Episode 80 – Klaus Graefensteiner

A Podcast about Windows PowerShell.

Listen:

In This Episode

Tonight on the PowerScripting Podcast we interview Klaus Graefensteiner, a software tester for Rockwell

News

Want to make Windows PowerShell easier than ever to learn and master? Checkout Idera’s PowerShellPlus Professional Edition which is now available for download! The new version has vastly improved code completion and a slick interactive Learning Center. Go to www.idera.com/PodcastPeople to get your copy today!

• Vista and Server 2008 – the wait is almost over for V2! The RC is now available on the MS Connect site.
• Seattle PowerShell Script Club #2 is coming up 9/3/2009
• New beta from PowerWF lets you convert a PowerShell script directly into a workflow. As usual, they’ve got a video of the new feature(s).

Interview

Before you acquire power, you must acquire knowledge – and Quest Software has what you need! In Jeffery Hicks’ e-book, “Managing Active Directory with Windows PowerShell,” learn how PowerShell helps you master local accounts and groups, password management, security and permissions and much, much more. You’ll also learn about the PowerShell extras and out-of-the-box features that will help you control Active Directory.

Don’t wait – visit quest.com/powershellbook to register for your free copy and see why PowerShell and Quest Power GUI are the ultimate Windows management tools.

Links

• TellingMachine.com
• Working with netmon & PowerShell
• VRTA
• PSUnit
• Getting Started Guide
• When PowerShell hash table magic backfires
• Darth Enumerator
• Limitatinos of PS V2 advanced function validation rules
• Downloading historical weather station data using Advanced PowerShell functions
• Twitter.com/senf

Questions

• lmrobins: ## Can you categorize tests the same way you can with nunit?  When running the tests, can you run only specific categories or exclude specific categories?
• jasonmarcher: ## Can PSUnit return the test results as objects?  Like TestName, Result, Description
• lmrobins: ## Your work is a .net shop?  How do you plan to integrate the framework into that?  Create instances of your C# classes inside ps?
• glnsize: ## i see multiple validatescript blocks on some params… how does that work?

Resources

• PowerShell/PowerCLI help for beginners
• Finding old or unused accounts in Active Directory - Securitywhole.com
• Creating subnets in AD with PowerShell
• Convert PowerShell objects to JSON
• Brandon Shell shares some AD functions
• Get-ExchangeWhiteSpace from Shay

Tips

• Creating an XPath document in PowerShell - PowerShellCommunity.org
• Working with WMI dates

PowerScripting Live tonight!

Do you want to be interviewed on the podcast tonight? Fire up Skype, find your headset and dust off your webcam. Show up at 9:30PM EST ready to answer the question “how are you using PowerShell?” Don’t want to be on the show? That’s cool. Come hang out anyway!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/PowerScripting-Podcast

Episode 78- PowerShell MVP Kirk Munro

A Podcast about Windows PowerShell.

Listen:

In This Episode

Tonight on the PowerScripting Podcast we talk to PowerShell MVP and software developer Kirk Munro from Quest Software.

News

Want to make Windows PowerShell easier than ever to learn and master? Checkout Idera’s PowerShellPlus Professional Edition which is now available for download! The new version has vastly improved code completion and a slick interactive Learning Center. Go to www.idera.com/PodcastPeople to get your copy today!

• Joel Bennett: Announcing the Microsoft PowerShell User Group of Upstate New York
• News from the WMI blog: New default ports for WS-Management and PowerShell remoting
• PowerShell 2.0 RTM!!

• Jan Egil pointed us to news from the OCS team that there’s a PowerShell & OCS book in the works.
• Dmitry gives a little peek at what’s coming for PowerShell in SharePoint 2010
• Karl Prosser has a survey up on his site about possibly making a product out of a PowerShell “portableizer”

Interview

When it comes to scripting, you’re a warrior. But mighty warriors need mighty tools!

For awesome PowerShell scripting, nothing matches the might of Quest’s PowerGUI. Versatile and easy to use, PowerGUI helps you build commanding scripts that leverage PowerShell’s strength across the enterprise. Now, ruling your domain is easier than ever.

Is your scripting might equal to the challenge? Put the power in your hands – download PowerGUI today.

Links:

• http://powergui.org/tutorials.jspa

Questions:

• ScottMoss: ## PowerPack for SCOM in the works?
• meson: ## What powerpacks is the most requested, but does not currently exist?
• StevenMurawski: ## Anything new for PowerPack authors in the next version?
• JanEgilRing: ## For the upcoming products Exchange 2010 and Sharepoint 2010, will you make powerpacks yourself that ships with PowerGUI or would you like someone from the community to create these?
• JanEgilRing: Any hints about whats new in PowerGUI 1.9?
• StevenMurawski: ## Will there be tab completion for functions in any upcoming version?
• JanEgilRing: Version 1.9 will be fully compatible with both v1 and v2 of PowerShell?
• JanEgilRing: the reporting pack works with both Visio 2003 and 2007?
• meson: Why doesn’t anyone do providers?

SuperHero:

Resources

• Jeffrey Snover posted some links about PowerShell remoting protocol documentation
• Doug Finke wrote a cool script to generate pivot tables in Excel
• And he continues on to create sparklines using PowerBoots
• Tobias has started a series on using PowerShell in Windows 7

Gotcha

• Stack Overflow: Is there any way to terminate a hung [COM] process in Powershell?
• Steve Murawski reminds us to watch about for implicit casts!
• Doug Finke gives us a workaround for an ISE bug

Up Next: Devfarm Software Talks about PowerWF

We’re excited to have the CEO and CTO of Devfarm Software join us this Tuesday on PoewrScripting Live. Please join us to ask your questions about this cool new PowerShell workflow product.

New day for PowerScripting Live!

At least for the next 8 weeks or so we are moving our Ustream broadcasts to Tuesday nights at 9:00 EST. Tonight’s broadcast is still on but next week we will be recording on Tuesday.

Episode 50 – Ed Wilson – Microsoft Scripting Guy!

A Podcast about Windows PowerShell.

Listen:

In This Episode

Today on the PowerScripting Podcast we interview Ed Wilson, author of Windows PowerShell Step-by-Step and new Technet Scripting Guy. And as usual we’ve also got news, tips, resources and more.

News

This segment is brought to you by Idera:

Want to make Windows PowerShell easier than ever to learn and master? Checkout Idera’s PowerShellPlus Professional Edition which is now available for download! The new version has vastly improved code completion and a slick interactive Learning Center. Go to www.idera.com/PodcastPeople to get your copy today! 

• PowerShell boot camp coming up Feb 9-11 in Dallas, TX
• SAPIEN’s got a Facebook group where they are giving out coupons
• Cool blog post about executing PowerShell commands from Linux and the iPhone
• Hyper-V PowerPack Updated « Poshoholic (release notes )

Interview

When it comes to scripting, you’re a warrior. But mighty warriors need mighty tools!

 

For awesome PowerShell scripting, nothing matches the might of Quest’s PowerGUI. Versatile and easy to use, PowerGUI helps you build commanding scripts that leverage PowerShell’s strength across the enterprise. Now, ruling your domain is easier than ever.

Is your scripting might equal to the challenge? Put the power in your hands – download PowerGUI today.

Today’s interview is with Ed Wilson, a senior consultant at Microsoft Corporation and a well-known scripting expert. He is a Microsoft Certified Trainer who delivers a popular Windows PowerShell workshop to Microsoft Premier customers worldwide. He has written eight fourteen books including several on Windows scripting: Windows PowerShell Scripting Guide,Microsoft Windows PowerShell Step by Step, and Microsoft VBScript Step by Step, all published by Microsoft Press. He has also contributed to almost a dozen other books and is currently working on a PowerShell best practices book.

• Written 14 books
• His favorites:
  • Windows PowerShell Scripting Guide
  • Network monitoring & analysis
• JeffHicks : ## What is your next book going to be on?
  • PowerShell 2.0 step-by-step
• glnsize : ## why not all… what wouldn’t you do in powershell
  • WinPE
• JeffHicks : ##How much writing can you get done in a week?
• Who is Craig?
  • Scripting Guys editor
• JeffHicks : ## What’s your elevator speech to mgmt about the importance of automation and scripting?
  • allows you to be more successful with a smaller number of people
• What’s coming in the Scripting Center?
  • Friday Quick Hits
  • Series of Excel automation articles
  • “AD week”
  • Perf monitoring
• ## (mow) any plans yet for scripting games 2009 ?
• The 3000 email backlog:
  • bsonposh : ## Can I help with the emails?
  • glnsize : ## so mows the unofficial powershell scripting guy.. any plans to make that officiial
  • meson : ## what about calling for guest posts to answer some of the questions?
  • sepeck-1 : # what about starting forum topics on the scripting site that more people could try and answer?
• Vbscript and PowerShell
  • JeffHicks : ##When do you think VBScript will disappear?
  • sepeck-1 : ## Have the scripting center examples gotten better?
  • meson : ## Has the scripting guys approach gone from a vbscript to powershell mentality to a powershell native mentality?
• JeffHicks : ## The  script center used to offer script content as a CHM file. Any plans for a new version?
• JeffHicks : ## or make it searchable ala PoshCode?
• meson : ## What about links to community resources on the technet site.
• Are .net forms in Posh the next HTA?
• Links:
  • PowerShell Step-by-Step
  • Technet Script Center Forum

Resources

Admin Script Editor (which recently received Windows IT Pro’s top award) provides a true integrated scripting environment for PowerShell.  The guys at iTripoli haven’t done a great job getting the word out about Admin Script Editor so to make up for it they are offering a 50% competitive discount.  Go to adminscripteditor.com to find out if you qualify.

• Script to use for patching
• Use Visio to create simple PowerShell scripts
• PowerShell and Objects

• .NET Format String Quick Reference
• The Official Scripting Guys Forum! : Scripting : Microsoft TechNet Forums

 

Tips

 

• Discover functions in PowerShell Scripts
• Neat tip for using Get-Type

Mailbox

“Hi Jonathan & Hal,

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say how great the Powerscripting Podcast is. I’m a SysAdmin/Engineer and a confident VB scripter, and have been trying to get round to learning PowerShell properly for over a year, but never seem to have time! A colleague told me about your podcast and I’ve been listening in the car driving to and from work every day. I’m only up to episode 8 so far but it’s proving to be a great way to supplement my learning without having to interrupt the day job - keep up the good work!

Also to let you know about a script I wrote today that you may find useful - it adds ”Execute in PowerShell” options to .ps1 files’ context menu so that it’s easy to right-click and run a PowerShell script direct from Windows Explorer. It may be that someone else has already done this but I couldn’t find anything with a bit of a Google… You can find the script at http://www.poshcode.org/664.

Thanks again and all the best.

Cheers,
Nigel”

Challenge

DB4O update

• Overview
• Prizes
• Forum thread

Episode 48 / PowerScripting Live at 8pm This Thursday

Note that our normal time has moved back one hour to accommodate our esteemed guest. I just created an event on Facebook which you can add to your profile. Please RSVP that way if you plan on attending, we appreciate the metrics just for our own information, and it helps raise the buzz if you know what we mean.

thanks!

Jon + Hal

Book Giveaway: Deploying Windows Vista

Hi everyone.  We just received a copy of Deploying and Administering Windows Vista Bible in the mail and it looks awesome.  We’re going to give it away to a lucky listener at next Thursday’s PowerScripting Live event, so be sure to drop by!

Episode 41 – Jeff Hicks "I am Ironman"

A Podcast about Windows PowerShell.

Listen:

In This Episode

Today on the PowerScripting Podcast we are interviewing Jeffrey Hicks from SAPIEN Technologies. We’ve also got news, resources, and tips!

News

The news is brought to you today by iTripoli

What can you really do with PowerShell?  With Admin Script Editor the question becomes what can’t you do with PowerShell?  Besides all the advanced code generating tools this is the only tool offering a true PowerShell Forms Designer.  To illustrate what can be done the guys at iTripoli created a full-featured MP3/Podcast player written entirely in PowerShell and delivered as a single script.  Check it out at adminscripteditor.com/player.

• Interactive C# Shell – Miguel de Icaza
• DevInfra-US: PowerShell and ASP.NET Part 3

• VMware: VI Toolkit (for Windows): Announcing the winners of the VI Toolkit Scripting Contest!

• PowerShell Team Blog : PowerShell vs TSQL & Why Learn PowerShell

Interview

This segment is brought to you by Idera

What’s better than getting the new version of PowerShellPlus for $79? …… Getting it for FREE! … Dr. Tobias Weltner, well-known PowerShell guru, has partnered with Idera Software to bring you PowerShellPlus Professional Edition. The new version has vastly improved code completion and a slick interactive help center.  Idera is offering listeners of this podcast a special deal. Download the beta during the month of September and while supplies last, you will get PowerShellPlus for free! To get this offer, go to www.idera.com/podcastpeople to download the beta.

Questions for our guest:

1. Been in IT for 17 yrs, deployment, AD, Exchange.
2. Works for SAPIEN full time as a Scripting Guru
3. PowerShell MVP
4. Columns
   1. Mr. Roboto column for Redmond Mag (http://redmondmag.com)
   2. "Professor PowerShell" for MCP Mag.
   3. Realtime Publishers, "Practical PowerShell"
5. Latest book: Managing Active Directory with PowerShell: TFM
   1. ADSI
   2. Quest cmdlets, SDM, PSCX
6. glnsize : ##really quest over [adsi], did i hear that right
7. rfoust : ## what’s the coolest script you’ve written
8. Pasdargent : ## What need did PowerShell immediately meet for you that VBScript lacked?
9. gaurhoth : ## Do you personally prefer VBScript or Powershell at this point?
10. glnsize : ##what is your "wish microsoft would do that" cmdlet
    1. Get-Beer!
11. Kryten: The Sapien Powershell Online Training. How did he feel it went? Will there be more courses? How does he think it might be improved?
12. Kryten: Will there be any possibility of training in Europe? Tell us more about these ‘Boot Camps’ they run.
13. Kryten: What can we say to our employers to get them to buy this training?
14. Kryten: Why not issue training certificates Eg Sapien Certified Powershell Scripter(!). Something that we can stick in out resume’
15. trac3r726 : ## How much to they Cost?
    1. go to ScriptingOutpost.com or ScriptingTraining.com
       
16. meson : ## Will they ever come to Atlanta?
17. rfoust : ## is on-site training available?
    
18. Kryten: Where are ppl going WRONG when they try to learn Powershell? What are the 5 biggest mistakes, or misconceptions that walk into his classroom?
19. aleksandar : ## if jeff can improve something in quest cmdlets what would that be?
    1. They need infrastructure cmdlets. The cmdlets there are great, but there’s nothing for creating sites, subnets, replication, etc.
       
20. jpavleck : ## What is the huge difference between x86 and x64 snapins, and why aren’t there any available for x64
21. rfoust : ## whats the best way to handle script revision management in a large environment?  subversion?
    1. source control
    2. PrimalScript does support VSS, SVN and others
       
22. jpavleck : ## How do you figure out if you should be using a vbscript, posh or a C# app – especially when it comes to going overboard with a posh script
    1. JH: very good question, will be future blog post
    2. vbscript: end user related, login scripts, configuring user’s desktop
    3. powershell: managing server, services, resources, disks
    4. compiled: run something as a service
       
23. rfoust : ## how to determine when to write a script or a function?
24. meson : ## Do you have problems with wanting to write scripts for CTP2 but having to write version 1 scripts for the masses?
25. aleksandar : ## name the chapter in the latest book that has given you the hardest time
    1. AD permissions are HARD
    2. Group Policy chapter was time consuming and tedious
       
26. DManVid : ##  (Get-QADUser <name>).MemberOf  does not list the Primary Group of the user
27. jpavleck : ## Don’t suppose the book has anything about System Center Operations Manager in it, hrm?
28. meson : ## what application (ie robocopy) would you like to see as a cmdlet?
    1. netsh.exe
    2. DNS, DHCP
    3. (hal) 2008 new cmds
29. rfoust : ## what blogs and forums do you read on a daily basis?
    1. (get his blogroll url)
30. meson : ## So what new Sapien books are being written?
    
31. When will your book be available?
    1. By the time you hear this podcast!
       
32. Pasdargent : ## What PowerShell cmdlet or script could you not live without (day to day)?
    1. Get-Member
    2. Get-WMIObject
33. What superhero are you most like?
34. Where to find Jeff:
    1. twitter.com/jeffhicks
    2. blog.sapien.com
    3. scriptinganswers.com forums
       

Resource

This segment is brought to you by Quest

Do you have what it takes to be the ultimate script warrior? Find out with Quest’s PowerPack Challenge ’08.

Quest Software is sponsoring a PowerShell Scripting contest where you can test your skills and get paid. Just create some cool PowerShell scripts using Quest’s PowerGUI and then post them to our site. You’ll get a score and our celebrity judges will weigh in as well.

Do you have the muscle to bring home the prize? Check out the details here.

• Lance Robinson from /n software:PowerShell: send-gmail
• Data Visualization with .NetMap
  • Microsoft Research .NetMap and PowerShell
  • James O’Neill’s blog : Net maps – PowerShell and Excel
  • Using PowerShell and World Data (now a public API) with Microsoft’s NetMap free graphing libraries
    

     

• Dmitry wrote and article for Windows IT Pro on using the AD cmdlets
• New-ComplexPassword
• Hate Add-Member? (PowerShell’s Adaptive Type System to the Rescue)

One-Liner

This one-liner to start a process on a remote PC was submitted by jpavlek

([WMICLASS]"\\$computer\ROOT\CIMV2:win32_process").Create("notepad")

Come Watch PowerScripting Live!

Tonight at 9pm Eastern, Jonathan and I will be streaming live over Ustream. If you think you’ll make it, and you use Facebook, I’d really appreciate it if you sign up for the event I created.