M10325 Wokingham

M10325: Automating Administration with Windows PowerShell 2.0

Version: A
Length: 5 Days 
Published: October 20, 2010 
Language(s): English 
Audience(s): IT Professionals 
Level: 300 
Technology: Windows Server 2008 
Type: Course 
Delivery Method: Instructor-led (classroom)

About this Course
This course provides students with the knowledge and skills to utilize Windows PowerShell for administering and automating administration of Windows based servers. 
Audience Profile
This course is intended for IT Professionals already experienced in general Windows Server and Windows Client administration, including Active Directory administration. No prior experience with any version of Windows PowerShell, or any scripting language, is assumed.   
At Course Completion
After completing this course, students will be able to:


oExplain how Windows PowerShell works.
oUse Windows PowerShell as an interactive, command-line shell.
oUse Core Windows PowerShell cmdlets for everyday purpose.
oCustomize the output using Windows PowerShell Formatting Subsystem.
oExplain what Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is and how it can be used from Windows PowerShell.
oManage Active Directory objects using Windows PowerShell cmdlets.
oWrite basic Windows PowerShell scripts that execute batches of commands.
oWork with Windows PowerShell`s background jobs and remote administration functionality.
oMaster the scripting language of Windows PowerShell.
oUse advanced techniques related to structured programming within Windows PowerShell.
oAutomate Windows Server 2008 R2 Administration using Windows PowerShell.
oIdentify the best practices for working with Windows PowerShell.

Before attending this course, students must have:


oExperience with Windows networking technologies and implementation.
oExperience with Windows Server administration, maintenance, and troubleshooting
oExperience with Active Directory technologies and implementation, including Group Policy.
oExperience with Windows Server 2008 Web application server technologies and implementation.

Course Outline
Module 1: Fundamentals for Using Windows PowerShell v2
This module provides background on Windows PowerShell v2 and where it fits into the Windows technology family. It also covers installation and configuration of Windows PowerShell. It familiarizes students with the interactive shell console, and shows how to operate and interpret the built-in help system. This module focuses on shell`s discoverability features, including the online help system and cmdlet inventory. Finally, this module describes how the Windows PowerShell pipeline works at a basic level.
Lessons 
oWindows PowerShell Technology Background and Overview
oWindows PowerShell as an Interactive Command-Line Shell
oUsing the Windows PowerShell Pipeline
Lab : Using Windows PowerShell as an Interactive Command-Line Shell
oSearching for text files.
oBrowsing the registry.
oDiscovering additional commands and viewing help.
oAdding additional commands to your session.
oFormatting output.
Lab : Using the Windows PowerShell Pipeline
oStopping and restarting a Windows service.
oExploring objects returned by PowerShell commands.
oProcessing PowerShell output.
After completing this module, students will be able to:
oProvide an overview of Windows PowerShell Technology.
oUse Windows PowerShell as an Interactive Command-Line Shell.
oUse Windows PowerShell Pipeline.


Module 2: Understanding and Using the Formatting System
This module explains how the PowerShell formatting subsystem works, and shows how to customize the output of cmdlets. It covers the rules that the shell follows for formatting objects by default, and explains how to use the four formatting cmdlets - and their parameters - to customize and control the output displayed on-screen or written to a file, printer, or other output destination.
Lessons 
oUnderstanding the Formatting System
oUsing the Formatting System
Lab : Using the Formatting Subsystem
oDisplaying calculated properties
oDisplaying a limited number of columns
oDisplaying all properties and values of objects
oViewing objects via HTML
oDisplaying a limited number of properties
oDisplaying objects using different formatting
oDisplaying a sorted list of objects
After completing this module, students will be able to:


oExplain the Formatting System.
oUse the Formatting System.
Module 3: Core Windows PowerShell Cmdlets
This module describes several core cmdlets that are used in many different administrative tasks. This module also covers the basics of filtering objects that are in the PowerShell pipeline. It explains advanced pipeline techniques including pipeline parameter binding and in-pipeline object manipulation.
Lessons 
oCore Cmdlets for Everyday Use
oComparison Operators, Pipeline Filtering, and Object Enumeration
oAdvanced Pipeline Techniques
Lab : Using the Core Cmdlets
oSorting and selecting objects
oRetrieving a number of objects and saving to a file
oComparing objects using XML
oSaving objects to a CSV file
oMeasuring a collection of objects
Lab : Filtering and Enumerating Objects in the Pipeline
oComparing numbers (integer objects)
oComparing string objects
oRetrieving processes from a computer
oRetrieving services from a computer
oIterating through a list of objects
Lab : Using Pipeline Parameter Binding
oUsing advanced pipeline features
oWorking with multiple computers
oStopping a list of processes
oBinding properties to parameters
After completing this module, students will be able to:
oIdentify Core Cmdlets for Everyday Use.
oExplain Comparison Operators, Pipeline Filtering, and Object Enumeration
oApply Advanced Pipeline Techniques.
Module 4: Windows Management Instrumentation
This module explains what Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is, how it works, and how it can be used from within Windows PowerShell. It describes the structure and security of WMI, and how to query WMI information both from local and remote computers. It also explains how to invoke WMI methods to accomplish configuration changes and other tasks, and how to write commands that respond to WMI events triggered by the operating system.
Lessons 
oWindows Management Instrumentation Overview
oUsing Windows Management Instrumentation
Lab : Using WMI in Windows PowerShell
oBuilding computer inventory
oDiscovering the WMI classes and namespaces
oGenerating a logical disk report for all computers
oListing local users and groups
After completing this module, students will be able to:


oGive an overview of Windows Management Instrumentation.
oUse Windows Management Instrumentation.
oApply advanced Windows Management Instrumentation techniques.
Module 5: Automating Active Directory Administration
This module introduces the concept of Active Directory administrative automation. It explains how to retrieve, create, modify, move, and remove objects in the Active Directory. It focuses on PowerShell-centric techniques rather than scripting, and heavily leverages on basic and advanced pipeline techniques covered in previous modules.
Lessons 
oActive Directory Automation Overview
oManaging Users and Groups
oManaging Computers and Other Directory Objects
Lab : Managing Users and Groups
oRetrieving a filtered list of users from Active Directory
oResetting user passwords and address information
oDisabling users that belong to a specific group
Lab : Managing Computers and Other Directory Objects
oListing all computers that appear to be running a specific operating system according to Active Directory information
oCreating a report showing all Windows Server 2008 R2 servers
oManaging fine-grained password policies in Active Directory
oDiscovering Organizational Units that are not protected against accidental deletion
After completing this module, students will be able to:


oGive an overview of Active Directory automation.
oManage Users and Groups using Windows PowerShell.
oManage Computers and Other Active Directory Objects using Windows PowerShell.
Module 6: Windows PowerShell Scripts
This module introduces basic Windows PowerShell scripts that execute a batch of shell commands in a single operation. It points out the security concerns associated with scripting, and how to configure and control the shell`s security settings that relate to scripting. It also explains how to write basic scripts that execute batches of commands, and how to parameterize scripts in order to make them more flexible in a variety of situations.
Lessons 
oScript Security
oBasic Scripts
oParameterized Scripts
Lab : Writing Windows PowerShell Scripts
oExecuting scripts
oUsing positional script parameters
oUsing named script parameters
After completing this module, students will be able to:


oIdentify security concerns associated with scripting.
oWrite basic scripts.
oWrite parameterized scripts.
Module 7: Background Jobs and Remote Administration
This module explains how to work with Windows PowerShell`s background jobs and remote administration functionality. It shows how to create, monitor, and manage local background jobs, and receive results from completed jobs. It also covers how to configure Windows PowerShell remoting both locally and in a domain environment. This module describes how to create and manage session connections to remote computers, and explain how to use those session connections in one-to-one remote shell instances as well as one-to-many remote command invocation. Finally, it shows how to invoke remote commands as background jobs, and how to manage those jobs and receive results from them.
Lessons 
oWorking with Background Jobs
oUsing Windows PowerShell Remoting
Lab : Working with Background Jobs
oUsing background jobs with WMI
oUsing background jobs for local computers
oReceiving the results from a completed job
oRemoving a completed job
oWaiting for a background job to complete
oStopping a background job before it completes
oWorking with the properties of a job
Lab : Using Windows PowerShell Remoting
oInteractive remoting
oFan-out remoting
oFan-out remoting using background jobs
oSaving information from background jobs
After completing this module, students will be able to:


oWork with Background Jobs.
oUse Windows PowerShell Remoting.
Module 8: Advanced Windows PowerShell Tips and Tricks
This module introduces several advanced Windows PowerShell techniques. While these techniques do not contribute directly to any particular business goal, they do enable more efficient use of the shell itself, which leads to more efficient administration and automation. It shows how to use profiles to consistently configure the shell environment, and how to use several techniques for effectively re-using and sharing existing modularized scripts. It also points out best practices and techniques related to script documentation.
Lessons 
oUsing Profiles
oRe-Using Scripts and Functions
oWriting Comment-Based Help
Lab : Advanced PowerShell Tips and Tricks
oWriting a profile script
oCreating a script module
oAdding help information to a function
After completing this module, students will be able to:


oUse Profiles.
oRe-Use Scripts and Functions.
oWrite Comment-Based Help.
Module 9: Automating Windows Server 2008 R2 Administration
This module gives an opportunity to complete several real-world administration tasks related to Windows Server 2008 R2. It provides minimal instruction in how to use the cmdlets and techniques required to accomplish the lab portion of this module; instead, it lets students rely on the skills they have learned in the preceding modules of this course.
Lessons 
oWindows Server 2008 R2 Modules Overview
oServer Manager Cmdlets Overview
oGroup Policy Cmdlets Overview
oTroubleshooting Pack Overview
oBest Practices Analyzer Cmdlets Overview
oIIS Cmdlets Overview
Lab : Using the Server Manager Cmdlets
oListing all currently installed features
oComparing objects
oInstalling a new server feature
oExporting current configuration to XML
Lab : Using the Group Policy Cmdlets
oListing all the Group Policy Objects in the domain
oCreating a text-based report
oCreating an HTML report
oBacking up all Group Policy Objects
Lab : Using the Troubleshooting Pack Cmdlets
oImporting the Troubleshooting Pack module
oSolving an end-user problem interactively
oSolving a problem using answer files
Lab : Using the Best Practice Analyzer Cmdlets
oImporting the Best Practice module
oViewing existing models
oRunning a Best Practices scan
Lab : Using the IIS Cmdlets
oImporting the IIS module
oCreating a new web site
oBacking up IIS
oModifying web site bindings
oUsing the IIS PSDrive
oRestoring an IIS Configuration
After completing this module, students will be able to:


oGive an overview of Windows Server 2008 Modules.
oGive an overview of Server Manager Cmdlets.
oGive an overview of Group Policy Cmdlets.
oGive an overview of Troubleshooting Pack.
oGive an overview of Best Practices Analyzer Cmdlets.
oGive an overview of IIS Cmdlets.
Module 10: Reviewing and Reusing Windows PowerShell Scripts
One of the core skills administrators need is the ability to take a script that someone else has written, review that script to understand what it does, and identify areas of that script that may need to be modified to run in their environment. Those skills are exactly what this module tries to build.
Lessons 
oExample Script Overview
oUnderstanding Scripts

After completing this module, students will be able to:
oReview a complete, real-world script.
oDevelop an expectation of what a script will do by reviewing a script.
 
Module 11: Writing Your Own Windows PowerShell Scripts
This module explains the concepts and techniques related to structured scripting and programming within Windows PowerShell. It describes how to create, manage, and use variables. It introduces the complete "scripting language" of Windows PowerShell, which consists of several programming constructs. This module also covers advanced topics and techniques related to structured programming within Windows PowerShell. It explains how to trap and handle errors that occur during script execution, and also describes the proper techniques and practices for debugging a script that is not executing as expected. It shows how to modularize scripts into a variety of reusable functions, with the ultimate goal of producing a function that mimics the structure of a shell cmdlet.
Lessons 
oVariables, Arrays, Escaping, and More Operators
oWhat is Scope?
oScripting Constructs
oError Trapping and Handling
oDebugging Techniques
oModularization
Lab : Using Variables and Arrays
oCreating variables and interact with them
oUnderstanding arrays and hashtables
oUsing Single- and double-quoted strings and the backtick
oUsing Arrays and array lists
oUsing `Contains`, `like`, and `equals` operators
Lab : Using Scripting Constructs
oProcessing and validating input
oWorking with For, While, ForEach, and Switch
oExploiting the power of the one-liner
Lab : Error Trapping and Handling
oRetrieving error information
oHandling errors
oIntegrating error handling
Lab : Debugging a Script
oDebugging from the Windows PowerShell console
oDebugging using the Windows PowerShell ISE
Lab : Modularization
oGenerating an inventory audit report
After completing this module, students will be able to:

oUse Variables, Arrays, Escaping, and More Operators.
oExplain Scope.
oUse Scripting Constructs.
oTrap and handle errors.
oApply Debugging Techniques.
oUse Modularization.