Q. Why can't Invoke-Command accept computer names from the pipeline?

A. The Help file for the Invoke-Command cmdlet indicates that the -computerName parameter accepts pipeline input through ByPropertyName. This suggests that you can pipe in an object that contains a "computername" property and have that property "attach" to the -computerName parameter. Sadly, as near as I can figure out, it doesn't actually work, which seems to be an oversight on Microsoft's part. The -inputObject parameter of Invoke-Command binds any pipeline input of type "object" ByValue. The ByValue binding always happens first, and everything is a generic "object." In other words, the -inputObject parameter snatches up any pipeline input before -computerName gets a chance to see it.

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