Vault™ > AZ-040T00: Automating Administration with PowerShell

Access to the Vault™ requires an active Microsoft Live Subscription.

Login Buy Subscription

AZ-040T00: Automating Administration with PowerShell

By Jason Yoder
5 Days
Live Class Recording
March 4, 2024
Courseware

Courseware is available for this class. Click here to view in a new tab/window.

Course Description

This course provides students with the fundamental knowledge and skills to use PowerShell for administering and automating administration of Windows Server, Windows Client, Microsoft Azure, and Microsoft 365. This course provides students the skills to identify and build the command they require to perform a specific task. In addition, students learn how to build scripts to accomplish advanced tasks such as automating repetitive tasks and generating reports. This course provides prerequisite skills supporting a broad range of Microsoft products, including Windows Server, Windows Client, Microsoft Azure, and Microsoft 365. In keeping with that goal, this course will not focus on any one of those products, although Windows Server, which is the common platform for all of those products, will serve as the example for the techniques this course teaches.

Course Outline

Learning Path 1: Getting started with Windows PowerShell

This Learning Path will introduce you to Windows PowerShell and provide an overview of the product’s functionality. The Learning Path explains how to open and configure Windows PowerShell. It also explains how to run commands and use the built-in Help system in Windows PowerShell.

Modules

  • Windows PowerShell overview
  • Understand Windows PowerShell command syntax
  • Find commands and get help in Windows PowerShell

Lab: Configuring Windows PowerShell, and finding and running commands

  • Configuring the Windows PowerShell console application
  • Configuring the Windows PowerShell ISE application
  • Finding and running Windows PowerShell commands
  • Using About files

After completing this learning path, students will be able to:

  • Describe key features of Windows PowerShell, and open and configure it.
  • Discover, learn, and run Windows PowerShell commands.
  • Find Windows PowerShell commands for performing specific tasks.

 

Learning Path 2: Windows PowerShell for local systems administration

This Learning Path introduces you to the different types of cmdlets commonly used for system administration. While you can search for cmdlets each time you need to accomplish a task, it is more efficient to have at least a basic understanding of these cmdlets. This Learning Path also explains how to manage Windows 10 by using PowerShell..

Modules

  • Active Directory Domain Services administration cmdlets
  • Network configuration cmdlets
  • Server administration cmdlets
  • Windows PowerShell in Windows 10

Lab: Performing local system administration with PowerShell

  • Creating and managing Active Directory objects
  • Configuring network settings on Windows Server
  • Creating a website

After completing this learning path, students will be able to:

  • Identify and use cmdlets for AD DS administration.
  • Identify and use cmdlets for network configuration.
  • Identify and use cmdlets for server administration tasks.
  • Manage Windows 10 using PowerShell

 

Learning Path 3: Working with the Windows PowerShell pipeline

This Learning Path introduces the pipeline feature of Windows PowerShell. The pipeline feature is included in several command-line shells such as the command prompt in the Windows operating system. However, the pipeline feature in Windows PowerShell provides more complex, flexible, and capable functionalities compared to other shells. This Learning Path provides you with the skills and knowledge that will help you use Windows PowerShell more effectively and efficiently.

Modules

  • Understand the pipeline
  • Select, sort, and measure objects
  • Filter objects out of the pipeline
  • Enumerate objects in the pipeline
  • Send and pass pipeline data as output

Lab: Using PowerShell pipeline

  • Selecting, sorting, and displaying data
  • Filtering objects
  • Enumerating objects
  • Converting objects

After completing this learning path, students will be able to:

  • Describe the purpose of the Windows PowerShell pipeline.
  • Select, sort, and measure objects in the pipeline.
  • Filter objects out of the pipeline.
  • Enumerate objects in the pipeline.
  • Send output consisting of pipeline data.

 

Learning Path 4: Using PSProviders and PSDrives

This Learning Path introduces the PSProviders and PSDrives adapters. A PSProvider is basically a Windows PowerShell adapter makes some form of storage resemble a hard drive. A PSDrive is an actual connection to a form of storage. You can use these two technologies to work with various forms of storage by using the same commands and techniques that you use to manage the file system.

Modules

  • Using PSProviders
  • Using PSDrives

Lab: Using PSProviders and PSDrives with PowerShell

  • Creating files and folders on a remote computer
  • Creating a registry key for your future scripts
  • Create a new Active Directory group

After completing this learning path, students will be able to:

  • Use PSProviders.
  • Use PSDrives.

 

Learning Path 5: Querying management information by using CIM and WMI

This Learning Path introduces you to two parallel technologies: Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) and Common Information Model (CIM). Both these technologies provide local and remote access to a repository of management information including access to robust information available from the operating system, computer hardware, and installed software.

Modules

  • Understand CIM and WMI
  • Query data by using CIM and WMI
  • Make changes by using CIM and WMI

Lab: Querying information by using WMI and CIM

  • Querying information by using WMI
  • Querying information by using CIM
  • Invoking methods

After completing this learning path, students will be able to:

  • Differentiate between CIM and WMI.
  • Query management information by using CIM and WMI.
  • Invoke methods by using CIM and WMI.

 

Learning Path 6: Working with variables, arrays, and hash tables

Variables are an essential component of scripts. You can use variables to accomplish complex tasks that you can't complete by using a single command. This Learning Path explains how to work with variables, arrays, and hash tables as steps in learning how to create Windows PowerShell scripts.

Modules

  • Use variables
  • Manipulate variables
  • Manipulate arrays and hash tables

Lab: Using variables, arrays, and hash tables in PowerShell

  • Working with variable types
  • Using arrays
  • Using hash tables

After completing this learning path, students will be able to:

  • Assign a value to variables.
  • Describe how to manipulate variables.
  • Describe how to manipulate arrays and hash tables.

 

Learning Path 7: Windows PowerShell scripting

This Learning Path explains how to package a Windows PowerShell command in a script. Scripts allow you to perform repetitive tasks and more complex tasks than cannot be accomplished in a single command.

Modules

  • Introduction to scripting with Windows PowerShell
  • Script constructs
  • Import data from files
  • Accept user input
  • Troubleshooting and error handling
  • Functions and modules

Lab: Using scripts with PowerShell

  • Signing a script
  • Processing an array with a ForEach loop
  • Processing items by using If statements
  • Creating users based on a CSV file
  • Querying disk information from remote computers
  • Updating the script to use alternate credentials

After completing this learning path, students will be able to:

  • Run a Windows PowerShell script.
  • Use Windows PowerShell scripting constructs.
  • Import data from a file.
  • Accept user input for a script.
  • Implement error handling for a script.
  • Explain functions and modules.

 

Learning Path 8: Administering remote computers with Windows PowerShell

This Learning Path introduces you to the Windows PowerShell remoting technology that enables you to connect to one or more remote computers and instruct them to run commands on your behalf.

Modules

  • Use basic Windows PowerShell remoting
  • Use advanced Windows PowerShell remoting techniques
  • Use PSSessions

Lab: Performing remote administration with PowerShell

  • Enabling remoting on the local computer
  • Performing one-to-one remoting
  • Performing one-to-many remoting
  • Using implicit remoting

After completing this learning path, students will be able to:

  • Describe remoting architecture and security.
  • Use advanced Windows PowerShell remoting techniques.
  • Create and manage persistent remoting sessions.

 

Learning Path 9: Managing Azure resources with PowerShell

This Learning Path provides information about installing the necessary modules for cloud services management. It explains how to use PowerShell commands to perform some simple administrative tasks on cloud resources such as Azure virtual machines (VMs), Azure storage accounts, and Azure subscriptions. This Learning Path also describes how to use the Azure Cloud Shell environment to perform PowerShell-based or Bash-based administration directly from the Azure portal.

Modules

  • Azure PowerShell
  • Introduce Azure Cloud Shell
  • Manage Azure VMs with PowerShell
  • Manage storage and subscriptions

Lab: Azure resource management with PowerShell

  • Activating the Azure subscription and installing the PowerShell Az module
  • Using Azure Cloud Shell
  • Managing Azure resources with Azure PowerShell

After completing this learning path, students will be able to:

  • Describe, install, and use the Azure PowerShell environment
  • Describe and use Azure Cloud Shell.
  • Manage Azure VMs with PowerShell.
  • Manage Azure storage accounts and subscriptions with Azure PowerShell.

 

Learning Path 10: Managing Microsoft 365 services with PowerShell

This Learning Path describes how to use PowerShell to manage Microsoft 365 user accounts, licenses, and groups, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Teams.

Modules

  • Manage Microsoft 365 user accounts, licenses, and groups with PowerShell
  • Manage Exchange Online with PowerShell
  • Manage SharePoint Online with PowerShell
  • Manage Microsoft Teams with PowerShell

Lab: Managing Microsoft 365 with PowerShell

  • Managing users and groups in Azure AD
  • Managing Exchange Online
  • Managing SharePoint
  • Managing Microsoft Teams

After completing this learning path, students will be able to:

  • Use PowerShell to manage users, groups, and licenses in Azure AD
  • Manage Exchange Online with PowerShell.
  • Manage SharePoint Online with PowerShell.
  • Manage Microsoft Teams with PowerShell.

 

Learning Path 11: Using background jobs and scheduled jobs

This Learning Path describes how to use background jobs and scheduled jobs. It also explains how to create scheduled jobs and retrieve job results.

Modules

  • Use background jobs
  • Use scheduled jobs

Lab: Jobs management with PowerShell

  • Starting and managing jobs
  • Creating a scheduled job

After completing this learning path, students will be able to:

  • Create and manage background jobs.
  • Create and manage scheduled jobs

 

Course Content
Introduction
Introduction
Learning Path 1: Getting Started with Windows PowerShell
Windows PowerShell Overview
Windows PowerShell Overview (Continuation after break)
Understand Windows PoswerShell command syntax
Find commands and get help in Windows PowerShell
Find commands and get help in Windows PowerShell (Continuation after lunch)
Learning Path 2: Maintain system administration tasks in Windows PowerShell
Manage Active Directory Domain Services using PowerShell cmdlets
Manage network service settings for Windows devices using PowerShell cmdlets
Manage Windows Server settings using PowerShell cmdlets
Manage settings for a local Windows machine using PowerShell cmdlets
Lab review and Challenge
Learning Path 3: Work with the Windows PowerShell pipeline
Understand the Windows PowerShell pipeline
Select, sort, and measure objects
Select, sort, and measure objects (Continuation after break)
After hours
Answering questions from the class
Review
Day 1 Review
Learning Path 3: Work with the Windows PowerShell pipeline
Select, sort, and measure objects (Continuation next day)
Select, sort, and measure objects (Continuation after challenge)
Select, sort, and measure objects (Lab review)
Filter objects out of the pipeline
Filter objects out of the pipeline (Lab review)
Enumerate objects in the pipeline
Enumerate objects in the pipeline (Lab review)
Send and pass pipeline data as output
Send and pass pipeline data as output (Lab review)
Pass Pipeline Objects
Learning Path 4: Work with PowerShell providers and PowerShell drives in Windows PowerShell
Using PowerShell Drives in PowerShell
Using PowerShell Drives in PowerShell (Continuation after break)
Using PSDrives
Lab review
After hours
Answering questions from the class
Review
Day 2 Review
Learning Path 5: Query management information by using Common Information Model and Windows Management Instrumentation
Review and Query data by using CIM and WMI
Review and Query data by using CIM and WMI (Continuation after challenge)
Query and manipulate repository objects by using CIM and WMIQuery and manipulate repository objects by using CIM and WMI methods
Lab review
Learning Path 6: Use variables, arrays, and hash tables in Windows PowerShell scripts
Use variables in Window PowerShell scripts
Manipulate variables
Manipulate arrays and hash tables
Lab review
Learning Path 7: Create and modify scripts by using Windows PowerShell
Create and run scripts by using Windows PowerShell
Work with scripting constructs in Windows PowerShell
Import data in different formats for use in scripts by using Windows PowerShell cmdlets
Use methods to accept user inputs in Windows PowerShell scripts
Use methods to accept user inputs in Windows PowerShell scripts (Continuation after challenge)
After hours
Answering questions from the class
Review
Day 3 Review
Learning Path 7: Create and modify scripts by using Windows PowerShell
Use methods to accept user inputs in Windows PowerShell scripts (Continuation next day)
Use methods to accept user inputs in Windows PowerShell scripts (Continuation after break)
Troubleshoot scripts and handle errors in Windows PowerShell
Troubleshoot scripts and handle errors in Windows PowerShell (Continuatioon after break)
Troubleshoot scripts and handle errors in Windows PowerShell (Continuation after challenge)
Learning Path 8: Administer remote computers by using Windows PowerShell
Manage single and multiple computers by using Windows PowerShell remoting
Manage single and multiple computers by using Windows PowerShell remoting (Continuatioon after break)
Use advanced Windows PowerShell remoting techniques
Manage persistent connections to remote computers by using Windows PowerShell sessions
Lab review
The project
Continuation of work on the project
Continuation of work on the project (Continuation after challenge)
Continuation of work on the project (Continuation after break)
After hours
Answering questions from the class
Review
Day 4 Review
Learning Path 11: Create and manage background jobs and scheduled jobs in Windows PowerShell
Create and manage background jobs using Windows PowerShell
Create and manage scheduled jobs using Windows PowerShell
Lab review
Learning Path 9: Manage cloud resources by using Windows PowerShell
Review the Azure PowerShell module
Review the features and tools for Azure Cloud Shell - CloudShell
Manage Azure resources with Windows PowerShell
Manage Azure resources with Windows PowerShell - VMs
Manage Azure resources with Windows PowerShell - VMs (Continuation after break)
Manage Azure resources with Windows PowerShell - Storage
Manage Azure resources with Windows PowerShell - Subscription
Learning Path 3: Work with the Windows PowerShell pipeline
Pass Pipeline Objects
Learning Path 10: Manage Microsoft 365 services by using Windows PowerShell
Removed from class (Lab optional)