Error using PSDrive SQLSERVER: after loading SqlServerProviderSnapin

Question

Hi
I will execute a number of PowerShell scripts (v. 3.0) where I want to use both SqlServerCmdletSnapin (Invoke-Sqlcmd) and SqlServerProviderSnapin (PSDrive (SQLSERVER:\).
Since I will execute multiple scripts in a sequence I look to minimize the time it takes to load the SqlServerProviderSnapin. After simply executed Add-PSSnapin SqlServerProviderSnapin I get the PSDrive.
However, when trying to access let say "SQLSERVER:\SQL\$env:COMPUTERNAME\DEFAULT\Databases" I get the error:
"Cannot find the path 'SQLSERVER:\SQL\MYCOMPUTER\DEFAULT\Databases' because it does not exist."
I can browse (Set-Location) to 'SQLSERVER:\SQL\MYCOMPUTER\DEFAULT' and execute Get-ChildItem, which will return the child-items including Databases.
I have tested the following alternatives, which all works but takes to long.
Import-Module SQLPS (50 sec)
Add-SqlServerSnapins using InitializeSQLProvider.ps1 (http:\\msdn.microsoft.com\en-us\library\cc281962.aspx). (40 sec)
Am I missing something crucial when just Add-SqlServerProviderSnapin (0,5 sec)?
Is there a way to make the snapins available without adding to much delay?

Answer 1

Run SQLPS instead of using the snapins.
At a prompt just type SQLPS.  It is a version of PowerShell that has the snapins pre-loaded.
I can run SQLPS in less than a second.
I can load both snapins in less than a second.
There is no module named SQLPS in any version of SQLServer that I have.
Don't use a relative path.  Always use the '\' at the beginning.
dir SQLSERVER:\SQL\$env:COMPUTERNAME\DEFAULT\Databases
¯\_(ツ)_/¯