Trying to run commands remote with powershell but not luck - powershell

Question

I'm looking for help to run commands on remote computers regarding a line with mcafee agent to get it command run remotely.
$Machines = Get-Content -Path "C:\server_list.txt"
foreach ($computer in $Machines){
Write-host "Executing Events on $computer" -b "yellow" -foregroundcolor "red"
$command = Start-Process -NoNewWindow -FilePath "C:\Program Files\McAfee\Agent\cmdagent.exe" -ArgumentList "/e /l C:\temp"
Invoke-Command -ComputerName $computer -ScriptBlock {$command}
}
When I executed this command run locally but not remotely.
I'm looking for help here I have not full experience but I'm started automating some task on my job.
Please suggest some tips
I really appreciate it
Thanks

Answer 1

$command = Start-Process -NoNewWindow -FilePath "C:\Program Files\McAfee\Agent\cmdagent.exe" -ArgumentList "/e /l C:\temp"
This doesn't define a command for later execution with Invoke-Command, it instantly executes the Start-Process command, which is not your intent, and it is the reason it runs locally.
To fix that, you'd have to define it as a script block ({ ... }):
$command = { Start-Proces ... }, and then pass it as-is to Invoke-Command's -ScriptBlock parameter (Invoke-Command -ComputerName $computer -ScriptBlock $command) (don't enclose it in { ... } again).
Additionally, I suggest taking advantage of Invoke-Command's ability to target multiple computers at once, in parallel, and to avoid using Start-Process for synchronous invocation of an external program in the same window.
To put it all together:
$machines = Get-Content -Path "C:\server_list.txt"
Write-host "Executing Events on the following computers: $machines" -b "yellow" -foregroundcolor "red"
# Define the command as a script block, which is a piece of PowerShell code
# you can execute on demand later.
# In it, execute cmdagent.exe *directly*, not via Start-Process.
$command = { & "C:\Program Files\McAfee\Agent\cmdagent.exe" /e /l C:\temp }
# Invoke the script block on *all* computers in parallel, with a single
# Invoke-Command call.
Invoke-Command -ComputerName $machines -ScriptBlock $command
Note the need to use &, the call operator, to invoke the cmdagent.exe executable, because its path is quoted (of necessity, due to containing spaces).
Alternatively, you can define the script block directly in the Invoke-Command call:
Invoke-Command -ComputerName $machines -ScriptBlock {
& "C:\Program Files\McAfee\Agent\cmdagent.exe" /e /l C:\temp
}
A notable pitfall when targeting remote computers is that you cannot directly reference local variables in the (remotely executing) script block, and must instead explicitly refer to them via the $using: scope; e.g., $using:someLocalVar instead of $someLocalVar - see this answer for more information.

Answer 2

The problem is that $command is only valid for your local session - if you try to use it in a remote session, $command is $null and does nothing. Additionally, you are actually assigning $command whatever Start-Process returns, not what you want the command to be.
Just put the command in the script block (and while you're at it you can run this on every machine with a single command without having to loop over each one synchronously):
Invoke-Command -ComputerName $Machines -ScriptBlock { Start-Process -NoNewWindow -FilePath "C:\Program Files\McAfee\Agent\cmdagent.exe" -ArgumentList "/e /l C:\temp" }