I recently was able to upgrade my VMware server so that I can now fully use the PowerCLI tool set. This is fantastic PowerShell goodness that I hope to use and write about much more in the future. Part of my upgrade process includes upgrading the VMToools install on the virtual machines. But what wasn’t…
Tag: Scripting
PowerShell Picasso
You have probably heard the story (or legend) about Pablo Picasso and his napkin drawing. A guy goes up to Picasso in a cafe and asks for an autograph or something. Picasso sketches out something in a minute or so. He turns to the guy and says, “That will be $10,000".” The guy is stunned…
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…
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…
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…
All Hail Dir UseALot!
Some of you know my relationship with the a command prompt goes back a long, long way. Naturally I became very adept at using the DIR command, fully taking advantage of its switches to tease out hidden information or to quickly get just the information I wanted. When PowerShell first came out, I made the…
TechMentor Spring 2010
If you are thinking about what conferences to attend next year, I hope you’ll consider joining me in Orlando for the Spring TechMentor show. The show runs March 8-12, 2010 in sunny Orlando, FL. This is a great show where you can take away a ton of information that you can put to work immediately….
Pre-Orders for Windows PowerShell 2.0: TFM
SAPIEN Press is now taking pre-orders for the latest edition of the popular Windows PowerShell: TFM. The new version, Windows PowerShell 2.0: TFM is really the 3rd edition of our original book. Don Jones and I have worked very hard to make this the most comprehensive PowerShell resource you can have on your book shelf….
Is It Friday Yet?
Some days the week just seems to drag on and on and on….Like many of you, I can’t wait for the end of the work day on Friday afternoon. But how much longer is it until I can say, in a cliche ridden fashion, “TGIF!” Fortunately I have PowerShell to give me a pretty accurate…
PModem and Folder Listings
PowerShell MVP Oisin Grehan posted a very promising PowerShell module the other day. He calls it the PModem File Transfer Protocol. It is based on the old bulletin board file transfer protocols of the late 20th century, which I have to admit I fondly remember using. Of course Oisin’s work intrigued me and after playing…
PowerPack Challenge 2009 Judge
If you are an active member of the PowerShell community you may have already seen this announcement, but just in case you haven’t, Quest Software and the guys behind PowerGUI are running their annual PowerPack challenge. You could win a $1000 Amazon gift card. The contest ;runs from October 19, 2009 until November 15th 2009,…