How to display the error code from a Powershell script? - powershell

Question

I am trying to run a Powershell script and display the error code and error message if it fails. It is supposed to output me a result in this format:
"FAILED;ErrorCode;ErrorMessage;"
Here is my script:
param([String]$Cab_Type)
$output
if(!(Test-Connection -Cn 165.100.10.10 -BufferSize 16 -Count 1 -quiet))
{
$output = "FAILED; " + $LASTEXITCODE + ";" + $error[0] + ";"
}
else
{
$output = "PASSED"
}
Write-Host $Cab_Type
Write-Host "<ScriptResult_Start>"
Write-Host $output
Write-Host "<ScriptResult_End>"
I am trying to intentionally ping an address that I know will fail.
When running the script, it returns me the error message but not the error code.
Does $LASTEXITCODE not return the error code of the script? Even if my script worked, does it only return 0 or 1? Is there any way of getting the actual error code of the script?

Answer 1

Perhaps this is what you are after?
# set up a hash with possible Ping status codes
$status = #{
11001 = 'Buffer Too Small'
11002 = 'Destination Net Unreachable'
11003 = 'Destination Host Unreachable'
11004 = 'Destination Protocol Unreachable'
11005 = 'Destination Port Unreachable'
11006 = 'No Resources'
11007 = 'Bad Option'
11008 = 'Hardware Error'
11009 = 'Packet Too Big'
11010 = 'Request Timed Out'
11011 = 'Bad Request'
11012 = 'Bad Route'
11013 = 'TimeToLive Expired Transit'
11014 = 'TimeToLive Expired Reassembly'
11015 = 'Parameter Problem'
11016 = 'Source Quench'
11017 = 'Option Too Big'
11018 = 'Bad Destination'
11032 = 'Negotiating IPSEC'
11050 = 'General Failure'
}
$server = '165.100.10.10'
$ping = (Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_PingStatus -Filter "Address='$server'").StatusCode
if (!$ping -or [int]$ping -ne 0) {
$err = if ( $status[[int]$ping]) { $status[[int]$ping] } else { "Unknown Failure" }
$output = "FAILED; $ping; $err"
}
else { $output = "PASSED" }
Write-Host $output
The above example outputs:
FAILED; 11010; Request Timed Out

Answer 2

There are multiple ways to handle errors and verifying the. First and foremost, I would like you to keep the main code under a try/catch block and capture the error message so that you get to know what exactly the error is. Below is the modification of your code.
param([String]$Cab_Type)
$output
try
{
if(!(Test-Connection -Cn 165.100.10.10 -BufferSize 16 -Count 1 -quiet))
{
$output = "FAILED; " + $LASTEXITCODE + ";" + $error[0] + ";"
}
else
{
$output = "PASSED"
}
Write-Host $Cab_Type
Write-Host "<ScriptResult_Start>"
Write-Host $output
Write-Host "<ScriptResult_End>"
}
catch
{
$_.Exception.Message
}
Also, go through about 1. TRY CATCH FINALLY in PS
Apart from that you can use $Error variable to get to know about all the errors.
Go through 2. About $Error variable and how to use it effectively
Also you need to understand 3. Powershell Exceptions and Everything you ever wanted to know
Hope it helps and gives you a direction.