Microsoft has updated Windows PowerShell 1.0 for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 and made new English-language installation packages available for download as of June 23, 2008. Designed to integrate with Windows Server 2003 SP1, SP2 and R2 (x86, x64 and Itanium-based) along with Windows XP SP2 (both the 32-bit and 64-bit editions) and SP3 (only 32-bit), the updated release of Windows PowerShell 1.0 does not target Microsoft's latest Windows client. Windows Vista SP1 is ignored with the latest variant of Windows Power Shell available since January 30, 2007, the day that Microsoft also made available Vista RTM.

"Windows PowerShell is a new command-line shell and scripting language designed for system administration and automation. Built on the .NET Framework, Windows PowerShell enables IT professionals and developers control and automate the administration of Windows and applications," Microsoft informed in the product's description. "Windows PowerShell includes more than 130 command-line tools (called 'cmdlets') for performing common system administration tasks, such as managing services, processes, event logs, certificates, the registry, and using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)."

Users should bear in mind that the downloads contain just the English-language installation packages for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, and not any localized versions or the multilingual packs. Microsoft is currently hard at work on the successor of Windows PowerShell 1.0, namely version 2.0 which has only reached the stage of the second Community Technology Preview so far. At the bottom of this article, you will also find an embedded video containing tips and tricks of PowerShell, courtesy of Ben Pearce, a Premiere Field Engineer.

Windows PowerShell 1.0 English-Language Installation Packages and Windows PowerShell 2.0 CTP2 are available for download here.


Powershell tips and tricks from the field with Ben Pearce