Compare services state with XML

PowerShell Help
1

Hi everyone,

I am trying to compare the situation of my windows services before updates and after updates.

It seems a good idee to export the current state of the services to an XML file and later compare this with the running situation. I want to check if there is a differance in the state, startup type, new or removed services, etc… It seems that the XML files provides me with that information.

So, I run this command first.

Get-Service | Export-Clixml -Path C:\temp\service-ref.xml

The XML file is populated with all the information I need.

Next I do my “things” on the computer and After this I want to check if there are any differances.

For this I run the next commands.

Compare-Object -ReferenceObject (Import-Clixml C:\temp\service-ref.xml)  -DifferenceObject (get-service)

I would expect it returns the differances. The result is however blanc.

The following shows the result of the XML compare. The result with get-content shows that the files are different.

PS C:\> get-service VeeamDeploySvc

Status   Name               DisplayName                           
------   ----               -----------                           
Running  VeeamDeploySvc     Veeam Installer Service               

PS C:\> Get-Service | Export-Clixml -Path C:\temp\service-ref.xml

PS C:\> get-service VeeamDeploySvc | Stop-Service

PS C:\> get-service VeeamDeploySvc

Status   Name               DisplayName                           
------   ----               -----------                           
Stopped  VeeamDeploySvc     Veeam Installer Service               

PS C:\> Get-Service | Export-Clixml -Path C:\temp\service-dif.xml

PS C:\> Compare-Object -ReferenceObject (Import-Clixml C:\temp\service-ref.xml) -DifferenceObject (Import-Clixml C:\temp\service-dif.xml)

PS C:\> Compare-Object -ReferenceObject (Get-Content C:\temp\service-ref.xml) -DifferenceObject (Get-Content C:\temp\service-dif.xml)

InputObject                             SideIndicator
-----------                             -------------
              false  =>           
              Stopped =>           
              false  =>           
              Stopped =>           
              false  =>           
              Stopped =>           
      false          =>           
        Stopped    =>           
        1                    =>           
              false  =>           
              Stopped =>           
              true   <=           
              Running <=           
              true   <=           
              Running <=           
              true   <=           
              Running <=           
      true           <=           
        Running    <=           
        4                    <=           
              true   <=           
              Running

What am I missing here?

2

If you want to “verify” the result of the compare-object you could use the parameter -IncludeEqual. Then you see what’s compared and the result.

3

Hi Olaf,

Thanks for the reply. This is the result I get:

PS C:\> Compare-Object -ReferenceObject (Import-Clixml C:\temp\service-ref.xml) -DifferenceObject (Import-Clixml C:\temp\service-dif.xml) -IncludeEqual

InputObject                                            SideIndicator
-----------                                            -------------
AdobeFlashPlayerUpdateSvc                              ==           
AERTFilters                                            ==           
AJRouter                                               ==           
ALG                                                    ==           
AppIDSvc                                               ==           
Appinfo                                                ==           
Apple Mobile Device Service                            ==           
AppMgmt                                                ==           
AppReadiness                                           ==           
AppVClient                                             ==           
AppXSvc                                                ==           
AudioEndpointBuilder                                   ==           
and so on.....

It looks like it is comparing the top level in the XML and not de details of the service.

4

If you wnat to compare a special property you can specify the property with the parameter property. It seems for me that your services are just the same as they’ve been before.

Edith: You can specify the parameter -PassThru as well to see even more what’s going on.
Also you should read the complete help for the cmdlets you’re using including the examples … usually it is really helpful. :wink:

5

Hi Olaf,

the property parameter did the trick.

PS C:\> Compare-Object -ReferenceObject (Import-Clixml C:\temp\service-ref.xml)  -DifferenceObject (get-service) -Property name,status

name            status SideIndicator
----            ------ -------------
ClipSVC        Stopped =>           
gpsvc          Stopped =>           
QWAVE          Running =>           
VeeamDeploySvc Stopped =>           
wuauserv       Stopped =>           
ClipSVC        Running <=           
gpsvc          Running <=           
QWAVE          Stopped <=           
VeeamDeploySvc Running <=           
wuauserv       Running <=

Now this is working I can focus on the script and format.

Thanks,
Albert