This three-day instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills to utilize Windows PowerShell for administering and automating administration of Windows Server 2008. The course focuses on cmdlets, script structure and flow control, language syntax, and implementation details of scripting administrative tasks using COM, WMI, and .NET foundations.
Target Audience:
This course is intended for Windows administrators interested in automating Windows Server 2008 administration tasks, as well as those people looking for a full-featured interactive command-line environment for Windows operating systems. Windows end users or developers who need to understand what is involved in Windows administration or command-line environments may also find this course helpful.
Pre-requisites:
Before attending this course, students must have:
Course 6430: Planning and Administering Windows Server 2008 Servers, or have equivalent knowledge of administrative tasks.
In addition, it is recommended, but not required, that students have completed:
Course 2433: Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition and Microsoft Windows Script Host Essentials, or have equivalent knowledge of scripting and automation in Windows.
At Course Completion:
After completing this course, students will be able to:
Install and launch Windows PowerShell
Work with basic objects in Windows PowerShell, including using cmdlets, data types, variables, and fundamental object-based information models
Implement sequences of operations by putting them together into a pipeline
Control the formatting of the resultant set of objects that are emitted at the end of a pipeline
Implement sequences of operations by putting them together into a script
Implement flow control within scripts and define functions and filters to help modularize complex scripts
Manipulate files and registry values
Manage disk storage volumes, shadow copies, shared folders, Terminal Services and IIS properties using WMI in Windows PowerShell
Administer and maintain Active Directory directory services and IIS 7.0 Web sites using Windows PowerShell
Module 1: Introduction to Microsoft Windows PowerShell
This module explains how to check your system for prerequisites for Windows PowerShell, use Server Manager to install Windows PowerShell architecture, confirm installation, and use Windows PowerShell commands to customize the Windows PowerShell environment.
Lessons
Introduction to Windows PowerShell
Installing Windows PowerShell in Windows Server 2008
Lab : Implementing Windows PowerShell
Installing Windows PowerShell
Customizing Windows PowerShell
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Describe the architecture, platforms, and prerequisites of the Windows PowerShell environment
Install Windows PowerShell using the Windows Server 2008 Server Manager
Module 2: Overview of Microsoft Windows PowerShell
This module explains basic concepts in Windows PowerShell, including objects, variables, cmdlets, and pipelines. It describes how to invoke available cmdlets and aliases, assign aliases. The module also includes demonstrations of tab expansion and basic operators.
Lessons
Overview of Objects
Working with Cmdlets
Tab Expansion, Aliases, and History
Using Variables and Types
Lab : Working with Windows PowerShell Cmdlets, Aliases, Objects, and Variables
Learning Cmdlets and Defining Aliases
Holding the Output of a Cmdlet
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Explain the fundamental relationship between information and operations that are bundled together into various classes of objects
Use the Windows PowerShell cmdlets Get-Command and Get-Help to obtain information about other cmdlets and their parameters.
Use tab expansion, aliases, and history in Windows PowerShell to get more done with less typing
Perform basic numeric and string operations using Windows PowerShell, including holding temporary values in variables
Module 3: Building Pipelines for Assembly-Line Style Processing
This module explains how to use a pipeline to connect the output of one cmdlet to the input of another, reorder objects, and filter objects based on specific properties. Arrays and their uses are also discussed.
Lessons
Lessons
Using Pipelines
Using Arrays
Filtering and Iterating Through the Pipeline
Reordering Objects in a Pipeline
Lab : Implementing Pipelines in Windows PowerShell
Evaluating Process Properties Using the Get-Member Cmdlet
Calculating Process Memory Usage
Using Associative Array Variables
Sorting and Selecting Elements from a Resultant Set of Data
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Connect the output of one cmdlet to the input of another cmdlet as a method of building sequences of processing relationships toward a goal
Define arrays of data and hold cmdlet and pipeline results in an array
Filter objects that are flowing through a pipeline by using cmdlets such as Where-Object
Reorder objects and choose specific properties to filter objects that are coming down a pipeline by using the Sort-Object cmdlet and Select-Object cmdlets
Module 4: Managing Processes and Formatting Cmdlet Output
This module explains how to choose a format in which to present data that is appropriate to the data set, format specific process properties, such as memory usage or CPU time, and use custom formatting. It also describes how you can view, start, and stop processes and services.
Lessons
Managing Windows Processes with Microsoft Windows PowerShell
Formatting Cmdlet Output
Lab : Output Formatting and Process Control with Windows PowerShell
Implementing Basic Formatting Control
Formatting with the -f Operator
Implementing Advanced Formatting
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Monitor and control services and processes running on Windows operating systems
Present information with specific formatting through the use of formatting operators and cmdlets
Module 5: Introduction to Scripting with Microsoft Windows PowerShell
This module explains how to write and modify scripts to perform a sequence of cmdlets. Security and working with credentials are also discussed.
Lessons
Writing Windows PowerShell Scripts
Script Parameters
Security in Windows PowerShell
Customizing Windows PowerShell with Profiles
Lab : Implementing Scripts in Windows PowerShell
Writing and Running a Script
Customizing Profiles
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Design, write, and test sequences of operations and cmdlets using sequences, variables, and pipelines
Use parameters to pass additional data to a script in a structured way
Establish security with adequate execution policy and script signing
Customize profile files and describe the scope of profile files
Module 6: Implementing Flow Control and Functions
This module explains how to move scripts into functions and add functions to profiles. Flow of execution based on a common input, iterating in general and iterating through an array or collection are also discussed.
Lessons
Controlling the Flow of Execution Within Scripts
Iteration Flow Control
Developing and Using Functions
Lab : Implementing Functions and Flow Control in Windows PowerShell
Adding Flow Control in a Script
Creating Functions
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Use Windows PowerShell flow control language features to implement choices in scripts
Use Windows PowerShell flow control language features to implement repetition in scripts
Define functions to encapsulate a sequence of operations
Module 7: Working with Files, the Registry, and Certificate Stores
This module explains how to write scripts that perform specific tasks, such as searching files for particular text and modifying all matching files, or searching the event logs for events that match specific criteria. It also describes how to access data stores, the file store, the registry, certificate stores, and other stores, use wildcards and regular expressions, and import and export aliases and objects.
Lessons
Using Data Stores
Using Providers
Filtering and Selecting with Regular Expressions
Implementing Event Log Management
Persisting Objects in Files
Lab : Working with Files, the Registry, and Certificate Stores
Searching for Certain Files
Modifying Registry Entries
Generating Reports
Generating Reports on the Security Log
Comparing Files
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Use providers and cmdlets to access folders and files
Use providers and cmdlets to access registry keys and values, and public key certificate stores and certificates
Filter the set of files, values, or certificates with which to work, based on patterns in their attributes or content
Implement filtering techniques when using the Get-EventLog cmdlet
Move aliases and objects from Windows PowerShell memory (that is, RAM) in and out of files
Module 8: Managing the Windows Operating System Using Microsoft Windows PowerShell and WMI
This module explains how to use WMI to access system features, enumerate, defragment, and mount disk volumes in Windows PowerShell. Listing and configuring volume shadow copies, listing and creating shared folders with WMI, and configuring Terminal Services and IIS properties are also discussed.
Lessons
Introduction to WMI and WMI Objects
Managing Disks and Disk Volumes Using Windows PowerShell with WMI
Managing Shadow Copies Using Windows PowerShell with WMI
Managing Shared Folders with Windows PowerShell
Managing Terminal Services with WMI
Managing IIS 7.0 with WMI
Lab : Managing the Windows Operating System with Windows PowerShell and WMI
Using WMI Classes in Windows PowerShell
Using WMI Type Accelerators
Managing Disk Volumes in Windows PowerShell
Defragmenting Disk Volumes Using Windows PowerShell
Managing IIS 7.0 Properties Using WMI
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Use Get-WMIObject to retrieve WMI data from a local or remote system
Perform some common administrative tasks using Windows PowerShell and WMI
Manage volume shadow copies using Windows PowerShell
Manage shared folders using Windows PowerShell
Configure Terminal Services via WMI in Windows PowerShell
Administer IIS 7.0 with Windows PowerShell
Module 9: Administering Active Directory with Microsoft Windows PowerShell
This module explains how to write scripts to perform Active Directory administration tasks such as changing the domain functional level, moving FSMO roles, and creating and modifying objects such as groups and user accounts. Managing relationships between user accounts and groups is also demonstrated.
Lessons
Administering Domains and Forests Using .NET Objects
Managing User Accounts and Groups Using ADSI
Managing Relationships Between Users and Groups
Web Administration Using IIS 7.0
Lab : Administering Active Directory with Windows PowerShell
Managing Active Directory Domain and Forest Properties
Maintaining Active Directory with ADSI
Maintaining Relationships in Active Directory with ADSI
Managing IIS 7.0 with the .NET Web.Administration.ServerManager Class
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Administer Active Directory domain and forest roles and functionality using Windows PowerShell with .NET objects
Manage Active Directory-based user accounts and groups using the ADSI in Windows PowerShell
Manage relationships between user accounts and groups in Active Directory
Administer IIS 7.0 with Windows PowerShell
Module 10: Administering Group Policy in Microsoft Windows PowerShell Using COM
This module explains how to write scripts to perform Active Directory administration tasks such as changing the domain functional level, moving FSMO roles, and creating and modifying objects such as groups and user accounts. Managing relationships between user accounts and groups is also demonstrated.
Lessons
Managing GPOs Using the GPMC COM Interface
Managing Group Policy Objects
Reporting Group Policy
Lab : Administering Group Policy in Microsoft Windows PowerShell
Retrieving a GPO by Using a COM Object
Copying Group Policy Settings
Backing Up and Restoring a GPO
Generating Group Policy Reports
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Manage GPOs in an Active Directory environment using Windows PowerShell
Search, back up, and restore Group Policy Objects (GPOs) using Windows PowerShell
Generate reports of Group Policy in Windows PowerShell
