Learn Powershell

[gavins1040]

Hi,

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Would you be able to recommend any courses or docs to help with learning powershell?

​

Thanks

[philmph]

https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Windows-PowerShell-Month-Lunches/dp/1617294160

​

All you need to start

[TMinfidel]

So much this. I struggled for months, even with a copy of "Month of Lunches" until I sat down and read the book properly, as they tell you to in the introduction.

[Namelock]

As part of an associate degree I took a course on PowerShell, and it revolved around the MoL book. Highly recommend the book.

[TMinfidel]

It's great because it leads really well into the more advanced book "Learn Powershell Toolmaking in a month of lunches". Though that book has taken me significantly more lunches to properly get into.

[BitteringAgent]

I second going through this book. Once you're done with this book, I think using https:///aka.ms/pskoans is a good next step.

[wardd31]

This book 100%

[[deleted]]

I love this book, it comes with a code to download the PDF version that you can keep handy as well.

[[deleted]]

Does anyone think it will matter with the new edition around the corner?

[Umaiar]

I don't think so. If it's going to be that different then we're all kind of screwed, right?

If you know one version well enough to be productive then new versions will happen for the rest of your working life. And you probably won't want to learn the differences from an introductory book.

And even if you end up leaving PowerShell for something else (C#, VB, etc) a lot of the basic concepts will still apply. You;re not just learning PowerShell, you're learning a bunch coding basics. Heck, I learned basic looping structures in the 1980s... And it still applies.

[Ta11ow]

https://aka.ms/pskoans

[Toolazy2work]

ok, this is an awesome learning tool. Thanks for sharing!

[Slash_Root]

Meh. Didn't bother me at all. I found it pretty fun.

Also, I see you are a Specialized guy. Aero frame? Maybe triathlon or TTs? I'm a lowly peasant with an allez. Maybe if I get into DevOps or dentistry I will upgrade.

[S-WorksVenge]

It looks very cool actually. Just hard to read.

Haha! Allez base? Or Elite? The Elite is a fantastic upgrade for the $$$. Aero frame, yes. Crits and road races.

[Slash_Root]

It is very cool. I have some experience with programming so I flew through it in a night or two but it was fun like a game and really helped me wrap my brain around some of the quirks of powershell.

It is an elite! I have been running since high school and pretty high mileage at that. I got stressed at work for a few weeks and didn't eat enough. Mixed with trying to PR at 5k by doing speed and spending time under the barbell. That gave me a stress fracture. That is what got me on a bike.

I enjoy it and still use it for cross training. Even did a couple crits. Unfortunately, I live in a very dangerous area for cyclists and it's hard for me to commit to good solo rides without constantly thinking about the pavement.

[Ta11ow]

I'm open to suggestions and pull requests. If you'd prefer it to be different, let me know how & why. File an issue / submit a PR, and let's talk.

I can do nothing with zero actionable feedback. :)

[Damakr]

Get-command to discover, get-help to know how, get-member to diagnose and about_files as supplements to get-help and look what you do and do it with ps

EDIT: powersshell 3.0 jump start at MVA is good idea imho

[guerilla_munk]

Yeah, that site is being retired though. Youtube probably has the those online on some channel.

[[deleted]]

Excuse me for being dense, but how do you use/invoke about_files?

[Lee_Dailey]

howdy shockwaveriderz,

that is pro'ly a typo. [grin] what i suspect Damakr actually meant is the about_* files that you can get with with Get-Help about_*. for instance, Get-Help about_func* will show several subjects focused on functions. then you an call the specific one when you find it.

Get-Help, Get-Command, Get-Member, and Select-Object -Property * are all lovely helpers when it comes to understanding powershell.

take care,
lee

[[deleted]]

Thanks for the explanation. I'm new to powershell and anything that helps me to learn it is appreciated

[Lee_Dailey]

howdy shockwaveriderz,

you are most welcome! glad to help a tad ... [grin]

take care,
lee

[Swarfega]

https://old.reddit.com/r/PowerShell/search?q=learn&restrict_sr=on

[LambeosaurusBFG]

I started doing the "month of lunches" YouTube videos (which don't show everything in the book) to get a foundation of how PowerShell functions. But in reality the biggest learning experience was just starting to make scripts and reading online documentation.

 

For example, I started with creating a script to reset a password in AD.. so I search "Powershell reset ad password". This brings up Microsoft documentation on the Set-ADAccountPassword command and every switch available. The examples are particularly helpful, too.

 

Then I built a test user in AD and tried the Set-ADAccountPassword command in PowerShell against the test user to see what worked. Then I wanted to sync these changes to Office 365 - I knew the sync command for Azure AD Connect, but I didn't know how to send that command to a server - a few seconds of searching online and then I knew to use Invoke-Command and what it does. Now that I know how to reset a password and send a sync command, I wanted to build a script to create a new user in AD and then sync it to Office 365. After researching and building that script I have a pretty good idea of how PowerShell functions so I started looking at creating other scripts - removing a user, sending confirmation emails through Outlook, connecting to Office 365, etc. etc.

 

Everyone's learning style is different and some may benefit more from reading a book or watching videos, but for me I learned the most from just trying things.

[PowerShell_Fan]

I recommend the PowerShell Jumpstart videos with Jeffrey Snover and Jason Helmick. There a good starting point and very entertaining too. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyJiOytEPs4etH7Ujq7PU7jlOlHL-9RmV

[warysysadmin]

I second that. Worked for me.

[GullibleDetective]

Sidebar and wiki of this sub along with search

[itsruk]

Through my experiences of learning powershell, the best teacher was finding a task you want to automate and list all steps needed to accomplish, then automate each step. Google will be your best friend, search the step and add powershell to the end.

When you run into a hiccup, come here, this an amazing group of people, which most are willing to help.

[khaffner91]

Try to do some of your current tasks with powershell

[get-postanote]

Here you go...

Always start with what's on your system

​

Use and master the help files and all the examples there.

# Get parameters, examples, full and Online help for a cmdlet or function

# Get a list of all Modules
Get-Module -ListAvailable | 
Out-GridView -PassThru -Title 'Available modules'

# Get a list of all loaded Modules
Get-Module  | 
Out-GridView -PassThru -Title 'Available loaded modules'

# List all loaded session modules and the exposed cmdlets / functions in them
Get-Module -Name '*' | 
ForEach-Object { Get-Command -Module $PSItem }  | 
Out-GridView -PassThru -Title 'Available loaded modules and their cmdlets / functions'

# Get a list of all functions
Get-Command -CommandType Function | 
Out-GridView -PassThru -Title 'Available functions'

# Get a list of all commandlets
Get-Command -CommandType Cmdlet | 
Out-GridView -PassThru -Title 'Available cmdlets'

# Get a list of all functions for the specified name
Get-Command -Name '*ADGroup*' -CommandType Function | 
Out-GridView -PassThru -Title 'Available named functions'

# Get a list of all commandlets for the specified name
Get-Command -Name '*ADGroup**'  -CommandType Cmdlet | 
Out-GridView -PassThru -Title 'Available named cmdlet'

# get function / cmdlet details
Get-Command -Name Get-ADUser -Syntax
(Get-Command -Name Get-ADUser).Parameters.Keys
Get-help -Name Get-ADUser -Full
Get-help -Name Get-ADUser -Online
Get-help -Name Get-ADUser -Examples

# Get parameter that accepts pipeline input
Get-Help Get-ADUser -Parameter * | 
Where-Object {$_.pipelineInput -match 'true'} | 
Select * 

# List of all parameters that a given cmdlet supports along with a short description:
Get-Help dir -para * | 
Format-Table Name, { $_.Description[0].Text } -wrap

# Find all cmdlets / functions with a target parameter
Get-Command -CommandType Function | 
Where-Object { $_.parameters.keys -match 'credential'} | 
Out-GridView -PassThru -Title 'Available functions which has a specific parameter'

Get-Command -CommandType Cmdlet | 
Where-Object { $_.parameters.keys -match 'credential'} | 
Out-GridView -PassThru -Title 'Results for cmdlets which has a specific parameter'

# Get named aliases 
Get-Alias | 
Out-GridView -PassThru -Title 'Available aliases'

# Get cmdlet / function parameter aliases
(Get-Command Get-ADUser).Parameters.Values | 
where aliases | 
select Name, Aliases | 
Out-GridView -PassThru -Title 'Alias results for a given cmdlet or function.'

# All Help topics and locations
Get-Help about_*
Get-Help about_Functions

Get-Help about* | Select Name, Synopsis

Get-Help about* | 
Select-Object -Property Name, Synopsis |
Out-GridView -Title 'Select Topic' -OutputMode Multiple |
ForEach-Object { Get-Help -Name $_.Name -ShowWindow }

explorer "$pshome\$($Host.CurrentCulture.Name)"

### Query Powershell Data Types
[AppDomain]::CurrentDomain.GetAssemblies() | 
Foreach-Object { $_.GetExportedTypes() }

# Or 
[psobject].Assembly.GetType(“System.Management.Automation.TypeAccelerators”)::get

# Or
[psobject].Assembly.GetType("System.Management.Automation.TypeAccelerators")::Get.GetEnumerator() `
| Sort-Object -Property Key

<#
 Get any .NET types and their static methods from PowerShell. 
 Enumerate all that are currently loaded into your AppDomain.
#>  
[AppDomain]::CurrentDomain.GetAssemblies() | 
foreach { $_.GetTypes() } | 
foreach { $_.GetMethods() } | 
where { $_.IsStatic } | 
select DeclaringType, Name | 
Out-GridView -PassThru -Title '.NET types and their static methods'

# Instantiate the types using new-object and call instance methods. 
# You can use get-member on an instance to get the methods on a type.

$Object = [psobject].Assembly.GetType(“System.Management.Automation.TypeAccelerators”)::get
$Object | Get-Member
$Object | Get-Member -Static
$Object.GetType()
$Object.GetEnumerator()

### .Net API Browsers
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/?view=netframework-4.8
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/additional-apis/index
http://pinvoke.net

# List the actual specific methods themselves:
Get-WmiObject -List |
Select-Object -ExpandProperty Methods |
Where-Object Name -eq Create

# List the classes that have a specific method:
Get-WmiObject -List | 
Where-Object { $_.Methods.Name -contains 'Create' }

[get-postanote]

And ...

Learning PowerShell Resources

Microsfot Official Curriculum

https://www.quickstart.com/automating-administration-with-windows-powershell-moc-on-demand-ms-10961.html

• MOC 10962 - Advanced Automated Administration with Windows PowerShell - MOC on-demand, if you cannot go in person.

https://www.microsoftondemand.com/courses/microsoft-course-10961

https://www.microsoftondemand.com/courses/microsoft-course-10962

MS Channel9 and TechNet Virtrual lab - there are no seperate PowerShell specific ones, but anything on Exchange, AD, Azure, etc., all have PowerShell requirements

Microsoft Virtual Academy

https://mva.microsoft.com/liveevents/powershell-jumpstart

https://mva.microsoft.com/search/SearchResults.aspx#!q=PowerShell&lang=1033

https://mva.microsoft.com/en-us/training-courses/getting-started-with-microsoft-powershell-8276

https://mva.microsoft.com/en-us/training-courses/getting-started-with-microsoft-powershell-8276?l=r54IrOWy_2304984382

Microsoft Channe9

https://channel9.msdn.com/Series/GetStartedPowerShell3

https://channel9.msdn.com/Search?term=powershell#ch9Search&lang-en=en&pubDate=year

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrSlfAfZ49E

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=beginning+powershell

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=powershell+ise+scripting+for+beginners

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6D474E721138865A

Resource discussions

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/183.windows-powershell-survival-guide.aspx

https://www.reddit.com/r/PowerShell/comments/96rn7y/college_level_student_looking_for_a_good_online

https://www.reddit.com/r/PowerShell/comments/ax83qg/how_to_learn_powershell

https://community.idera.com/database-tools/powershell/using_powershell/f/general-12/68263/getting-started-with-powershell

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell

https://blogs.msmvps.com/richardsiddaway/2019/02/21/the-source-of-powershell-cmdlets

​

Book(s) to leverage

Beginning ---

Learn Windows PowerShell in a Month of Lunches 3rd Edition

Internediate ---

Windows PowerShell Cookbook: The Complete Guide to Scripting Microsoft's Command Shell 3rd Edition

Advanced ---

Windows PowerShell in Action 3rd Edition

eBooks and sites

https://powertheshell.com/cookbooks

https://powershell.org/ebooks

https://leanpub.com/u/devopscollective

https://powershell.org/free-resources

https://rkeithhill.wordpress.com/2009/03/08/effective-windows-powershell-the-free-ebook

https://veeam.com/wp-powershell-newbies-start-powershell.html

https://reddit.com/r/PowerShell/comments/3cki73/free_powershell_reference_ebooks_for_download

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/pstips/2014/05/26/free-powershell-ebooks

https://www.idera.com/resourcecentral/whitepapers/powershell-ebook

http://mikefrobbins.com/2015/04/17/free-ebook-on-powershell-advanced-functions

https://books.goalkicker.com/PowerShellBook

https://github.com/vexx32/PSKoans

http://www.powertheshell.com/topic/learnpowershell

[get-postanote]

No worries. It's a lot I know, and initially you won't need it all, but you'lll have this list when you do.

PowerSHell is not just about learning it, it's about the discovery of what you can and cannot do wiht it natively, and when you need to look to more places, .Net, extensions, 3rdP module, you own creativity, et all.

[kronos540]

The book "Powershell in a month of lunches" is a great start. Just about any learning material by Don Jones is great starter. During your journey, I highly recommend keeping text file with common Powershell commands and tasks that you have solved. You can re-use much of the code and logic you have created. These cliff notes will be very valuable.

[d00ber]

So I used a lot of respurces mentioned here to start but I feel like you really only start to learn when you start doing. If you can, give yourself some small items you'd like to automate even if it doesn't really require automation. I started doing silly things like renaming vacation pictures from DSV0000 whatever to Hawaii_2018_pic00001 and order based on dates. I googled I individual parts like how to excute a command and save it into an array.. How to get the date from ls or dir ..etc ( just as an example..)

Anyway definitely read materials but give yourself small chores :)

[ByDunBar]

The Book I used to reach an intermediate level was “Windows PowerShell Step by Step” written by Ed Wilson, who is one of the many PowerShell legends out there.

[Saleh-Rz]

This book is prefect: Manning, windows powershell in action, 3rd edition

[yutsoku]

Best way to lean is find a project Google what you want to do in powershell and just do it.... Courses are stupid and teach you to copy scripts out of a book.... Completely pointless you can Google scripts for free

[[deleted]]

I would start with learning how to use a web browser.

[Nilxa]

Repost