50025: PowerShell for Administrators (3 Days)
About this Course
This three-day hands-on class will introduce administrators to the new Windows command-line shell, Windows PowerShell. Windows PowerShell offers both a command-line interface as well as a scripting environment. With connectivity to Microsoft products such as Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Microsoft System Center Operations Manager (MOM 2007), and many more, Windows PowerShell provides a consistent interface to more easily control system administration and accelerate automation. It runs on Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008.
Audience Profile
This course is intended for IT pros.
At Course Completion
After completing this course, students will be able to:
- Use Windows PowerShell commands and navigate the Command Line Interface (CLI).
- Use pipelines and scripts.
- Manipulate data using variables and arrays.
- Create, execute, and sign scripts for security.
- Use script flow control statements.
Course Outline
Module 1: Introduction to Windows PowerShell - the Basics
This module explains the basics of Windows PowerShell, the different commands available, and how to navigate using the Command Line Interface (CLI).
Lessons
- What Is Windows PowerShell?
- Installation
- Starting Windows PowerShell
- PowerShell Commands
- Shell Function Commands
- Script Commands
- Native Commands
- Command Line Interface (CLI) Navigation
- Windows PowerShell Cmdlets
- Wlindows PowerShell Snap-Ins
- Windows PowerShell Navigation
- Drives
- Aliases
- Parameters
- Help
- Variables
- Windows PowerShell Profiles
- Creating a Profile
Module 2: The Windows PowerShell Pipeline, Scripts, and Syntax
This module covers pipelines, scripts, and the syntax needed to run commands on Windows PowerShell.
Lessons
- Pipelines
- Scripts
- Properties and Methods
- Object Sorting
- Syntax, Special Characters, and Operators
- Quotes
- Output Redirection
- Command Continuation
- Special Characters
- Operator Precedence
- Operators Galore
Module 3: Variables and Data Types, Variable Scopes, and Arrays
This module covers variables and data types, how to scope variables, and how to approach arrays.
Lessons
- Variables and Data Types
- More Data Types
- Variables with Variables!
- Environment Variables
- Get-Variable
- Set-Variable
- New-Variable
- Clear-Variable
- Remove-Variable
- Variable Scopes
- Arrays
- Associative Arrays
Module 4: Security
This module covers script execution, Group Policy, script signing, and certificate creation for security.
Lessons
- Script Execution
- Running a Script
- Execution Policy
- Group Policy for Execution
- Script Signing
- Local Certificate Authority Creation
- Signing Certificate Creation
- Signing Scripts Using Certificates
- Secure String Creation
- Whatif
- Requesting Credentials and Using Secure Strings
Module 5: Script Flow Control Statements
This module covers the Foreach and For statements, the While/Do and While/Do Until statements, branching, and other script flow control statements.
Lessons
- Foreach and For
- Foreach
- For
- While/Do While/Do Until
- While
- Do While
- Do Until
- Branching with IF and SWITCH
- IF
- Switch
- Break/Continue
- Break
- Continue
Module 6: Formatting
In this module, students will learn formatting in Windows PowerShell, including cmdlets, and how to export results.
Lessons
- Using Format-cmdlets
- Format-List (FL)
- Format-Table
- Format-Wide
- Format-Custom
- Groupby
- Group-Object
- Session Colors
- Using Sort-Object, Where-Object
- Sort-Object
- Where-Object
- Exporting Results to Files
- CSV
- XML
- HTML
Module 7: Regular Expressions
This module explains how to use Regular Expression characters.
Lessons
- Understanding Regular Expression Characters
- Using Regular Expressions
- Select-String
Module 8: Functions
This module covers functions, how to use filters, and arguments. Students will learn how to pass arguments into a script.
Lessons
- Functions, Filters, and Arguments
- Functions
- Filters
- Function Management
- Scripting with Functions and Parameters
- Passing Arguments into a Script
Module 9: Error Handling
This module covers error handling and script debugging.
Lessons
- Error Handling
- Script Debugging
Module 10: Advanced Scripting for Administrators
In this module, students will learn how to manipulate files and folders, modify registry data, retrieve event log information, and understand timer jobs.
Lessons
- Manipulating Files and Folders
- Modifying Registry Data
- Retrieving Event Log Information
- Understanding ADSI and Windows PowerShell
- Using the New-Object cmdlet
- Understanding Timer Jobs
Prerequisites
Before attending this course, students must have:
- Experience administering servers.
This module explains how to name, declare, assign values to, and use variables. It also describes how to store data in an array.