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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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