PowerTip: Use PowerShell to Easily Compare Running Processes

Summary: Use Windows PowerShell to easily compare running processes on local or remote computers.

 How can I compare running processes on my local computer or on two remote computers? 

 Use the Get-Process cmdlet to retrieve running process information (this can be used remotely). Store the results in a variable.
Do the same thing again against other computers or against the local computer after things have possibly changed.
Then use the Compare-Object cmdlet to compare the two objects. 

PS C:\> $a = Get-Process

PS C:\> notepad

PS C:\> $b = Get-Process

PS C:\> Compare-Object -ReferenceObject $a -DifferenceObject $b -Property name

name                                       SideIndicator

----                                       -------------

notepad                                    =>

SearchProtocolHost                         <=