Powershell – Why does PsExec hang after successfully running a powershell script

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The script is fairly straight forward. Simply tries to start a bunch of windows services. Execution locally works fine when on the target machine. The script is actually executing fine as well when done via PsExec, it just never returns until I hit the "enter" key on my CMD prompt. This is a problem, because this is being called from TeamCity, and it makes the Agent hang waiting for PsExec to return.

I've tried the following:

  • Adding an exit and exit 0 at the end of the Powershell script
  • Adding a < NUL to the end of the PsExec call, per the answer in this SF question
  • Adding a > stdout redirect

This is how I am actually calling psexec:

psexec \\target -u domain\username -p password powershell c:\path\script.ps1

No matter what I do, it hangs until I the locally on the cmd prompt. After I hit enter, I get the message:

powershell exited on target with error code 0.

Best Answer

I know the answer comes late it would have already been figured out, If not it might be useful for future visitors.

STDIN has to be re-directed in powershell execution inorder to be able to come from hang (Here it waits in STDIN). to be able to do this use -inputformat none

powershell -inputformat none -File powershell_script.ps1 will work.

Check - https://connect.microsoft.com/PowerShell/feedback/details/572313/powershell-exe-can-hang-if-stdin-is-redirected

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