powershell - Invoke-Command won't accept -Path as a variable

Question

I am trying to execute a simple Test-Path query to a remote computer using Invoke-Command, but I am struggling with a strange error.

This works:

Invoke-Command -ComputerName COMPUTER001 -ScriptBlock {Test-Path -Path "c:windowssystem.ini"}

This fails with "Cannot bind argument to parameter 'Path' because it is null.":

$p_FileName = "c:windowssystem.ini"
Invoke-Command -ComputerName COMPUTER001 -ScriptBlock {Test-Path -Path $p_FileName}

I have tried using both $p_FileName and $($p_FileName), but no luck.

Any suggestions, and hopefully an explanation as to what is happening?

Answer 1

You have to pass local variables used in the script block through the -ArgumentList parameter:

$p_FileName = "c:windowssystem.ini"
Invoke-Command -ComputerName COMPUTER001 -ScriptBlock {Test-Path -Path $args[0]} -ArgumentList $p_FileName