An Overview of The Windows PowerShell

The Windows PowerShell also known as or codenamed Monad is a powerful script enhanced command line integration for Microsoft Operating Systems especially the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2.

The Windows PowerShell was a great Knowledge Base update for previous releases that did not come with it pre-installed. This command line tool is designed basically for System Administrators and regular users if you know what you are doing. The Windows PowerShell comes with an interactive prompt and a scripting environment that can be used independently or in combination.

In contrast, to most shells, which accept and return text, Windows PowerShell is built onto the .NET Framework Common Language Runtime (CLR) and the . NET Framework it accepts and returns .NET Framework objects. This gives the System Administrator completely new tools in the management and configuration of Windows.

Probably you have heard and used the *let concepts available with other language tools for instance the Java Servelets and Applets. The PowerShell has also introduced the concept of cmdlet (pronounced "command-let"), a simple, single-function command-line tool built into the shell. You can use each cmdlet separately, but their power is realized when you use these simple tools in combination to perform complex tasks. Another advantage of the cmdlet feature is that you can write your own and use them to work with Windows PowerShell.

Like many shells, Windows PowerShell gives you access to the file system on the computer. In addition, Windows PowerShell providers enable you to access other data stores, such as the registry and the digital signature certificate stores, as easily as you access the file system.