Here's the complete guide to Windows PowerShell 2.0 for administrators and developers Windows PowerShell is Microsoft's next-generation scripting and automation language. This comprehensive volume provides the background that IT administrators and developers need in order to start using PowerShell automation in exciting new ways. It explains what PowerShell is, how to use the language, and specific ways to apply PowerShell in various technologies. Windows PowerShell is Microsoft's standard automation tool and something that every Windows administrator will eventually have to understand; this book provides the background necessary to apply PowerShell automation. Covers how to use the language and specific ways to apply PowerShell in a variety of scenarios Addresses new features in the latest version of PowerShell and the additional functionality delivered by new products that provide direct or indirect ways to use PowerShell for scripting and automation purposes Explores the language fundamentals and how to use PowerShell for desktop, server, server application, and virtualization/cloud situations This thorough guide goes well beyond theory to offer real-world information and new scripting techniques, enabling administrators and developers to make the most of PowerShell 2.0.

Thomas Lee is an IT industry veteran. Thomas graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1973, and has had a number of interesting assignments over the decades. Today, he consults, writes, and provides training mainly on Microsoft technologies, including Lync and Windows PowerShell. He has also been a speaker at major IT conferences over the past two decades.

A Microsoft Certified Trainer for 17 years and an MVP for 16 of the past 17 years, Thomas was the first person in the world to blog about Windows PowerShell in 2003. He has also been involved with the Windows PowerShell community since its inception and is a director of PowerShellCommunity.org.

Thomas was part of the team that wrote both official Microsoft Windows PowerShell classes and has taught clients around the world to use the product. He writes two blogs, Under The Stairs (at http://tfl09.blogspot.com) and PowerShell Scripts Blog (at http://pshscripts.blogspot.com), is active on Twitter (@doctordns), and hosts online forums. In his spare time, he lives in an old cottage in the English countryside with his wife Susan, daughter Rebecca, a fine wine cellar, and large collection of Grateful Dead live recordings.

Karl Mitschke is a Systems Engineer for the State of Montana. His primary focus is Microsoft Exchange Server administration, with a strong emphasis on Windows PowerShell. Karl was awarded the Microsoft Community Contributor award for his contributions in Microsoft online community forums.

With more than 25 years of IT experience and extensive experience creating utility programs in C# and Visual Basic, Karl has been working with Windows PowerShell since the public beta was available. He has worked with Microsoft Exchange since Version 5.0 and was a Banyan Vines email administrator previous to that. Karl currently works with Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 SP1, System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2, and SQL Server 2008.

Karl is a frequent contributor on multiple scripting forums and blogs. You can follow his comments on http://unlockpowershell.wordpress.com/.

Mark E. Schill, a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, is an IT veteran with 13 years of experience specializing in Windows server and Citrix technologies. He started scripting with a Y2K project that required the creation of thousands of new NT domain accounts and has been automating ever since. He made the switch to Windows PowerShell in July 2007 with his first Citrix MFCOM script for publishing desktops, which is still in production to this day. Mark spends his workdays as an all-in-one scripter, C# developer, SQL Server database administrator, and Windows system administrator.

He is currently the president of the Atlanta PowerShell User Group and the Atlanta Citrix User Group, as well as the vice president of the Virtual PowerShell User Group.

When possible, Mark hangs out with the Virtual PowerShell User Group on the #PowerShell IRC channel on irc.freenode.net. You can track Mark at his blog at www.cmschill.net/StringTheory, contact him via email at Mark.Schill@cmschill.net, or follow him on twitter @meson3902.

Tome Tanasovski is a Windows engineer for a market-leading, global financial services firm in New York City. He has worked in the IT industry as both an IT professional and a developer for more than 15 years. He is the founder and leader of the New York City PowerShell User Group, a cofounder of the NYC Techstravaganza, a blogger, a speaker, and a regular contributor to the Windows PowerShell forum at Microsoft. He is a recipient of the MVP award for Windows PowerShell.