Why new Scripting Language and why PowerShell?

Why PowerShell? : Lets hear from the Microsoft:

 "It's safe to say that the single most important skill a Windows administrator will need in the coming years is proficiency with Windows PowerShell." Such a statement is hard to ignore isn't it?

         It's an eight year journey for me in the Information Technology and not even a single year is the same for the System Administrators out there including me.. It's quite common we would tend to learn new techniques every day to fix a problem or to simplify a task and most importantly we would rely Operations Management concepts and on the reporting and monitoring tools to give us a call in middle of night :) to fix a problem or to keep track of things. This has been a constant trend for sometime (just the tools and issues being different :) ).

        PowerShell started around 2006 when I started my career in IT Industry fixing desktops though, but over the period of time there was an idea, an idea that I always wanted to work and was at very primitive stage then, it's 'Automation'.

        Few years ago I had a chance to work with CFEngine which is more like the DSC in Powershell and I was thrilled to see what it could do to Servers, this had helped me to get into scripting with some level or seriousness.

       It brought something new to how we used to deal with things at work.The scripts not only made the work simpler but also provide re-usability, portability and Admin-friendly which is very much important and DSC opened a new window for Automation in Windows Technology.

      Personally I believe, scripting is important for any Systems Administrator out there and PowerShell is the Microsoft's answer to it for Windows platform and if you are Windows guy? It's never too late to have your share of PowerShell.

I've tried to put few highlights that should keep you going with PowerShell.

1: PowerShell is here to stay.

PowerShell modules would allow management of various Server Roles like AD, IIS, Exchange etc.,

2: New Microsoft products would leverage PowerShell.

Most of the Microsoft Products would eventually support PowerShell and the upcoming Products would be PowerShell integrated.

3: PowerShell usage is simpler than GUI.

Though Microsoft is known for their complex GUI, PowerShell would allow Management from console.

4: It can make your life easier

It’s re-usability, simplicity, remote management and portability would definitely make your life a lot easier when it comes to Management

5: You would see PowerShell questions in your MS certifications.

Yes, that’s right!!

6: As said Microsoft says it's important.

I would really like to re-iterate this. PowerShell is important, sooner or later everyone has to admit the fact as its designed for Administrators with our imputs.

7.Easier to pull reports and statistics.

 Exporting content to files is easier with PowerShell.

So, lets get started!!