Powershell In Practice

Windows PowerShell is a scripting language that simplifies Windows system administration. PowerShell in Practice is a hands-on reference for administrators wanting to learn and use PowerShell. Following the "in Practice" style, individual related techniques are clustered into chapters. Each technique is presented in the form: problem, solution, discussion, and includes annotated code listings. Written to answer the question "How can PowerShell make my job as an administrator easier?" this book concentrates on practical tasks and automation. Starting with an a brief tutorial and review, the majority of the book focuses on two major PowerShell usage areas: People - user accounts, mailboxes, desktop configuration; and Servers - Active Directory, Exchange, IIS, and more. Purchase of the print book comes with an offer of a free PDF, ePub, and Kindle eBook from Manning. Also available is all code from the book.

A guide to using Windows PowerShell to script Windows administrative tasks and control Windows from the command line.

Summary Discover how scripting is different from command-line PowerShell, as you explore concrete hands-on examples in this handy guide. The book includes and expands on many of the techniques presented in Learn PowerShell Toolmaking in a Month of Lunches. Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications. About the Technology Automate it! With Microsoft's PowerShell language, you can write scripts to control nearly every aspect of Windows. Just master a few straightforward scripting skills, and you'll be able to eliminate repetitive manual tasks, create custom reusable tools, and build effective pipelines and workflows. Once you start scripting in PowerShell, you'll be amazed at how many opportunities you'll find to save time and effort. About the Book Learn PowerShell Scripting in a Month of Lunches teaches you how to expand your command-line PowerShell skills into effective scripts and tools. In 27 bite-size lessons, you'll discover instantly useful techniques for writing efficient code, finding and squashing bugs, organizing your scripts into libraries, and much more. Advanced scripters will even learn to access the .NET Framework, store data long term, and create nice user interfaces. What's Inside Designing functions and scripts Effective pipeline usage Dealing with errors and bugs Professional-grade scripting practices About the Reader Written for devs and IT pros comfortable with PowerShell and Windows. About the Authors Don Jones is a PowerShell MVP, speaker, and trainer who has written dozens of books on information technology topics. Jeffery Hicks is a PowerShell MVP and an independent consultant, trainer, and author. Don and Jeff coauthored Manning's Learn Windows PowerShell in a Month of Lunches, Learn PowerShell Toolmaking in a Month of Lunches, and PowerShell in Depth. Table of Contents PART 1 - INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTING Before you begin Setting up your scripting environment WWPD: what would PowerShell do? Review: parameter binding and the PowerShell pipeline Scripting language crash course The many forms of scripting (and which to use) Scripts and security PART 2 - BUILDING A POWERSHELL SCRIPT Always design first Avoiding bugs: start with a command Building a basic function and script module Going advanced with your function Objects: the best kind of output Using all the pipelines Simple help: making a comment Dealing with errors Filling out a manifest PART 3 - GROWN-UP SCRIPTING Changing your brain when it comes to scripting Professional-grade scripting An introduction to source control with git Pestering your script Signing your script Publishing your script PART 4 - ADVANCED TECHNIQUES Squashing bugs Making script output prettier Wrapping up the .NET Framework Storing data-not in Excel! Never the end

Expert recommendations, pragmatically applied. Automate system administration using Windows PowerShell best practices—and optimize your operational efficiency. With this practical guide, Windows PowerShell expert and instructor Ed Wilson delivers field-tested tips, real-world examples, and candid advice culled from administrators across a range of business and technical scenarios. If you’re an IT professional with Windows PowerShell experience, this book is ideal. Discover how to: Use Windows PowerShell to automate Active Directory tasks Explore available WMI classes and methods with CIM cmdlets Identify and track scripting opportunities to avoid duplication Use functions to encapsulate business logic and reuse code Design your script’s best input method and output destination Test scripts by checking their syntax and performance Choose the most suitable method for running remote commands Manage software services with Desired State Configuration

Scripting gurus Jones and Hicks teach readers PowerShell from the ground up. They cover its underlying technologies, flexible scripting language, and enough of the .NET Framework to be effective in PowerShell scripting. (Computer Books)

Get started with this powerful Windows administration tool Automate Windows administration tasks with ease by learning the fundamentals of Windows PowerShell 3.0. Led by a Windows PowerShell expert, you’ll learn must-know concepts and techniques through easy-to-follow explanations, examples, and exercises. Once you complete this practical introduction, you can go deeper into the Windows PowerShell command line interface and scripting language with Windows PowerShell 3.0 Step by Step. Discover how to: Create effective Windows PowerShell commands with one line of code Apply Windows PowerShell commands across several Windows platforms Identify missing hotfixes and service packs with a single command Sort, group, and filter data using the Windows PowerShell pipeline Create users, groups, and organizational units in Active Directory Add computers to a domain or workgroup with a single line of code Run Windows PowerShell commands on multiple remote computers Unleash the power of scripting with Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)

Your hands-on guide to Windows PowerShell scripting fundamentals Expand your expertise--and teach yourself the fundamentals of Windows PowerShell scripting, including features available in Windows PowerShell 5. If you are an IT professional, power user, or consultant, you’ll get the guidance, exercises, and code you need to master core techniques for automating Windows setup, deployment, and management. Discover how to: Run cmdlets and command-line utilities Administer Windows-based servers and desktops with built-in cmdlets Use providers to access external information Write and run scripts from the Windows ISE Create functions that are easy to maintain Build standardized environments with profiles Automate Windows systems with WMI, CIM cmdlets, and remoting Automate Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) Debug scripts and handle errors Run commands that survive interruptions Use Desired State Configuration (DSC) to manage software services and their environments Get powerful new modules from PowerShell Gallery About You This book is for: IT professionals and power users who want to get productive with Windows PowerShell, including new features in Windows PowerShell 5 Windows system administrators who want to be more efficient and productive Anyone pursuing Windows PowerShell certifications No experience with Windows PowerShell or other scripting technologies necessary

Use PowerShell to Streamline and Automate Your Most Time-Consuming Windows Administration Tasks With Windows PowerShell, Microsoft brings innovative console-based system administration and scripting to Windows clients and servers. PowerShell combines the best features of traditional UNIX shells with the immense power of the .NET Framework, offering a consistent and easy-to-use replacement for both the Windows command line and the Windows Script Host. In Essential PowerShell, noted expert Holger Schwichtenberg gives Windows sysadmins all the knowledge and sample scripts they need to successfully administer production systems with PowerShell. Schwichtenberg begins by introducing the innovative PowerShell architecture, along with crucial PowerShell concepts such as pipelining and navigation. Next, he introduces the PowerShell Script Language, shows the secure execution of command sequences as scripts, and demonstrates how to use PowerShell to access essential operating system interfaces such as COM, WMI, ADSI, and ADO.NET. After you’ve mastered the fundamentals, Schwichtenberg presents an extensive collection of PowerShell solutions for virtually every area of day-to-day administration. For each topic, he presents dozens of self-contained examples, all downloadable from a companion Web site. He covers both Microsoft’s standard PowerShell commandlets and the free commandlets available as PowerShell Community Extensions. He also presents a full chapter of tips, tricks, and troubleshooting solutions. Coverage includes Understanding PowerShell’s components and features Setting up your PowerShell scripting environment Creating and using commandlets Using object-oriented pipelining for filtering, sorting, grouping, comparisons, calculations, and more Mastering PowerShell’s uniform navigation model and using it with all types of data Programming command sequences with the PowerShell Script Language Making the most of the PowerShell console and third-party tools Managing processes, event logs, and registry entries Controlling networking, printing, and software installation Manipulating Active Directory and other enterprise services with PowerShell Using PowerShell to enforce stronger system and network security Storing data in files, documents, and databases Preface xv Part I: Getting Started with PowerShell 1: First Steps with Windows PowerShell 3 2: Commandlets 25 3: Pipelining 43 4: Advanced Pipelining 59 5: The PowerShell Navigation Model 81 6: The PowerShell Script Language 89 7: PowerShell Scripts 115 8: Using Class Libraries 129 9: PowerShell Tools 151 10: Tips, Tricks and Troubleshooting 171 Part II: Windows PowerShell in Action 11: File Systems 205 12: Documents 235 13: Registry and Software 253 14: Processes and Services 267 15: Computers and Hardware 281 16: Networking 295 17: Directory Services 313 18: User and Group Management in the Active Directory 335 19: Searching in the Active Directory 349 20: Additional Libraries for Active Directory Administration 361 21: Databases 373 22: Advanced Database Operations 389 23: Security Settings 401 24: Advanced Security Administration 413 PartIII: Appendices Appendix A: PowerShell Commandlet Reference 429 Appendix B: PowerShell 2.0 Preview 445 Appendix C: Bibliography 449 Index 453