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

Preface xv

Part I: Getting Started with PowerShell

1: First Steps with Windows PowerShell 3

2: Commandlets 25

3: Pipelining 43

4: Advanced Pipelining 59

5: The PowerShell Navigation Model 81

6: The PowerShell Script Language 89

7: PowerShell Scripts 115

8: Using Class Libraries 129

9: PowerShell Tools 151

10: Tips, Tricks and Troubleshooting 171

Part II: Windows PowerShell in Action

11: File Systems 205

12: Documents 235

13: Registry and Software 253

14: Processes and Services 267

15: Computers and Hardware 281

16: Networking 295

17: Directory Services 313

18: User and Group Management in the Active Directory 335

19: Searching in the Active Directory 349

20: Additional Libraries for Active Directory Administration 361

21: Databases 373

22: Advanced Database Operations 389

23: Security Settings 401

24: Advanced Security Administration 413

PartIII: Appendices

Appendix A: PowerShell Commandlet Reference 429

Appendix B: PowerShell 2.0 Preview 445

Appendix C: Bibliography 449

Index 453