New to PowerShell, Need Suggestions

PowerShell Help
1

Hello, I’m brand new to Windows environment, brand new, blank slate new. My background is in Computer Operations, mostly focused on AS400s, web based monitoring, a little UNIX, some experience programming in Visual BASIC and a little with C++. I am trying to gain knowledge and experience with Windows and Power Shell both with scripting and concepts. I just finished watching “Getting Starting with Microsoft Power Shell” from the Microsoft Virtual Library and to be honest most of it went over my head. My question to anyone who reads this, “Is where is the best place to start?” My lack of experience keeps me guessing if I can learn this material via self taught measures. Is there a book that is good at explaining the concepts of the pipeline, etc. I do understand parameters, variables, etc (I am out of practice with programming) but the pipeline concept seems very foreign to me. I know most of the people here are pros and this is a very basic question but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Vincent

2

I would highly recommend the following books/site. The books are co-authored by Don Jones and Jeffrey Hicks who happen to run this site. If you buy the physical books (pbooks as they call them), you also get the digital copies free in several forms (pdf, kindle, etc…).

Beginning Book/Courses:
-Learn Windows PowerShell In A Month Of Lunches (Chapter 9 is especially awesome at explaining the pipeline.)
–Getting Started with Microsoft PowerShell: https://mva.microsoft.com/en-US/training-courses/getting-started-with-microsoft-powershell-8276?l=vOd1PSWy_9204984382 (A Series of videos with Jason Snover (helped create/design Windows Powershell) & Jason Helmick; Watching this in concert with reading the Learn Windows PowerShell In A Month Of Lunches book really helped the info sink in.)
–Getting Started with PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC): https://mva.microsoft.com/en-US/training-courses/getting-started-with-powershell-desired-state-configuration-dsc-8672?l=ZwHuclG1_2504984382 (Not yet started this.)

Advanced Book/Courses:
-Learn PowerShell Toolmaking In A Month Of Lunches (Reading through this now.)
–Advanced Tools & Scripting with PowerShell 3.0 Jump Start: https://mva.microsoft.com/en-US/training-courses/advanced-tools-scripting-with-powershell-30-jump-start-8277?l=WOWaGUWy_8604984382 (A Series of videos with Jason Snover (helped create/design Windows Powershell) & Jason Helmick); Watching this in concert with reading the Learn PowerShell Toolmaking In A Month Of Lunches book has really helped the info sink in.)
–Advanced PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) and Custom Resources : https://mva.microsoft.com/en-US/training-courses/advanced-powershell-desired-state-configuration-dsc-and-custom-resources-8702?l=3DnsS2H1_1504984382 (Not yet started this.)

3

BTW, it’s ok to be new to powershell. This forum is to help each other answer questions, no matter how “simple” we may think they are. I’ve seen several people who are new to powershell ask questions on here.

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I’ll second the Monrh of Lunches suggestion of course :). I started in AS/400 too - and welcome!

5

Oops. That should have been Jeffrey Snover.

6

Everyone will have their suggestions because everyone learns differently. A good combination I used was The Month of Lunches book and these vids https://www.cbtnuggets.com/it-training/microsoft-windows-powershell-2-3-4 to get me started. Yes the vids are getting on a bit now but the fundamentals are too good to miss. One other thing when your trialling/testing/learning this out is to make a pact with yourself and force yourself to use it, you’ll get it much quicker than the occasional bit here and there. The next task you have to do set some time aside and try it in PowerShell. When you get it working the next time you need it the task can be completed instantly therefore giving you more time to learn more PowerShell :slight_smile:

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Start with Month of Lunches, do a little bit of Powershell everyday and go from there - visit this site regularly and look at the challenges and solutions from the community - truly one of the best strengths is the community support