Install .msi remotely using Powershell

Question

I have made he following code using the code present on this forum.

cls
$computername = Get-Content 'C:\Users\C201578-db\Documents\server.txt'
$sourcefile = "\\iceopsnas\LNT_SoftwareRep.grp\CORE\COTS\EMC\Avamar\Avamar_7.0\CR06794393\AvamarClient-windows-x86_64-7.0.102-47.msi"
#This section will install the software 
foreach ($computer in $computername) 
{
    $destinationFolder = "\\$computer\C$\Avamar"
    #This section will copy the $sourcefile to the $destinationfolder. If the Folder does not exist it will create it.
    if (!(Test-Path -path $destinationFolder))
    {
        New-Item $destinationFolder -Type Directory
    }
    Copy-Item -Path $sourcefile -Destination $destinationFolder
    Write-Host "Copied Successfully"
    Invoke-Command -ComputerName $computer -ScriptBlock { & cmd /c "msiexec.exe /i C:\Avamar\AvamarClient-windows-x86_64-7.0.102-47.msi" /qb ADVANCED_OPTIONS=1 CHANNEL=100}
    Write-Host "Installed Successfully"
}

I tried all permutations and combinations but no luck. Tried all the suggestions that I got while posting this question but nothing. The copy procedure is successful but the .msi file is not getting installed. Maybe this question gets marked duplicate but still suggest some edits before doing that.

Answer 1

As a workaround (the lack of details doesnt help to daignose the problem), you could use the third party tool psexec.exe to run the installer on the remote host.

Try to replace your invoke-command with

psexec.exe \\$computer -s -u Adminuser -p AdminPassword msiexec /i C:\Avamar\AvamarClient-windows-x86_64-7.0.102-47.msi /qb ADVANCED_OPTIONS=1 CHANNEL=100

Answer 2

try defining your command as a script block instead:

    $command =  "msiexec.exe /i C:\Avamar\AvamarClient-windows-x86_64-7.0.102-47.msi" 
    $scriptblock = [Scriptblock]::Create($command)
    Invoke-Command -ComputerName $computer -ScriptBlock $scriptblock