M10325 Automating Administration with Windows PowerShell 2.0

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.

Delegates will learn how to
Explain how Windows PowerShell works
Use Windows PowerShell as an interactive, command-line shell
Use Core Windows PowerShell cmdlets for everyday purpose
Customize the output using Windows PowerShell Formatting Subsystem
Explain what Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is and how it can be used from Windows PowerShell
Manage Active Directory objects using Windows PowerShell cmdlets
Write basic Windows PowerShell scripts that execute batches of commands
Work with Windows PowerShell's background jobs and remote administration functionality.
Master the scripting language of Windows PowerShell
Use advanced techniques related to structured programming within Windows PowerShell
Automate Windows Server 2008 R2 Administration using Windows PowerShell
Identify the best practices for working with Windows PowerShell

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills to utilize Windows PowerShell for administering and automating administration of Windows based servers.

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

Windows PowerShell Technology Background and Overview
Windows PowerShell as an Interactive Command-Line Shell
Using the Windows PowerShell Pipeline
Lab : Using Windows PowerShell as an Interactive Command-Line Shell
Searching for text files.
Browsing the registry.
Discovering additional commands and viewing help.
Adding additional commands to your session.
Formatting output.
Lab : Using the Windows PowerShell Pipeline
Stopping and restarting a Windows service.
Exploring objects returned by PowerShell commands.
Processing PowerShell output.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Provide an overview of Windows PowerShell Technology.
Use Windows PowerShell as an Interactive Command-Line Shell.
Use Windows PowerShell Pipeline.

Module 2: 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

Core Cmdlets for Everyday Use
Comparison Operators, Pipeline Filtering, and Object Enumeration
Advanced Pipeline Techniques
Lab : Using the Core Cmdlets
Sorting and selecting objects
Retrieving objects remotely and saving to a file
Comparing objects with XML
Saving objects to a CSV file
Measuring a collection of objects
Exporting a collection of objects to a text file
Lab : Filtering and Enumerating Objects in the Pipeline
Comparing numbers (integer objects)
Comparing string objects
Retrieving processes from a computer
Retrieving services from a computer
Iterating through a list of objects
Lab : Using Pipeline Parameter Binding
Using advanced pipeline features
Binding properties to parameters
Working with multiple computers
Stopping a list of processes
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Identify Core Cmdlets for Everyday Use.
Explain Comparison Operators, Pipeline Filtering, and Object Enumeration
Apply Advanced Pipeline Techniques.

Module 3: 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

Understanding the Formatting System
Using the Formatting System
Lab : Using the Formatting Subsystem
Displaying calculated properties
Displaying a limited number of columns
Displaying all properties and values of objects
Viewing objects via HTML
Displaying a limited number of properties
Displaying objects using different formatting
Displaying a sorted list of objects

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Explain the Formatting System.
Use the Formatting System.

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

Windows Management Instrumentation Overview
Using Windows Management Instrumentation
Advanced WMI Techniques
Lab : Using WMI in Windows PowerShell
Building computer inventory
Discovering the WMI classes and namespaces
Generating a logical disk report for all computers
Listing local users and groups
Lab : Using Advanced WMI Techniques
Learning about WMI class capabilities
Changing properties and state on a remote service using WMI
Looking up and storing remote security event log information
Remotely checking hard disk integrity
Monitoring WMI events
Looking up static IP addresses on all computers

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Give an overview of Windows Management Instrumentation.
Use Windows Management Instrumentation.
Apply 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

Active Directory Automation Overview
Managing Users and Groups
Managing Computers and Other Directory Objects
Lab : Managing Users and Groups
Retrieving a filtered list of users from Active Directory
Resetting user passwords and address information
Disabling users that belong to a specific group
Browsing Active Directory using the AD drive and moving a user to a new Organizational Unit
Lab : Managing Computers and Other Directory Objects
Listing all computers that appear to be running a specific operating system according to Active Directory information
Creating a report showing all Windows Server 2008 R2 servers
Managing fine-grained password policies in Active Directory
Discovering Organizational Units that are not protected against accidental deletion

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Give an overview of Active Directory automation.
Manage Users and Groups using Windows PowerShell.
Manage 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

Script Security
Basic Scripts
Parameterized Scripts
Lab : Writing Windows PowerShell Scripts
Executing scripts
Using positional script parameters
Using named script parameters

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Identify security concerns associated with scripting.
Write basic scripts.
Write 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

Working with Background Jobs
Using Windows PowerShell Remoting
Lab : Working with Background Jobs
Using background jobs with WMI
Using background jobs for local computers
Receiving the results from a completed job
Removing a completed job
Waiting for a background job to complete
Stopping a background job before it completes
Working with the properties of a job
Lab : Using Windows PowerShell Remoting
Interactive remoting
Fan-out remoting
Fan-out remoting using background jobs
Saving information from background jobs

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Work with Background Jobs.
Use Windows PowerShell Remoting.

Module 8: Intermediate Scripting
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 also introduces the complete "scripting language" of Windows PowerShell, which consists of several programming constructs.

Lessons

Variables, Arrays, Escaping, and More Operators
What is Scope?
Scripting Constructs
Lab : Using Variables and Arrays
Creating variables and interact with them
Understanding arrays and hashtables
Using Single- and double-quoted strings and the backtick
Using Arrays and array lists
Using 'Contains', 'like', and 'equals' operators
Lab : Using Scripting Constructs
Processing and validating input
Working with For, While, ForEach, and Switch
Exploiting the power of the one-liner

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Use Variables, Arrays, Escaping, and More Operators.
Explain Scope.
Use Scripting Constructs.

Module 9: Error Handling, Debugging, and Modularization
This module 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 also 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

Error Trapping and Handling
Debugging Techniques
Modularization
Lab : Error Trapping and Handling
Retrieving error information
Handling errors
Integrating error handling
Lab : Debugging a Script
Debugging from the Windows PowerShell console
Debugging using the Windows PowerShell ISE
Lab : Modularization
Generating an inventory audit report
Testing network performance

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Trap and handle errors.
Apply Debugging Techniques.
Use Modularization.

Module 10: 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

Windows Server 2008 Modules Overview
Server Manager Cmdlets Overview
Group Policy Cmdlets Overview
Troubleshooting Pack Overview
Best Practices Analyzer Cmdlets Overview
IIS Cmdlets Overview
Lab : Using the Server Manager Cmdlets
Listing all currently installed features
Comparing objects
Installing a new server feature
Removing a server feature
Exporting current configuration to XML
Lab : Using the Group Policy Cmdlets
Listing all the Group Policy Objects in the domain
Creating a text-based report
Creating an HTML report
Taking Backup of all Group Policy Objects
Lab : Using the Troubleshooting Pack Cmdlets
Importing the Troubleshooting Pack module
Solving an end-user problem interactively
Solving a problem using answer files
Lab : Using the Best Practice Analyzer Cmdlets
Importing the Best Practice module
Viewing existing models
Running a Best Practices scan
Lab : Using the IIS Cmdlets
Importing the IIS module
Creating a new web site
Backing up IIS
Modifying web site bindings
Using the IIS PSDrive
Restoring an IIS Configuration

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Give an overview of Windows Server 2008 Modules.
Give an overview of Server Manager Cmdlets.
Give an overview of Group Policy Cmdlets.
Give an overview of Troubleshooting Pack.
Give an overview of Best Practices Analyzer Cmdlets.
Give an overview of IIS Cmdlets.

Module 11: 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

Using Profiles
Re-Using Scripts and Functions
Writing Comment-Based Help
Lab : Advanced PowerShell Tips and Tricks
Writing a profile script
Creating a script module
Adding help information to a function

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Use Profiles.
Re-Use Scripts and Functions.
Write Comment-Based Help.

Module 12: Practical Administrative Automation
This module allows students to practice all of the skills they have learned in this course in a series of practical, real-world tasks. These tasks will require students to use everything they have learned in this course, including the ability to discover new cmdlets and learn how they work – without using external references. This module is intended to serve as a form of "confidence course," enabling students to prove to themselves that they can return to their work environment and begin accomplishing tasks in Windows PowerShell without further instruction.

Lessons

Practical Lab Overview
Further Exploration
Lab : New User Provisioning
Creating an Active Directory user account
Adding users to security groups
Creating a home folder
Copying files to the home folder
Creating IIS virtual directories
Automating Workflow

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Apply all the skills they have learned in the course to real world tasks.