Windows PowerShell - Billings .NET User Group - August 2009

Windows PowerShell
John Clayton
http://codemonkeylabs.com/

Next generation command line shell
Processes objects instead of plain text
Large set of built-in commands
Consistent command parser
Scripting language
Designed for managing .NET objects
Provides a consistent environment for using cmdlets
Supports complex tasks without making simple tasks more complex
What is it?

Built on .NET
Underlying objects are .NET
Extensible via cmdlets, providers, & host applications
Targeted at IT professionals
Supported by the latest server products
An astonishing amount can be accomplished without any programming
TechNet Script Center has hundreds of resources
What is it? (cont.)

Using Windows PowerShell
Prepare to be amazed

All commands use a Verb-Noun syntax
Self-describing, discoverable environment
Tab expansion
Command aliases
Brings in native applications & utilities
Object pipeline
Formatting
Navigation
Filtering
Scripting
The Shell

Get-Command

Get-Help

Get-PSDrive

Get-Member

Command Aliases

Native Applications

Object pipeline

Formatting

Navigation

Filtering, Looping, & Selecting

Scripting

Extending Windows PowerShell
If built in it is not, make it you shall

Creating Cmdlets
In a class library reference System.Management.Automation
Hint: It’s not in the GAC!

Creating Cmdlets
In a class library reference System.Configuration.Install

Creating Cmdlets
Add a class and build your cmdlet

Creating Cmdlets
Add a class and build your snap-in

Creating Cmdlets
From an administrative Visual Studio command prompt navigate to your output directory and install your assembly
Gotcha: On a 64-bit system you’ll need to use the 64-bit version of InstallUtil.exe

Creating Cmdlets
Launch a new instance of PowerShell
View the registered snap-ins:
Get-PSSnapIn –Registered
Register the snap-in:
Add-PSSnapIn

Creating Cmdlets
Export the current console:
Export-Console
Include the exported file in your project
Set it to always copy to the output directory

Creating Cmdlets
In the project properties set the debug action to start powershell.exe
In the command line arguments specify your console export file using the –PSConsoleFileflag

Creating Cmdlets

Hosting PowerShell
Create a new windows forms application
Add a reference to System.Management.Automation and your snap-in project

Hosting PowerShell
In the form use a RunspaceConfiguration instance to add your snap-in, then create and open the runspace

Hosting PowerShell
Using the runspace create and invoke a pipeline
Remember that Get-Proc is returning a collection and not individual items!

PowerShell 1.0
Included in Windows Server 2008
Separate download for Windows XP SP2, Windows Server 2003, & Windows Vista
PowerShell 2.0
Included in Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 R2
RC available for Windows XP SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Vista SP1, & Windows Server 2008
Where do I get it?

http://blogs.msdn.com/PowerShell/
http://bit.ly/powershell-ebook
http://bit.ly/scriptcenter
http://bit.ly/poshtweet
http://bit.ly/easy-powershell
Resources