Use PowerShell to Streamline and Automate Your Most Time-Consuming Windows Administration Tasks With Windows PowerShell, Microsoft brings innovative console-based system administration and scripting to Windows clients and servers. PowerShell combines the best features of traditional UNIX shells with the immense power of the .NET Framework, offering a consistent and easy-to-use replacement for both the Windows command line and the Windows Script Host. In Essential PowerShell, noted expert Holger Schwichtenberg gives Windows sysadmins all the knowledge and sample scripts they need to successfully administer production systems with PowerShell.  Schwichtenberg begins by introducing the innovative PowerShell architecture, along with crucial PowerShell concepts such as pipelining and navigation. Next, he introduces the PowerShell Script Language, shows the secure execution of command sequences as scripts, and demonstrates how to use PowerShell to access essential operating system interfaces such as COM, WMI, ADSI, and ADO.NET.  After you've mastered the fundamentals, Schwichtenberg presents an extensive collection of PowerShell solutions for virtually every area of day-to-day administration. For each topic, he presents dozens of self-contained examples, all downloadable from a companion Web site. He covers both Microsoft's standard PowerShell commandlets and the free commandlets available as PowerShell Community Extensions. He also presents a full chapter of tips, tricks, and troubleshooting solutions. Coverage includes Understanding PowerShell's components and features Setting up your PowerShell scripting environment Creating and using commandlets Using object-oriented pipelining for filtering, sorting, grouping, comparisons, calculations, and more Mastering PowerShell's uniform navigation model and using it with all types of data Programming command sequences with the PowerShell Script Language Making the most of the PowerShell console and third-party tools Managing processes, event logs, and registry entries Controlling networking, printing, and software installation Manipulating Active Directory and other enterprise services with PowerShell Using PowerShell to enforce stronger system and network security Storing data in files, documents, and databases  Preface xvPart I: Getting Started with PowerShell 1: First Steps with Windows PowerShell 32: Commandlets  253: Pipelining  434: Advanced Pipelining  595: The PowerShell Navigation Model 816: The PowerShell Script Language  897: PowerShell Scripts  1158: Using Class Libraries  1299: PowerShell Tools  15110: Tips, Tricks and Troubleshooting  171Part II: Windows PowerShell in Action  11: File Systems  20512: Documents  23513: Registry and Software  25314: Processes and Services  26715: Computers and Hardware  28116: Networking  29517: Directory Services  31318: User and Group Management in the Active Directory  33519: Searching in the Active Directory  34920: Additional Libraries for Active Directory Administration  36121: Databases  37322: Advanced Database Operations  38923: Security Settings  40124: Advanced Security Administration  413PartIII: AppendicesAppendix A: PowerShell Commandlet Reference  429Appendix B: PowerShell 2.0 Preview   445Appendix C: Bibliography  449Index 453