Microsoft Defender Antivirus Performance Analyzer reference

PowerShell reference

You can use the following new PowerShell cmdlets to tune the performance of Microsoft Defender Antivirus:

New-MpPerformanceRecording

The following section describes the reference for the new PowerShell cmdlet New-MpPerformanceRecording. This cmdlet Collects a performance recording of Microsoft Defender Antivirus scans.

Syntax: New-MpPerformanceRecording

New-MpPerformanceRecording -RecordTo <String>

Description: New-MpPerformanceRecording

The New-MpPerformanceRecording cmdlet collects a performance recording of Microsoft Defender Antivirus scans. These performance recordings contain Microsoft-Antimalware-Engine and NT kernel process events and can be analyzed after collection using the Get-MpPerformanceReport cmdlet.

This New-MpPerformanceRecording cmdlet provides an insight into problematic files that could cause a degradation in the performance of Microsoft Defender Antivirus. This tool is provided as is, and isn't intended to provide suggestions on exclusions. Exclusions can reduce the level of protection on your endpoints. Exclusions, if any, should be defined with caution.

For more information on the performance analyzer, see Performance Analyzer docs.

Important

This cmdlet requires elevated administrator privileges.

Examples: New-MpPerformanceRecording

Example 1: Collect a performance recording and save it
New-MpPerformanceRecording -RecordTo .\Defender-scans.etl

The command collects a performance recording and saves it to the specified path: .\Defender-scans.etl.

Example 2: Collect a performance recording for remote PowerShell session
$s = New-PSSession -ComputerName Server02 -Credential Domain01\User01
New-MpPerformanceRecording -RecordTo C:\LocalPathOnServer02\trace.etl -Session $s

The command collects a performance recording on Server02 (as specified by argument $s of parameter Session) and saves it to the specified path: C:\LocalPathOnServer02\trace.etl on Server02.

Parameters: New-MpPerformanceRecording

-RecordTo

Specifies the location in which to save the Microsoft Defender Antimalware performance recording.

Type: String
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-Session

Specifies the PSSession object in which to create and save the Microsoft Defender Antivirus performance recording. When you use this command, the RecordTo parameter refers to the local path on the remote machine. Available with Defender platform version 4.18.2201.10 and later.

Type: PSSession[]
Position: 0
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

Get-MpPerformanceReport

The following section describes the Get-MpPerformanceReport PowerShell cmdlet. Analyzes and reports on Microsoft Defender Antivirus performance recording.

Syntax: Get-MpPerformanceReport

    Get-MpPerformanceReport [-Path] <String> [-TopFiles <Int32>] [-TopScansPerFile <Int32>] [-TopProcessesPerFile 
<Int32>] [-TopScansPerProcessPerFile <Int32>] [-TopPaths <Int32>] [-TopPathsDepth <Int32>] [-TopScansPerPath 
<Int32>] [-TopFilesPerPath <Int32>] [-TopScansPerFilePerPath <Int32>] [-TopExtensionsPerPath <Int32>] 
    [-TopScansPerExtensionPerPath <Int32>] [-TopProcessesPerPath <Int32>] [-TopScansPerProcessPerPath <Int32>] 
    [-TopExtensions <Int32>] [-TopScansPerExtension <Int32>] [-TopPathsPerExtension <Int32>] 
    [-TopScansPerPathPerExtension <Int32>] [-TopFilesPerExtension <Int32>] [-TopScansPerFilePerExtension <Int32>] 
    [-TopProcessesPerExtension <Int32>] [-TopScansPerProcessPerExtension <Int32>] [-TopProcesses <Int32>] 
    [-TopScansPerProcess <Int32>] [-TopFilesPerProcess <Int32>] [-TopScansPerFilePerProcess <Int32>] 
    [-TopExtensionsPerProcess <Int32>] [-TopScansPerExtensionPerProcess <Int32>] [-TopPathsPerProcess <Int32>] 
    [-TopScansPerPathPerProcess <Int32>] [-TopScans <Int32>] [-MinDuration <String>] [-MinStartTime <DateTime>] 
    [-MinEndTime <DateTime>] [-MaxStartTime <DateTime>] [-MaxEndTime <DateTime>] [-Overview] [-Raw] 
    [<CommonParameters>]

Description: Get-MpPerformanceReport

The Get-MpPerformanceReport cmdlet analyzes a previously collected Microsoft Defender Antivirus performance recording (New-MpPerformanceRecording) and reports the file paths, file extensions, and processes that cause the highest impact to Microsoft Defender Antivirus scans.

The performance analyzer provides an insight into problematic files that could cause a degradation in the performance of Microsoft Defender Antivirus. This tool is provided "as is" and isn't intended to provide suggestions on exclusions. Exclusions can reduce the level of protection on your endpoints. Exclusions, if any, should be defined with caution.

For more information on the performance analyzer, see Performance Analyzer docs.

Supported OS versions:

Windows Version 10 and later.

Note

This feature is available starting with platform version 4.18.2108.X and later.

Examples: Get-MpPerformanceReport

Example 1: Single query
Get-MpPerformanceReport -Path .\Defender-scans.etl -TopScans 20
Example 2: Multiple queries
Get-MpPerformanceReport -Path .\Defender-scans.etl -TopFiles 10 -TopExtensions 10 -TopProcesses 10 -TopScans 10
Example 3: Nested queries
Get-MpPerformanceReport -Path .\Defender-scans.etl -TopProcesses 10 -TopExtensionsPerProcess 3 -TopScansPerExtensionPerProcess 3
Example 4: Using -MinDuration parameter
Get-MpPerformanceReport -Path .\Defender-scans.etl -TopScans 100 -MinDuration 100ms
Example 5: Using -Raw parameter
Get-MpPerformanceReport -Path .\Defender-scans.etl -TopFiles 10 -TopExtensions 10 -TopProcesses 10 -TopScans 10 -Raw | ConvertTo-Json

Using -Raw in the command specifies that the output should be machine readable and readily convertible to serialization formats like JSON.

Parameters: Get-MpPerformanceReport

-TopPaths

Requests a top-paths report and specifies how many top paths to output, sorted by duration. Aggregates the scans based on their path and directory. User can specify how many directories should be displayed on each level and the depth of the selection.

- Type: Int32
- Position: Named
- Default value: None
- Accept pipeline input: False
- Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopPathsDepth

Specifies recursive depth that is used to group and display aggregated path results. For example C:\ corresponds to a depth of 1, and C:\Users\Foo corresponds to a depth of 3.

This flag can accompany all other Top Path options. If missing, a default value of 3 is assumed. The value can't be 0.

- Type: Int32
- Position: Named
- Default value: 3
- Accept pipeline input: False
- Accept wildcard characters: False
flag definition
-TopScansPerPath Specifies how many top scans to specify for each top path.
-TopFilesPerPath Specifies how many top files to specify for each top path.
-TopScansPerFilePerPath Specifies how many top scans to output for each top file for each top path, sorted by "Duration"
-TopExtensionsPerPath Specifies how many top extensions to output for each top path
-TopScansPerExtensionPerPath Specifies how many top scans to output for each top extension for each top path
-TopProcessesPerPath Specifies how many top processes to output for each top path
-TopScansPerProcessPerPath Specifies how many top scans to output for each top process for each top path
-TopPathsPerExtension Specifies how many top paths to output for each top extension
-TopScansPerPathPerExtension Specifies how many top scans to output for each top path for each top extension
-TopPathsPerProcess Specifies how many top paths to output for each top process
-TopScansPerPathPerProcess Specifies how many top scans to output for each top path for each top process
-MinDuration

Specifies the minimum duration of any scan or total scan durations of files, extensions, and processes included in the report; accepts values like 0.1234567sec, 0.1234ms, 0.1us, or a valid TimeSpan.

Type: String
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-Path

Specifies the path or paths to one or more locations.

Type: String
Position: 0
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: True
Accept wildcard characters: False
-Raw

Specifies that output of performance recording should be machine readable and readily convertible to serialization formats like JSON (for example, via Convert-to-JSON command). This configuration is recommended for users interested in batch processing with other data processing systems.

Type: <SwitchParameter>
Position: Named
Default value: False
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopExtensions

Specifies how many top extensions to output, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopExtensionsPerProcess

Specifies how many top extensions to output for each top process, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopFiles

Requests a top-files report and specifies how many top files to output, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopFilesPerExtension

Specifies how many top files to output for each top extension, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopFilesPerProcess

Specifies how many top files to output for each top process, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopProcesses

Requests a top-processes report and specifies how many of the top processes to output, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopProcessesPerExtension

Specifies how many top processes to output for each top extension, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopProcessesPerFile

Specifies how many top processes to output for each top file, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopScans

Requests a top-scans report and specifies how many top scans to output, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopScansPerExtension

Specifies how many top scans to output for each top extension, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopScansPerExtensionPerProcess

Specifies how many top scans to output for each top extension for each top process, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopScansPerFile

Specifies how many top scans to output for each top file, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopScansPerFilePerExtension

Specifies how many top scans to output for each top file for each top extension, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopScansPerFilePerProcess

Specifies how many top scans for output for each top file for each top process, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopScansPerProcess

Specifies how many top scans to output for each top process in the Top Processes report, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopScansPerProcessPerExtension

Specifies how many top scans for output for each top process for each top extension, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False
-TopScansPerProcessPerFile

Specifies how many top scans for output for each top process for each top file, sorted by duration.

Type: Int32
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

Tip

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