Powershell

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PowerShell (POSH) is a a task automation command-line shell and scripting language created by Microsoft. It became part of the FOSS community in 2016 and is now available across Windows, Linux, and macOS

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PowerShell Weekly for February 14, 2025 (self.powershell)
submitted 4 days ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • Primer: Using Exchange Online PowerShell in Azure Automation Runbooks
    In this primer, we cover how to create and execute Azure Automation Exchange Online runbooks (scripts) using cmdlets from the Exchange Online management module. Some setup is necessary before runbooks can process Exchange cmdlets, but once the necessary resources and permissions are in place, it’s all plain sailing.
  • Custom Maester Tests: Validate Full Addresses Now and Cleaned Up Wording
    Added 3 new tests which I think the first two will be game changers. The first 2 are tests for validating locations, in which the user must have street, city, state, postal code, country, business phone, and company name the same as the valid location in the json.
  • 02-14-2025 MSOnline and AzureAD PowerShell modules.. One last Valentine’s day card each
    If you haven’t seen the news already, MSOnline and AzureAD PowerShell modules will be no longer supported after March 30, 2025. So looks like this will be our last year to give them a Valentine’s day card for all the times they’ve been there for us in!
  • Cline vs. Roo Code – Which VS Code extension is better for the AI-augmented IT pro?
    In a prior article, I showcased automating PowerShell management in natural language using the VS Code extension Cline. Roo Code (formerly Roo Cline) is a Cline fork that provides extra valuable features for the AI-enhanced IT pro. Roo Code remains comparable, and the insights I shared about working with MCP servers in Cline also apply to Roo Code. The main difference is that Roo Code serves system administrators more effectively, as it provides a mode more suitable for natural language use in a CLI. Additionally, Roo Code's support of VS Code's Code Actions feature makes it perfect for understanding and modifying a colleague's scripts.
  • Using the PowerShell WinGet Client module to install your apps on your new computer
    Installing all your (management) apps on a new system always takes too much time. In this blog post, I will show you how to use PowerShell and the WinGet Client module to install them quickly.
  • Not the Error I expected! Connect-NsxtServer
    Howdy! It’s been quite a while since I created a blog post. Not sure I would want to say exactly how long. However, today I had a brand new VM that I was using to write some automation with PowerShell/PowerCLI. It took me a few minutes to figure this one out. Maybe it was me?
  • DPRK hackers dupe targets into typing PowerShell commands as admin
    North Korean state actor 'Kimsuky' (aka 'Emerald Sleet' or 'Velvet Chollima') has been observed using a new tactic inspired from the now widespread ClickFix campaigns.
  • Behind the PowerShell Pipeline
    Welcome to Behind the PowerShell Pipeline a subscription-based newsletter that will dive deeply into the world of PowerShell.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

Community

  • Building Secure PowerShell Solutions with Jake Hildreth
    In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we welcome back security-focused PowerShell expert Jake Hildreth for an insightful conversation about PowerShell, security tools, and his continued journey in the PowerShell community. Jake shares updates on Locksmith v2, his work with PowerPUG, and his experience learning new PowerShell techniques to refine and improve his tools.

Events

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

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PowerShell Weekly for February 7, 2025 (self.powershell)
submitted 1 week ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Announcements!

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • Automating Code Compliance: AI-Driven Code Style Enforcement for Pull Requests
    As teams increasingly rely on automation for code quality and compliance, ensuring consistent coding standards can be challenging during the pull request (PR) process. In this article, we explore how to build an AI-powered style enforcement pipeline using modern tools like GPT-4 and CI/CD workflows.
  • PowerShell: How to find empty Attributes
    We are often looking for attributes, but what about the empty attributes? How can I find out if an attribute is empty? That is the focus of this article.
  • Now you can use your own company standards with Maester custom tests
    I thought checking to see if they were filled in or even formatted correctly wasn’t enough.. now you can config the validation.json file in the Validating folder with your company standards to make only those values pass. Here are the fields so far, and will be adding more!
  • Get All Teams Channels With External Members
    Channels in Microsoft Teams are the heartbeat of collaboration, designated to help teams organize conversations, files, and tasks around specific topics or projects. However, they also come with challenges—especially when external members are involved.
  • Microsoft Entra PowerShell modules
    The new Microsoft Entra PowerShell modules are available, replacing the deprecated AzureAD modules. This blog post will highlight the installation, changes, and features.
  • New Microsoft script updates Windows media with bootkit malware fixes
    Microsoft has released a PowerShell script to help Windows users and admins update bootable media so it utilizes the new "Windows UEFI CA 2023" certificate before the mitigations of the BlackLotus UEFI bootkit are enforced later this year.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

  • Monthly Update #116 for Office 365 for IT Pros
    Monthly update #116 (February 2025) is available for the Office 365 for IT Pros eBook. The refresh includes update #8 new files for the Automating Microsoft 365 with PowerShell eBook. We’ve also updated the print (paperback) version that’s sold on an on-demand basis through Amazon.com. Things keep on changing inside Microsoft 365 with agent management a new challenge that’s coming into view.
  • Behind the PowerShell Pipeline
    Discover parts of PowerShell that lie under the surface that can make you a better PowerShell user and scripter. From one of the original PowerShell experts.

Community

  • Exploring the Power of IoT and PowerShell with Mark Go
    In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Mark Go, a PowerShell enthusiast and innovator, to discuss his exciting journey from the Navy to becoming a tech-savvy system administrator. Mark shares his experiences using PowerShell to make his work life better.

Events

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

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PowerShell Weekly for January 31, 2025 (self.powershell)
submitted 2 weeks ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Announcements!

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

  • Get-MacInfo
    This is a powershell module for PS on macOS that, as much as possible, replicates "Get-ComputerInfo".

Community

  • Streamlining PowerShell Package Management with Fred Weinmann
    In this episode of the #PowerShell Podcast, we continue our deep dive with Fred Weinmann, a Microsoftie and PowerShell legend, as he shares more insights and tools that redefine productivity for PowerShell enthusiasts. Picking up where we left off in the last episode, Fred takes us through his journey of mastering PowerShell, collaborating with the community, and optimizing workflows with powerful custom modules.
  • Inside IT Automation | E19
    Jakub Jares talks about PowerShell testing with Pester and more

Events

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

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PowerShell Weekly for January 24, 2025 (self.powershell)
submitted 3 weeks ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
1 comments fedilink
 
 

I really appreciate your understanding for the missed edition last week. To make up for it, this week’s issue is packed with even more tips, insights, and updates to level up your PowerShell skills.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

Continued in the comments...

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

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PowerShell Weekly for January 10, 2025 (self.powershell)
submitted 1 month ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Announcements!

  • Pester v5.7.0
    Pester 5.7.0 is out, it adds new code coverage format Cobertura, and other fixes

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • PowerShell Pester 101: A Practical Guide for Beginners
    Learn how to validate your PowerShell scripts with Pester testing. This hands-on guide shows you how to write tests that ensure your code works as intended.
  • Automated Provisioning of Windows 365 Cloud PCs: Advanced Scripts
    We decided that we would create some more advanced scripts for admins, which would include some error handling, prompts for input, and more. You will be able to use these scripts to provision your Entra ID joined Cloud PCs for various scenarios, be it using a Microsoft Hosted network or an Azure Network Connection, Enterprise or Frontline builds, or choosing your Cloud PC image, language, or region etc.
  • Using PowerShell to make bulk changes to DotNet .csproj files
    When working on a big DotNet team, it’s easy to create a library but forget to set a configuration property according to your team’s standards. Most people don’t spend a lot of time looking at their…

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

  • All About the Office 365 for IT Pros GitHub Repository
    The Office365ITPros GitHub repository holds over 300 PowerShell scripts showing how to interact with Microsoft 365 and Entra ID. Anyone can contribute to Office365ITPros by forking the code to a copy of the repository and making changes to scripts there. If you want, you can push the changes back to us so that we can consider their inclusion in Office365ITPros. It's a great example of community in action.
  • JsonFS
    Mount a Json file as PowerShell file system. Contribute to wgross/json-fs development by creating an account on GitHub.
  • Icewolf.EXO.SpamAnalyze v2.0.14
    This is a Powershell Module that simplifies the Message Trace in Exchange Online (EXO).

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

  • A PowerShell Teaser
    Somewhat ironically, since finishing our long series on Bash scripting I’ve been almost exclusively writing scripts in a completely different language, PowerShell! Being a Microsoft language you’d be forgiven for assuming that means I’ve moved to Windows and started trying to automate things there, but you’d be mistaken, I’m still very much a Mac user! So what gives? Despite what its origins may suggest, the core PowerShell environment is both open source and cross-platform, running just fine on the Mac and Linux as well as Windows.
  • PowerShell in Azure: Adding Tags & Setting Location Restrictions
    In this tutorial, learn how to create and apply tags to Azure resources and enforce a location restriction policy using PowerShell. Effective resource tagging helps you organise and manage your Azure environment, while location restriction policies ensure compliance with regional regulations.
  • Run Data Access Governance reports with PowerShell
    How to run Data Access Governance reports for SharePoint Advanced Management in PowerShell

Community

  • Exploring PnP PowerShell Updates with MVP Gautam Sheth
    In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we’re joined by Gautam Sheth, Microsoft MVP and M365 developer extraordinaire, to explore the latest improvements to the PnP PowerShell module and how to get started with it. Gautam shares his unique perspective on automating SharePoint, working with Microsoft 365, and leveraging Microsoft Graph through PowerShell. We discuss practical use cases, best practices, and the significance of PnP PowerShell for modern IT and development workflows. From SharePoint tips to automation strategies, this episode is packed with insights for PowerShell enthusiasts and M365 developers alike. Whether you're just starting or looking for advanced techniques, Gautam provides actionable advice and plenty of inspiration!

Fun

Events

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

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PowerShell Weekly for January 3, 2025 (self.powershell)
submitted 1 month ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • Automated Deployment of a Zero Trust Azure Automation Environment
    A common and recommended security practice is only allowing access to an Azure Storage Account via a whitelisted IP address. While this is generally a good idea, a problem arises when you need an Azure Automation Account to access one of these Storage Accounts.
  • PowerShell Reusable Sessions: A Guide to Persistent Remote Connections
    Learn how to leverage PowerShell reusable sessions to maintain persistent connections with remote systems. This tutorial shows you how to create, manage and effectively use PowerShell sessions for remote administration.
  • PowerShell 7.5 new features
    Microsoft has unveiled the first release candidate of PowerShell 7.5, with the General Availability (GA) launch expected in January or February 2025. This release candidate provides the most accurate preview of the upcoming final production version of PowerShell 7.5. This new version includes hundreds of changes, ranging from minor adjustments to major new features. In the following sections, we will discuss the key changes in this major PowerShell update.
  • PowerShell Pipeline Parameters: How to Create Pipeline-Ready Functions
    Learn how to enable pipeline input in your custom PowerShell functions using parameter binding. This tutorial shows you how to use ValueFromPipeline and ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName to create functions that work seamlessly with the PowerShell pipeline.
  • Validate list of Email Addresses using PowerShell
    What if you have an extensive list of email addresses? And if you must validate them for syntax and check if there's an email server for that domain? PowerShell is your friend :) In this blog post, I will show you how to import, validate, and export the results of those email addresses.
  • Automatically update PowerShell 7.4 with WSUS or SCCM
    Microsoft enabled automatic updates for PowerShell with the release of PowerShell 7.2; that continues now with PowerShell 7.4.
  • Quickly Finding Previously Typed Commands With PowerShell
    How to find that extremely convoluted command you typed in three months ago that you can't find in your PowerShell history.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

Community

  • Holiday Special with Gilbert Sanchez: PSScriptAnalyzer, AST, and PowerShell Gifts
    In this special holiday episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we are joined by the incredibly talented Gilbert Sanchez. We dive into the world of PSScriptAnalyzer and use it as a gateway to explore and understand the Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) in PowerShell. Gilbert walks us through a live demo and highlights some powerful ways to leverage the AST to analyze and improve our PowerShell code. As a special holiday treat, Gilbert comes bearing gifts—several awesome PowerShell modules that listeners can start using today.
  • Evgenij Smirnov Talks Certs, Security, and PowerShell Adventures
    In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Microsoft MVP Evgenij Smirnov to explore his incredible journey from working as a forklift driver to becoming a PowerShell and security expert. We dive into his insights on certificates, security best practices, and the importance of identity in modern IT. Evgenij also shares his experiences with cross-platform PowerShell, highlights from his recent talks, and the value of community events like PowerShell Saturday. Along the way, we discuss his unique career path, his passion for the PowerShell community, and tips for those looking to grow in IT.

Fun

  • 2024 Overview
    It’s 2025, so it’s time to reflect on 2024 :). In this blog post, I will highlight all the great PowerShell things that happened during the year.

Events

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

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PowerShell Weekly for December 20, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 2 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

This is the final edition of PowerShell Weekly for 2024. Since this newsletter is hand-curated, I always take the last week of the year off to rest and reflect. I’ll return in the New Year with fresh content and my annual year-in-review, covering all the major PowerShell highlights from 2024.

Announcements!

  • Announcing a free GitHub Copilot for VS Code
    We're excited to announce an all new free plan for GitHub Copilot, available for everyone today in VS Code. All you need is a GitHub account. No trial. No subscription. No credit card required.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

  • PowerShell Universal Christmas Edition - Adam Driscoll & Constantin Hager
    In this lecture, Adam Driscoll and Constantin Hager guide the audience through the PowerShell Universal Christmas edition, demonstrating the latest features and functionalities of version 5.1. The session is organized into two main demos, focusing on practical applications of PowerShell and how attendees can utilize these updates in their own projects. The first half of the presentation features Constantin who shares his user management application, utilizing the Request API to query and display user data in a seamless table format.

Community

  • Miriam Wiesner on Identity Hygiene, Security Tools, and Finding Balance
    In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Miriam Wiesner, a Senior Security Research Program Manager at Microsoft, to dive into the fascinating world of security and identity hygiene. Miriam shares her expertise on the GraphAPI and the critical importance of maintaining proper identity hygiene in today's digital landscape.

Events

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

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PowerShell Weekly for December 13, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 2 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • Install and integrate Microsoft AI Shell with a PowerShell module
    Microsoft’s new AI Shell integrates AI into command-line workflows, featuring the Azure OpenAI Agent and Copilot in Azure Agent for tasks like PowerShell scripting and cloud automation. You can install AI Shell (aish.exe) as a standalone app or PowerShell module to streamline coding, error resolution, and resource management on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
  • Jingle All the Way to Savings: Automate Azure Bastion with Azure Automation!
    In my blog post contribution for this year’s Festive Tech Calendar, I’ll show you how to reduce Azure costs by automating the runtime of your Azure Bastion host(s) with Azure Automation.
  • Setting Up VS Code for PowerShell Development: A Beginner’s Guide
    Learn how to set up Visual Studio Code (VS Code) for PowerShell development in this step-by-step guide. You'll learn how to install VS Code, configure the PowerShell extension, set up the integrated terminal, and explore key features to enhance your PowerShell scripting experience.
  • How to Rename Multiple Files Using PowerShell?
    Recently, I got a requirement to rename numerous report files in a project. PowerShell script is the best option for it. In this tutorial, I will explain how to rename multiple files using PowerShell. Rename Multiple Files Using PowerShell Recently, I was working on a project for a client in New York City.
  • PowerShell Function for the cmd.ms website
    I'm a big fan of the cmd.ms website because it has all the links to quickly jump to a specific blade in a portal instead of clicking multiple parts of a Microsoft Management portal to get there. In this blog post, I will show you how to use a PowerShell function to open one or multiple management websites from the command line.
  • Prevent users from switching and migrating to new Outlook using PowerShell and Microsoft Intune
    Prevent future automatic migration to the new Outlook. In this post, I’ll share the PowerShell script I’m using to prevent users from migrating to the new Outlook if your environment isn’t quite ready for it.
  • It's always DNS
    A story of when it was actually DNS.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

  • Windows PowerShell Use Cases in 1 Hour
    In this video, dive into essential PowerShell use cases, including file management, system administration, and basic networking. Learn how to manage files, perform essential administrative tasks, and execute networking commands for tasks like testing up connections, all through PowerShell scripts. This tutorial is perfect for beginners aiming to improve their IT skills and handle various everyday tasks with PowerShell efficiently.
  • PowerShell Collaboration Unleashed! [OC]
    Learn how to use JupyterHub to create shared environments for seamless scripting & collaboration—accessible from any browser.

Community

  • PowerShell Evolution with Sean Wheeler: What's new in PS 7.5, AIShell, & More!
    In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we welcome back Sean Wheeler, Lead Documentarian at Microsoft for PowerShell, to catch up on the latest developments in the PowerShell ecosystem. Sean dives into the updates with PSResourceGet, the powerful enhancements in PowerShell 7.5, and the groundbreaking potential of the AI Shell project, designed to transform command-line experiences with artificial intelligence. We also get a recap of Sean’s experience at SpiceWorld, highlighting community insights and key takeaways from the event. Packed with expert tips and exciting news, this episode is a must-listen for PowerShell enthusiasts and IT pros alike!

Fun

Events

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

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Using PowerShell in JupyterHub for Sharing and Collaboration [OC] (self.powershell)
submitted 2 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Hey c/PowerShell community!

I’m excited to announce the launch of my new YouTube series, PowerShell Collaboration Unleashed!.

In the first part, we dive into The Littlest JupyterHub— an awesome tool for creating shared environments on a single server. These environments are accessible from any web browser, allowing you to create, run, and share scripts effortlessly.

Here’s what you’ll learn in the first part of the series:

  • An intro to JupyterHub and why it’s a game-changer for collaboration.
  • How to provision an Ubuntu server for The Littlest JupyterHub.
  • Installing and configuring The Littlest JupyterHub and support for dotnet and PowerShell.
  • Setting up shared environments you can start using right away.

Future videos will cover topics like setting up SSH, adding AzureAD/Entra ID authentication, connecting to external resources, securing secrets, logging, and integration with source control.

If you’re passionate about scripting, automation, or simply improving team collaboration, this series is for you!

I would love to hear your thoughts, feedback, questions, or ideas for future topics in this series.

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PowerShell Weekly for December 6, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 2 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Announcements!

  • PowerShell VSCode Extension v2024.5.2-preview
    New PowerShell VSCode extension preview release v2024.5.1! This includes the breakpoint performance improvement I developed, you should see stepping through code work much faster. Please try to break this feature before release!

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • PowerShell: How to configure a custom PSSessionconfiguration
    A remote session can be set up with the help of PSSession. The predefined remote session is used by default. However, we can also create our own session configurations and then connect
  • Install and manage VM watch on Azure Virtual Machines
    Microsoft announced the public preview of VM watch, a new in-VM service designed for Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) and Virtual Machine Scale Sets (VMSS). This service aims to enhance VM health monitoring by offering standardized, lightweight, and flexible in-VM health checks that connect seamlessly with Azure's monitoring and AIOps systems.
  • How to Create a PowerShell Module: A Beginner’s Guide
    PowerShell modules are essential for scriptwriters and system administrators to organize and reuse their code. A module is a package of related functions, cmdlets, and resources bundled together for easy sharing and deployment. Creating a custom PowerShell module allows you to centralize functionality, streamline code reuse, and distribute your work to others.
  • How To Check If File Modified In Last 24 Hours Using PowerShell?
    One of my team members recently wanted to check if a file has been modified in the last 24 hours. I suggest using PowerShell as it provides different methods to check. In this tutorial, I will explain how to check if a file has been modified in the last 24 hours using PowerShell with examples.
  • How to compare all files in two folders using PowerShell
    When I am investigating or troubleshooting any issue, I always hope to have access to any log, source control, build artifacts, and pipelines. However, some scenarios are not related to software development where the only resources that I have immediate access to are folders and the files contained, and also the same ones but
  • How to Replace Carriage Returns in Strings Using PowerShell?
    There will be times when you want to replace carriage returns in strings using PowerShell. In this tutorial, we will learn how to replace carriage returns in strings using PowerShell. To replace a string containing a carriage return in PowerShell, use the -replace operator with the carriage return escape sequence `r. For example, $string -replace “r”, “replacement text”will replace

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

  • v0.0.13 EntraFIDOFinder is out
    New Version of EntraFIDOFinder is out and i’ve added a better way to find out which version of FIDO they are using too. I’ve updated it for the PowerShell version and the webversion. Enhancements I did notice that there is a difference for AAGUID 30b5035e-d297-4ff7-b00b-addc96ba6a98 where on Microsofts website it says it should be compatible
  • PSAppDeployToolkit 4.0.2
    The all-new and vastly improved PSAppDeployToolkit v4 is here!

Community

  • Turning the tables. An interview with Andrew Pla
    In this episode, we turn the tables and interview Andrew Pla. We explore Andrew's back story, find out how he got started in IT, and discover where his love of PowerShell comes from. We also discuss his journey from community member to advocate to PowerShell MVP. Get to know Andrew Pla!
  • OnRamp Scholarship Application Now Open
    Are you an entry-level IT professional looking for an immersive introduction to PowerShell, DevOps, and the broader tech community? The OnRamp program at the PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit is designed just for you, and scholarship applications are now open!
  • BlueSky PowerShell Community Starter Pack
    PowerShell and automation enthusiasts who love to share what they know - through code, content, teaching, or lending a hand to others. They strive to make tech accessible to everyone and support each person's learning path with enthusiasm and respect.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  • Inside IT Automation E18
    Joe Houghes talks about VMware, PowerCLI, PowerShell and more

Events

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

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PowerShell Weekly for November 29, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 2 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • PowerShell Automatic Variables: Special Variables Built into PowerShell
    Learn about PowerShell's automatic variables - built-in special variables that serve specific purposes. Discover how to work with history limits, constants, exit codes, and null values.
  • Install and manage VM watch on Azure Virtual Machines
    Microsoft announced the public preview of VM watch, a new in-VM service designed for Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) and Virtual Machine Scale Sets (VMSS). This service aims to enhance VM health monitoring by offering standardized, lightweight, and flexible in-VM health checks that connect seamlessly with Azure's monitoring and AIOps systems.
  • How to Verify a File Hash (Checksum) on Windows
    Checking a downloaded file’s hash (checksum) allows verifying its integrity and ensuring that the file contents have not been modified. Administrators commonly use MD5/SHA256 checksum verification for downloaded OS distros…
  • Use PowerShell to check if (shortened) URL link is safe
    It just happens a lot: you receive a (shortened) URL and are unsure if it's safe to open. Sometimes, I open it in Windows Sandbox or use the urlscan.io website. In this blog post, I will show you how you can automate the check of a URL and see if it's safe or not :)
  • Activating PIM Roles that require MFA or Conditional Access Authentication Context with PowerShell
    For some time, I’ve been activating and scheduling activations for Azure roles under Privileged Identity Management (PIM) using the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK. However recently we secured these role activations to require a conditional access authentication context with MFA. This basically requires me to MFA when I activate a role with PIM. Problem is, by … Continue reading Activating PIM Roles that require MFA or Conditional Access Authentication Context with PowerShell →
  • Loading PowerShell Custom Functions: Profiles, Dot-Sourcing, and Modules
    PowerShell is a versatile scripting environment that allows users to extend its capabilities by creating custom functions. Once written, you can load these PowerShell custom functions into your session or environment for reuse. Here are four common methods to load custom functions in PowerShell.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

Community

  • Jordan Returns: A Fun Dive into Life, PowerShell, and Beyond
    In this special episode, we catch up with our former cohost, Jordan, and hear about his journey since leaving the PowerShell Podcast. Jordan shares an exciting life update, offers invaluable advice on how PowerShell has shaped his career and participates in our fun "This or That" segment.

Fun

Events

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

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PowerShell Weekly for November 22, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 2 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Announcements!

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • How to Query REST APIs with PowerShell: A Practical Guide
    Learn how to use PowerShell to query REST APIs, parse JSON responses, and build a reusable tool for working with web services. This hands-on tutorial covers Invoke-RestMethod, error handling, and creating custom output objects.
  • GitHub Actions and PowerShell: The Underdog
    Remember how I mentioned how GitHub actions are underrated? I’m going to show at a high level how GitHub Actions with PowerShell can save you time and be more efficient. What does it do? It does that automatically once every day, I could do it more, but didn’t think it was necessary.
  • PowerShell Copy-Item with Folder Structure
    In this tutorial, I will explain how to use PowerShell’s Copy-Item cmdlet to copy files and folders while maintaining their original structure. This is a common task for system administrators and developers who need to manage file systems efficiently. You will learn here how to use the PowerShell Copy-Item cmdlet to efficiently copy files
  • Using the Fluent Theme in WPF with PowerShell and .Net 9
    For a long time, adding a modern design theme to your WPF project typically meant adding a 3rd party library to provide the styling, such as MahApps Metro, or WPF UI. With the release of .Net 9, a Fluent theme is finally coming to WPF! There are still areas where 3rd party libraries will be … Continue reading Using the Fluent Theme in WPF with PowerShell and .Net 9
  • Conditional Access Gallery - Point, Select, and Deploy in Minutes
    With my new Conditional Access Gallery tool Invoke-DCConditionalAccessGallery in DCToolbox you can pick and choose from any of 25+ available Conditional Access templates included, and the tool will auto-deploy them in your tenant (report-only mode), automatically create all dependencies like groups, named locations, and terms of use agreements, and finally document your new policy design
  • Upgrading your Azure Function Apps to run on PowerShell 7.4
    PowerShell language worker for Azure Functions. Contribute to Azure/azure-functions-powershell-worker development by creating an account on GitHub.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

  • PowerHuntShares
    PowerHuntShares is an audit script designed in inventory, analyze, and report excessive privileges configured on Active Directory domains.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

  • PwshSpecteConsole with Shaun Lawrie
    Shaun Lawrie talks to the Pacific Powershell User Group about PwshSpectreConsole.
  • GitHub Pages with PowerShell
    The Pacific Powershell User Group talks about GitHub Pages and PowerShell and demonstrates PSJekyll.
  • Get-EventSession
    Script to assist in downloading Microsoft Ignite, Inspire, Build or MEC contents or return session information for easier digesting.

Community

  • Growth, Grit, and Community with Steven Judd & Kevin Laux
    In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Steven Judd and Kevin Laux for insights and inspiration from the PowerShell community. Steven shares his experiences overcoming the hurdles of live demos, recounts the highlights of PowerShell Saturday NC, and reveals the story behind his iconic bling and love for puns. He delves into the importance of "practice makes progress," encouraging listeners to embrace growth through consistent effort. Kevin Laux joins the conversation to discuss his journey with PowerShell, his role with the Research Triangle PowerShell User Group (RTPSUG), and the impact of community involvement.

Fun

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

13
6
PowerShell Weekly for November 15, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 3 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • Powershell and the Left Hand Side
    A new article, to talk about an important notion in Powershell, the Left Hand Side (LHS) notion.
  • Manage PIM Role Assignments with PowerShell
    This article describes how to create eligible and active PIM role assignment requests using cmdlets from the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK.
  • How to install PowerShell 7 and essential tools on macOS
    As you prepare for the OnRamp track at the PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit, this guide walks you through installing the essential tools on your macOS system, if that's your preferred operating system. You'll learn to install PowerShell version 7, Visual Studio Code, and the PowerShell extension for VS Code to ensure your system is prepared for the event.
  • GitHub and PowerShell: The Underdog
    Remember how I mentioned how GitHub actions are underrated? I’m going to show at a high level how GitHub Actions with PowerShell can save you time and be more efficient. What does it do? It does that automatically once every day, I could do it more, but didn’t think it was necessary.
  • Install and enable SSH on Windows Server 2025
    Windows Server 2025 comes with SSH pre-installed, making secure remote server management easier for administrators. This is especially helpful when accessing servers from macOS or Linux machines or Windows computers not part of the Active Directory domain, as enabling PowerShell remoting can be complicated in this scenario. By default, SSH on Windows Server 2025 uses password authentication, which you should change to public key authentication for enhanced security.
  • Introducing a Custom 'map' Function in PowerShell for Functional Programming
    I built the custom map function to enable processing multiple arrays with ease. Simplify your scripts by applying transformations simply and flexibly.
  • How Can You Effortlessly Restart or Shutdown Windows Using PowerShell Commands?
    In Windows PowerShell, you have two main commands for controlling shutdown and restart functions: Restart-Computer and Stop-Computer. Each command can
  • New PowerShell Threat: Infiltrating Networks with Advanced Techniques
    In a recent discovery, Cyble Research and Intelligence Lab (CRIL) detailed a complex, multi-stage PowerShell campaign that employs several advanced techniques to infiltrate networks, maintain persistence, and enable covert communications.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

  • CMHealthcheck v 1.0.30
    ConfigMgr healthcheck reporting
  • linuxtools v 1.0.12
    An experimental PowerShell module for Linux nerds. Because: why not?
  • PSBluesky
    A set of PowerShell 7 commands that use the BlueSky API. You can skeet and upload images from a PowerShell prompt as well as view your feed and timeline.

Community

Fun

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

14
8
PowerShell Weekly for November 8, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 3 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

Community

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

15
8
Looking for feedback on my script (lemmy.dbzer0.com)
submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/powershell
2 comments fedilink
 
 

Script is made to control Veeam VBR
Thanks for taking a look at my massive feature creep ;)

<#
    .SYNOPSIS
        Startet ein Veeam VBR Job

    .DESCRIPTION
        Startet einen VBR Job basierend auf den Namen.
        Ursprünglicher Zweck war ein Verknüpfung von Jobs (z.B. als Pre-Execution Skript)

    .PARAMETER JobName
        Job-Name des Backup Jobs

    .PARAMETER JobType
        Typ des Backup Jobs
        Erlaubte Typen: VAW, VAL, VMware,
        Nicht erlaubte: Typen: HyperV, PVE

        $Get-VBRBackup | Select-Object -Property Name,TypeToString,JobType
        Backup              Pretty                  Verbose                 Typ im Skript   Notizen
        ########################################################################################################
        Backup Copy Job     Backup Copy             SimpleBackupCopyPolicy  /               /
        VAW Managed SRV     Windows Agent Backup    EpAgentBackup           VAW             CMDlet deprecated for Agent backups
        VAW Managed PC      Windows Agent Policy    EpAgentPolicy           VAW             CMDlet deprecated for Agent backups
        VAL Managed SRV     Linux Agent Backup      EpAgentBackup           VAL             CMDlet deprecated for Agent backups
        VAL Managed PC      Linux Agent Policy      EpAgentPolicy           VAL             CMDlet (probably) deprecated for Agent backups # UNGETESTET WERTE! 
        Proxmox VE          Proxmox Backup          VmbApiPolicyTempJob     PVE             Nicht nutzbar mit Powershell via Start-VBRJob
        VMware              VMware Backup Backup    Backup                  VMware
        Hyper-V

    .EXAMPLE
        Start-VeeamJob.ps1 -JobName 
        passes F1234567-1abc-1234-ab1c-1a2345b6c78d to $JobName
        
    .NOTES
        Author  : Appoxo
        Version : 2.0
    
    .LINK
        Job-ID auslesen:
            Get-VBRComputerBackupJob | Where-Object Name -CLike "*Name*" | Select-Object -Property Id, Name
#>

[CmdletBinding()]
Param(
    [Parameter(Mandatory = $true,
    HelpMessage = "Enter Job-Name of the VBR-Job")]
    [String]
    $JobName,

    [Parameter(Mandatory = $true,
    HelpMessage = "Art des VBR-Jobs. Die Bezichnung ist NICHT canse-sensitiv!")]
    [string]
    $JobType
)

Begin {
    Write-Host "Script started successfully"
    $ExitCode = 0  

    #TimeStamp Logging:
    function Get-TimeStamp {return "{0:yy/MM/dd} {0:HH:mm:ss}" -f (Get-Date)}
    
    <#
    #Debug Values:
    $JobName = "L1 Backup Appoxo-PC2 (Games)"
    $JobType = "VAW"
    #>

    # Variablen
    $workingDir = "C:\Skripte\SkriptLogs"
    $log = "$($workingDir)\Log-StartVeeamJob.log"
    $JobDetails = Get-VBRBackup | Where-Object Name -EQ "$($JobName)"
    $timeout = 9

    # Vorbereitung
    if ($JobType -in @("VAW","VAL","VMware")){
        Write-Host "Valid backup type selected"
        $JobTypUnbestimmt = 0
    }
    else {
        Write-Host "Invalid backup type selected. Please choose something else :)"
        $ExitCode = 1
        exit $ExitCode
    }

    if (Test-Path -Path $workingDir) {
    } else {
        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path "$workingDir"
    }

    if (-not (Test-Path -Path $log -PathType Leaf)) {
        New-Item -ItemType file -Path $log
        Add-Content -Path $log "Log zur Überprüfung der Start von VBR-Jobs"
    }
}

Process {
    Write-Host "You passed the following information:"
    $data = @([PSCustomObject]@{"Job Details"="$($JobDetails.Name)"; "Selected Job Type"="$($JobType)"})
    $data | Format-Table -AutoSize
    Write-Host "The following Job-ID was found for this job: $($JobDetails.JobId)"

    Write-Host "If there is an error please abort NOW." 
    while ($timeout -gt 0) {
        Write-Host -NoNewline "`rThe script starts in $($timeout)"
        Start-Sleep -Seconds 1
        $timeout--
    }
    Write-Host "Starting script now!"
    Write-Output "$(Get-TimeStamp) Start des Backup Job Skripts. Für den Job '$($JobDetails.Name)' wurde die Job-ID $($JobDetails.JobId) gefunden!" | Add-Content -Path $log

    try{
        $startTime = Get-Date
        Write-Host "Validating input... This may take a while"
        if((($JobType -in @("VAW","VAL"))) -AND (($JobDetails.JobType -in @("EpAgentBackup","EpAgentPolicy")))) {
            Write-Host "Valid backup type '$($JobDetails.TypeToString)' was found. Starting now!"
            Start-VBRComputerBackupJob -Job $JobName | Select-Object -OutVariable JobResult
        }
        elseif (($JobType -in @("VMware")) -AND (($JobDetails.JobType -in @("Backup")))) {
            Write-Host "Valid backup type '$($JobDetails.TypeToString)' was found. Starting now!"
            Start-VBRJob -Job $JobName | Select-Object -OutVariable JobResult
        }
        elseif (($JobType -in @("PVE")) -AND (($JobDetails.JobType -in @("VmbApiPolicyTempJob")))) {
            Write-Host "Der Job des Typs $JobType ist aktuell nicht implementiert"
            $ExitCode = 1
            exit $ExitCode
            <#
            Write-Host "Valid backup type '$($JobDetails.TypeToString)' was found. Starting now!"
            Start-VBRJob -Job $JobName | Select-Object -OutVariable JobResult
            #>
        }
        else {
            Write-Host "Invalid backup type '$($JobDetails.TypeToString)' was found. Please restart the script!"
            Write-Output "$(Get-TimeStamp) Bestimmung des Typs für den Job '$($JobDetails.Name)' nicht erfolgreich. Angegeben wurde '$($JobType)'" | Add-Content -Path $log
            $ExitCode = 1
            $JobTypUnbestimmt = 1
        }

        # Job Result report
        if(($JobTypUnbestimmt -EQ 0) -AND ($JobResult.State -EQ "Stopped") -AND ($JobResult.Result -EQ "Success")){
            Write-Host "Execution of the Job '$($JobName) was successful"
            Write-Output "$(Get-TimeStamp) Backup Job $($JobDetails.Name) erfolgreich ausgeführt" | Add-Content -Path $log
            $ExitCode = 0
        } else{
            Write-Host "Execution of the Job '$($JobName) encountered an error. Please check the VBR-Console"
            Write-Output "$(Get-TimeStamp) Fehler beim ausführen vom Backup Job '$($JobDetails.Name)'" | Add-Content -Path $log
            $ExitCode = 1
        }
        #Stats
        $endTime = Get-Date
        $executionTime = $endTime - $startTime
    } catch {
        Write-Host "Something went wrong during execution"
        Write-Host $_  # This prints the actual error
        Write-Output "$(Get-TimeStamp) Error: $($_)" | Add-Content -Path $log
        $ExitCode = 1 
    }
}

End {
    Write-Output "$(Get-TimeStamp) Skript abgeschlossen für $($JobDetails.Name) Job-ID $($JobDetails.Id)" | Add-Content -Path $log
    Write-Host "Script ended."
    $seconds = "{0:N2}" -f $executionTime.TotalSeconds
    $minutes = "{0:N2}" -f ($executionTime.TotalSeconds / 60)
    Write-Host "Time for stats! The script took $($seconds) seconds or $($minutes) minutes)"
    exit $ExitCode
}
16
4
PowerShell Weekly for November 1, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 3 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Announcements!

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • GitHub Copilot in Windows Terminal
    GitHub Copilot users can now use the power of GitHub Copilot to get command suggestions and explanations without leaving the terminal with Terminal Chat in Windows Terminal Canary 🚀 This is available for all GitHub Copilot Individual, Business, and Enterprise customers. To get started, sign up for a GitHub Copilot free trial and check out […]
  • Creating an AWS SSL Certs from Scratch (CLI and PowerShell)
    Learn how to create SSL certificates in AWS Certificate Manager using the AWS CLI. This tutorial walks through setting up permissions, requesting a certificate, and verifying its creation.
  • Export Complex PowerShell Objects to CliXML: A Practical Guide
    Learn how to export complex, nested PowerShell objects to CliXML while preserving their structure and relationships. Follow along with a real-world example using workout program data.
  • Dell Command Update – Install & Manage via PowerShell
    So if you haven’t read my last post yet, Dell Command Update – pulling back the curtains – GARYTOWN ConfigMgr Blog, you should, as I go into how Dell Command Update (DCU) gets it’s feed of information under the hood. That is the basis for a lot of things I’ll be doing. In this post, ... Read more
  • Popping Toast Notifications in PowerShell Core
    If you’ve ever popped a toast notification in PowerShell using the Windows Runtime (WinRT), you’ve probably discovered that, whilst it works fine in PowerShell 5, it doesn’t work at all in PowerShell Core (5/6/7+). That’s because the WinRT assemblies are not included in PowerShell Core – WinRT is an exclusively Windows thing
  • Powershell - Managing disks, partitions and volumes
    How to manage disks, partitions and volumes in Powershell
  • How to bypass Microsoft Graph PowerShell access restrictions
    Learn how to bypass Microsoft Graph PowerShell access restrictions and gain full directory access using PowerShell.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

  • Show-PSRunObject: function to inspect objects
    Example function to inspect objects interactively. It shows what methods and properties the passed object has. You can go down/up the object hierarchy with key presses.
  • WinPostInstall
    Windows Post Install script written in PowerShell
  • PSBluesky
    If you are a Bluesky user, I'm working on a PowerShell module so that you can do things like post from a PowerShell prompt. Not ready to publish to the PSGallery, but the module is stable enough for you to kick the tires.
  • PSAPIClient v 1.1.0
    This Powershell module is a wrapper for the use of one or more API(s). Each API can be configured and addressed independently. This allows easy use of multiple APIs within a session.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

  • Learning PowerShell using Microsoft Learn
    This week, I posted a link to the PowerShell courses/learning paths on Microsoft Learn for PowerShell; I did that because there is so much material to learn from and use as a reference/help system. In this blog post, I will show you your options at Microsoft Learn to improve your PowerShell skills.

Community

Fun

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

17
12
PowerShell Weekly for October 25, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 3 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • Automating VM Deployment in Azure with PowerShell
    Learn how to automate the deployment of a Windows VM on Azure using PowerShell. This guide covers network setup, NSG rules, and IIS installation.
  • Get Active Directory ports with PowerShell
    Active Directory services communicate over specific ports needed for authentication, replication, and other directory services. Knowing these ports is crucial for configuring firewalls, ensuring secure communication, and troubleshooting network issues related to Active Directory services. This post will teach you how to get the Active Directory ports with PowerShell.
  • How to Set Directory Synchronization Features with the Graph
    Directory synchronization features control how the Entra Connect tool works when synchronizing accounts from Active Directory to Entra ID. The current advice is to use a cmdlet from the depreciated MSOL module to update settings. This article explains how to do the job with the Graph APIs, including cmdlets from the Entra PowerShell module.
  • Automating Sign-In Analysis with PowerShell and Microsoft Graph
    In this article, we'll walk through how to explore and analyze Conditional Access data in Microsoft Entra using the Developer Tools in your browser. The purpose of this walkthrough is to demonstrate how you can identify and extract the necessary Microsoft Graph API calls directly from the Entra portal, providing a foundation for automating this process with PowerShell.
  • List all EEEU and Anonymous links for SharePoint and OneDrive!
    A colleague of mine asked me before the weekend if I knew if there was a way to list all Everyone Except External Users and Anonymous links for OneDrive for Business. He had written a PowerShell script but had some errors.
  • Practical PowerShell: The Dark Power of Dynamic Parameters
    In this episode of Practical PowerShell, we dive into the dark power of dynamic parameters, and how to use them within in functions and scripts.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

Community

Events

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

18
9
PowerShell Weekly for October 18, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 4 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • Convert to Azure Premium SSD v2 Disks with PowerShell
    Azure Premium SSD v2 disks, currently in public preview, provide enhanced throughput and IOPS at a lower cost than earlier versions. You can convert existing disks to Premium SSD v2 using PowerShell. However, it's crucial to understand the specific limitations and requirements beforehand.
  • Manage Your SharePoint Online Environment with PnP PowerShell
    In this article, we explain how to get started using PnP PowerShell, and review some practical examples of where the module can immediately add value for tenant administrators.
  • Duplicate Drivers from a ConfigMgr Boot Image
    When creating new boot images in ConfigMgr, you often want to copy drivers from an older boot image. If you have many drivers added, it's way quicker to do that in PowerShell compared to comparing drivers in the boot image drivers tab.
  • Query WinGet software installer data with PowerShell
    I'm a big fan of WinGet, and the software available in their ecosystem is growing daily. Still, I'm always curious about what WinGet will download and how it does the silent install of the specified software. In this blog post, I will show you an easy way of retrieving that data :)
  • Automating Performance Monitor in Windows
    For advanced scenarios where you need to automate running Perfmon at scale
  • Type less by using PowerShell type accelerators
    I had heard the PowerShell term “type accelerators” a few times, but never really knew what that meant. I finally decided to check out the about_Type_Accelerators docs and it turns out they’re simply aliases for .NET types.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

Community

  • Exploring Redfish Protocol, Data Science, and PowerShell with Blake Cherry & Danny Stutz
    In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, I sit down with Blake Cherry to discuss the Redfish Protocol and its impact on simplifying data center hardware management, drawing insights from his talk at PowerShell Saturday, NC. We explore how Redfish is reshaping IT systems at scale. I also speak with Danny Stutz, who dives into the intersection of PowerShell and Data Science, covering topics like AI, data analysis, and K-means clustering, all applied to real-world use cases using PowerShell. Whether you're managing hardware or looking to integrate advanced data science techniques into your scripts, this episode has something for everyone!
  • OpenAI for PowerShell with Doug Finke
    You should be writing tests for your PowerShell scripts... but how to get started? Doug talks to RunAsRadio about using ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot to explore different aspects of PowerShell, including testing!

Events

  • PowerShell AI Build Hour - Doug Finke
    Friday, October 25, 2024 at 12:30 PM EDT - Ready to go from zero to app hero? I'll live demo building an app using the new OpenAI Canvas—the interface that transforms writing and coding into an interactive adventure. This isn't just chat; it's creating real-world projects, start to finish.

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

19
2
PowerShell Weekly for October 11, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 4 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

Community

  • Culinary to Command Line: Catching Up with Drew McClellan
    In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we welcome back the "bestsest in the midwestest" Drew McClellan, who shares his recent promotion from Jr. Sysadmin to SysAdmin II. Drew talks about how he uses PowerShell in his daily role, tackling new software implementations and projects, and his approach to continuous learning. We also dive into how the OnRamp experience at PowerShell Summit helped prepare him. As a bonus, Drew, a chef for 10 years, dishes out some recipe recommendations to Andrew!
  • Shorten The Code - Results and Learnings with Well-known Community Members
    Xavier Clinquart from the Belgian PowerShell User Group has analyzed all scripts, and now it is time to take a look at the best ones. Together with well-known members of the PowerShell community, we will talk about the results and learnings of this fun competition.

Fun

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

20
4
PowerShell Weekly for October 4, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 4 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • Restore classic context menu in Windows 11 Explorer using Group Policy or PowerShell
    Alongside the revamped Start Menu, one of the most noticeable changes in Windows 11 is the redesigned context menu in File Explorer. However, these modifications are not merely aesthetic – they also restrict its functionality. You can deploy a registry key using Group Policy Preferences to restore the classic context.
  • How to Create Azure Service Principals in PowerShell
    Learn how to create Azure service principals using PowerShell, enabling secure automation for managing Azure resources like virtual machines.
  • Microsoft Retires the Revoke-SPOUserSession Cmdlet
    Unsurprisingly, Microsoft announced the deprecation of the Revoke-SPOUserSession cmdlet for November 2024. The cmdlet is replaced by the Revoke-MgUserSignInSession cmdlet, which works across Microsoft 365 rather than just SharePoint Online. All of this happened while the 2nd annual PowerShell Script-Off happened at TEC 2024 and competitors struggled with what to do to secure a user account for an ex-employee.
  • GitHub Copilot Password Warning
    Did you know that GitHub Copilot is now sensing hard coded credentials and giving you a warning? It’s not perfect, but even if something looks like hard coded creds it will flag it, as on another script I had, it contained numbers that looked like they could be private, and it gave me a warning
  • Using Get-Content in PowerShell
    I use Get-Content a lot (or cat, gc, and type as its alias) to display or track the contents of a file. There are different parameters for it, and in this blog post, I will show you what you can do with those :)
  • Customize your Windows 11 (23H2 and onwards) taskbar during OSD with ConfigMgr using just PowerShell
    Approximately two years ago, I authored a blog post detailing how to customize the taskbar in Windows 11.
  • Running PSScriptAnalyzer in GitHub Actions
    I was working on a project recently that has some PowerShell scripts and I wanted to add some kind of linting for PRs, as you do. The go-to for PowerShell seems to be PSScriptAnalyzer and it's something I've already setup in VS Code. Great! The next step was to setup
  • PowerShell Potluck - September 2024
    Welcome back to another PowerShell Potluck, and you didn't have to bring a thing, other than a little curiosity and a willingness to try new things.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

  • EntraFIDOFinder – New PowerShell Module
    After so much interest from my post on Friday, I figured I’d do one better and make a PowerShell module that does it for you. So now you will be able to find which FIDO2 keys are attestation compatible with Entra right from your terminal. In the very near future I will have individual functions

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

Community

  • PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025: Call for Papers Now Open!
    PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025: Call for Papers Now Open! Calling all innovators, problem-solvers, and thought leaders in the PowerShell and DevOps realm!
  • Spectre Console and TUI Magic with Shaun Lawrie
    On this episode of The PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Shaun Lawrie to discuss terminal user interfaces (TUIs) and his work on the PWSHSpectreConsole project. Shaun shares insights into the world of TUIs, offers valuable career advice, and talks about his journey in tech. Tune in for practical tips and an in-depth look at what it takes to thrive in the PowerShell ecosystem.

Fun

  • PowerShell ASCII Art
    I posted my Windows Terminal this week on social media channels, including LinkedIn, and received some responses about the login banner screen. In this blog post, I will show you an easy way to pimp your PowerShell Console ;)

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

21
5
PowerShell Weekly for September 27, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 4 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
2 comments fedilink
 
 

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • Build dynamic JSON with PowerShell
    I recently did a Contacts Sync with GRAPH Api and PowerShell to create Contacts in a Shared Mailbox and USer Contact Folder. At this time, it was needed to build dynamic JSON related to existing Values, so I looked for some posts on how to build dynamic JSON with PowerShell.
  • How to install PowerShell 7 and essential tools on Linux
    As you prepare for the OnRamp track at the PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit, this guide walks you through installing the essential tools on your Ubuntu Linux system if that's your preferred operating system. You'll learn how to install PowerShell version 7, Visual Studio Code, and the PowerShell extension for VS Code to ensure your system is prepared for the event. If you're using Windows 11, refer to the companion article, How to install PowerShell 7 and essential tools on Windows 11. A future article covers installations on macOS.
  • Installing the Entire Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK Seems Like the Right Idea
    An article described some benefits that could be gained from not installing the complete Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK. The question is whether the claimed benefits are more theoretical than actual. It’s hard to say because it all depends on how someone uses the SDK for development or to run scripts. Anyway, it’s a topic worth discussing.
  • How to Authenticate to Azure Using PowerShell (User and Device Authentication)
    Learn how to authenticate to Azure using PowerShell, including module installation, interactive and device login methods, verifying sessions, and managing multiple subscriptions.
  • Passkey Provider AAGUIDs PowerShell Module
    The FIDO2 specification requires each security key vendor to provide an Authenticator Attestation GUID (AAGUID) during registration. An AAGUID is a 128-bit identifier indicating the key type, such as the make and model. Passkey providers on desktop and mobile devices are also expected to provide an AAGUID during registration.
  • PowerShell Confirm Parameter: Best Practices for Safe Scripting
    The PowerShell Confirm parameter is an essential safeguard that prompts users before performing potentially destructive actions. This article will explore how to implement the -Confirm parameter in custom PowerShell functions to make them more robust and user-friendly. What is the PowerShell Confirm parameter?
  • Outlook Email Mover
    The way I manage my email might seem a bit strange. Due to working in IT, I get lots of emails. Some emails need action, some are regular emails, and some are notifications I want to know about as soon as they happen. I feel like a normal person would make an Outlook rule to…
  • SQL Query Stats via Powershell
    Checking query runtimes via PowerShell

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

  • PowerShellRun
    Terminal Based Launcher and Fuzzy Finder for PowerShell.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

Community

  • Innovating with PowerShell: Micah Shonyo’s Path to C# Mastery
    In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Micah Shonyo to explore his inspiring journey into PowerShell, from his early days learning the language to his current projects. We dive into the story behind his Microsoft Cluster Management module, discussing what motivated him to create it and how it helps sysadmins. Micah also shares how learning PowerShell opened the door for him to start using C#, blending scripting with development to elevate his technical skills. We wrap up the conversation with insights into his career goals and aspirations for the future.
  • Inside IT Automation E16
    The History of PowerShell with Jeffrey Snover

Fun

Events

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

22
9
PowerShell Weekly for September 20, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 5 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • Get-Mailbox Versus Get-ExoMailbox
    Microsoft's advice is to use the Get-ExoMailbox cmdlet instead of its older Get-Mailbox counterpart. Generally, this is good advice that you should follow. However, the older cmdlet can do a job in certain circumstances, so don’t write it off completely. More importantly, make sure that filtering of objects is done using server-side filters. This will improve script performance significantly.
  • Simple Tip for GitHub Copilot
    If you have GitHub Copilot, you may or may not know about this little tip, but wanted to let you know just in case. It has saved me so much time and it can be applied to a lot of scenarios.
  • Query the required permissions of a Microsoft Graph cmdlet
    Microsoft Graph can be difficult sometimes. There are loads of PowerShell Microsoft Graph Modules and cmdlets that require different permissions. In this blog post, I will show you how to query the permissions for a cmdlet, multiple cmdlets, or all cmdlets from a specific Microsoft Graph module.
  • Exploiting Exchange PowerShell After ProxyNotShell: Part 3 – DLL Loading Chain for RCE
    As you may know, I recently presented my Exchange-related talk during OffensiveCon 2024. This series of 4 blog posts is meant to supplement the talk and provide additional technical details. In this article, part 3 of the series, I describe a chain of 3 vulnerabilities that led to remote code exec
  • Attacking PowerShell CLIXML Deserialization
    In this article, we will learn that using PowerShell’s CLIXML deserialization could lead to undesired effects, including remote code execution. We will also see that widely used solutions, like PowerShell Remoting and PowerShell Direct (Hyper-V), rely on such deserialization and could make you vulnerable to this kind of attack.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

  • Tabby
    Tabby (formerly Terminus) is a highly configurable terminal emulator, SSH and serial client for Windows 10, macOS and Linux

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

  • PowerShell Advanced Functions: Getting Started Guide
    Advanced functions take your PowerShell development to the next level, letting you create cmdlet-like scripts with advanced features. In this article, we’ll dive into what makes cmdlets and advanced functions essential in PowerShell, with examples and tips to help you master them. What is a cmdlet? A PowerShell cmdlet (pronounced “command-let”) performs a specific task
  • PnP PowerShell Changed!!! ACT NOW
    In this video, I will show you about a big change in the way PnP PowerShell will work going forward. You might be facing an issue right now when you are working with PnP PowerShell. Watch this video to know how you can resolve this and get going.
  • Harness AI to Analyze Your Workflow with Custom PowerShell Scripts
    In this video, Doug Finke, a 16-time Microsoft MVP, showcases his PowerShell function GetWhatIWorkedOn. This tool helps you effortlessly track and summarize the files you've worked on over any specified period. By scanning multiple directories, it lists all the files you've modified, giving you a clear picture of your recent activities.

Community

  • Building Modern PowerShell Solutions: Justin Grote on TUIs, .NET, and Module Magic
    In this episode, we chat with Justin Grote about his work with PwshSpectreConsole and the power of TUIs in PowerShell scripting. Justin takes us through his impressive collection of PowerShell modules—ModulePath, GallerySync, and ModuleFast—and how they enhance the PowerShell experience. We also explore the advantages of .NET's Common Language Runtime (CLR) in PowerShell, using Spectre.Console as a prime example. Finally, Justin shares his thoughts on transitioning from Windows PowerShell to PowerShell 7 and the performance and feature benefits that come with the upgrade.
  • Scriptember Live: "PowerShell Is Fun - Episode 2" with Microsoft MVP Harm Veenstra
    In this live stream, we'll talk about how to have fun with PowerShell while improving IT automation tasks and processes.

Fun

  • Friday the 13th PowerShell Fun
    Well here are once again and another Friday the 13th. I love these days because I feel challenged to come up with 13 PowerShell related tidbits which I hope you'll find fun and maybe even a little educational. Manage and Report Active Directory, Exchange and Microsoft 365 withManageEngine ADManager Plus - Download Free Trial Exclusive...

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

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PowerShell Weekly for September 13, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 5 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • Recover data from corrupted BitLocker drives with repair-bde and key packages
    Activating BitLocker encryption on a drive automatically generates a 48-digit numeric recovery password. This password is crucial if other unlocking methods fail and Windows prompts you with the BitLocker recovery console during startup.
  • Practical Graph: Working with Microsoft Lists using the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK
    Microsoft Lists are a powerful tool for end users to store and manage data stored in SharePoint Online sites. The Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK includes cmdlets to work with Microsoft Lists and this article explains how to use the cmdlets to add new lists, add items to lists, retrieve data from lists, and remove items from lists.
  • My PowerShell for Visual Studio Code extension settings
    I use Visual Studio Code to create and edit PowerShell scripts. The PowerShell Extension from Microsoft has some excellent features that will make your scripts more readable and consistent formatting-wise. In this blog post, I will show you my configuration and the options I use.
  • Register an Entra ID Application to Use with PnP PowerShell
    As the volume of threats increases rapidly, staying aligned with the recommended practices is essential to enhance security effectively. As part of this, the multi-tenant PnP Management Shell Entra ID app was deleted on September 9, 2024, to improve application security. This change now requires admins to register their own…
  • Semi-Dynamic Static PowerShell Function Definitions for a Dynamically Semi-Static World
    It’s been a while since I posted anything to my blog. I needed a break. But I needed a break from the break. I hope you don’t mind. This is admittedly an “edge case” scenario. The “need” (with air quotes) for this occurred within fairly uncommon set of circumstances, but I thought the methodology might be useful in other cases. Or maybe not. But if it’s of some help to you, that makes it worth the effort for me.
  • WSUS – Cleanup using Powershell with email notification output
    If you are using WSUS in your environment, you may want to run a scheduled task to cleanup old updates and compress some of the larger updates to free up space on your server. A good way of doing this is to run a Powershell script which will take care of all your cleanup requirements and as we are using Powershell, we can even get it to send us an email once it is complete with the output information on what the script has managed to clean up.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

  • Microsoft 365 Licensing Report Script V1.94
    The Microsoft 365 Licensing Report PowerShell script has been upgraded to generate detailed license information and to deal with expired license subscriptions. You can download V1.94 of the script from GitHub. Before attempting to run the licensing report script, take the time to read previous articles to understand the basics of the script and how to generate the files used for pricing information.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

  • Turn PowerShell Into Your Excel Automation Machine
    Get ready to see how PowerShell can transform the way you work with Excel.
  • Azure Functions & PowerShell
    Join me as I discuss PowerShell-based Azure Functions. we will go through local Function development and testing to deploy a Function to Azure and even an Account storage queue-triggered Function that creates a Resource Group and Storage account from a queue message.

Community

Fun

  • Shorten the Code – Win cool Prizes
    Welcome to the ScriptRunner Shorten the Code Challenge! This exciting competition invites PowerShell enthusiasts to demonstrate their scripting prowess by transforming a PowerShell script into concise, efficient code.

Events

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

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PowerShell Weekly for September 6, 2024 (self.powershell)
submitted 5 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

Announcements!

  • Scriptember 2024
    A month-long celebration of PowerShell and its vibrant community

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

  • New in Windows Terminal: Restore buffers, code snippets, scratchpad and regex
    Windows Terminal unveiled a range of noteworthy features in versions 1.21 and 1.22 Preview, including the capacity to retrieve previous sessions' output buffer upon startup, store code snippets for reuse within the console, and utilize a scratchpad for crafting intricate commands.
  • PowerShell: Calculate the total size of Files
    In this post I will show how to use PowerShell to calculate the total size of all files. This will be a short post but maybe a very helpful one.
  • Transferring Reusable PowerShell Objects Between Microsoft 365 Tenants
    People often need to transfer objects or code between Microsoft 365 tenants. When it comes to dealing with objects, the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK's ToJsonString method is very useful. The method outputs a string containing JSON content, but only for object properties that have a value. This makes the much easier to use the output as the basis for a template object or as the payload body to create an object in another tenant.
  • Get List Item Count in SharePoint Online Using PowerShell
    In organizations, SharePoint lists are essential for organizing and managing various data, from tracking tasks to managing customer information and inventory. These lists not only streamline collaboration but also ensure that data is easily accessible and well-structured.
  • Practical PowerShell Series: Part 6
    The practicalities of producing PowerShell output and generating logging are other essential scripting elements. No administrator likes to stare at a blank screen, wondering if the command just entered is functioning or not.
  • Configuring PowerShell settings using Intune or Group Policy
    Every Windows device has PowerShell installed by default. (Sadly, it's still only version 5, not version 7.) However, you want to configure the devices' security and log settings. In this blog post, I will show you how to do that using Microsoft Intune or Group Policy.
  • Taming My ADHD with Obsidian and PowerShell
    Alleviating my ADHD headaches with Obsidian. Periodic Notes and Templater extensions save the day by reminding me of the next step towards my larger goals.
  • 5 Reasons you should be using PSReadLine
    Get up to speed and use PSReadLine more often - in his first article for us, author Jeffery Hicks provides his 5 reasons why he recommends using PSReadLine.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

  • Mastering Time in PowerShell: Measure statistical properties within time spans with PSDates [OC]
    Unlock the power of time manipulation in PowerShell with the Group-TimeSpan and Measure-TimeSpan cmdlets from the PSDates module! In this video, we'll dive deep into how you can group data by specific time spans and measure statistical properties like sum, average, maximum, and minimum within those groups. Whether you're looking to analyze logs, monitor system performance, or perform data analysis, these cmdlets offer powerful tools to streamline your workflows and enhance your data manipulation skills in PowerShell. Watch now to become a master of time-based data analysis!
  • Making Microservices with Docker and PowerShell
    The Pacific PowerShell User Group talks about making Microservices with Docker and PowerShell

Community

  • Being a Lazy Administrator with Bradley Wyatt
    In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Bradley Wyatt, also known as the Lazy Administrator. We explored his inspiring journey from college dropout to becoming a 5x Microsoft MVP and how he transformed his personal knowledge base into a globally recognized blog that serves as a vital resource for IT professionals. Bradley shares the lessons he’s learned along the way, his passion for automation, and the impact of his work on the PowerShell community.
  • Inside IT Automation - E11
    Bruno Buyck: Learning PowerShell with Lego

Events

  • Scriptember Live Stream Episode 1
    Scheduled for Sep 11, 2024. In this live stream, we'll talk about how to have fun with PowerShell while improving IT automation tasks and processes.

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

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PSDates v1.0.5 released with new data analysis functionality (self.powershell)
submitted 5 months ago by pwshguy to c/powershell
0 comments fedilink
 
 

I'm excited to announce the latest update to PSDates is live on the PowerShell Gallery and GitHub.

This version introduced two powerful new functions designed to enhance data analysis capabilities in PowerShell!

  • Group-TimeSpan: This new cmdlet allows you to easily group objects by a specified time intervals. Whether you're working with logs, transactions, or any time-based data, you can now quickly organize your data into meaningful time intervals. This makes it simpler to analyze patterns, trends, and performance over time.

  • Measure-TimeSpan: This cmdlet takes the Group-TimeSpan to the next level by measuring statistical properties such as sum, average, maximum, and more within grouped time spans. It's perfect for generating detailed reports, analyzing system performance, or monitoring trends within your datasets.

It's available for installation from the PowerShell Gallery

Install-Module -Name PSDates

PSDates on GitHub

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