During my studies of Windows PowerShell, I’ve come across a great number of excellent resources for experienced admins and newbies alike. The following is a compilation of sites, book recommendations, and tools to help out anyone wanting to start working with this ridiculously powerful scripting language. Windows PowerShell comes as an optional feature in modern versions of Windows desktop operating systems such as Vista and Windows 7, and is generally installed by default on Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2. PowerShell v3 comes as part of the core operating system for Windows 8 and Windows 2012, in the form of features you install from the “turn Windows features on and off” menu. If you’re running an older version of Windows, such as XP or Server 2003, you can download PowerShell here, and get some handy PowerShell Active Directory management tools for Windows Server 2008 and earlier here.
The starred (*) items are strongly recommended for beginners or anyone new to PowerShell.
Free Resources
- PowerShell: An In-Depth Scripting Crash Course *
- Windows PowerShell Owner’s Manual *
- TechNet Webcast Series – Scripting with Windows PowerShell
- MSDN PowerShell Blog
- Don Jones’ Shellhub * (Features book recommendations, tips, and other resources from one of the foremost experts on PowerShell in the world.)
- MSDN Library – Getting Started with Windows PowerShell *
- 2012 Scripting Games Study Guide: A Resource for Learning PowerShell *
- Microsoft TechNet | Windows PowerShell
- Sapien Technologies Forum | Windows PowerShell (This site features forums for many other scripting languages as well.)
- CodePlex – PowerShell Tools for IT Admins
- IS Decisions | Everything PowerShell
- PowerGUI, a Graphical User Interface and Script Editor for Microsoft Windows PowerShell
- Microsoft’s Channel 9 | Windows PowerShell (v3) Crash Course
- KS-Soft WMI Explorer (Useful for any admin, regardless of the preferred scripting language.)
Other Recommended Resources
- PowerShell in Action, Second Edition
- Learn Windows PowerShell in a Month of Lunches
- Windows PowerShell 2.0 Best Practices
- Windows PowerShell 2.0 Administrator’s Pocket Consultant
- Don Jones’ PowerShell Book Guide
- CBT Nuggets – Microsoft Scripting Windows PowerShell *
- CBT Nuggets – Microsoft Scripting Advanced Windows PowerShell v2 *
- CBT Nuggets – Powershell 3 Foundations *
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