AZ-040T00: Automating Administration with PowerShell Training Course

Introduction to Windows PowerShell

This module offers a comprehensive introduction to Windows PowerShell, outlining its core functionalities. It guides learners on how to launch and configure the environment. Additionally, it covers the execution of commands and the utilization of the built-in Help system within Windows PowerShell.

Lessons

• Overview of Windows PowerShell
• Understanding Windows PowerShell command syntax
• Locating commands and accessing help in Windows PowerShell

Lab: Configuring Windows PowerShell and executing commands

• Setting up the Windows PowerShell console application
• Setting up the Windows PowerShell ISE application
• Discovering and running Windows PowerShell commands
• Utilizing About files

Upon completing this module, learners will be able to:

• Identify key features of Windows PowerShell, and initiate and configure the environment.
• Discover, understand, and execute Windows PowerShell commands.
• Locate specific Windows PowerShell commands for targeted tasks.

Windows PowerShell for local system administration

This module explores the various types of cmdlets frequently employed in system administration. While searching for specific cmdlets for each task is possible, possessing a foundational understanding of these tools enhances efficiency. The module also details methods for managing Windows 10 using PowerShell.

Lessons

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

Lab: Executing local system administration with PowerShell

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

Upon completing this module, learners will be able to:

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

Utilizing the Windows PowerShell pipeline

This module introduces the pipeline feature of Windows PowerShell. Although pipeline concepts exist in other command-line interfaces, such as the Windows command prompt, the PowerShell pipeline offers superior flexibility, complexity, and capability. This module imparts the skills and knowledge necessary to utilize Windows PowerShell with greater effectiveness and efficiency.

Lessons

• Comprehending the pipeline
• Selecting, sorting, and measuring objects
• Filtering objects from the pipeline
• Enumerating objects within the pipeline
• Transmitting and passing pipeline data as output

Lab: Applying the PowerShell pipeline

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

Upon completing this module, learners will be able to:

• Explain the purpose and function of the Windows PowerShell pipeline.
• Select, sort, and measure objects within the pipeline.
• Filter objects out of the pipeline.
• Enumerate objects within the pipeline.
• Output data comprising pipeline elements.

Leveraging PSProviders and PSDrives

This module introduces the PSProviders and PSDrives concepts. A PSProvider acts as an adapter that makes various storage types resemble a standard hard drive, while a PSDrive represents a direct connection to a specific storage source. Learners will learn to use these technologies to interact with diverse storage formats using the same commands and techniques typically reserved for file system management.

Lessons

• Utilizing PSProviders
• Utilizing PSDrives

Lab: Working with PSProviders and PSDrives in PowerShell

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

Upon completing this module, learners will be able to:

• Implement PSProviders.
• Implement PSDrives.

Querying management information using CIM and WMI

This module introduces two parallel technologies: Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) and Common Information Model (CIM). Both provide local and remote access to a comprehensive repository of management data, including detailed information about the operating system, hardware, and installed software.

Lessons

• Understanding CIM and WMI
• Querying data using CIM and WMI
• Making changes using CIM and WMI

Lab: Querying information using WMI and CIM

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

Upon completing this module, learners will be able to:

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

Working with variables, arrays, and hash tables

Variables are a fundamental component of scripting. They enable the execution of complex tasks that cannot be achieved with a single command. This module explains how to handle variables, arrays, and hash tables as essential steps in mastering Windows PowerShell script creation.

Lessons

• Using variables
• Manipulating variables
• Manipulating arrays and hash tables

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

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

Upon completing this module, learners will be able to:

• Assign values to variables.
• Explain techniques for manipulating variables.

• Explain techniques for manipulating arrays and hash tables.

Windows PowerShell scripting

This module details how to encapsulate Windows PowerShell commands into scripts. Scripts facilitate the performance of repetitive and complex tasks that exceed the capabilities of a single command.

Lessons

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

Lab: Utilizing scripts with PowerShell

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

Upon completing this module, learners will be able to:

• Execute a Windows PowerShell script.
• Utilize Windows PowerShell scripting constructs.
• Import data from a file.
• Accept user input for a script.
• Implement error handling for a script.
• Explain the role of functions and modules.

Administering remote computers with Windows PowerShell

This module introduces Windows PowerShell remoting technology, which allows users to connect to one or more remote computers and direct them to execute commands on the user's behalf.

Lessons

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

Lab: Executing remote administration with PowerShell

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

Upon completing this module, learners will be able to:

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

Managing Azure resources with PowerShell

This module provides guidance on installing the necessary modules for cloud service management. It demonstrates how to use PowerShell commands to perform administrative tasks on cloud resources, such as Azure virtual machines (VMs), Azure storage accounts, and Azure subscriptions. Additionally, it describes how to leverage the Azure Cloud Shell environment for PowerShell-based or Bash-based administration directly from the Azure portal.

Lessons

• Azure PowerShell
• Introduction to Azure Cloud Shell
• Managing Azure VMs with PowerShell
• Managing 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

Upon completing this module, learners will be able to:

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

Managing Microsoft 365 services with PowerShell

This module describes methods for using PowerShell to manage Microsoft 365 user accounts, licenses, and groups, as well as Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Teams.

Lessons

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

Upon completing this module, learners 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.

Using background jobs and scheduled jobs

This module outlines the use of background jobs and scheduled jobs. It also explains the process of creating scheduled jobs and retrieving job results.

Lessons

• Using background jobs
• Using scheduled jobs

Lab: Jobs management with PowerShell

• Starting and managing jobs
• Creating a scheduled job

Upon completing this module, learners will be able to:

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