Windows PowerShell 2 For Dummies

Prepare for the future of Microsoft automation with this no-nonsense guide Windows PowerShell 2 is the scripting language that enables automation within the Windows operating system. Packed with powerful new features, this latest version is complex, and Windows PowerShell 2 For Dummies is the perfect guide to help system administrators get up to speed. Written by a Microsoft MVP with direct access to the program managers and developers, this book covers every new feature of Windows PowerShell 2 in a friendly, easy-to-follow format. Windows PowerShell 2 is the updated scripting language that enables system administrators to automate Windows operating systems System administrators with limited scripting experience will find this book helps them learn the fundamentals of Windows PowerShell 2 quickly and easily Translates the jargon and complex syntax of Windows PowerShell 2 Covers script debugging improvements, the ability to invoke commands remotely, and the new user interface Uses real-world applications to clarify the theory, fundamentals, and techniques of the scripting language Written by a Microsoft MVP with direct access to the developers of Windows PowerShell 2 Windows PowerShell 2 For Dummies makes this tool easily accessible to administrators of every experience level.

Introduction 1 Part I: Getting a Bird’s-Eye View of PowerShell 2 9 Chapter 1: The Windows PowerShell Rap Sheet 11 Chapter 2: Customizing and Shortcutting the Environment 21 Chapter 3: A Pinch of Shell, a Pound of Power 37 Part II: PowerShell’s Basic Structure and Syntax 47 Chapter 4: Shelling Out Commands and Scripts 49 Chapter 5: When Dollars Turn into Variables 61 Chapter 6: A Bit of Logic to Save the Day 77 Chapter 7: Working on a Pipeline 89 Part III: Complex Data Description and Sharing 97 Chapter 8: Working with Windows Management Instrumentation 99 Chapter 9: Bringing Strings into the Limelight 117 Chapter 10: I’ll Take Numbers for $100, Please 137 Chapter 11: Grouping Data Using Arrays and Hash Tables 147 Chapter 12: Readin’ and Writin’ Files 159 Chapter 13: Going On a Date with PowerShell 175 Part IV: Controlling Where and How You Operate PowerShell 185 Chapter 14: Using Functions to Divide and Conquer 187 Chapter 15: PowerShell Ninjas: Running Jobs Remotely or in the Background 209 Chapter 16: Making Your Script Speak Different Languages 223 Chapter 17: Smashing Those Bugs 231 Part V: Real-World Windows Administration Using PowerShell 245 Chapter 18: Mission Control: All Systems Go 247 Chapter 19: Taming the Windows Registry 261 Chapter 20: Reaching Out to Active Directory 273 Chapter 21: PowerShell Lockdown 287 Chapter 22: Converting Your Old Scripts: Out with the Old, In with the New 301 Part VI: Configuring and Reporting Via PowerShell 317 Chapter 23: Controlling Your Network Configuration 319 Chapter 24: Managing Your Hardware 331 Chapter 25: Making Reporting Easy 345 Part VII: The Part of Tens 357 Chapter 26: The Ten Most Important Cmdlets 359 Chapter 27: Ten Common PowerShell Mistakes 365 Bonus Chapter 1: Handling Exceptions 1 Index 375