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
  

About the Author

Dr. Holger Schwichtenberg holds a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in business informatics, both from the University Duisburg-Essen in Germany. He has had more than ten years experience as a lead developer and trainer. With his company IT-Visions.de, based in Germany, he works as a software architect, technology consultant, and trainer for leading companies throughout Europe. Holger is one of Europe’s well-known experts for .NET and Windows Scripting technologies, recognized by Microsoft as a Most Valuable Professional (MVP), a .NET Code Wise Member, a board member of codezone.de, an MSDN Online Expert, and a speaker for the International .NET Association (INETA). Based on his expertise in software  development and the Windows operating system, Holger is one of the experts in the European Union versus Microsoft antitrust case. He has published more than 30 books for Addison-Wesley and Microsoft Press in Germany, in addition to more than 400 journal articles, notably for the IT journals iX, DOTNET Pro, and Windows IT Pro. His community websites  www.dotnetframework.de and www.windows-scripting.com are members of the Codezone Premier Website program. Holger regularly speaks at professional conferences (for example, Microsoft TechEd, Microsoft IT Forum, Advanced Developers Conference, OOP, Net.Object Days, Online, BASTA, and DOTNET Conference).