Scripting with PSCredential

I see this question often: how can I pass a parameter value for a PSCredential that might be a credential object or it might be a user name? In the past I've used code like this:


begin {
Write-Verbose -Message "Starting $($myinvocation.mycommand)"
write-verbose -Message "Using volume $($volume.toUpper())"
#convert credential to a PSCredential if a string was passed.
if ( $credential -is [system.management.automation.psCredential]) {
Write-Verbose "Using PSCredential for $($credential.username)"
}
ElseIf ($Credential) {
Write-Verbose "Getting PSCredential for $credential"
$Credential=Get-Credential $credential
}
} #Begin


This assumes $Credential is a parameter. But then I realized, why not take advantage of parameter validation? I could use the [ValidateScript()] parameter attribute and insert some code to test the incoming value. If it is already a PSCredential, don't do anything. But if it is a string, call Get-Credential and use the result.


Param (
[Parameter(Position=0)]
[ValidateNotNullorEmpty()]
[string]$Computername=$env:Computername,
[ValidateScript({
if ($_ -is [System.Management.Automation.PSCredential]) {
$True
}
elseif ($_ -is [string]) {
$Script:Credential=Get-Credential -Credential $_
$True
}
else {
Write-Error "You passed an unexpected object type for the credential."
}
})]
[object]$Credential


When using ValidateScript your code has to return True or False. Or you can also Write and error if you want to customize the exception message a bit. That's what I've done here. With this code I can either use -Credential with a value like jdhitsolutions\administrator or a saved PSCredential object. Let me show you a simple script with this in action, plus I'll address another common question about using credentials with WMI-based scripts and functions.


#requires -version 2.0

} #close function


So the challenge is if I have a credential I need to use a Get-Wmiobject expression that uses it, otherwise run an expression without it. I'm a big believer in avoiding writing the same line of code more than once so I'll create a command string with my basic WMI command.


$wmiCommand="Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Operatingsystem -Property Caption,CSName -ComputerName $Computername"


In this example the value for $Computername will be expanded and inserted into the string. If no credential is passed then this is the command I'll run. But if a credential is passed, then all I need to do is append it to my command string.


$wmiCommand+=" -credential `$Script:Credential"


You must pay attention to a very subtle detail: I am escaping the $ sign in the variable name. I do not want PowerShell to expand the variable. I want the command string to use the variable as variable. That is, if using a credential I need the command to be: Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Operatingsystem -Property Caption,CSName -ComputerName SERVER01 -credential $Script:Credential"

The last step is to turn this command string into a script block so it can be executed.


$sb=[scriptblock]::Create($wmiCommand)


Armed with a scriptblock I can use Invoke-Command.


Invoke-Command -ScriptBlock $sb -errorAction Stop |
Select @{Name="Computername";Expression={$_.CSName}},
@{Name="OperatingSystem";Expression={$_.Caption}}


The end result is a function that I can run with no credentials. If I use a credential value like jdhitsolutions\administrator, I'll get prompted for the password from Get-Credential. Or if I pass a saved credential, the function will use it.

These techniques are by no means the only solution but I find them simple to follow and effective.

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