Workarounds for Invoke-Command scenarios in REST API connections

In multiple connections to Exchange Online or Security & Compliance PowerShell in the same window, you use the Invoke-Command cmdlet to run scripts or commands in a specific remote PowerShell session. But, the Invoke-Command cmdlet doesn't work in REST API connections to Exchange Online or Security & Compliance PowerShell.

This article offers REST API alternatives for scenarios that that use Invoke-Command commands.

Scenario 1: Run Exchange Online cmdlets

This example finds the identity of any other user ($Us = $User.Identity).

Tip

Other commands were required to get the values of $User and therefore $Us. Those commands aren't important. The overall approach that's being used is what's important.

• In a remote PowerShell session: Use the Get-PSSession cmdlet to store the remote PowerShell session details in the variable named $Session, and then run the following command:

  Invoke-Command -Session $Session -ScriptBlock {Get-User $Using:Us | Select-Object DistinguishedName, ExternalDirectoryObjectId} -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
  

• In a REST API session: Run the following command:

  Get-User $Us | Format-List DistinguishedName, ExternalDirectoryObjectId
  

This example finds the identity of a group member:

• In a remote PowerShell session: Use the Get-PSSession cmdlet to store the remote PowerShell session details in the variable named $Session, and then run the following command:

  Invoke-Command -Session $Session -ScriptBlock {Get-Recipient -Filter "Members -eq '$($User.DistinguishedName)'" -RecipientTypeDetails MailUniversalDistributionGroup | Select-Object DisplayName, ExternalDirectoryObjectId, RecipientTypeDetails} -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -HideComputerName
  

• In a REST API session: Run the following command:

  Get-Recipient -Filter "Members -eq '$($User.DistinguishedName)'" -RecipientTypeDetails MailUniversalDistributionGroup | Format-List DisplayName, ExternalDirectoryObjectId, RecipientTypeDetails
  

Scenario 2: Run Exchange Online cmdlets and expand specific properties

This example finds all mailboxes where the GrantSendOnBehalfTo permission is set, and then returns the users who have the permission on the mailbox.

• In a remote PowerShell session: Use the Get-PSSession cmdlet to store the remote PowerShell session details in the variable named $Session, and then run the following command:

  Invoke-Command -Session $Session -ScriptBlock {Get-Mailbox -Filter "GrantSendOnBehalfTo -ne `$null" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Select-Object ExternalDirectoryObjectId, GrantSendOnBehalfTo -ExpandProperty GrantSendOnBehalfTo}
  

• In a REST API session: Run the following command:

  $mailboxes = Get-Mailbox -Filter "GrantSendOnBehalfTo -ne `$null"
  
  foreach ($mailbox in $mailboxes)
  
  {
    $users = $mailbox | Select-Object GrantSendOnBehalfTo -ExpandProperty GrantSendOnBehalfTo | Get-User
  
    $users | Select-Object Name, Guid
  }
  

Scenario 3: Run Exchange Online cmdlets in a specific PowerShell session when multiple sessions are present

This example shows how to create two PowerShell sessions in the same window and run the Get-Mailbox cmdlet in each session.

• In a remote PowerShell session:

  1. Use the Get-PSSession cmdlet to store the first remote PowerShell session details in the variable named $Session1.

  2. Use the Get-PSSession cmdlet to store the second remote PowerShell session details in the variable named $Session2.

  3. Run the following commands:

     Invoke-Command -Session $Session1 -ScriptBlock {Get-Mailbox -ResultSize 1}
     
     Invoke-Command -Session $Session2 -ScriptBlock {Get-Mailbox -ResultSize 1}
     

• In a REST API session:

  1. In the first Connect-ExchangeOnline command, use the parameter Prefix with the value C1.

  2. Store the first REST API connection details in the variable named $ConnectionInfo1 by running the following command:

     $ConnectionInfo1 = Get-ConnectionInformation | Where-Object { $_.ModulePrefix -eq "C1"}
     

  3. In the second Connect-ExchangeOnline command, use the parameter Prefix with the value C2.

  4. Store the second REST API connection details in the variable named $ConnectionInfo2 by running the following command:

     $ConnectionInfo1 = Get-ConnectionInformation | Where-Object { $_.ModulePrefix -eq "C2"}
     

  5. Now you can run commands in either session. For example:

     $CommandStr1 = "Get-$($ConnectionInfo1.ModulePrefix)Mailbox -ResultSize 10"
     
     Invoke-Expression $CommandStr1
     

     Or

     $CommandStr2 = "Get-$($ConnectionInfo2.ModulePrefix)Mailbox -ResultSize 10"
     
     Invoke-Expression $CommandStr2