Get Counter - PowerShell

Overview

Get-Counter retrieves performance counter data from the local computer or remote computers. It enables monitoring and analysis of system and application performance.

Syntax

Get-Counter [-ListSet <String>] [-Credential <PSCredential>] [-ComputerName <String>]
[-SampleInterval <TimeSpan>] [-MaxSamples <Int32>] [-Format <String>]
[-Filter <String>] [-IncludeInstanceInfo] [-ErrorAction <ActionPreference>]
[-WarningAction <ActionPreference>]

Options/Flags

| Option | Description | Default |
|—|—|—|
| -ListSet | Specifies the performance counter category and object to retrieve. | |
| -Credential | Credential to use when connecting to remote computers. | |
| -ComputerName | Computer to retrieve performance data from. | Local computer |
| -SampleInterval | Time interval between samples. | 1 second |
| -MaxSamples | Maximum number of samples to collect. | Unlimited |
| -Format | Output format for results. | Text |
| -Filter | Filter to apply to the performance counter objects. | |
| -IncludeInstanceInfo | Include instance information in the results. | False |
| -ErrorAction | Action to take on errors. | Stop |
| -WarningAction | Action to take on warnings. | Continue |

Examples

Simple Usage:

Get-Counter -ListSet "Processor" -ComputerName "RemoteComputer"

Collect Samples over Time:

Get-Counter -ListSet "Memory\Available MBytes" -MaxSamples 100 -SampleInterval 1

Filter by Instance Name:

Get-Counter -ListSet "LogicalDisk" -Filter "InstanceName = '_Total'"

Format Results as CSV:

Get-Counter -ListSet "System\Processor Queue Length" | Format-List -Property Value | Export-Csv -Path "performance.csv"

Common Issues

  • Permission Denied: Ensure you have sufficient permissions to access performance counters on the target computer.
  • Counter Not Found: Verify that the specified counter exists on the target computer.
  • High Memory Usage: Collecting large numbers of samples can consume excessive memory. Adjust the -MaxSamples value as needed.

Integration

  • Combine with New-PerformanceCounter: Create a new performance counter using data retrieved by Get-Counter.
  • Use with Invoke-Command: Execute Get-Counter remotely on multiple computers.
  • Log Performance Data: Write performance data to a file or database for long-term analysis.
  • Get-CounterSet
  • New-PerformanceCounter
  • Remove-PerformanceCounter