Exploring the Get-PSSessionConfiguration Cmdlet

Welcome back to Wahman’s PowerShell Blog!

Today, we’re diving into a lesser-known but incredibly useful cmdlet: Get-PSSessionConfiguration. This cmdlet retrieves information about the session configurations registered on the local computer. These configurations are crucial in defining how PowerShell Remoting sessions behave, including settings like allowed users and session limits.

What is a Session Configuration?

In PowerShell Remoting, a session configuration is essentially an endpoint, often implemented as a PowerShell session on the target machine. It governs what happens when someone connects remotely, controlling aspects such as which modules load, what privileges are granted, and even what commands are available.

Let’s explore how to use this cmdlet with four practical examples, ranging from basic to more advanced usage.

Example 1: List All Session Configurations (Beginner)

Get-PSSessionConfiguration

This simple command lists every registered session configuration on your machine. It typically includes entries like Microsoft.PowerShell and Microsoft.PowerShell32 on 64-bit systems.

Example 2: Filter by Configuration Name (Intermediate)

Get-PSSessionConfiguration | Where-Object { $_.Name -eq 'Microsoft.PowerShell' }

Here, we’re filtering the output to only show the configuration named Microsoft.PowerShell. This is handy when you’re looking to verify the existence or settings of a specific endpoint.

Example 3: View Detailed Configuration Info (Advanced)

$config = Get-PSSessionConfiguration -Name 'Microsoft.PowerShell'
$config | Format-List *

This fetches the full configuration object for the specific endpoint and then displays all its properties in a readable list format. You’ll see details like the permission settings, startup script, and execution policy.

Example 4: Audit Permissions Assigned to Session Endpoints (Advanced)

Get-PSSessionConfiguration | ForEach-Object {
    $_.Name
    $_.Permission
    Write-Host "---"
}

This script loops through all session configurations and prints the session name and associated permissions. It’s a great way to audit which users or groups have access to specific session configurations.

Conclusion

The Get-PSSessionConfiguration cmdlet is an essential tool when working with PowerShell Remoting. Understanding and auditing session configurations can greatly strengthen your environment’s security and ensure remoting endpoints behave as expected.

Whether you’re managing a server fleet or just diving into PowerShell Remoting, this cmdlet deserves a spot in your toolkit.

Happy scripting, and I will see you in the next post!