Learn the Basics of Windows DOS and Powershell

Students will primarily use Linux/UNIX command line throughout the program, however it is also recommended to be familiar with Windows Command Prompt (DOS) and Powershell.

This blog on netwrix.com explains the difference between Windows Command Prompt and Windows Powershell:

Windows Command Prompt

Windows Command Prompt (also known as the command line, cmd.exe or simply cmd) is a command shell based on the MS-DOS operating system from the 1980s that enables a user to interact directly with the operating system. Specifically, this venerable command shell provides an environment to run applications and various utilities; output is displayed in the same window. It is possible to use the cmd shell to create and edit scripts and save them to batch files to solve automation tasks in one-system frames; however, it was never intended for remote system administration.

Windows PowerShell

Windows PowerShell is a command shell and scripting language designed for system administration tasks.  It was built on top of the .NET framework, which is a platform for software programming developed by Microsoft in 2002.

PowerShell commands, or cmdlets, help you manage your Windows infrastructure. In addition, they enable a user to access the registry, the file system and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) space on systems remotely. Moreover, the PowerShell command shell enables you to create complex scripts with multiple conditions.

How PowerShell differs from Command Prompt

As mentioned earlier, cmd is a very old tool that was never intended for remote system administration. Extending its functionality requires additional utilities, such as Microsoft Sysinternals PsExec.

PowerShell, on the other hand, provides many cmdlets to simplify system administration tasks. It supports the automation of a wide range of tasks, such as Active Directory administration, user and permissions management, and extracting data about security configurations. Moreover, PowerShell now supports Linux.

Learn the basics of Command Prompt and PowerShell by watching these video tutorials below:

Learn to Use Basic Command Prompt (DOS) Commands in Windows: Youtube video that provides an overview of how to open Windows Command Prompt and use 8 beginner commands

Total Time: 14 minutes

Learning PowerShell 5: Lynda.com course that provides an overview of the most current release, PowerShell 5.0, including how to read the PowerShell language and scripts, get help, and use cmdlets.  Lynda.com is a free resource to Temple University students that is available from the TUportal home page.

Total Time: 1 hour and 14 minutes