The interface for reading and modifying Windows system information, queried using WQL. Azure Monitor does not collect data through it.
Also called Windows Management Instrumentation.
Read more: Microsoft Learn
In the Ultra Transcenders books
Each book explains WMI in context, with comparison tables and the common traps.
Terms in this definition
- Chat message roles
Labels on chat messages: instructions go under system, the person's input under user, the model's previous answers under assistant, and results returned by a called tool under tool (or function).
- WQL
The query language for WMI, resembling SQL. Azure Monitor does not rely on it to filter which events are collected.
- Azure Monitor
Observability platform for Azure that brings together metrics, logs and traces from both Azure and hybrid resources so they can be analysed and alerted on.
Related terms
- Nano Server
For .NET Core apps, this is the leanest Windows base image for containers; PowerShell and WMI are both left out.
- Remote Management Users
Lets members who aren't administrators use WMI through WinRM (WS-Management), for example PowerShell remoting or Server Manager's remote management.
- WMIC
Gave command-line access to WMI and is now deprecated. PowerShell CIM cmdlets take its place, and Windows Server 2025 offers it only as a Feature on Demand.