InvokeCimMethod

InvokeCimMethod is a PowerShell command that calls a method defined on a CIM (Common Information Model) class or on a specific CIM instance. It is part of the CimCmdlets module and is designed to work with CIM/WMI-compatible providers over WS-Management, enabling management tasks on local or remote systems. The cmdlet serves as a modern alternative to legacy WMI method invocation.

Targeting can be done against a CIM class method or an instance method. To invoke a class method, you specify the class name and method name, along with the namespace and any required arguments. To invoke an instance method, you provide a CIM instance as the target (via -InputObject or a CimInstance) in addition to the method name and arguments. Common parameters include -ClassName, -MethodName, -Namespace, -Arguments, -CimSession, and -ComputerName. The -Arguments parameter accepts a hashtable that maps the method's parameter names to values.

Return values and behavior vary by provider, but the cmdlet generally returns a CIM method result. This may include a return value from the method and any output produced by the provider. Some CIM methods may execute synchronously, while others can be invoked asynchronously depending on the session configuration and provider support.

Example usage commonly involves invoking a method on a system class, such as starting a process via the Win32_Process class Create method or performing a provider-defined action on a remote host by establishing a CimSession and calling InvokeCimMethod with appropriate arguments. Users should ensure proper credentials and permissions, as remote invocation depends on CIM/WS-Management configuration and security settings.

See also: Get-CimInstance, New-CimInstance, Set-CimInstance, and New-CimSession.