Let me close out this module by leaving you with what I
call Jeff's modern management paradigm.
And here's how it works.
First,
learn the manual process for whatever it is that you have to
manage. If you're managing stuff in Azure,
for example, learn how to use the browser‑based GUI tools.
The reason I think it is so important for you to learn the manual process is
that this should help you learn the underlying technology.
Sticking with my Azure example,
you want to understand what is happening when you click stuff in
that GUI, what is happening under the hood, at least in general
terms. If you never have a solid understanding of the technology
around the thing you are managing,
whether it's Active Directory or Hyper‑V or AWS, you'll
never be ready for the next step.
And I find that going through the manual process,
it's a great way to reinforce and to really learn how
that technology is going to work.
So the next step then is find the PowerShell solution that manages that
thing that you need to manage and learn how to use that.
Now this should be an easy process,
assuming you already have a solid PowerShell
foundation. Sticking with my Azure scenario,
there's a huge library of PowerShell commands. Now,
if you try to learn Azure and the PowerShell commands at the same time,
you will struggle and you will not be very happy.
But, if you follow my model, this management paradigm,
and learn how to manage Azure manually,
do all those things in the GUI, and understand how Azure works, the
cmdlets should be much easier to learn and to use.
Finally,
once you've mastered using the PowerShell commands for the thing
that you need to manage, such as Azure, the next logical step is for
you to automate your management tasks,
create PowerShell‑based scripts and tools to be more efficient and
consistent. Now Jeffrey Snover is fond of saying that often IT pros run
around with their hair on fire looking for a bucket of water and that
PowerShell can be that bucket of water.
I'd say that if you follow my paradigm,
your hair should barely be touched and you'll be a much happier,
cooler kind of IT pro.
In fact,
the more you use PowerShell, the more you'll
discover. PowerShell is an enabling tool.
I often think of it as a glue language that holds other technologies together,
or you'll work with other technologies that are much easier if
you know some PowerShell. Not only will PowerShell let you
create your own scripts and tools,
you can use PowerShell to create workflow or work with configuration
management tools like DSC or secure remoting such as JEA.
These are just a taste of the things that you can do with PowerShell. Learn PowerShell and leverage it everywhere.