Start-Job script block-- how to call cmdlets with arguments? - powershell

Question

I'm new to the Start-Job cmdlet and am having trouble calling a script block with cmdlets in it that take arguments. Here's what I have so far:
Start-Job -ScriptBlock {
$ServiceObj = Get-Service -Name $ServiceName -ComputerName $Computer -ErrorAction Stop
Stop-Service -InputObj $ServiceObj -erroraction stop
}
I'm seeing errors when I run receive-job that the -ComputerName argument is null or empty, and the -InputObj argument is null or empty. In neither case is that so. The snippet above is being called from inside two foreach loops:
foreach($Computer in $ComputerNames) {
foreach($ServiceName in $ServiceNames) {
#..call snippet above
}
}
I've tried using the -ArgumentList when calling my script block but no luck there either. I'm sure I'm missing something?

Answer 1

You do need to use ArgumentList (unless you're on PowerShell V3) e.g.:
Start-Job -ScriptBlock {param($ComputerName)
$ServiceObj = Get-Service -Name $ServiceName -CN $ComputerName -ErrorAction Stop
Stop-Service -InputObj $ServiceObj -erroraction stop
} -ArgumentList $Computer
If you're using PowerShell V3, you can use the using variable qualifier e.g.:
Start-Job -ScriptBlock {
$ServiceObj = Get-Service -Name $ServiceName -CN $using:Computer -ErrorAction Stop
Stop-Service -InputObj $ServiceObj -erroraction stop
}