A. PowerShell 2.0 contains the get-hotfix cmdlet, which is an easy way to check if a given hotfix is installed on the local computer or a remote computer. An example of the basic syntax is
get-hotfix -id KB974332
On my machine, that command returns
Source Description HotFixID InstalledBy InstalledOn ------ ----------- -------- ----------- ----------- SAVDALWKS01 Update KB974332 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM 9/23/2009 12:00:00 AM
If the fix isn't installed, an error will be returned.
To check a remote computer, add the -computername
get-hotfix -id KB974332 -computername savdalvs01
produces the following output.
Source Description HotFixID InstalledBy InstalledOn ------ ----------- -------- ----------- ----------- SAVDALVS01 Update KB974332 SAVILLTECH\Admini... 1/16/2010 12:00:00 AM
You can even add an action to perform if the fix isn't installed, such as writing the computer name to a text file:
if (!(get-hotfix -id KB974332 -computername savdalvs01
)) \{ add-content $_ -path Missing-KB974332.txt \}
If you have a list of computer names, you can pass it to a command to check multiple machines. For example:
get-content computers.txt | foreach \{ if (!(get-hotfix -id KB974332
-computername $_)) \{ add-content $_ -path Missing-KB974332.txt \}\}
would produce the following:
Get-HotFix : This command cannot find hot-fix on the machine 'savdaldc11'.
Verify the input and Run your command again.
At line:1 char:55
+ get-content computers.txt | foreach \{ if (!(get-hotfix <<<<
-id KB974332 -computername $_)) \{ add-content $_ -path M
issing-KB974332.txt \}\}
+ CategoryInfo : ObjectNotFound: (:) \[Get-HotFix\], ArgumentException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : GetHotFixNoEntriesFound,Microsoft.PowerShell
.Commands.GetHotFixCommand
Note in the above that I received an error that the fix is missing from savdaldc11, because that server is missing the update.
My computers.txt file has the following content (nothing but computer names).
savdalwks01 savdaldc10 savdaldc11 savdalvs01 savdalvs02 savdalvs03
Obviously, you can manipulate the commands to do any combination that you want, including checking for multiple hotfixes.
Related Reading:
- Top 10 New Features in Windows PowerShell 2.0
- Solving PowerShell Argument Input Errors with Wrapper Scripts
- Use PowerShell to Execute Commands on Remote Machines
- New Features in Windows Server 2008 R2
Check out hundreds more useful Q&As like this in John Savill's FAQ for Windows. Also, watch instructional videos made by John at ITTV.net.
