Powershell
Introduction
Windows PowerShell is an extensible command-line shell and associated scripting language from Microsoft Corporation.
Windows PowerShell integrates with the Microsoft .NET Framework and provides an environment to perform administrative tasks by execution of cmdlets (pronounced commandlets), which are specialized .NET classes implementing a particular operation; scripts, which are compositions of cmdlets along with imperative logic; executables, which are standalone applications; or by instantiating regular .NET classes. These work by accessing data in different data stores, like the filesystem or registry, which are made available to the PowerShell runtime via Windows PowerShell providers.
Windows PowerShell also provides a hosting mechanism with which the Windows PowerShell runtime can be embedded inside other applications, which can then leverage Windows PowerShell functionality to implement certain operations, including those exposed via the graphical interface. This capability has been utilized by Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 to expose its management functionality as PowerShell cmdlets and providers and implement the graphical management tools as PowerShell hosts which invoke the necessary cmdlets. Other Microsoft applications including Microsoft SQL Server 2008 also expose their management interface via PowerShell cmdlets. In the future, graphical interface-based management applications on Windows will be layered on top of Windows PowerShell. Windows PowerShell includes its own extensive, console-based help, reminiscent of man pages in Unix shells via the Get-Help cmdlet.
In less words, Powershell is the enhancement scripting language of what VBScript has been until now on Windows platforms.
Click here to view a list of Powershell scripts included in ActiveXperts Network Monitor.
There are two Windows PowerShell versions available:
- Windows PowerShell 5.0 (will be included in the Windows Management Framework 5.0)
- Windows PowerShell 4.0 (included in the Windows Management Framework 4.0)
- Windows PowerShell 3.0 (included in the Windows Management Framework 3.0)
- Windows PowerShell 2.0 (included in the Windows Management Framework 2.0)
- Windows PowerShell 1.0
Since version 7.2 ActiveXperts Network Monitor includes Powershell checks. In order to run those scripts you need to have Powershell installed on the machine where Network Monitor is installed.
In order to run scripts on the machine where Windows Powershell is installed, you have to setup the security restrictions. Using the following command, will allow all scripts to be executed:
PS C:\>Set-ExecutionPolicy unrestricted
Windows PowerShell 5.0
Powershell 5.0 preview was released in 2014 as part of the Windows Management Framework 5.0 preview.
More information can be read here.
Windows PowerShell 4.0
Powershell 4.0 was released in 2013 and is available for:
- Windows Server 2012 R2 (included);
- Windows Server 2012 (available as a separate download);
- Windows Server 2008 R2 (available as a separate download);
- Windows 8.1 (included);
- Windows 7 SP1 (available as a separate download);
Click here to see the list of Windows Powershell 4.0 CmdLets
Windows PowerShell 3.0
Powershell 3.0 was released in 2011 and is available for:
- Windows Server 2012 (included);
- Windows Server 2008 R2 (available as a separate download);
- Windows Server 2008 SP1 (available as a separate download);
- Windows 8 (included);
- Windows 7 SP1 (available as a separate download);
Click here to see the list of Windows Powershell 3.0 CmdLets
Windows PowerShell 2.0
Powershell 2.0 was released in 2009 and is available for:
- Windows Server 2008 R2 (included)
- Windows Server 2008 (available as a separate download);
- Windows Server 2003 SP2 (available as a separate download);
- Windows 7 (included)
- Windows Vista SP1 (available as a separate download);
- Windows XP SP3 (available as a separate download);
Click here to see the list of Windows Powershell 2.0 CmdLets
What's new in Powershell 2.0
Windows PowerShell 1.0
Powershell 1.0 was released in 2006 and is available for:
- Windows Server 2008 (available as an optional feature);
- Windows Server 2003;
- Windows Vista (included);
- Windows XP SP2/SP3 (available as an optional feature);
Click here to see the list of Windows Powershell 1.0 CmdLets