Overview

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This course empowers IT administrators to automate routine and complex tasks using PowerShell. It begins with an introduction to installing software remotely on multiple computers, followed by a hands-on approach to developing PowerShell scripts that handle end-to-end software installation processes. As you progress, you'll dive into essential PowerShell automation concepts, learning how to manipulate taskbar settings, automate system logging, and manage CSV file operations effectively. The next part of the course focuses on administering and automating service restarts. You’ll explore commandlets that manage Windows services and develop scripts that automate planned restarts across multiple servers. Additionally, you will gain insights into a project where PowerShell scripts are customized to handle real-world administration tasks, including handling XML configuration files and creating a lab setup to deploy resources in the cloud. In the final sections, you will work on server validation, report consolidation, and enhancing your scripts for remote execution. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to create and manage robust scripts that automate various administrative functions, helping you save time and minimize errors. Prerequisites include basic PowerShell knowledge and experience with Windows administration. This course is tailored for IT professionals, system administrators, and DevOps engineers who want to automate repetitive administrative tasks. Prior experience with PowerShell and Windows administration is recommended, but not mandatory.

Syllabus

PowerShell to Install Software on Multiple Remote Computers

In this module, we will explore the fundamental aspects of PowerShell and learn how to use it for installing software on multiple remote computers. We will cover basic to advanced scripting techniques to automate the installation process efficiently.

PowerShell Automation Concepts

In this module, we will dive into automation concepts using PowerShell. We will learn how to hide the date and time on the taskbar and use the PowerShell Logging module to automate system and application validation processes.

CSV File Handling with PowerShell

In this module, we will handle CSV files using PowerShell. We will perform a range of operations on CSV data, enabling efficient data manipulation and processing directly from PowerShell scripts.

Administering Planned Service Restarts

In this module, we will learn to manage Windows services with PowerShell. We'll explore essential commandlets and develop scripts for automating the planned restart of services across multiple servers.

Project Introduction

In this module, we will introduce the project and its objectives. We will examine the directory and file structure and understand the role of the XML configuration file in setting up the project parameters.

Lab Setup

In this module, we will guide you through the lab setup process. We will deploy resources and validation scripts in the cloud, ensuring you are well-prepared to execute and test your PowerShell scripts in a controlled environment.

Server Validation Script

In this module, we will cover server validation scripts. We will provide an overview and discuss the various functions used in validation, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their roles and implementations.

Report Consolidation and Code Enhancement

In this module, we will focus on report consolidation and code enhancement. We will explain the consolidation process, implement the script, and demonstrate how to enhance code with logging modules for better tracking and debugging.

Productionization of the Application Validation Tool

In this module, we will discuss the productionization of the application validation tool. We will make necessary code changes for centralized script execution, prepare the automation scripts, and demonstrate remote execution from a terminal server.