A Description of the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Command-Line Utility (Wmic.exe) (290216)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Premium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q290216

SUMMARY

The versions of Windows that are listed at the beginning of this article include a command-line utility (Wmic.exe) to access Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). Previously, an end user would generally write a script to gather information by means of WMI. Wmic.exe can only be used by the local system administrators regardless of WMI namespace permissions on the local machine.

MORE INFORMATION

When you run the Wmic.exe utility for the first time, the utility compiles its .mof files into the repository. To save time during Windows installation, this operation takes place as necessary.

At a command prompt, type: wmic, and an interactive-mode prompt "wmic:root\cli" is displayed. For help, type: /?.

Some examples of commands are:
  • process where (processid>300) list brief:

    This command requests the computer to list all the processes on specified computers where the ProcessID is greater than 300, and at the same time list only the minimum information on these processes.
  • /node:(computer1),(computer2),(computer3)

    This command requests the computer to add to the list of nodes from which you want to retrieve information. This command, however, is subject to all WMI security measures, such as, namespace security.
  • path win32_processor get maxclockspeed

    This command, provided that you know the WMI class, can specify an instance and retrieve properties or call on a defined method.
For additional information about WMI, see the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/wmisdk/wmi/wmi_start_page.asp

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/10/2003
Keywords:kbinfo KB290216
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.