Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration Fundamentals

Course: 8 Hours, 10 Minutes

Overview

Windows PowerShell 4.0 Desired State Configuration (DSC) can be used to significantly improve the way an organization defines, reports on and manages server and workstation configuration states. In this course, you will learn about what DSC is, how it works, different approaches to implementing it, and how to consistently configure and maintain individual workstation nodes as well as entire server farms, all the way from Development to Test to Production.

Introduction to Desired State Configuration

Course: 37 Minutes

• Course Introduction
• What is Desired State Configuration
• Examining System Configuration Prior to DSC
• Preparing your Environment for DSC
• Examining and Deploying a MOF file
• Creating a MOF Using a DSC Script

Understanding DSC Resources

Course: 40 Minutes

• Examining DSC Resources
• Using DSC Resource Kit Resources
• Working with Local Dependencies
• Working with Distributed Dependencies
• Logging with DSC
• Finding, Retrieving, and Using New Resources

Working with the LCM

Course: 35 Minutes

• Local Configuration Manager
• Configuring the LCM in Push Mode
• Querying Node Status
• Pull and Push Configuration Modes
• Configuring the LCM in Pull Mode

Creating a DSC Pull Server

Course: 52 Minutes

• Creating an SMB Pull Server
• Creating an HTTP Pull Server
• Configuring Clients to Connect to a Pull Server
• Securing an HTTP Pull Server
• Deploy Resources to Clients via an SMB Pull Server
• Deploy Resources to Clients via an HTTP Pull Server
• Querying Node Status with an HTTP Pull Server

Working with Configurations

Course: 28 Minutes

• Dealing with Parameters
• Configuring Multiple Servers and Role Types
• Configuring Similar Sets of Servers
• Dealing with Credentials

Practice: Configuring a Pull Server and 2 Nodes

Course: 8 Minutes

• Exercise: Configure a Pull Server and 2 Nodes

Working with Repositories

Course: 19 Minutes

• Course Introduction
• Understanding DSC's Default Repositories
• Creating an Internal PowerShellGet Repository
• Connecting to an Internal PowerShellGet Repository

DSC Resource Creation Overview

Course: 23 Minutes

• Understanding DSC Resource Types and Structures
• Creating a Simple Composite Resource
• Examining a Custom Resource

Writing DSC Resources

Course: 1 Hour, 6 Minutes

• Examining the DSC Resource Set Command
• Understanding Resource Idempotency
• Examining the DSC Resource Test Command
• Examining the DSC Resource Get Command
• Using the DSC Resource Designer
• DSC Resource Parameters
• Updating an Existing DSC Resource
• Deploying Custom Resources in Push Mode
• Deploying Custom Resources via an SMB Pull Server
• Deploying Custom Resources via an HTTP Pull Server

Advanced DSC Resource Creation

Course: 55 Minutes

• Debugging Techniques in Writing DSC Resources
• Debugging Techniques in Consuming DSC Resources
• Documenting DSC Resources
• Unit Testing DSC Resources
• Handling Machine Reboots
• Writing DSC Resources Using PowerShell Classes
• Writing DSC Resources Using C#

Practice: Creating a Custom Resource

Course: 7 Minutes

• Exercise: Create and Publish a Custom Resource

More Advanced DSC Configurations

Course: 11 Minutes

• Course Introduction
• Nesting DSC Configurations
• Exploring Partial Configurations

PowerShell DSC and Azure

Course: 32 Minutes

• Creating an Azure VM DSC Configuration
• Publishing an Azure VM DSC Configuration
• Applying an Azure VM DSC Configuration
• Reading Azure DSC Logs
• Overview of Azure Automation DSC

PowerShell DSC and HyperV

Course: 18 Minutes

• Configuring the HyperV Role using DSC
• Configuring HyperV VMs using DSC
• Bootstrapping LCM Configuration of HyperV VMs

PowerShell DSC and Linux

Course: 19 Minutes

• Overview of PowerShell DSC for Linux
• Configuring a Linux Environment for DSC
• Creating a DSC Configuration for a Linux Node
• Publishing a Linux DSC Config
• Examining a Linux Machine's Config and Metaconfig

PowerShell JEA

Course: 32 Minutes

• Overview of Just Enough Administration
• Create a JEA Endpoint
• Testing a JEA Endpoint
• Resetting a JEA Endpoint
• Using the JEA Toolkit Helper

Practice: Configuring a Server Farm

Course: 8 Minutes

• Exercise: Configure a Server Farm in Azure