Windows PowerShell - what is it? PowerShell Windows XP

Windows PowerShell is a modern command-line shell used in this operating system. For the first time it was included in Windows 7 in 2009. In the last, tenth version of this OS, it has already almost supplanted the traditional cmd.exe shell, which was used throughout the NT family. In this article we will talk about the general principles of its operation and how to install it on Windows XP.

Windows Command Line

The command line shell existed in all Microsoft operating systems. However, the improvement of the graphical interface as new versions were released pushed it to the background. At least in terms of usefulness for the average user. The ability to work with the command line has always been the prerogative of system administrators. The fact is that the capabilities that it allows to use (for example, to configure the network) have never had a corresponding graphical interface.

Widespread in the corporate environment and the increasing complexity of the network architecture required the introduction of new administrative and automation tools, which led to the creation of developers from Redmond Windows PowerShell. What does this give the user and administrator?

From the point of view of a user who rarely uses the command line, nothing will change. But in the hands of the network administrator gets a convenient tool that allows you to automate part of daily operations and work with remote machines.

Tasks and features of PowerShell

Windows PowerShell is based on the .NET Framework, and Microsoft initially positioned the new shell as a tool for professional administration. The main difference in the documentation indicates the possibility of working with objects. NET, which significantly distinguishes it against the background of analogs. The specialists who worked on the new software product approached the matter creatively.

To ensure the compatibility and unification of commands with command-line shells, used in other OSes, an in-depth analysis was carried out. The result was a significant extension of the command syntax in Windows PowerShell. What this gives the administrator of complex networks, it is not necessary to explain.

Many high-performance servers run on Linux, while client machines run on Windows. Unification of the syntax allows you to administer both sectors of the network using identical commands, which reduces the burden on IT staff.

Windows 7 and the development of PowerShell

As we have already said, this operating system was the first, which included the PowerShell toolkit. In Windows 7, version 2.0 was used, in conjunction with .Net Framework 4.0. As the command shell improved and its capabilities grew, Microsoft released Management Framework packages that allowed it to be updated to the current state. The main changes involved the Windows Powershell integrated environment. What this means, we will show on the figures.

The version of the ISE 2.0 script editor included 20 modules and 350 integrated commands, in version 3.0 their number increased to 71 modules and 2305 commands. Certainly, such productivity growth positively affected the administrative capabilities of the shell. The presence of an integrated scripting environment that allows interacting with operating system objects and functionality similar to the programming language makes this product an excellent working tool.

Unsurprisingly, in Windows 10, the new shell came in first. And although cmd.exe is still present in the system, PowerShell becomes the default command line tool. Microsoft is betting on this shell and developing it, continuing to add new features. It is likely that the next version of the OS will be completely deprived of the classical command line, which will give way to a more modern and flexible toolkit.

Installing in Windows XP

After the release of the "seven" initially not included in its composition PowerShell Windows XP was able to install it in the form of an update package. The .NET Framework 3.5 is required to work separately. This move by Microsoft is due to the need to implement a new administrative tool in a widely used OS at that time.

The installation required the presence of a third service pack in the operating system. Thus, you could install this shell only on the version of XP that is supported in the current state. For system administrators who traditionally do not favor large cumulative updates, this was an additional call to action.

Further updates for XP were not released by the company. Showing the features of Windows PowerShell, and what it gives the administrator, Microsoft indicated to corporate users the path that was preferable to it. All those who wanted to expand the capabilities of the internal network had to switch to more modern operating systems.

Despite the end of technical support for XP in 2014, this system, according to various estimates, still takes 7 to 10 percent of all installed Windows. To some extent, the influence of the new command shell, allowing remote maintenance of these machines, also affects here.

Finally

We have told only a little general information about the modern Windows shell. Everyone can get acquainted with its capabilities in detail, discovering the world of the command line.