__________________________

Experience Microsoft's latest products with these FREE downloads!

Build Your Lab! Download  Windows Server 2012,  System Center 2012 SP1 and  Hyper-V Server 2012 and get the best virtualization platform and private cloud management solution on the market. Try it FREE now!

Don’t Have a Lab? Build Your Lab in the Cloud with Windows Azure Virtual Machines. Try Windows Azure for free with no cost or obligations, and use any OS, language, database or tool. FREE Download

__________________________

Become an "Early Expert" at IT Pros ROCK!

The Windows Server 2012 "Early Experts" Challenge provides a FREE online study group with certification exam preparation materials for quickly learning about the latest version of Windows Server! The Challenge involves a series of Knowledge Quests - starting with the Apprentice Quest below - and each Quest ends with a special completion certificate for you to promote your new knowledge! To make it easy to participate, each Quest is developed in a modular format that you can complete based on your own schedule and availability.

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Websites & Blogs:

• Blain Barton’s Blog
• The Script Center
• Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog
• Learn Windows PowerShell

Videos:

• TechNet Radio: IT Time - The Scripting Guy’s Top 5 PowerShell 3.0 Tips and Tricks
• TechNet Radio: IT Time - PowerShell 3.0 Step-by-Step with the Scripting Guy
• TechNet Radio: IT Time – Get Your Script on! Check out PowerShell Saturdays
• TechNet Radio: IT Time – PowerShell 3.0 Integrated Scripting Environment Overview
• TechNet Radio: IT Time - Automating and Managing tasks in Windows Azure with PowerShell
• TechNet Radio: Top 10 Reasons NOT to Fear PowerShell 3.0
• TechNet Radio: IT Time – PowerShell Summit and the 2013 Scripting Games
• TechNet Radio: IT Time–Get Certified! Why Microsoft Certification Matters

Virtual Labs:

• TechNet Virtual Labs: System Center 2012

Follow @technetradio
Become a Fan @ facebook.com/MicrosoftTechNetRadio
Subscribe to our podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or RSS

In this video Gavin Gear demonstrates how to work with Storage Spaces in Windows 8. Storage Spaces is a new storage virtualization technology that makes it easy to implement storage solutions that are extensible, high-performance, portable, and cost-efficient. In this video you'll see how to create a Storage Pool, create two Storage Spaces, and more.

• [01:41] - Windows Azure VMs
• [05:13] - High availability
• [15:23] - Load balancing

Full course outline:

• Mod 01: Overview
• Mod 02: Infrastructure Services Foundation
• Mod 03: Managing Windows Azure Virtual Machines from PowerShell
• Mod 04: Active Directory on IaaS
• Mod 05: AD to Windows Azure AD
• Mod 06: Migrating Virtual Machines and Web Applications to Windows Azure
• Mod 07: High Availability and Load Balancing
• Mod 08: Deploying SharePoint
• Mod 09: Connecting IaaS with PaaS
• Mod 10: Monitoring
• Mod 11: Dev Test
• Mod 12: Hybrid Cloud with System Center

Next, at [11:55] the team walks through an installation of Hyper-V Server 2012 using Windows 8 Client Hyper-V, taking advantage of the lightweight installation package and small storage footprint. Symon then uses RDCMan to manage a new Hyper-V Server 2012 host and discusses some password management features. Then, Rick talks about the GUIless configuration options used to join the Hyper-V Server to the domain, and also discusses different GUI-based remote management options.

Symon then [16:20] installs the iSCSI Software Target, creates an iSCSI target and virtual disks, and connects both hosts to the target through their iSCSI initiators. Next, the team uses PowerShell to initialize and format the newly created iSCSI disks. The team then [28:25] switches to using RSAT for remote server management of the Hyper-V hosts from a Windows 8 laptop. After connecting to the hosts, they install the Failover Clustering feature and being to build the cluster. After validating the Hyper-V hosts and iSCSI storage, the team ends the demo by creating a Failover Clustering.

News:

• [00:20] Join the System Center 2012 Live Q&A event on May 21st: http://aka.ms/Earn-SysCtr (this link will redirect you to the recording approximately one week after the event)
• [01:10] Register for TechEd North America (http://northamerica.msteched.com) and TechEd Europe (http://europe.msteched.com) before they sell out!
• [01:45] 5 new System Center 2012 SP1 virtual labs are now available from TechNet: http://aka.ms/SCLabs
• [02:25] Check out the exciting news about the upcoming Windows 8.1 from the Windows blog: http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2013/05/14/windows-keeps-getting-better.aspx
• [03:15] A new System Center 2012 Operations Manager (SCOM) Management Pack has been released to monitor Amazon Web Services (AWS): https://aws.amazon.com/windows/system-center/     
• [04:15] Learn more about creating a OEM Appliance OOBE for simplified Failover Clustering deployments: http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2013/05/08/oem-appliance-oobe-update-set-up-a-4-node-cluster-in-30-minutes.aspx

Connect with the Edge Team: Facebook – Twitter - Email

In this episode, Brady and Cory talk to Guang Yang from the Windows Azure SDK team to discuss some awesome new features. First, Guang talks about the new Ruby SDK, which exposes Windows Azure Storage and Service Bus to Ruby programmers. Then, Guang goes on a deep dive of the new Log Streaming feature available in the Node.js CLI tools and the Powershell Cmdlets. If you'd like to see how you can view your logs in real-time as users hit your Windows Azure Web Site, Guang shows you how in this episode.

Follow Guang

Follow Brady Gaster

Follow Cory Fowler

PowerShell and the Kinect

A few months back I wrote a “module” for scripting the Kinect with PowerShell. It’s located at: https://github.com/adminian/PowerKinect. Recently a new Kinect SDK was released. I’m going to be testing out the new SDK to make sure everything works as expected.

More info about the new SDK: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/kinectforwindows/archive/2013/03/18/the-latest-kinect-for-windows-sdk-is-here.aspx.

Currently there are only two gestures: right hand swipe and left hand swipe. There is also a function that starts PowerPoint and allows you to control your presentation.

Gary Siepser, a fellow PFE and PowerShell Guru, jumped in and started helping out. He’s written the Audio control functions for the module. We’ll be integrating them into the repo soon! I’ll be posting more about Scripting the Kinect, but for now go clone the repo and give it a try!

Project Information URL: http://adminian.com/2013/03/24/powershell-and-the-kinect/

PowerKinect

A module to control the Kinect from PowerShell.

Currently we only support Kinect SDK version 1.6. Download located here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=262831

Sample-KinectScripts.ps1 has a dependency on ShowUI: http://showui.codeplex.com/

The following is PowerKinects Hello world...

Start-Kinect

Enable-SkeletonStream

Add-RightHandGesture -action { notepad }

Add-LeftHandGesture -action { ps notepad | kill }

That's it!

Project Source URL: https://github.com/adminian/PowerKinect

$global:ie = New-Object -ComObject InternetExplorer.Application
$global:ie.GoHome()
$global:ie.Visible = $true
sleep 1
$global:ie.Navigate("http://www.microsoft.com")
sleep 1
$global:ie.Navigate("http://www.adminian.com")
sleep 1
$global:ie.Navigate("http://powershellsaturday.com/003/")
sleep 1

Add-RightHandGesture -action { $global:ie.GoForward() }
Add-LeftHandGesture -action { $global:ie.GoBack() }

Contact Information:

• Blog: http://adminian.com/
• Twitter: @Admnian

In this interview that starts at [05:10] , we cover:

• [06:32] Demo - Using PowerShell to copy files from on premise to blob storage 
• [09:42] Demo - Using PowerShell to copy VHD files from one storage account to another and monitor its status
• [16:02] Demo - Using PowerShell to upload a VHD file from on-premise to Windows Azure using add-AzureVHD.  Also adding a blank disk to the repository.
• [19:18] Demo - Using PowerShell to save a VHD from Windows Azure to on-Premise using Save-AzureVhd

News:

• AD to Windows Azure AD to Quickstart Guide now available! http://aka.ms/AD2AAD
• Updates to Windows 8 Mail, Calendar, People
• Now Available in the Windows Phone Store: Lync 2013 App  
• Office Hours Live with Joey and Rick (in person!). For more details on scheduled stops and registration links, check out. http://aka.ms/officehourslive.
• The EdgeShow will be LIVE in Las Vegas at MMS 2013 with MORE technical interviews. (http://www.2013mms.com/)
• Updated Windows Azure PS tools now available!

Connect with the Edge Team:

Facebook – Twitter - Email

The Windows Server 2012 "Early Experts" Challenge provides a FREE online study group with certification exam preparation materials for quickly learning about the latest version of Windows Server! The Challenge involves a series of Knowledge Quests - starting with the Apprentice Quest below - and each Quest ends with a special completion certificate for you to promote your new knowledge! To make it easy to participate, each Quest is developed in a modular format that you can complete based on your own schedule and availability.

 If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

• Microsoft Virtual Academy
• Download Microsoft Private Cloud Evaluation Software
• Download Your FREE copy of Hyper-V Server 2012

Websites & Blogs:

• Blain Barton’s Blog
• The Script Center
• Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog
• Learn Windows PowerShell

Videos:

• TechNet Radio: IT Time - The Scripting Guy’s Top 5 PowerShell 3.0 Tips and Tricks
• TechNet Radio: IT Time - PowerShell 3.0 Step-by-Step with the Scripting Guy
• TechNet Radio: IT Time – Get Your Script on! Check out PowerShell Saturdays
• TechNet Radio: IT Time – PowerShell 3.0 Integrated Scripting Environment Overview
• TechNet Radio: IT Time - Automating and Managing tasks in Windows Azure with PowerShell
• TechNet Radio: Top 10 Reasons NOT to Fear PowerShell 3.0
• TechNet Radio: IT Time – PowerShell Summit and the 2013 Scripting Games

Follow @technetradio
Become a Fan @ facebook.com/MicrosoftTechNetRadio
Subscribe to our podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or RSS

Full course outline:

• Mod 01: Installing and Configuring Servers Based on Windows Server 2012
• Mod 02: Monitoring and Maintaining Windows Server 2012
• Mod 03: Managing Windows Server 2012 by Using Windows PowerShell 3.0
• Mod 04: Managing Storage for Windows Server 2012
• Mod 05: Implementing Network Services
• Mod 06: Implementing Direct Access
• Mod 07: Implementing Failover Clustering
• Mod 08: Implementing Hyper-V
• Mod 09: Implementing Failover Clustering with Hyper-V
• Mod 10: Implementing Dynamic Access Control
• Mod 11: Implementing Active Directory Domain Services
• Mod 12: Implementing Active Directory Federation Services

Brad and Sean first give an overview of System Center 2012 SP1 Orchestrator and PowerShell and explain the importance of automation in the datacenter to reduce human error, free resources, and ensure a consistent service experience. They then talk about how Orchestrator can be extended by 3^rd party Integration Packs (such as VMware) and how custom IP can be created. Next they talk about PowerShell extensibility and how it enables automation of any hardware component with a programmatic interface.

At [13:45] the team takes a look at an Orchestrator demo which shows integration between PowerShell, System Center Service Manager, Active Directory, and Outlook to onboard a new user in the company. In this scenario an administrator can send an email to the IT department with an XML attachment which gets parsed by PowerShell, then the user's information gets added to AD and a record is created in Service Manager. This workflow also shows variables and conditional statements as well as the Orchestrator databus, which allows one runbook to invoke and pass data to other workflows.

News:

• [00:15] The Outlook team announces the global consumer launch of Outlook.com, which already has over 60 million users: http://blogs.office.com/b/microsoft-outlook/archive/2013/02/18/outlook-com-leaves-preview-as-fastest-growing-email-service.aspx     
• [01:30] The free Microsoft iSCSI Target has been updated—download it today to get an easy-to-use SAN: http://aka.ms/iSCSITarget     
• [01:50] Check out the "Future of Communication" from this week's Lync conference, including Skype & Lync      integration: http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2013/02/19/re-humanizing-communications-from-the-living-room-to-the-boardroom.aspx     
• [02:35] Five new courses have been released on the Microsoft Virtual Academy covering System Center 2012 SP1, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Intune: https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com     
• [06:10] Sign up for the "Microsoft Tools for VMware Integration & Migration" Jump Start on March 14^th: http://aka.ms/VMtools

Connect with the Edge Team: Facebook – Twitter - Email

In this episode, Glenn Block shows us a sneak peak of what is coming in both the Windows Azure PowerShell Cmdlets and the Windows Azure Cross-Platform Command Line tools. Tune in to learn about how the new features introduce a new world of scenarios for Windows Azure development and management.

Show Notes

• Download the PowerShell/Cross-Platform CLI Tools
• Windows Azure PowerShell Cmdlets
• Windows Azure Cross-Platform Command Line
• Azure-Scripty [Glenn's Personal Project]
• Poll: Should Querying of Windows Azure SQL Database be possible from the command line?

After watching this video, follow these next steps:

Step #1 – Download Windows Server 2012
Step #2 – Download Your FREE Copy of Hyper-V Server 2012

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

• Microsoft Virtual Academy
• Download Microsoft Private Cloud Evaluation Software
• Get the Book! PowerShell 3.0 Step-by-Step

Websites & Blogs:

• Blain Barton’s Blog
• The Script Center
• Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog
• Learn Windows PowerShell

Videos:

• TechNet Radio: IT Time - The Scripting Guy’s Top 5 PowerShell 3.0 Tips and Tricks
• TechNet Radio: IT Time - PowerShell 3.0 Step-by-Step with the Scripting Guy
• TechNet Radio: IT Time – Get Your Script on! Check out PowerShell Saturdays
• TechNet Radio: IT Time – PowerShell 3.0 Integrated Scripting Environment Overview
• TechNet Radio: IT Time - Automating and Managing tasks in Windows Azure with PowerShell
• TechNet Radio: Top 10 Reasons NOT to Fear PowerShell 3.0

Virtual Labs:

• TechNet Virtual Labs: System Center 2012

Follow @technetradio
Become a Fan @ facebook.com/MicrosoftTechNetRadio
Subscribe to our podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or RSS

Other webcasts from the series: 

• Part One
• Part Two 

After watching this video, follow these next steps:

Step #1 – Download Windows Server 2012
Step #2 – Download Your FREE Copy of Hyper-V Server 2012

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

• Microsoft Virtual Academy
• Download Microsoft Private Cloud Evaluation Software
• Get the Book! PowerShell 3.0 Step-by-Step

Websites & Blogs:

• Blain Barton’s Blog
• The Script Center
• Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog
• Learn Windows PowerShell

Videos:

• TechNet Radio: IT Time - The Scripting Guy’s Top 5 PowerShell 3.0 Tips and Tricks
• TechNet Radio: IT Time - PowerShell 3.0 Step-by-Step with the Scripting Guy
• TechNet Radio: IT Time – Get Your Script on! Check out PowerShell Saturdays

Virtual Labs:

• TechNet Virtual Labs: System Center 2012

Follow @technetradio
Become a Fan @ facebook.com/MicrosoftTechNetRadio
Subscribe to our podcast via iTunes, Zune, Stitcher, or RSS

Blain Barton welcomes fellow Technical Evangelist Brian Hitney to the show as they discuss how you can use PowerShell to automate and manage tasks and processes in your Windows Azure Virtual Machines and Cloud Services. Tune in as Brian demos for us a simple scenario where he creates an Azure storage account, ties it into a new service and deploys it from staging to production all by using Windows PowerShell.

After watching this video, follow these next steps:

Step #1 – Windows Azure 90 day FREE trial *Registration requires credit card information for anti-fraud purpose only)
Step #2 – Download Windows Server 2012
Step #3 –Begin building your own Virtual Machines in Windows Azure!

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

• Microsoft Virtual Academy
• Download Microsoft Private Cloud Evaluation Software
• Download Your FREE copy of Hyper-V Server 2012

Websites & Blogs:

• Blain Barton’s Blog
• Brian Hitney’s Blog

Virtual Labs:

• MSDN Virtual Labs: Windows Azure

Follow @technetradio
Become a Fan @ facebook.com/MicrosoftTechNetRadio
Subscribe to our podcast via iTunes, Zune, Stitcher, or RSS

After watching this video, follow these next steps:

Step #1 – Download Windows Server 2012
Step #2 – Download Your FREE Copy of Hyper-V Server 2012

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

• Microsoft Virtual Academy
• Download Microsoft Private Cloud Evaluation Software
• Get the Book! PowerShell 3.0 Step-by-Step

Websites & Blogs:

• Blain Barton’s Blog
• Matt Hester’s Blog
• The Script Center
• Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog
• Learn Windows PowerShell

Videos:

• TechNet Radio: IT Time - The Scripting Guy’s Top 5 PowerShell 3.0 Tips and Tricks
• TechNet Radio: IT Time - PowerShell 3.0 Step-by-Step with the Scripting Guy
• TechNet Radio: IT Time – Get Your Script on! Check out PowerShell Saturdays

Virtual Labs:

• TechNet Virtual Labs: System Center 2012

Follow @technetradio
Become a Fan @ facebook.com/MicrosoftTechNetRadio
Subscribe to our podcast via iTunes, Zune, Stitcher, or RSS

After watching this video, follow these next steps:

Step #1 – Download Windows Server 2012
Step #2 – Download Your FREE Copy of Hyper-V Server 2012

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

• Microsoft Virtual Academy
• Download Microsoft Private Cloud Evaluation Software
• Get the Book! PowerShell 3.0 Step-by-Step

Websites & Blogs:

• Blain Barton’s Blog
• The Script Center
• Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog
• Learn Windows PowerShell

Videos:

• TechNet Radio: IT Time - The Scripting Guy’s Top 5 PowerShell 3.0 Tips and Tricks
• TechNet Radio: IT Time - PowerShell 3.0 Step-by-Step with the Scripting Guy

Virtual Labs:

• TechNet Virtual Labs: System Center 2012

Follow @technetradio
Become a Fan @ facebook.com/MicrosoftTechNetRadio
Subscribe to our podcast via iTunes, Zune, Stitcher, or RSS

After watching this video, follow these next steps:

Step #1 – Download Windows Server 2012
Step #2 – Download Your FREE Copy of Hyper-V Server 2012

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

• Microsoft Virtual Academy
• Download Microsoft Private Cloud Evaluation Software
• Get the Book! PowerShell 3.0 Step-by-Step

Websites & Blogs:

• Blain Barton’s Blog
• The Script Center
• Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog
• Learn Windows PowerShell

Virtual Labs:

• TechNet Virtual Labs: System Center 2012

Follow @technetradio
Become a Fan @ facebook.com/MicrosoftTechNetRadio
Subscribe to our podcast via iTunes, Zune, Stitcher, or RSS

After watching this video, follow these next steps:

Step #1 – Download Windows Server 2012
Step #2 – Download Your FREE Copy of Hyper-V Server 2012

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

• Microsoft Virtual Academy
• Download Microsoft Private Cloud Evaluation Software
• Get the Book! PowerShell 3.0 Step-by-Step

Websites & Blogs:

• Blain Barton’s Blog
• The Script Center
• Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog
• Learn Windows PowerShell

Virtual Labs:

• TechNet Virtual Labs: System Center 2012

Follow @technetradio
Become a Fan @ facebook.com/MicrosoftTechNetRadio
Subscribe to our podcast via iTunes, Zune, Stitcher, or RSS

In this episode, we are joined by Michael Washam — Senior Technical Evangelist for Windows Azure — who shows us some updates to the Windows Azure PowerShell Cmdlets. Michael walks us through a variety of scenarios that will help developers and administrators with management, deployment, and diagnostics on Windows Azure.

In the News:

• Announcing Windows Azure Media Services
• Announcing Windows Azure Accelerator for Startups

Follow @CloudCoverShow
Follow @cloudnick
Follow @ntotten

"I just keep this up all day because I miss him." - @cloudnick //cc @WadeWegner twitter.com/ntotten/status…

— Nathan Totten (@ntotten) April 6, 2012

In this interview I get the chance to talk with Ian Lucas about Windows Server 8 Manageability enhancements, Server Manager, Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) and some seriously gnarly stuff to do with ISE Powershell enhancements.

Resources:

• Get yourself a copy of the Windows Server "8" beta from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/hh670538.aspx.

• Checkout some great resources from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/hh708766

• Check out the other videos in this interview series

  • Manageability improvements
  • Storage changes
  • Networking

Go check out Bill Laing's blog post announcing the availability of the Beta.

Tell us what you think with #TNEDGE and #WS8 tags on Twitter

Connect with the Edge Team:

Facebook – Twitter – Email

• Microsoft Certification Overview Page http://aka.ms/MSCerts
• MCSE information page http://aka.ms/MCSE
• Microsoft Certification Overview video http://aka.ms/MSCertsVideo

[06:06] Technical Interview:Mike Emard came by to talk about “PowerShell Web Access”.

Yes – use any device with a standards based browser to run PowerShell against target systems in your environment.

• Download Windows Server “8” betaand install the PowerShell Web Access feature.
• Introductory blog about Windows PowerShell Web Access
• Beta documentation on how to deploy Windows PowerShell Web Access
• Feedback on PowerShell Web Access: http://connect.microsoft.com/powershell

• [0:24] ASP.NET Open Sourcing Discussion with Scott Hanselman (Brady Gaster, Scott Hanselman)
• [2:22] PowerShell Scripting Games, All in One Page, Registration Information, The Announcement, Top 10 Reasons for competing in the 2012 Scripting Games, The judging criteria (Ed Wilson)
• [3:35] Using NuGet PowerShell to Replace Missing Macros in Dev 11 (John Robbins)
• [4:49] FIX: April 2012 Update for Visual Studio 11 Beta, April 2012 Updates to Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Beta (x86 and x64) - (English) on MSDN Subscriber Download [Note direct link may not work due to MSDN Subscriber site architecture. If not, should be listed in New downloads or our can search for it]. POST SHOW UPDATE: Since the recording of this show more information has been released as well as downloads for the public. Please see this blog post Improving how we update Visual Studio for more information.
• [5:46] Talk: What's new in VB11 & Talk: Async Part 1 - the message-loop, and the Task type (Lucian Wischik)
• [8:31] Quick Tip: Show WinRT XAML Binding Errors (Shawn Wildermuth)
• [9:41] Installing enterprise metro apps without using Microsoft Store (Lee Stott), TechNet 's How to Add and Remove Apps (aka Sideload)
• [10:42] Optimize [WinPhone7 App] Startup Time(Mike Battista)
• [12:17] 10+ powerful debugging tricks with Visual Studio (Ivan Shcherbakov)

Picks of the Week!

• Brian's Pick of the Week: [13:39] Windows Phone Proposal- The Ultimate in Romance
• Dan's Pick of the Week: [14:25] KMotion Capturer, the 3ds Max Script generator

ReponseLogix has integrated best of breed internet marketing practices and advanced internet marketing technology to deliver consumers an immersive and enjoyable car buying experience, and dealers higher close rates on internet leads. Auto dealers can now deliver a feature-rich, comprehensive and personalized, web-based quote response within minutes of Internet lead receipt, followed by a 180-day follow-up program with both email and web marketing dimensions.

Jagdish Rajan, VP Technology at ResponseLogix talks with Architect Evangelist Allan Naim of Microsoft about their choice of Windows Azure.

ResponseLogix chose Azure for cost effectiveness, worldwide development access, ease to deploy from staging to production. Recommends using Azure storage for read only data and PowerShell scripts for deployment to the Azure staging server.

About ResponseLogix, Inc.

ResponseLogix started in a car dealership. By observing the internet car buying sales process from both the dealer and the customer side, ResponseLogix determined that effective Digital Response Management is the key to achieving both immediate initial response and effective ongoing follow-up. With this in mind, the company created its powerful patent-pending solution suite, tailored to the needs of the fast-paced, multi-tasking dealer internet selling environment.

ResponseLogix delivers software as a service (SaaS) technology to auto dealers that engages the customer early in the car buying process and then propels her toward purchase. SmartQuote® delivers a relevant quote response within 10 minutes of internet lead receipt 95% of the time. SmartFollow® automatically follows-up and reactivates leads if the customer doesn't buy right away. SmartFacts® delivers powerful analytics to help optimize the performance of Internet sales departments. ResponseLogix products are available in 40 US markets for Toyota, Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Honda, Lexus, Audi, Acura, Nissan, Infiniti, Kia, Hyundai and Volkswagen dealers across the US. Additional OEM's will be supported soon. Additional information is available at www.responselogix.com.

Getting Started with Windows Azure

Are you a startup? Get BizSpark cloud access

Got MSDN? Get up to $3,700 of cloud benefits

Don't have MSDN? Here's cloud access

Today is your day...

2012 Windows PowerShell Scripting Games: All Links on One Page

Microsoft Scripting Guy, Ed Wilson, is here. The 2012 Windows PowerShell Scripting Games begin on April 2, 2012, and they run through April 13, 2012. The Scripting Games are the premier learning event of the year for IT pros, devs, and others who want to learn Windows PowerShell. Think you already know all there is about Windows PowerShell? Then register to compete in the Advanced category and compare yourself against some of the best Windows PowerShell people in the world. New to Windows PowerShell? You need to learn it, and learn it quick. Windows PowerShell is rapidly becoming the essential skill for IT pros, and all the new applications from Microsoft are absolutely burgeoning with Windows PowerShell features.

Just like last year, each day during the games, a new scenario will appear on the Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog. And just like last year, you will have exactly seven days (until 11:59 P.M. Pacific Standard Time) to submit your answer. An internationally recognized panel of judges (a veritable who’s who in the Windows PowerShell world) will grade your submissions. Daily leaderboards and random prize drawings will keep the interest in this exciting event to a near fever pitch for the duration of the games.

This page includes all the essential links for the 2012 Scripting Games. Add this page to your Favorites list, and check back on a daily basis. For that matter, add a tab to your browser, and make it one of your Home pages. As we progress through the games, I will be filling in the blanks.

...

Need some more reasons to participate?

Ed Wilson: Registration opens for the 2012 Scripting Games

...I mentioned several reasons for competing in the games. I would like to state my top ten reasons for competing in the 2012 Scripting Games.

1. It is a great chance to learn Windows PowerShell.
2. It is a great chance to receive a free critique of your PowerShell scripts by some of the best scripters in the world.
3. It is a tremendous opportunity to compare your scripting skills with other people around the world.
4. It is a great opportunity to learn from your peers, as you see their solutions to the same event that you spent hours pondering over.
5. It is an excellent opportunity to learn from experts, as you compare your solution to the one developed by one of the expert commentators.
6. It is a great way to meet new friends, as you share your experiences in the games on Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites.
7. It is a fantastic time to learn from your peers as you read their blog posts about their experiences completing various Scripting Games events.
8. It is a great way to win swag as you peer over the daily prize listings.
9. It is a nice way to spend a couple of weekends as you write solutions for different events, review entries submitted by your peers, and read about shared experiences on various blog postings.
10. It adds excitement, and a bit of competition to what could otherwise be called work.

How are those awesome scripts you're going to write judged?

2012 Scripting Games Judging Criteria Revealed

General criteria for good Windows PowerShell scripts

1. You should be able to read and understand your script. If you cannot read and understand your script, you will never be able to effectively modify it or troubleshoot it.
2. Use native Windows PowerShell cmdlets and capabilities unless a clear cut reason dictates otherwise.
3. Use comment-based Help.
4. Format your script to facilitate reading and understanding of the script.
   • Line up related items, and indent subordinate or dependent items.
   • Use comments, but avoid in-line comments. Instead, place comments on their own line ahead of the code to which the comment refers.
   • Avoid aliases in scripts.
   • Write your code so that it can be read without requiring horizontal scrolling. To do this, consider using variables and natural line breaks (such as the pipe (|) character). Avoid line continuation marks if at all possible, but not at the expense of creating really long lines of code.
   • Leave the pipeline character on the right side of the code.
   • Put at least one space between commands.
   • Place individual commands on individual lines unless the command is exceedingly short and separating the commands would hinder readability.
5. Keep the integrity of an object as long as possible. Avoid using Write-Host.
6. Write reusable, self-contained functions.
   • Functions should return objects.
   • Use Verb-Noun naming for functions.
   • Prefer the singular for nouns in function names.
   • Functions should accept piped input if it makes sense to the application.
   • Do not call a function like a method.

Specific grading criteria

All scripts are graded on a five-point scale.

• One point is awarded for a submission. All scripts will receive at least one point.
• One point is awarded if the script runs and meets the minimum requirements of the scenario.
  Therefore, a submitted script that runs and meets the requirements of the scenario will receive two points. If a script runs, but DOES NOT meet the requirements it will only receive 1 point, which is the same score as a script that attempts to meet the requirements of the scenario but does not work.
• The other three points depend on the scenario.
  In most cases, there will be four or five specific criteria that a script must meet. To receive all five points, a script must meet all of these criteria. If a script omits one criterion, one point is taken from the total of five. Therefore, a script would receive four points if it met all but one of the criteria and it worked properly.
  If a scenario only lists two criteria, and the script worked properly and met both of the criteria, the script would receive five points. A script that only met one of the criteria, would receive only four points.
  However, there is an evaluation process on the part of the judge—a judge may decide that a script is only worth 2 or 3 points instead of four or five.

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Something new this year is that if you want, you can use the still in beta PowerShell 3.0 (found in Windows Management Framework 3.0 - Beta).

Scripting Guys Announce the 2012 PowerShell Scripting Games

In a major departure from previous rules, if you want to compete by using the beta version of Windows PowerShell 3.0, you are welcome to use it. You will be limited to the most recent version that is publically available, and you must specify that when you submit your scripts.

Ready to get started?

How to Register for the 2012 PowerShell Scripting Games

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Now that you know why you need to sign up for the 2012 Scripting Games, I am going to ask the Scripting Wife to come help us get signed up for the games. (I would do it, but I am a judge, so it would not be fair.)

I pick up my Windows 7 phone and call the Scripting Wife. The nice thing about our phone provider is that phone-to-phone calls are free on the same service plan. So we use our Windows 7 phones sort of like an intercom or like a walkie-talkie at home. It prevents yelling—which just seems a bit rude. We also use our phones to send SMS messages to each other when we are dining out, but that is another story.

The Scripting Wife appears at the door to my office, and I greet her with an affectionate and heart felt greeting.

“I need you to come over here, so we can get you registered for the 2012 Scripting Games,” I exclaim.

“What, no ‘Hi, how are you doing?’ No ‘I have a special surprise for you today’? No nothing…just come over and get signed in,” she complained. ”How wude!”

“Sorry. Hey, why don’t you come over, I have a special surprise for you,” I said smiling.

“Too late, I already know what it is. The sign-up page for the 2012 Scripting Games is live,” she said.

“OK. You need to go to http://2012sg.poshcode.org/. When you get there, you need to click on the Log On button in the upper-right corner,” I said.

The Scripting wife typed http://2012sg.poshcode.org/ into Internet Explorer 9, and watched as the page navigated to the new PoshCode site for the 2012 Scripting Games. The 2012 Scripting Games PoshCode page appeared on her screen as follows, and she turned the monitor so I could see it.

...

So now that you're signed up (or just want to follow along) but maybe you need a little help getting started?

2012 Scripting Games Study Guide: A Resource for Learning PowerShell

More important than competing online and receiving prizes and a certificate is the acquisition of new Windows PowerShell skills. The ten areas emphasized in this year’s games represent “bread and butter” type of knowledge that you will be able to use immediately. To this end, I hope that you will use this study guide, even if you do not participate in the games.

Note Remember the Scripting with Windows PowerShell page in the Microsoft Script Center. It points to lots of great resources including podcasts, webcasts, and even a Windows PowerShell quiz.

• Working with computer hardware
• Working with dates
• Working with ETW logs
• Working with XML
• Working with classic event logs
• Working with CSV files
• Working with folders
• Working with text files
• Working with services
• Working with processes

See you on the Leaderboards!