PowerShell 2.0 is HERE!

Finally, the long-awaited PowerShell 2.0 is available for download from Microsoft.

This release promises to be a huge benefit to those needing to do remote systems management.

Download Links for All PowerShell 2.0 software be accessed from here:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/scriptcenter/dd772288.aspx

PowerShell 2.0 for Windows XP (32-bit) can be accessed from here (include Windows Remote Management (WinRM) 2.0):

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=60cb5b6c-6532-45e0-ab0f-a94ae9ababf5&displaylang=en

Note: The installer mentions that you may need a reboot following the installation – this was not a requirement in my case but that sort of thing typically depends on whether or not you have any affected systems files open while the installation is in progress. Your best bet for avoiding a reboot is to shut down all applications before running the installer.

To verify your installation, open a PowerShell Command Window and enter the command get-host and check the value for “Version”:

PS C:\> get-host
Name             : ConsoleHost
Version          : 2.0
InstanceId       : 8b2aa408-8ea6-4ae3-b9c6-c4852fdb4eda
UI               : System.Management.Automation.Internal.Host.InternalHostUserInterface
CurrentCulture   : en-US
CurrentUICulture : en-US
PrivateData      : Microsoft.PowerShell.ConsoleHost+ConsoleColorProxy
IsRunspacePushed : False
Runspace         : System.Management.Automation.Runspaces.LocalRunspace

Windows Management Framework, which includes Windows PowerShell 2.0, WinRM 2.0, and BITS 4.0, provides a consistent management interface across the various versions of Microsoft Windows. You can easily manage your Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP computers through Windows PowerShell remoting.

New features that are introduced in Windows PowerShell 2.0 include the following:

• RemotingWindows PowerShell 2.0 lets you run commands on one or more remote computers from a single computer that is running Windows PowerShell. PowerShell remoting allows for multiple ways of connecting. These ways include interactive (1:1), fan-out (1:many), and fan-in (many:1 by using the IIS hosting model).
• Integrated Scripting EnvironmentPowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) enables you to run interactive commands and edit and debug scripts in a graphical environment. The main features include color-coded syntax, selective execution, graphical debugging, Unicode support, and context-sensitive help.
• ModulesModules allow for script developers and administrators to partition and organize their Windows PowerShell code in self-contained, reusable units. Code from a module executes in its own self-contained context and does not affect the state outside the module.
• Advanced functionsAdvanced functions are functions that have the same capabilities and behavior as cmdlets. However, they are written completely in the Windows PowerShell language, instead of compiled C#.
• Background jobsWindows PowerShell 2.0 allows for running a command or expression asynchronously and “in the background” without interacting with the console.
• EventingThis feature adds support to the Windows PowerShell engine infrastructure for listening, forwarding, and acting on management and system events.
• Script internationalizationThis new feature enables Windows PowerShell scripts to display messages in the spoken language that is specified by the UI culture setting on the user’s computer.
• Script debuggingNew debugging features were added to Windows PowerShell that let you set breakpoints on lines, columns, variables, and commands, and that let you specify the action that occurs when the breakpoint is hit.
• New cmdletsWindows PowerShell 2.0 introduces over 100 built-in cmdlets. These cmdlets, excluding other tasks, enables you to do computer-related, event log, and performance counter management tasks.