Kurt Shintaku's Blog

PowerGUI – Powershell administration console
Interesting free tool for Powershell users and administrators alike.
http://powergui.org/

(Download PowerPacks – modules to leverage PowerGUI against specific application servers – from the PowerGUI library:  http://www.powergui.org/kbcategory.jspa?categoryID=21)

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Example uses:

• Introduction to PowerGUI demo – this is the most basic and introductory demo using Exchange 2007 environment to show how PowerGUI can be used to manage mailboxes, produce reports, how the console can be extended, and finally how these extensions are shared with other community members.
• Managing Operations Manager 2007 with PowerGUI – Rob "Deuce" Doucette is demoing his PowerPack for OpsManager 2007 (also known as MOM).

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is PowerGUI?
   PowerGUI is an extensible graphical administrative console for managing systems based on Windows PowerShell. These include Windows OS (XP, 2003, Vista), Exchange 2007, Operations Manager 2007 and other new systems from Microsoft. The tool allows to use the rich capabilities of Windows PowerShell in a familiar and intuitive GUI console.
2. How much does it cost and is registration required?
   PowerGUI is a freeware product thanks to the support we are getting from Quest Software. You can download the product and access all information on this site absolutely for free and without any registration or login. You will have to register only if you want to post information to the discussion forums or library, or subscribe to notifications by email (RSS subscription does not require registration.)
3. What are the system requirement?
   The main system requirement is Windows PowerShell (which in its turn requires .net framework 2.0). If you don’t have this installed on your computer PowerGUI setup will detect that and open a web page from which the system can be downloaded. In terms of operating systems we support Windows XP, 2003, Vista, and Longhorn; both 32- and 64-bit. Particular snapins may add their specific system requirements. For example the Exchange 2007 snapin we ship today naturally requires Exchange 2007 or its administrative tools.
4. What can I do with PowerGUI?
   Pretty much anything that the underlying system permits. You can browse through the system, filter/sort what you get, select the columns, perform actions on selected objects, change their properties, export data to clipboard, Excel, xml, or just html reports, and much more. And if you don’t believe this is all being done by Windows PowerShell just switch to another tab and you’ll see the PowerShell code behind what you’ve been doing.

   Check out PowerGUI extensions library for the additional features you can download from the community.

5. How can I customize PowerGUI?
   Yes, if the functionality of the snapins is not enough you can add any nodes (check out our search feature when adding a cmdlet-based node!), actions, or links. You can of course delete any of the ones we ship too, and do basic customization such as changing the set and order of columns the tool displays.

   See demos Documentation in for more information.

6. What are Links?
   Links provide the ability to get to a set of related objects. For example, if I want to get a list of members of my Managers group, and then find Exchange mailbox stores which have their mailboxes I am effectively following links between the objects to get from the group to its members, then to their mailboxes, and finally to the mailbox stores.

   See demos Documentation in for more information.

7. What a difference between Actions and Common Actions?
   Actions are specific to an object class. For example, changing user properties only makes sense for user objects. Common Actions work for any object classes. Natural examples here would be reporting and export functions.

   See demos Documentation in for more information.

8. How can I exchange actions, links, nodes with another PowerGUI users?
   Anything you add can be shared with other PowerGUI users. To share functionality select the export command in the shortcut menu and then share the file by uploading it to the community library. Other users will then be able to download the file and import it into the tool.
9. What does auto update do?
   Every time you start PowerGUI it tries to connect to the community site to check for latest version. No personal information is transferred during this connection or download. If a newer version is found you’ll be prompted to download and install the version. If your computer is not connected to the internet you need to visit the community site to download and install the latest updates manually.

   You can subscribe to our announcements or blog to get notified when a new version is available.

10. Where can I get help?
    Check out the flash demos posted on the site in Documentation, and feel free to ask questions on the community forums.