Import Counter - PowerShell

Overview

Import-Counter allows you to import performance counter data from a CSV file into a Performance Data Help Group (PDH) group. This data can be used to monitor system performance, troubleshoot issues, and generate reports.

Syntax

Import-Counter [-Path] <string> [-SourceComputer] <string> [-GroupBy] <string> [-MaxEntries] <int> [-Examples]

Options/Flags

  • -Path: Specifies the path to the CSV file containing the performance counter data.
  • -SourceComputer: Specifies the name of the computer from which the performance counter data was collected.
  • -GroupBy: Specifies the property to group the performance counter data by.
  • -MaxEntries: Specifies the maximum number of entries to import.
  • -Examples: Displays example usage of the Import-Counter command.

Examples

Example 1: Import data from a CSV file

Import-Counter -Path "C:\path\to\counterdata.csv"

Example 2: Import data from a specific computer

Import-Counter -Path "C:\path\to\counterdata.csv" -SourceComputer "MyComputer"

Example 3: Import data grouped by instance

Import-Counter -Path "C:\path\to\counterdata.csv" -GroupBy "InstanceName"

Common Issues

Issue: The Import-Counter command fails with the error “File not found”.

Solution: Ensure that the specified CSV file exists and that you have the necessary permissions to access it.

Issue: The data is not imported correctly.

Solution: Verify that the CSV file is in the correct format. Each line in the CSV file should contain a comma-separated list of values, with the first value being the timestamp, the second value being the counter name, and the third value being the counter value.

Integration

The Import-Counter command can be combined with other PowerShell commands to automate performance monitoring tasks. For example, you can use the Get-Counter cmdlet to retrieve performance counter data and then use Import-Counter to import the data into a PDH group.

  • Get-Counter
  • Remove-Counter
  • Set-Counter