How to import splitpipeline module from a shared server? - powershell

Question

My script uses the Powershell splitpipeline module, to bring parallel process and queues features.
The script and the module are stored on shared server, like \server\c$ , the idea is be able to run it from any computer.
Tried to put at begining of the script import-module \\server\c$\SplitPipeline but I recieve the error:
import-module : Could not load file or assembly 'file://\\server\c$\SplitPipeline\SplitPipeline.dll' or one of its dependencies.
Operation is not supported. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80131515)
At D:\scripts\powershell\OstReport_BETA-PIPE.ps1:6 char:1
+ import-module \\server\c$\SplitPipeline
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (:) [Import-Module], FileLoadException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : FormatXmlUpdateException,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.ImportModuleCommand
If I try to copy it from the srv to the pc with:
Copy-Item -Path \\server\c$\SplitPipeline -Destination C:\windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules -recurse -force
I get a access denied
any ideas¿?
thanks

Answer 1

The issue you're experiencing is that .NET assemblies can't be loaded from an untrusted UNC path, without special configuration. As you already discovered, the simplest solution is to copy the module to your local computer first.
To work around the "Access Denied" message, copy the module to your user directory, not the system-wide directory.
c:\users\<username>\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Modules
You need to run PowerShell "as Administrator" in order to have permission to copy to the system folder, however it is generally recommended not to modify the default system directory. Instead, copy the module to your user folder (as above).