Subscribe via RSSI’m still in the process of moving my blog and domain to a new hosting service. As much as I appreciate your comments and feedback, please hold off on posting anything new for the next day or so. I’ll post something when everything is back up and running.
Power Up your R2 Server Core Shell
I’ve recently started using the Server Core option for my test servers, especially for things like domain controllers. I can get by with smaller disk and memory requirements. Once you get the server configured, there’s very little you have to do that actually requires logging on to the server. Which is good because all you…
In the Beginning and at the End was the Command Line
I just finished reading a terrific essay (or short book) on the nature of operating systems and how we interact with them. The book is In the Beginning…was the Command Line by Neal Stephenson. The book was written about 10 years ago so some of the material might seem a little dated. But for those…
Promoting Scripting and PowerShell
Last week I was interviewed on the Mind of Root podcast about what administrators can do to promote PowerShell and automation in their environments. The show is now available for streaming or download. I still think your best approach is to gently let everyone know that it’s not a matter of if you will use…
Profiling a Script
Last summer, Ed Wilson was looking for help with a small part of the book he was finishing up, Windows PowerShell 2.0 Best Practices. The topic he was working on was, “How do I know this script is safe to run?” Which is a great question and one with greater significance as more administrators come…
A Smart PSDrive Provider
I’ve been doing a lot with the ActiveDirectory module that ships with Windows Server 2008 R2 and which you can also use with the Remote Server Administration Tools on WIndows 7. As I was trying things out with the PSDrive provider I discovered something very cool.
Get Expert AD and Identity Management Information
Some of my readers may have realized I don’t blog much about Active Directory here, despite having written a book on the subject. That’s because I also blog and help moderate The Experts Community. This site, although run by Quest Software, is not a commercial site. It is intended as a community drive site centered…
Potential Pipeline Pitfall
Last week I was helping someone out in the PowerShell forum at ScriptingAnswers.com. The specific problem is irrelevant;l however I learned something in the process that will affect how I write my own PowerShell functions from now on. Not being a developer I never picked up on this subtle (at least to me) distinction. Here’s…
Promoting PowerShell
This question comes up quite often: “How can I encourage adoption of Windows PowerShell in my organization?” I periodically poll people about their adoption plans and what sort of things are standing in the way. Most of the obstacles in my opinion can be cleared with experience, exposure and education. On Twitter today, @ChuckBoyceJr was…
GUI vs CLI
I often talk about using PowerShell GUIs vs the console experience. There is certainly a place for a GUI, but sometimes you need the raw power that comes with a console session. Here’s an example.
Appending Property Values in PowerShell
This morning I helped out a fellow scripter in the PowerShell forum at ScriptingAnswers.com. He was trying to figure out an Exchange 2007 problem. He wanted to update a property value, but keep the existing property values. This seems a like a reasonable request and one that isn’t limited to Exchange. There are plenty of…
Think Objectively
A challenge many new comers to PowerShell face, especially those arriving with a VBScript background, and one that I often talk about, is shifting gears from working with text to working with objects. Here’s a good example.
Putting the Squeeze on Files with PowerShell
My December Mr. Roboto column is now online This month’s tool is a PowerShell WinForm script that uses WMI to compress files. I used PrimalForms 2009 to build the graphical interface. The interface is essentially a wizard that lets you build a WMI query to find files and compress them. Results can be logged to…
Join Me at Techmentor Orlando
I will be presenting several sessions at Techmentor in Orlando, FL March 8-12, 2010. I will be doing the following sessions: Take Back your File Server (learn about Server 2008 file management features) Top 10 Non-PowerShell CLI Tools you MUST Know (learn about other command line tools that can get the job done) Scripting, Error…
Windows PowerShell 1.0: TFM Free-eBook
Now that SAPIEN Press is on the verge of releasing Windows PowerShell 2.0: TFM (http://www.sapienpress.com/powershell3.asp), they are making the first edition version of the book available as a free e-book. While you won’t learn about new features like remoting, there’s still plenty of useful information and you can’t beat the price. You can download the…