blog/Access...tersInMSH.aspx
you can find a cool script Lee made based on the same NG question there




Greetings /\/\o\/\/

"/\/\o\/\/ [MVP]" <mow001@hotmail.NoSpam> wrote in message
news:738B42F6-292C-4A21-92DC-E5C70E95A2AA@microsoft.com...
> you might also take a look at using .NET for this, I wrote a blog entry on
> my old blog with some examples and that compares use WMI and .NET for
> performance counters :
>
> http://mow001.blogspot.com/2005/12/g...info-from.html
>
> Greetings /\/\o\/\/
> http://thePowerShellGuy.com
>
>
> "RichS" <RichS@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:AD8EEEAB-2085-4123-AFCE-A5610ED43C2F@microsoft.com...
>> If you can get a copy - have a look at PowerGadgets the out-gauge cmdlet
>> would be useful for what you are doing and you can set a refresh interval
>> --
>> Richard Siddaway
>> Please note that all scripts are supplied "as is" and with no warranty
>> Blog: http://richardsiddaway.spaces.live.com/
>> PowerShell User Group: http://www.get-psuguk.org.uk
>>
>>
>> "n3llyb0y" wrote:
>>
>>> On 2007-04-02 22:06:03 +0100, Frank <Frank@discussions.microsoft.com>
>>> said:
>>>
>>> > Hi,
>>> >
>>> > I am trying to see if using Powershell to access remote performance
>>> > counters is a good way to go. I use to use Perfmon but the overhead
>>> > seems to be a lot. As I am testing, I wonder if my results are
>>> > accurate. I access these perf counters via get-wmiobject and I am
>>> > only
>>> > interested in the "_Total" instance.
>>> > gwmi Win32_PerfFormattedData_PerfDisk_LogicalDisk -computername
>>> > $computername | %{if ($_.Name -eq "_Total"){
>>> > $Disk_Perf=$_.PercentDiskTime
>>> > write-host "Value: $_ $Disk_Perf"
>>> > }
>>> > }
>>> >
>>> > Someone told me that I needed a "refresher object", add counters to
>>> > the
>>> > object, then access values via the object. Does anyone know if this
>>> > is
>>> > true? I have a file with hosts in it, then I go through this file
>>> > with
>>> > $computername.
>>> >
>>> > Thanks in advance,
>>>
>>> I've used wmi performance counters in VBScript and I did need to use
>>> some kind of refresher or offset calculation. the WMI provider in
>>> powershell, AFAIK, will act in the same way (I'm sure someone will
>>> correct me if I'm wrong).
>>>
>>> the MSDN documents on this topic are numerous. This one might prove
>>> helpful, however:
>>> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa393026.aspx
>>>
>>> n
>>>
>>>
>

Thanks so much. I got both examples to work, although the .NET way is easier
and preferred, I didn't see a way to get counters on remote hosts, so I will
do it the "WMI" way. ie.


(gwmi Win32_perfformatteddata_perfos_processor -computername testserver
-filter "name = '_Total'").PercentprocessorTime

Since this is "perfformatteddata", then this should be "cooked" and I don't
have to worry about any refresher object, is this true? If so, I can be
assured and go on with my project with this method

Thanks,

Frank


"/\\/\\o\\/\\/ [MVP]" wrote:

> If you want to use WMI not .NET, some more examples of using WMI you can
> find here on my new blog :
>
> http://thepowershellguy.com/blogs/po...fic-words.aspx
>
> and Hey Scripting guy ! did a column :
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...7/hey0326.mspx
>
> did you also note the link in the first post for
> http://www.leeholmes.com/blog/Access...tersInMSH.aspx
> you can find a cool script Lee made based on the same NG question there
>
>
>
>
> Greetings /\/\o\/\/
>
> "/\/\o\/\/ [MVP]" <mow001@hotmail.NoSpam> wrote in message
> news:738B42F6-292C-4A21-92DC-E5C70E95A2AA@microsoft.com...
> > you might also take a look at using .NET for this, I wrote a blog entry on
> > my old blog with some examples and that compares use WMI and .NET for
> > performance counters :
> >
> > http://mow001.blogspot.com/2005/12/g...info-from.html
> >
> > Greetings /\/\o\/\/
> > http://thePowerShellGuy.com
> >
> >
> > "RichS" <RichS@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:AD8EEEAB-2085-4123-AFCE-A5610ED43C2F@microsoft.com...
> >> If you can get a copy - have a look at PowerGadgets the out-gauge cmdlet
> >> would be useful for what you are doing and you can set a refresh interval
> >> --
> >> Richard Siddaway
> >> Please note that all scripts are supplied "as is" and with no warranty
> >> Blog: http://richardsiddaway.spaces.live.com/
> >> PowerShell User Group: http://www.get-psuguk.org.uk
> >>
> >>
> >> "n3llyb0y" wrote:
> >>
> >>> On 2007-04-02 22:06:03 +0100, Frank <Frank@discussions.microsoft.com>
> >>> said:
> >>>
> >>> > Hi,
> >>> >
> >>> > I am trying to see if using Powershell to access remote performance
> >>> > counters is a good way to go. I use to use Perfmon but the overhead
> >>> > seems to be a lot. As I am testing, I wonder if my results are
> >>> > accurate. I access these perf counters via get-wmiobject and I am
> >>> > only
> >>> > interested in the "_Total" instance.
> >>> > gwmi Win32_PerfFormattedData_PerfDisk_LogicalDisk -computername
> >>> > $computername | %{if ($_.Name -eq "_Total"){
> >>> > $Disk_Perf=$_.PercentDiskTime
> >>> > write-host "Value: $_ $Disk_Perf"
> >>> > }
> >>> > }
> >>> >
> >>> > Someone told me that I needed a "refresher object", add counters to
> >>> > the
> >>> > object, then access values via the object. Does anyone know if this
> >>> > is
> >>> > true? I have a file with hosts in it, then I go through this file
> >>> > with
> >>> > $computername.
> >>> >
> >>> > Thanks in advance,
> >>>
> >>> I've used wmi performance counters in VBScript and I did need to use
> >>> some kind of refresher or offset calculation. the WMI provider in
> >>> powershell, AFAIK, will act in the same way (I'm sure someone will
> >>> correct me if I'm wrong).
> >>>
> >>> the MSDN documents on this topic are numerous. This one might prove
> >>> helpful, however:
> >>> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa393026.aspx
> >>>
> >>> n
> >>>
> >>>
> >
>
>

One last question, although I got these examples to work, the data doesn't
seem to coincide with perfmon. I run perfmon collection every 10 min and
looked at pages/sec and did the same with wmi, ie:

(gwmi Win32_PerfFormattedData_PerfOS_Memory -computername
testserver).pagespersec

With perfmon, I get "5 pages persec" but with wmi, I always get 0, can you
explain that for me?

Thanks in advance,

Frank


"/\\/\\o\\/\\/ [MVP]" wrote:

> If you want to use WMI not .NET, some more examples of using WMI you can
> find here on my new blog :
>
> http://thepowershellguy.com/blogs/po...fic-words.aspx
>
> and Hey Scripting guy ! did a column :
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...7/hey0326.mspx
>
> did you also note the link in the first post for
> http://www.leeholmes.com/blog/Access...tersInMSH.aspx
> you can find a cool script Lee made based on the same NG question there
>
>
>
>
> Greetings /\/\o\/\/
>
> "/\/\o\/\/ [MVP]" <mow001@hotmail.NoSpam> wrote in message
> news:738B42F6-292C-4A21-92DC-E5C70E95A2AA@microsoft.com...
> > you might also take a look at using .NET for this, I wrote a blog entry on
> > my old blog with some examples and that compares use WMI and .NET for
> > performance counters :
> >
> > http://mow001.blogspot.com/2005/12/g...info-from.html
> >
> > Greetings /\/\o\/\/
> > http://thePowerShellGuy.com
> >
> >
> > "RichS" <RichS@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:AD8EEEAB-2085-4123-AFCE-A5610ED43C2F@microsoft.com...
> >> If you can get a copy - have a look at PowerGadgets the out-gauge cmdlet
> >> would be useful for what you are doing and you can set a refresh interval
> >> --
> >> Richard Siddaway
> >> Please note that all scripts are supplied "as is" and with no warranty
> >> Blog: http://richardsiddaway.spaces.live.com/
> >> PowerShell User Group: http://www.get-psuguk.org.uk
> >>
> >>
> >> "n3llyb0y" wrote:
> >>
> >>> On 2007-04-02 22:06:03 +0100, Frank <Frank@discussions.microsoft.com>
> >>> said:
> >>>
> >>> > Hi,
> >>> >
> >>> > I am trying to see if using Powershell to access remote performance
> >>> > counters is a good way to go. I use to use Perfmon but the overhead
> >>> > seems to be a lot. As I am testing, I wonder if my results are
> >>> > accurate. I access these perf counters via get-wmiobject and I am
> >>> > only
> >>> > interested in the "_Total" instance.
> >>> > gwmi Win32_PerfFormattedData_PerfDisk_LogicalDisk -computername
> >>> > $computername | %{if ($_.Name -eq "_Total"){
> >>> > $Disk_Perf=$_.PercentDiskTime
> >>> > write-host "Value: $_ $Disk_Perf"
> >>> > }
> >>> > }
> >>> >
> >>> > Someone told me that I needed a "refresher object", add counters to
> >>> > the
> >>> > object, then access values via the object. Does anyone know if this
> >>> > is
> >>> > true? I have a file with hosts in it, then I go through this file
> >>> > with
> >>> > $computername.
> >>> >
> >>> > Thanks in advance,
> >>>
> >>> I've used wmi performance counters in VBScript and I did need to use
> >>> some kind of refresher or offset calculation. the WMI provider in
> >>> powershell, AFAIK, will act in the same way (I'm sure someone will
> >>> correct me if I'm wrong).
> >>>
> >>> the MSDN documents on this topic are numerous. This one might prove
> >>> helpful, however:
> >>> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa393026.aspx
> >>>
> >>> n
> >>>
> >>>
> >
>
>