Powershell: How to get started.

Part 2 to this article is located here

Below is compiled to help get helpdesk, system admins/ engineers, and security personnel started on a set path to not just learn powershell but to maintain that knowledge and it is all free.

1.  Getting Started with PowerShell 3.0 Jump Start: http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-courses/getting-started-with-powershell-3-0-jump-start
2.  Advanced Tools & Scripting with PowerShell 3.0 Jump Start: http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-courses/advanced-tools-scripting-with-powershell-3-0-jump-start
3. Videos and Podcasts: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/scriptcenter/ff645400.aspx
4. Microsoft Virtual Labs (Search for powershell): http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/virtuallabs/bb467605.aspx
5. Windows PowerShell Self-Study Guide: http://blogs.technet.com/b/musings_of_a_technical_tam/archive/2012/06/04/windows-powershell-self-training-guide.aspx 

For a list of references you can always use: 

• http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/4307.powershell-for-beginners.aspx
• http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/scriptcenter/dd742419.aspx
•  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh848794.aspx
•  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee617195.aspx
•  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee461027.aspx

For a quick cheat sheet you can use/ build off of:

"Import-Module ActiveDirectory" from powershell.

if they want to see what modules are installed on the box, they can run "Get-Module -list".

Get-aduser ``"username" -properties *

  

Get-Adcomputer ``"Computername" -properties *

  

Unlock-ADAccount –identity “Username”

The following command is still required by a privileged account or higher.

"Import-Module GroupPolicy" from powershell.

  

Get-GPO -name ``"Group Policy Name"

  

Get-GPPermissions –Name “GPO Name” –``all

  

Get-GPInheritance -target ``"ou=MyOU,dc=contoso,dc=com"

  

Get-gpresultantsetofpolicy -reporttype html -path c:\gpreport

  

  

  

Get-EventLog -list

  

get-eventlog system | where-object {$_.entrytype -eq ``"error"``}

  

#Or

  

get-eventlog system -newest ``100 | where-object {$_.entrytype -eq ``"error"``}

  

#Or

  

get-eventlog system -newest ``100 | where-object {$_.entrytype -eq ``"error"``} | format-list

Note: the word "system" is in reference to the log you are reading from, you can choose any log you want and pipe it to a .txt file if you wish.

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