2016/02/24

Windows Management Framework (WMF) 5.0 RTM released (again)

Microsoft just re-released the new version of Windows Management Framework (WMF) 5.0 RTM for Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 2008 R2 SP1, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 SP1.

The PowerShell Team previously released WMF 5.0 RTM two months ago but it was pulled-back mainly because of the $PSmodulePath issue.

Download WMF5


Changes in the republished packages

  • The KB numbers of these packages (KB3134758, KB3134759, and KB3134760) are different than previously released WMF 5.0 RTM packages (KB3094174, KB3094175, and KB3094176).
  • These packages have fixes only for the PSModulePath issue compared to the previously released WMF 5.0 RTM packages.

Uninstall previously released WMF 5.0 RTM packages

You must uninstall previously released WMF 5.0 RTM (KB3094174, KB3094175, and KB3094176) packages.


No impact to Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview builds

Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 Technical Previews builds are not impacted by the above mentioned PSModulePath issue. This issue was only impacting down-level systems where WMF 5.0 RTM can be installed.


To install WMF 5.0 by using Command Prompt

  1. After you have downloaded the correct package for your computer's architecture, open a Command Prompt window with elevated user rights (Run as Administrator). On the Server Core installation options of Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Command Prompt opens with elevated user rights by default.
  2. Change directories to the folder into which you have downloaded or copied the WMF 5.0 installation package.
  3. Run one of the following commands.

    • On computers that are running Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows 8.1 x64, run Win7AndW2K8R2-KB3134760-x64.msu /quiet
    • On computers that are running Windows Server 2012, run W2K12-KB3134759-x64.msu /quiet
    • On computers that are running Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or Windows 7 SP1 x64, run Win7AndW2K8R2-KB3134760-x64.msu /quiet
    • On computers that are running Windows 8.1 x86, run Win8.1-KB3134758-x86.msu /quiet
    • On computers that are running Windows 7 SP1 x86, run Win7-KB3134760-x86.msu /quiet

Overview of all scenarios enabled by WMF 5.0

  • New and updated cmdlets based on community feedback
  • Generate Windows PowerShell cmdlets based on an OData endpoint with ODataUtils
  • Manage .ZIP archives through new cmdlets
  • Interact with symbolic links using improved Item cmdlets
  • Network Switch management with Windows PowerShell
  • DSC authoring improvements in Windows PowerShell ISE
  • 32-bit support for the configuration keyword in DSC
  • Audit Windows PowerShell usage by transcription and logging
  • Extract and parse structured object out of string content
  • Configure DSC’s Local Configuration Manager with the meta-configuration attribute
  • Configure piece by piece with partial configurations in DSC
  • Manage with cross-computer dependencies in DSC
  • More control over configurations in DSC
  • Find more detail about configuration status in DSC
  • Support for -? during DSC configuration compilation
  • Support for DSC RunAsCredential
  • Rich information for DSC LCM State
  • Side-by-Side installation of DSC Resources
  • PSDesiredStateConfiguration Module version updated to 1.1
  • Discover and install software with PackageManagement
  • Discover modules and DSC resources with PowerShellGet
  • Develop with classes in Windows PowerShell
  • More control and remoting in Windows PowerShell Debugging
  • Report configuration status from DSC to a central location
  • Software Inventory Logging.

Resources



PowerShell 5.0

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2016/02/23

PowerShell/SCSM - Get the Work Item parent of an Activity


In the last couple of months, I have been busy on some projects involving System Center Service Manager (SCSM), System Center Orchestrator (SCORCH) and Cireson Portal/Asset Management and I had to script a couple of repetitive tasks using PowerShell.

The following solution allows you to retrieve the parent Work Item of an Activity.

This is useful when you are using a Runbook Activity in your workflow that will invoke a Runbook inside System Center Orchestrator.

Example: In the case where you have a Work Item, a Service Request for instance, with bunch of activities (Review Activity (RA), Manual Activity (MA), Runbook Activity (RBA), etc... ). You could have a Runbook Activity (RBA) calling a System Center Orchestrator runbook.



From a SCORCH perspective it would be useful to find which Work Item the runbook activity belongs to if you want to perform some actions on the Work Item itself and other Activities.
Example: Edit the Work Item Title, Add a reviewer, Skip any Activities with a particular stage, etc...

Here is a PowerShell function that can just do this job for you: Get-SCSMWorkItemParent.