Windows Server® 2008 R2 Unleashed

Chapter 21. Automating Tasks Using PowerShell Scripting

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Understanding Shells

• Introduction to PowerShell

• Understanding the PowerShell Basics

• Using Windows PowerShell

Shells are a necessity in using operating systems. They give the ability to execute arbitrary commands as a user and the ability to traverse the file system. Anybody who has used a computer has dealt with a shell by either typing commands at a prompt or clicking an icon to start a word processing application. A shell is something that every user uses in some fashion. It’s inescapable in whatever form when working on a computer system.

Until now, Windows users and administrators primarily have used the Windows Explorer or cmd command prompt (both shells) ...