Windows 7 Powershell

[ph4t3]

So i was fiddling around in windows 7 and came across "Powershell". Started playing around with it a bit...couldn't do anything really exciting with it.

So how is this different from your conventional command prompt? Anyone give this a go? And what are "cmdlets"?

 

[dj_jyno]

It's basically a command line on steroids. Windows XP has it as a separate download. Quoted from the Quick Start guide:

Unlike most shells, which accept and return text, Windows PowerShell is built on top of the .NET common language runtime (CLR) and the .NET Framework, and accepts and returns .NET objects. This fundamental change in the environment brings entirely new tools and methods to the management and configuration of Windows.
Windows PowerShell introduces the concept of a cmdlet (pronounced "command-let"), a simple, single-function command-line tool built into the shell. You can use each cmdlet separately, but their power is realized when you use these simple tools in combination to perform complex tasks. Windows PowerShell includes more than one hundred basic core cmdlets, and you can write your own cmdlets and share them with other users.
Like many shells, Windows PowerShell gives you access to the file system on the computer. In addition, Windows PowerShell providers enable you to access other data stores, such as the registry and the digital signature certificate stores, as easily as you access the file system.

 

[ph4t3]

Aha, so its a more customizable shell in layman's terms?

 

[dj_jyno]

Looks like it. Installed it on my PC, but haven't played around with it yet.

 

[Asha'man X]

I've lightly played with it, I think it's pretty awesome. You can do a host of things with it that you can't do with the normal command line. It's used a lot in the server world, and most of Microsoft's future server products will be built on top it (at least the management interfaces that is).

In many ways it was created to replace the old normal command prompt, and to lure over the Unix script heads who love Bash so much.

 

[xrapidx]

slightly off-topic - I thought MS were going to release a non-gui os?

 

[ph4t3]

So gone are the days of running .bat scripts?

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

I've lightly played with it, I think it's pretty awesome. You can do a host of things with it that you can't do with the normal command line. It's used a lot in the server world, and most of Microsoft's future server products will be built on top it (at least the management interfaces that is).

In many ways it was created to replace the old normal command prompt, and to lure over the Unix script heads who love Bash so much.

Very true. M$ even alias many of the BASH commands to make it easier for sysadmins to port scripts between OS's.

The command line is a very powerful and productive method of getting things done. Even in M$ courses (MSCE) there is a lot of focus on using the command line.

Powershell is a way overdue enhancement. If your one of the many that ask "But how can the command line be better?" well then I guess you will never understand and do not use your PC in a way to actually benefit from it.

 

[MielieSpoor]

So gone are the days of running .bat scripts?

Kindoff

slightly off-topic - I thought MS were going to release a non-gui os?

There is a version of Server 2008 R2 that you can use only Powershell to manage your server. I don't have all the details but I have heard it not to long ago. I'm going to bed now so I'm not going to do a search on it, but you are welcome to if you need more info...

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

Heard of the Server2008 install with Powershell only. Spoke to a sysadmin about it a while back its a great product.

Its very popular for dedicated servers that run email, web hosting etc.

 

[Asha'man X]

The GUI less Server os is called a Core install, came out with the original Server 2008. It actually doesn't have Powershell as the command prompt, just the normal old one. To actually install Powershell requires an insanely long string of commands. Hell, to install the IIS web server and some components required over 900 odd characters in one command.

I look forward to learning Powershell sometime soon, I think I'm going to need it in the near future.

 

[Drake2007]

I'm subscribed to this,Prof. Powershell emails you tips and code examples.

 

[xrapidx]

There's a standard command line utility to mount a folder as a drive in Windows 2003 - anyone know what that is? For the life of me i can't remember, and I need to use it this morning.

 

[Drake2007]

There's a standard command line utility to mount a folder as a drive in Windows 2003 - anyone know what that is? For the life of me i can't remember, and I need to use it this morning.

is it subst you're looking for?

 

[thisgeek]

There's a standard command line utility to mount a folder as a drive in Windows 2003 - anyone know what that is? For the life of me i can't remember, and I need to use it this morning.

Subst.

 

[xrapidx]

Thats it - thanks - back to work

 

[Drake2007]

This might be usefull.

A collection of almost 800 PowerShell 2.0 functions and scripts, organized into modules.

•WPK: Create rich user interfaces quick and easily from Windows PowerShell. This goes beyond WinForms.
•TaskScheduler: List scheduled tasks, create or delete tasks. The name says it all.
•FileSystem: Monitor files and folders, check for duplicate files, and check disk space.
•IsePack: Scripts for the Integrated Scripting Environment with over 35 shortcuts
•DotNet: Explore loaded types, find commands that can work with a type, and explore how you can use PowerShell, DotNet and COM together
•PSImageTools: Convert, rotate, scale, and crop images and get image metadata
•PSRSS: Use the FeedStore from PowerShell, and I’m not talking about horses.
•PSSystemTools: Get Operating System or Hardware Information
•PSUserTools: Get the users on a system, check for elevation, and start-processaadministrator
•PSCodeGen: Generates PowerShell scripts, C# code, and P/Invoke