Powershell advanced scripting and administration

Create your first advanced function in PowerShell and learn to avoid hard coding by using parameters. Pass values like the computer name to make scripts reusable.

Create an advanced function with a param block to accept a computer name. Use parameter binding to improve the user experience and load the function into memory via dot-sourcing.

Convert your script into a PowerShell module (.psm1) to group functions and load them into memory when imported for use across scripts.

Explain the PowerShell module manifest as an optional text file named after the module, used to declare dependencies and minimum version, architecture, and exports, with creation and testing guidance.

Explore advanced parameter techniques in PowerShell, including defining parameter attributes, mandatory parameters, alias, and input validation to prevent errors and guide users.

define a health message for a PowerShell parameter to guide users with a clear prompt. demonstrate how to define, save, and test the message for effective usage.

Master input validation in PowerShell by enforcing length, sets, ranges, and regex patterns, and learn to pass values from pipelines for robust scripting.

Learn to enumerate multiple objects in PowerShell by using an array of computer names and a foreach loop to retrieve information from each computer.

Create a complex PowerShell output by building an inventory report of a computer, gathering operating system, BIOS, and computer system details into a structured table using hashtables and output.

Master advanced PowerShell functions by building a function that accepts multiple computer names, validates input, processes with for each, creates tables of OS and computer info, and saves the module.

Explore creating a simple menu-driven user interface in PowerShell advanced scripting, using a switch to handle choices like computer info, disk info, and running services.

Create a text-based PowerShell menu to display computer name, disk info, and services, using a switch-driven interface, functions, and iterative user input for scalable administration.

Learn to create a new PowerShell function that adds a user in active directory, including loading the active directory module and handling input parameters.

Create a PowerShell function to add a new user in Active Directory, handling username, user principal name, given name, surname, and password as a secure string with enabled status.

Master PowerShell error handling by detecting, capturing, and trapping non-terminating and terminating errors with try/catch, and control flow via error action preference (continue, silently continue, stop) and logging.

Set a breakpoint in your PowerShell script to pause execution at a chosen line, view computer and system information, and use stepping, listing, and disabling options for troubleshooting.

Explore debugging in PowerShell by setting breakpoints, stepping through code, and inspecting variables, the stack, and script state with verbose and warning outputs.

Explore how to use XML in PowerShell to retrieve and format data from files, iterate with foreach, and manage XML attributes, content, and even ping an XML resource.

Explore advanced PowerShell XML part 2 to read and manipulate content, retrieve computer IP addresses, and test connections with loops and outputs.

Learn to use PowerShell desired state configuration to configure and audit servers with push and pull deployments. Build DSC configurations to install Windows features and manage services remotely.

Explore using the dot net framework to work with PowerShell, APIs, and REST APIs, including a hands-on lab on weather data and Azure resource management via application ID.

Discover how to use the .NET framework in PowerShell scripts by exploring namespaces, classes, and members to retrieve domain data and manage output.