Windows PowerShell (formerly code-named Monad) is one of the most important
Windows Server management tools that Microsoft has released since VBScript.
An entirely new scripting environment for Windows, PowerShell consists of a
new command shell and a new scripting language. You can write PowerShell scripts
using any text editor, but you must run them in the PowerShell command shell.
Here's a 10-step curriculum that will help you get started learning about the
PowerShell scripting technology.
1. Find the PowerShell home page—First, visit the PowerShell
home page at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/management/powershell/default.mspx.
There, you'll find a basic introduction to PowerShell and links to important
PowerShell downloads.
2. Download and install PowerShell—PowerShell will be included
in Longhorn Server, Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, and Microsoft System Center
Operations Manager 2007, but not in any other versions of Windows—not
even in Windows Vista. You can download PowerShell from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId= 2B0BBFCD-0797-4083-A817-5E6A054A85C9.
3. Download and install the PowerShell Documentation Pack—Microsoft's
essential documentation for PowerShell—the Windows PowerShell RC1
Documentation Pack—includes a Getting Started Guide, a PowerShell User
Guide, and a quick-start guide to script tracing. You can download the Documentation
Pack at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=B4720B00-9A66-430FBD56-EC48BFCA154F.
4. Launch the PowerShell command shell—After you've installed
PowerShell and have the documentation in hand, you're ready to launch the command
shell, which you'll use to run Power-Shell scripts and commands. Launch PowerShell
by clicking Start, All Programs and selecting the Windows PowerShell menu option.
5. Get help—PowerShell is a new environment with new commands.
The best way to learn about PowerShell's commands (called cmdlets) and concepts
is to use the built-in Help command.
To access the Help system, use the cmdlet
PS C:\temp> get-help
6. Run some of the familiar PowerShell cmdlet aliases—The PowerShell
command shell comes with several built-in commands that you'll need to learn.
Some of these cmdlets are new, but others have aliases for familiar commands
such as cd, copy, dir, echo, kill, mount, ps, ren, and type.
7. Explore the PowerShell cmdlets—PowerShell includes cmdlets
that perform all sorts of system actions, from navigation and management to
accessing resources. You can execute all of the cmdlets from the PowerShell
command line or in your scripts. For a list of all available cmdlets, use the
get-command command:
PS C:\temp> get-command
8. Find the cmdlet parameters—Most PowerShell cmdlets accept parameters
that influence their functionality. All cmdlet parameters must be preceded by
a dash (-). To find the parameters for a particular cmdlet, simply type the
cmdlet followed by the -? parameter. For example, to list all available parameters
for the get-psdrive cmdlet, type
PS C:\temp> get-psdrive -?
9. Join the PowerShell newsgroup—You're bound to have questions
as you begin to work with PowerShell. To get answers from Microsoft and other
IT professionals, post your questions in Microsoft's PowerShell newsgroup at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/newsgroups/dgbrowser/enus/default.mspxdg=microsoft.public.windows.server.scripting&lang=en&cr=US.
10. Get Sample PowerShell scripts—Running and modifying existing
scripts is one of the best ways to jump-start your PowerShell development process.
Microsoft's Script Center Script Repository provides a variety of PowerShell
scripts, including Active Directory (AD), network, file system, and registry
scripts as well as application and hardware management scripts. To download
Microsoft's collection of PowerShell management scripts, go to http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/msh/default.mspx.
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