6434 Automating Windows Server 2008 Administration with Windows
PowerShell
About This Course
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.
WE CAN CUSTOMIZE THIS COURSE FOR YOU, LEARN MORE.
Audience Profile
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.
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
- Maintain Group Policy using Windows PowerShell
Course Outline
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
- 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
Director 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