Instant Windows PowerShell

Manage and automate your Windows Server Environment efficiently using PowerShell

Overview

• Learn something new in an Instant! A short, fast, focused guide delivering immediate results
• Learn to use PowerShell web access to secure Windows management anywhere, any time, on any device
• Understand to secure and sign the scripts you write using the script signing feature in PowerShell
• Learn how to manage and Secure Active Directory environment

In Detail

Windows PowerShell comprises numerous major features that extend its use, advance its usability, and allow you to control and manage Windows-based environments.

Windows PowerShell is backward-compatible. Cmdlets, providers, modules, snap-ins, scripts, functions, and profiles that were designed for Windows PowerShell 2.0 work in Windows PowerShell 3.0 without any changes.

A practical, hands-on guide that provides you with a number of clear step-by-step exercises which will help you take advantage of the real power that is Windows PowerShell.

Starting by listing the security features of PowerShell, this book goes on to break down the mystery and confusion that surrounds which feature to use and when. It will take you through a number of clear, practical sections that will help you to take advantage of PowerShell, easily and quickly.

You will also learn how to use PowerShell for file and folder management in a Windows Server Environment. The book will also also show you how to use PowerShell Web Access for secure Windows Management anywhere, any time, on any device.

Learn how to secure and sign the scripts you write using the script signing feature in PowerShell, understand how to use PowerShell to secure and administer a PKI environment, and discover how to use a BPA module to analyze the security integrity of a system as per Microsoft requirements. If you want to take your first step into PowerShell to secure your Windows environment, then this is the book for you.

What you will learn from this book

• Learn to set up and configure PowerShell on Windows Server 2012
• Discover how to use PowerShell web access for efficient and secure Windows Management
• Secure and sign the scripts you write using the script signing feature in PowerShell
• Manage and secure the Active Directory environment
• Understand the features included in Microsoft PowerShell Security module and how to secure your Network using Net Security Module
• Employ PowerShell to securely manage your VPN environment

Approach

Get to grips with a new technology, understand what it is and what it can do for you, and then get to work with the most important features and tasks. A practical, hands-on tutorial approach that explores the concepts of PowerShell in a friendly manner, taking an adhoc approach to each topic.

Who this book is written for

If you are an administrator who is new to PowerShell or are looking to get a good grounding in these new features, this book is ideal for you. It's assumed that you will have some experience in PowerShell and Windows Server, as well being familiar with the PowerShell command-line.

Vinith Menon

Vinith has over six years of experience in the IT industry. At the beginning of his career, he worked with Wipro Technologies as a senior systems engineer, managing a datacenter consisting of Windows servers and VMware virtualized environment. He was also extensively involved in automation using VBScripting.

Later in his career, he worked with Accenture as a senior software engineer, managing Microsoft Hyper-V and NetApp storage environment for Avanade.

He has done automation for tasks that required manual work using System Center Orchestrator and integrated them with PowerShell to deliver outstanding automation results for Avanade.

He also has experience in building Orchestrator Integration Packs using PowerShell for Microsoft System Center Orchestrator. He has extensive knowledge in Hyper-V, SCVMM, and other system center technologies. He has deep technical expertise in PowerShell scripting, Server Administration, Network Management, and Active Directory.

He is currently working as a technical marketing engineer with the Microsoft Business Unit at NetApp. He also works closely with the NetApp Engineering and Product Management team and helps in the automation of various tasks using PowerShell scripting, Microsoft Hyper-V virtualization, and System Center Technologies, such as SCSM, SCOM, and SCORCH 2012.

As a subject matter expert in Hyper-V and PowerShell, he blogs and supports the NetApp PowerShell community.

He is very passionate about automation and PowerShell scripting, and you can find him frequently blogging about virtualization, PowerShell, and automation on his personal blog, www.vinithmenon.com.

He is a Microsoft-certified IT professional and also holds a NetApp-certified Data Management Professional certification.

He has also taken sessions at the PSBUG (PowerShell Bangalore users group) about PowerShell, cloud computing, and server virtualization.