Create New Shares with Microsoft PowerShell
Guy always like to get the job done. In this case the job is persuading PowerShell to create a network share on an existing folder using the Win32_Share .create method.
Topics for PowerShell Create Share
- Example 1: Preamble, List Existing Shares
- Example 2: Research Win32_Share Methods and Definitions
- Example 3: PowerShell Shares .Create Method
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Mission to Create a Network Share
I am going to divide this project into three stages. Firstly, enumerate the shares, secondly, research methods for the WMI class Win32_Share. Finally, create a new share with PowerShell.
Example 1: Preamble, List Existing Shares
I have created this script with just one line and two commands.
# Microsoft PowerShell script to list shared folders
# Author: Guy Thomas
# Version 1.5 February 2010 tested on PowerShell v 2.0
Get-WmiObject -class Win32_Share | sort type, name
Note 1: You could use the alias gwmi instead of Get-WmiObject.
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Example 2: Research Win32_Share Methods and Definitions
If you are interested in background information, study this example, or else go to example 3.
# PowerShell script to Research Win32_Share
# Author: Guy Thomas
# Version 1.1 February 2010 tested on PowerShell v 2.0
$objWMI = [wmiClass] ‘Win32_share’
$objWMI |gm -memberType method |format-List
What this script reveals is that the Win32_Share has a method called create. Furthermore, if you drill down .create has the following detailed definition: Path, Name, Type, MaximumAllowed (connections), Description (comment), Password and Access.
To help make sense of this information try a walk-through whereby you create a network share manually in Windows Explorer. Click on the Tools Menu, then Map Network Drive. If you try this technique, then you will see why PowerShell requires a Name and Path. What is less clear is Win32_Share needs a ‘Type’, just trust me that for our purposes its value is Zero. Else go ahead, create a Share then run this PowerShell share script.
Example 3: PowerShell Shares .Create Method
We have a slight problem. I cannot see your c:\ drive. The example below creates a network share from the temp folder. However, it would be better, and it would aid your understanding, if you created a folder on your c:\ drive and then amended the value for $FolderPath in my script below. If you are up for another challenge, then edit the value of $ShareName in my script.
# Microsoft PowerShell create share script
# Author: Guy Thomas
## Version 1.5 February 2010 tested on PowerShell v 2.0
$FolderPath = "C:\Temp"
$ShareName = "ChangeMe"
$Type = 0
$objWMI = [wmiClass] ‘Win32_share’
$objWMI.create($FolderPath, $ShareName, $Type)
Note 1: For simplicity we are only scripting three parameters for Win32_Share, Path, Name and Type. The value for each parameter is held by a corresponding variable, thus each is easy to change.
Note 2: I wish I knew more about the line:
$objWMI = [wmiClass] ‘Win32_share’. All I can say is that if we generate this object, apply the .create() method, then the script creates the network share as planned. Alternatively, you could substitute:
$objWMI = Get-WMIObject Win32_share.
See more PowerShell real-life tasks »
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Summary of PowerShell Create Share
By introducing the .create method, we produce a more advanced Microsoft PowerShell script, than simply listing existing shares. As you tackle this script take the time to study the parameters. Perhaps a manual walk-through of creating a share will help your understanding of Win32_Share.
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See more PowerShell share examples including WMI
• PowerShell WMI • Create Win32_Share • WMI Shares • Free Permissions Analyzer Tool
• Get-Acl • PowerShell Share Error Codes • Win32_ComputerSystem • PowerShell 3.0 CIM
• Windows PowerShell • Free WMI Monitor • Cacls • Query • PowerShell Printer Scripts
Please email me if you have a example scripts. Also please report any factual mistakes, grammatical errors or broken links, I will be happy to correct the fault.
