Enter-PSSession in PowerShell - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Using Enter-PSSession to Connect to a Remote Computer

📖 Scenario: You are a system administrator who needs to connect to a remote computer to run commands directly on it. PowerShell's Enter-PSSession lets you start an interactive session on that remote computer.

🎯 Goal: Learn how to use Enter-PSSession to connect to a remote computer, run a simple command, and then exit the session.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a variable with the remote computer name

Create a variable with your username

Use Enter-PSSession with the computer name and username

Run a simple command inside the remote session

Exit the remote session

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

System administrators often need to manage remote servers. Enter-PSSession lets them connect and run commands interactively as if they were sitting at the remote machine.

💼 Career

Knowing how to use Enter-PSSession is essential for IT professionals managing Windows servers remotely, troubleshooting, and automating tasks.

1

Set the remote computer name

Create a variable called $computerName and set it to the string "Server01".

PowerShell

# Create a variable called $computerName and set it to "Server01"
# Your code here

Hint

Use = to assign the string "Server01" to the variable $computerName.

2

Set the username for the remote session

Create a variable called $userName and set it to the string "AdminUser".

PowerShell

$computerName = "Server01"
# Create a variable called $userName and set it to "AdminUser"
# Your code here

Hint

Assign the string "AdminUser" to the variable $userName.

3

Start the remote session using Enter-PSSession

Use Enter-PSSession with the -ComputerName parameter set to $computerName and the -Credential parameter set to $credential. Use Get-Credential to create the credential object from $userName. Assign the session to a variable called $session.

PowerShell

$computerName = "Server01"
$userName = "AdminUser"
# Use Enter-PSSession with -ComputerName $computerName and -Credential from Get-Credential $userName
# Assign the session to $session
# Your code here

Hint

Use Get-Credential with -UserName $userName to create credentials. Then use Enter-PSSession with -ComputerName $computerName and -Credential $credential.

4

Run a command and exit the remote session

Inside the remote session, run Get-Process | Select-Object -First 3 to list the first three processes. Then exit the session using Exit-PSSession.

PowerShell

$computerName = "Server01"
$userName = "AdminUser"
$credential = Get-Credential -UserName $userName -Message "Enter password for remote session"
$session = Enter-PSSession -ComputerName $computerName -Credential $credential
# Run Get-Process | Select-Object -First 3
# Then exit the session with Exit-PSSession
# Your code here

Hint

Run Get-Process | Select-Object -First 3 to see the first three processes. Then type Exit-PSSession to leave the remote session.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of the Enter-PSSession cmdlet in PowerShell?

easy

A. To create a new local PowerShell script

B. To copy files between computers

C. To list all running processes on the local computer

D. To start an interactive session on a remote computer

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the cmdlet purpose

   Enter-PSSession is designed to open a remote interactive session on another computer.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   Only To start an interactive session on a remote computer describes starting an interactive remote session, which matches the cmdlet's purpose.

3. Final Answer:

   To start an interactive session on a remote computer -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Enter-PSSession = start remote interactive session [OK]

Hint: Remember: Enter-PSSession = remote interactive session [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Enter-PSSession with file copy commands
• Thinking it runs commands locally only
• Assuming it creates scripts

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to start a remote session on a computer named 'Server01' using Enter-PSSession?

easy

A. Enter-PSSession -ComputerName Server01

B. Enter-PSSession Server01 -ComputerName

C. Enter-PSSession -Name Server01

D. Enter-PSSession -Session Server01

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall correct parameter usage

   The correct parameter to specify the remote computer is -ComputerName.

2. Step 2: Match syntax

   Enter-PSSession -ComputerName Server01 uses Enter-PSSession -ComputerName Server01, which is the correct syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   Enter-PSSession -ComputerName Server01 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct parameter for remote computer = -ComputerName [OK]

Hint: Use -ComputerName to specify remote computer [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong parameter names like -Name or -Session
• Placing parameters in wrong order
• Omitting the -ComputerName parameter

3. What will be the output of the following commands?

Enter-PSSession -ComputerName Server01
Get-Process
Exit-PSSession

medium

A. Lists processes running on Server01, then returns to local session

B. Lists processes running on local computer, then exits session

C. Throws an error because Get-Process is invalid remotely

D. Starts a new local PowerShell window

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Enter-PSSession effect

   The command opens a remote session on Server01, so subsequent commands run there.

2. Step 2: Analyze commands inside session

   Get-Process runs on Server01, listing its processes. Exit-PSSession ends the remote session and returns to local.

3. Final Answer:

   Lists processes running on Server01, then returns to local session -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Commands run remotely inside Enter-PSSession = Lists processes running on Server01, then returns to local session [OK]

Hint: Commands after Enter-PSSession run remotely until exit [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming commands run locally after Enter-PSSession
• Thinking Get-Process is invalid remotely
• Confusing Exit-PSSession with closing PowerShell

4. You run Enter-PSSession -ComputerName Server01 but get an error: "Access is denied." What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. You forgot to run PowerShell as administrator locally

B. You do not have permission to access Server01 remotely

C. PowerShell is not installed on Server01

D. The Server01 computer name is misspelled

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand "Access is denied" meaning

   This error usually means your user account lacks permission to connect remotely.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   Misspelling would cause "computer not found" error, not access denied. PowerShell missing would cause different error. Running as admin locally is not always required.

3. Final Answer:

   You do not have permission to access Server01 remotely -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Access denied = permission issue [OK]

Hint: Access denied means permission problem on remote computer [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming computer name typo causes access denied
• Thinking local admin rights fix remote permission
• Ignoring remote user permissions

5. You want to run a command on multiple remote computers named Server01 and Server02 using Enter-PSSession. Which approach is best to automate this?

hard

A. Use Enter-PSSession with -ComputerName Server01; then run Enter-PSSession again for Server02 without exiting first

B. Run Enter-PSSession once with both computer names separated by comma

C. Use a loop to run Enter-PSSession for each computer, then run commands inside each session

D. Run Enter-PSSession on Server01, then copy commands manually to Server02

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Enter-PSSession scope

   Enter-PSSession opens one interactive session at a time; it does not accept multiple computers simultaneously.

2. Step 2: Automate multiple sessions

   Using a loop to open a session for each computer, run commands, then exit is the best way to automate multiple remote sessions.

3. Final Answer:

   Use a loop to run Enter-PSSession for each computer, then run commands inside each session -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Enter-PSSession handles one computer at a time; loop to automate [OK]

Hint: Enter-PSSession is single computer; loop for multiples [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to enter multiple sessions at once
• Not exiting session before starting another
• Manually copying commands instead of automating