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PowerShell 101 Overview

Jul 19, 2025

Overview

This lecture introduces PowerShell 101, outlining the book's purpose, target audience, lab environment, and the author's background in scripting and automation.

About This Book

  • The book aims to help IT professionals learn PowerShell efficiently, focusing on real-world production environments.
  • Content includes tips, tricks, and best practices gained from years of PowerShell experience.
  • Each chapter provides curated links to official help articles to deepen understanding.

Who Is This Book For?

  • Intended for anyone interested in learning or improving PowerShell skills, from beginners to experienced users.
  • Primarily focuses on Windows PowerShell 5.1 on Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022 in Active Directory environments.
  • Core concepts are relevant to all supported PowerShell versions on any platform.

Lab Environment

  • Examples were developed and tested on Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022 using Windows PowerShell 5.1.
  • Results may vary if using different operating systems or PowerShell versions.

About the Author

  • Mike F. Robbins is a former Microsoft MVP and the lead technical writer for Azure PowerShell at Microsoft.
  • He is a recognized expert in scripting, automation, and efficiency with several published PowerShell books.
  • Robbins shares his expertise through books, blogs, and social media.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • PowerShell — A cross-platform command-line shell and scripting language for task automation and configuration management.
  • IT Pro — Information Technology Professional, a person responsible for managing and maintaining computer systems.
  • Active Directory — A Microsoft directory service for Windows domain networks.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Review the PowerShell 101 book introduction and consider exploring related help articles linked in each chapter.
  • Prepare a lab environment, ideally Windows 11 or Windows Server 2022 with PowerShell 5.1, for practice.
  • Optional: Follow the author’s blog or social media for ongoing tips and updates.