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PowerShell and the Future of Windows Automation
1. How to Script Automate Better,
Faster, and More Efficiently
Don Jones • Concentrated Technology
2. The Past
• We had one server. Maybe a
handful.
• We clicked buttons and
checkboxes to manage them.
• We were happy, and Windows
made networking and servers
easier than ever.
3. The Now
• We’ve got a lot more servers.
• Next, Next, Finish is taking
forever.
• We need a better way to manage
lots of servers.
4. The Future
• Servers and services are going to
become even more distributed.
• We won’t be able to lay hands
on them all, or get access to a
GUI on every one.
• So we need a better way that’s
more distributed-friendly.
5.
6. What is PowerShell?
• It isn’t a scripting language.
• It isn’t a command-line interface.
• It isn’t the Death of the GUI (altogether)
• It’s a way for Microsoft to give two very different
audiences what they each need, with a single effort.
7.
8.
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10.
11.
12. Windows “8” / PowerShell 3
• Microsoft has been promising:
Someday, we’ll make everything do-able in
PowerShell, and build GUIs on top of all that. Then
you will have a choice of which to use.
• Windows 8 is the delivery on that promise.
13. Whats’ This Mean for You?
• For close to a decade, we’ve been managing Windows
the only way we could: Mainly through the GUI.
• Management has put up with this. What choice did
they have?
• Now they have a choice.
14.
15. Choice.
• Given the choice, whatever’s more efficient will
usually become the preference - and what’s rewarded.
• You’re welcome to continue using the GUI. In a very
small org, it might not matter. It’ll be a career-
limiting choice in larger orgs where inefficiency won’t
be tolerated.
16. Choice.
• You can choose to learn
PowerShell to become a more
effective and efficient admin.
• Or you can learn to say, “would
you like fries with that?”
17. No More Console.
• Microsoft is on a mission to
remove the GUI from the
server.
• You’ll still have a GUI on your
client... but think of the “cloud”
implications.
• And PowerShell is natively
“cloud friendly” for
administration.
• Stop logging onto your servers.
18.
19. Change Happens
• We live in an industry that is based on change...
sometimes disruptive change.
• The business drivers that made an all-GUI server OS
attractive are no longer as strong...
• ...but the business drivers for better reach and
efficiency are increasing.
20.
21. Make a Battle Plan
• Start learning PowerShell.
• Start finding tasks to automate,
instead of using the GUI.
• Invest the time.
• The worst-case scenario is that
you learn a valuable new skill.
22. Here’s the Hurdle
• The GUI has taught us to click buttons to make things
happen, but we don’t always pay attention to what’s
going on underneath.
• Command-line administrators are better
administrators... not because of the CLI, but
because they know more of the underlying details.
• You’ll become better at troubleshooting, planning,
architecting, and more, all as a side effect.
23. Places to Get Started
• Learn Windows PowerShell in a Month of Lunches (visit
MoreLunches.com)
• Windows PowerShell Scripting and Toolmaking
(also MoreLunches.com)
• PowerShellCommunity.org
• ShellHub.org
(links to my blog and other resources)
• Microsoft and many others (InterfaceTT.com) offer
classes - look for a great instructor.
24.
25. And Let the Shell Teach You
• Let’s see a quick demo of how PowerShell itself can
help you learn to use PowerShell...
• If you’re willing to...
Read the Friendly Manual Help File
26. Time for Q&A
• Contact me via ITPro.ConcentratedTech.com
• Follow me on Twitter @concentratedDon
• Hit me on LinkedIn.com/in/ConcentratedDon
