Powershell DSC: Unable to load module xPSDesiredStateConfiguration

Question

I'm working through the DSC book from powershell.org and trying to setup a pull server using the configuration code specified in the book.

configuration CreatePullServer
{
    param
    (
        [string[]]$ComputerName = 'localhost'
    )

    Import-DSCResource -ModuleName xPSDesiredStateConfiguration

    Node $ComputerName
    {
        WindowsFeature DSCServiceFeature
        {
            Ensure = "Present"
            Name   = "DSC-Service"
        }

        xDscWebService PSDSCPullServer
        {
            Ensure                  = "Present"
            EndpointName            = "PSDSCPullServer"
            Port                    = 8080
            PhysicalPath            = "$env:SystemDrive\inetpub\wwwroot\PSDSCPullServer"
            CertificateThumbPrint   = "AllowUnencryptedTraffic"
            ModulePath              = "$env:PROGRAMFILES\WindowsPowerShell\DscService\Modules"
            ConfigurationPath       = "$env:PROGRAMFILES\WindowsPowerShell\DscService\Configuration"
            State                   = "Started"
            DependsOn               = "[WindowsFeature]DSCServiceFeature"
        }

        xDscWebService PSDSCComplianceServer
        {
            Ensure                  = "Present"
            EndpointName            = "PSDSCComplianceServer"
            Port                    = 9080
            PhysicalPath            = "$env:SystemDrive\inetpub\wwwroot\PSDSCComplianceServer"
            CertificateThumbPrint   = "AllowUnencryptedTraffic"
            State                   = "Started"
            IsComplianceServer      = $true
            DependsOn               = ("[WindowsFeature]DSCServiceFeature","[xDSCWebService]PSDSCPullServer")
        }
    }
}

CreatePullServer -ComputerName pull1.lab.pri

When I run the configuration script, powershell reports that it is unable to load the xPSDesiredStateConfiguration module.

Import-DSCResource -ModuleName xPSDesiredStateConfiguration Unable to load module 'xPSDesiredStateConfiguration': module not found.

I verified that I have the DSC resource kit installed, and the module is listed when I execute the Get-DSCResource command. Can anyone give me a clue as to what I may have done wrong?

Also, I am using Windows 7 64-bit and have installed KB2819745 to bring powershell up to version 4.

Opossum

is the module availible on your system? Get-Module -ListAvailible – Morganica

Yes it is listed. Although your suggestion did lead me down the path to the solution. I noticed that when I ran the Get-Module -ListAvailable command it was listing the directory containing the module twice. While trying to solve an earlier problem I had added the $env:ProgramFiles\WindowsPowerShell\Modules directory to the PSModulePath environment variable, so the modules were duplicated somehow. It appears this was causing the problem, because it works after I removed the directory from the PSModulePath environment variable. – Opossum

Mr.D wrote an Answer saying "you need to install the package, get this downloaded gallery.technet.microsoft.com/… this works for me" – Fluker

Answer 1

Responding to a comment to my original question, I checked that the module was being listed when executing Get-Module -ListAvailable. I noticed that when I ran the command it was listing the directory containing the module twice. I then realized that while trying to solve an earlier problem I had added the $env:ProgramFiles\WindowsPowerShell\Modules directory to the PSModulePath environment variable, so the modules were being duplicated and causing problems. After removing the path from the PSModulePath environment variable, everything works!

Opossum

Great! You should also accept this answer so that the question doesn't still appear unanswered. – Folliculin

@PortlandRunner he's the original question author and answering his own question, which is encouraged at SO. Please pay attention, you recommended to delete a perfectly good answer – Jeannettajeannette

Answer 2

First, you need to install the package. You can download it from here:

https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/xPSDesiredStateConfiguratio-417dc71d

Carlile