Tag Archives: Automation

Order Managing Active Directory with Windows PowerShell: TFM – Finally!

book cover Yes, its finally true. You can finally get your hands on Managing Active Directory with Windows PowerShell: TFM. The book is being printed so you can get your copy today. You can order it today at ScriptingOutpost.com in both print and ebook format. Or if you prefer the best of both worlds get both as a bundle.

Table of Contents

  1. PowerShell Crash Course
  2. PowerShell Extras
  3. Managing Local Computer Accounts
  4. Managing Local Groups
  5. Managing Active Directory with PowerShell Fundamentals
  6. Managing Active Directory Users
  7. Active Directory Password Management
  8. Managing Active Directory Contacts
  9. Managing Active Directory Groups
  10. Managing Active Directory Computer Accounts
  11. Managing Organizational Units and Containers
  12. Managing Group Policy
  13. Active Directory Security and Permissions
  14. Managing Active Directory with WMI and PowerShell
  15. Using the Active Directory PSDrive Provider
  16. Managing Active Directory Infrastructure
  17. (Appendix A) Managing Active Directory with PowerGUI

You can also download a sample chapter. This title is also available at Amazon.com.

You don’t have to wait for Microsoft before you can begin managing Active Directory with PowerShell. You can start today.

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Updated Domain Password Report

My September Mr. Roboto column covers a PowerShell script you can use to create a domain password report. I also demo’d the script at the NYC Techmentor conference this past week. Since then I realized a mistake in the way that I laid out the script. I had nested a function within another function which worked fine for most of the script when I called the outer function. However, I was also calling the nested function directly which was causing the error. The solution was to move the nested function and make it the first function in the script. This way it can be used by the other function and the rest of the script.

I’ve posted an updated version of the script at http://www.jdhitsolutions.com/scripts in the Mr. Roboto section. It will have a 1.1 version number.

Please be aware this isn’t the speediest of scripts and as with all scripts, make sure you test in a non-production environment first.

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Out-Twitter

My Out-Twitter function is available at http://blog.sapien.com/index.php/2008/06/23/out-twitter/. If you want, you can follow me @JeffHicks

I’m sure you can come with an enhancement or two, and if so, I’d love to hear about them.

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Scripting/SysAdmin Meme

[cross-posted from blog.sapien.com]

I saw that Kirk Munro called me out on on Steven Muraski’s Scripting/SysAdmin meme . Here’s my contribution to the meme.

How old were you when you started using computers?

I probably didn’t start using computers until late in college (which was a very long time ago in computer time.

What was your first machine?

My first computer experiences were with a DEC PDP-11. The first computer I truly owned myself was a Dell Inspiron P200 laptop.

What was the first real script you wrote?

I think it was a DOS 3.3 batch file to backup some files.

What scripting languages have you used?

Batch, KixTart, VBScript, Perl, PowerShell. Do WordPerfect 5.1 macros count?

What was your first professional sysadmin gig?

I worked briefly as a legal assistant which included managing the few office computers and automating a ton of paperwork.

If you knew then what you know now, would have started in IT?

IT was a later career choice that I don’t regret. I’ve met some pretty cool people, traveled and helped people. I like being behind the scenes making things happen.

If there is one thing you learned along the way that you would tell new sysadmins, what would it be?

Never stop reading and learning. You must stay on top of the IT world if you want to keep your job and get ahead. When I had to do tech interviews, I always asked what technical magazines, journals or books they liked to read. It was very clear that the candidate who read nothing was the least likely to be deficient in other areas as well.

What’s the most fun you’ve ever had scripting?

That’s a hard one. I’d have to say I get the biggest bang when I can write something that gets the most amount of work done with the least amount of code. That’s why I love PowerShell.

Who am I calling out?

Don Jones

Thomas Lee

Darren Mar-Elia

Mark Minasi

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Online PowerShell Training

Time is running out to register for SAPIEN Technologies’ online PowerShell Fundamentals training. The first class starts June 17. The class is essentially self-study with materials supplied by SAPIEN including an e-book version of Windows PowerShell: TFM 2nd ed. I’ll meet online twice a week via Webex with students to review the material. Students will also have access to a private class discussion forum at ScriptingAnswers.com

Registration closes June 13th so hurry now and check out http://www.scriptingoutpost.com/c-25-scriptinganswerscom-online-classes.aspx

The course material has some pretty specific requirements to ensure a high quality experience so please verify system compatibility before registering.

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Win a Kindle

Fellow PowerShell MPV (and former SAPIEN colleague) Don Jones is off to a new venture with Redmond Magazines’ Greg Shields. Their offering up a tasty incentive to get people involved with their new site. If you post a relevant comment to one of their blog entries you’ll be entered into a drawing for a free Amazon Kindle.

Don showed my his Kindle the last time we were together and I have to admit it is intriguing. Personally, if Amazon could add a sexy form factor ala Apple, I’d buy one in a heartbeat. Although honestly, I can barely get through books I check out of the library between work, kids, wife and everything else. But who’s going to pass up a free Kindle? Anyway, check out Don’s site and get involved.

Check out http://concentratedtech.com/content/index.php/2008/06/02/amazon-kindle-review-win-one/ for all the details.

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More CLI One-Liners

In the past I’ve posted a collection of command one-liners that get a ton of work done with (relatively) minimal effort. Many of these have come from Wayne Martin. I’ve been behind in my blogging while book writing, but I wanted to make sure you checked out his latest list at:

http://waynes-world-it.blogspot.com/2008/04/useful-command-lines.html

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