Learn how to install PowerShell on Linux with this comprehensive guide. Follow easy, step-by-step instructions to set up and start using PowerShell on your Rocky Linux 8 system. #centlinux #linux #powershell
Table of Contents
What is PowerShell?:
PowerShell is a cross-platform task automation and configuration management framework, consisting of a command-line shell and scripting language. Developed by Microsoft, it is designed to automate system tasks, manage system configurations, and perform administrative tasks. PowerShell is built on the .NET framework, providing a robust environment for system administrators and power users.
Key features of PowerShell include:
- Cmdlets: Specialized commands that perform specific operations, such as file manipulation, system management, and network configuration.
- Pipelines: Allowing the output of one cmdlet to be used as input for another, enabling complex task automation.
- Scripting Language: A powerful, flexible scripting language that supports complex logic, error handling, and more.
- Remote Management: Enabling administrators to manage multiple systems remotely.
- Cross-Platform: Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a versatile tool for diverse environments.
PowerShell enhances productivity by enabling the automation of repetitive tasks, simplifying the management of system configurations, and providing a unified management interface across different operating systems.
Read Also: How to install SQL Server on CentOS 7
What is PowerShell used for?
PowerShell is used for a wide range of tasks in system administration, automation, and configuration management. Here are some of its primary uses:
- Automating System Tasks: PowerShell automates repetitive tasks such as file management, system updates, and user account management, saving time and reducing the potential for human error.
- Configuration Management: PowerShell is used to configure and manage systems. Administrators can script the setup and configuration of servers, networks, and applications to ensure consistent and repeatable deployments.
- System Administration: PowerShell provides administrators with powerful tools to manage local and remote systems, including managing services, processes, and system settings.
- Scripting and Automation: The scripting capabilities of PowerShell allow users to write scripts to automate complex workflows and administrative tasks. These scripts can handle conditional logic, loops, and error handling, making them robust solutions for task automation.
- Managing Windows and Linux Systems: PowerShell can be used to manage both Windows and Linux systems, offering a unified command-line interface for cross-platform administration.
- Interacting with APIs: PowerShell can be used to interact with web APIs, allowing for automation of cloud services, application deployment, and other tasks that involve web-based interfaces.
- Data Processing: PowerShell can process data from various sources, including files, databases, and web services. It can manipulate and transform data, making it useful for data analysis and reporting.
- Remote Management: With PowerShell Remoting, administrators can manage multiple remote systems from a single interface, executing commands and scripts across multiple machines simultaneously.
- DevOps and CI/CD: PowerShell is widely used in DevOps practices and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to automate the deployment and management of applications and infrastructure.
By leveraging these capabilities, PowerShell helps streamline administrative tasks, improve efficiency, and ensure consistency across IT environments.
Recommended Book: Learn PowerShell in a Month of Lunches, Fourth Edition: Covers Windows, Linux, and macOS 4th Edition (PAID LINK) by Travis Plunk, James Petty and Leon Leonhardt
Recommended Online Training: PowerShell Scripting and Automation for SQL Server DBA
Update Linux Operating System
By using a SSH client, connect with rockylinux-01.centlinux.com as root user.
Build cache for installed yum repositories.
# dnf makecache Rocky Linux 8 - AppStream 1.3 kB/s | 4.8 kB 00:03 Rocky Linux 8 - BaseOS 1.2 kB/s | 4.3 kB 00:03 Rocky Linux 8 - Extras 1.0 kB/s | 3.1 kB 00:03 Metadata cache created.
Execute following command to update software packages that are already installed on your Rocky Linux operating system.
# dnf update -y Last metadata expiration check: 0:01:01 ago on Mon 23 May 2022 07:13:55 PM PKT. Dependencies resolved. Nothing to do. Complete!
Our Linux server is already up-to-date. So, there is has nothing to update. But the output may vary on your Linux server.
After updating your Linux server, Check the versions of your operating system and Linux Kernel as follows.
# cat /etc/rocky-release && uname -r Rocky Linux release 8.6 (Green Obsidian) 4.18.0-372.9.1.el8.x86_64
Install PowerShell on Linux
First of all import the GPG key of Microsoft Official yum Repository by using rpm command.
# rpm --import https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc
Download and install Microsoft Official yum repository on your Rocky Linux server.
# dnf install -y https://packages.microsoft.com/config/rhel/8/packages-microsoft-prod.rpm Last metadata expiration check: 0:08:20 ago on Mon 23 May 2022 07:13:55 PM PKT. packages-microsoft-prod.rpm 7.7 kB/s | 6.8 kB 00:00 Dependencies resolved. ================================================================================ Package Arch Version Repository Size ================================================================================ Installing: packages-microsoft-prod noarch 1.0-1 @commandline 6.8 k Transaction Summary ================================================================================ Install 1 Package Total size: 6.8 k Installed size: 204 Downloading Packages: Running transaction check Transaction check succeeded. Running transaction test Transaction test succeeded. Running transaction Preparing : 1/1 Installing : packages-microsoft-prod-1.0-1.noarch 1/1 Verifying : packages-microsoft-prod-1.0-1.noarch 1/1 Installed: packages-microsoft-prod-1.0-1.noarch Complete!
Rebuild cache for newly installed yum repositories.
# dnf makecache Rocky Linux 8 - AppStream 1.2 kB/s | 4.8 kB 00:04 Rocky Linux 8 - BaseOS 1.6 kB/s | 4.3 kB 00:02 Rocky Linux 8 - Extras 1.2 kB/s | 3.1 kB 00:02 packages-microsoft-com-prod 745 kB/s | 3.4 MB 00:04 Metadata cache created.
List down the available powershell packages as follows.
# dnf search powershell
Last metadata expiration check: 0:00:47 ago on Mon 23 May 2022 07:24:11 PM PKT.
====================== Name & Summary Matched: powershell ======================
powershell.x86_64 : PowerShell is an automation and configuration management
: platform.
powershell-lts.x86_64 : PowerShell is an automation and configuration management
: platform.
powershell-preview.x86_64 : PowerShell is an automation and configuration
: management platform.
: management platform.
By using dnf command, install PowerShell on Linux server.
# dnf install -y powershell Last metadata expiration check: 0:01:13 ago on Mon 23 May 2022 07:24:11 PM PKT. Dependencies resolved. ================================================================================ Package Arch Version Repository Size ================================================================================ Installing: powershell x86_64 7.2.4-1.rh packages-microsoft-com-prod 66 M Installing dependencies: libicu x86_64 60.3-2.el8_1 baseos 8.8 M Transaction Summary ================================================================================ Install 2 Packages Total download size: 74 M Installed size: 213 M Downloading Packages: (1/2): libicu-60.3-2.el8_1.x86_64.rpm 312 kB/s | 8.8 MB 00:28 (2/2): powershell-7.2.4-1.rh.x86_64.rpm 878 kB/s | 66 MB 01:16 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 975 kB/s | 74 MB 01:18 Running transaction check Transaction check succeeded. Running transaction test Transaction test succeeded. Running transaction Preparing : 1/1 Installing : libicu-60.3-2.el8_1.x86_64 1/2 Running scriptlet: libicu-60.3-2.el8_1.x86_64 1/2 Installing : powershell-7.2.4-1.rh.x86_64 2/2 Running scriptlet: powershell-7.2.4-1.rh.x86_64 2/2 Verifying : libicu-60.3-2.el8_1.x86_64 1/2 Verifying : powershell-7.2.4-1.rh.x86_64 2/2 Installed: libicu-60.3-2.el8_1.x86_64 powershell-7.2.4-1.rh.x86_64 Complete!
To verify installation of Windows PowerShell, execute following command at Linux bash prompt to check the version of installed pwsh command.
# pwsh -v PowerShell 7.2.4
Windows PowerShell is successfully installed on your Linux server.
Execute PowerShell Commands in Rocky Linux 8
Execute pwsh command to start PowerShell and execute some test commands thereon.
# pwsh PowerShell 7.2.4 Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. https://aka.ms/powershell Type 'help' to get help. PS /root> Get-Date Monday, May 23, 2022 7:31:14 PM PS /root> Get-PSDrive Name Used (GB) Free (GB) Provider Root ---- --------- --------- -------- ---- / 2.49 35.73 FileSystem / Alias Alias Env Environment Function Function Temp 2.49 35.73 FileSystem /tmp/ Variable Variable PS /root> exit
Read Also: Mastering Shell Scripting in Linux
Final Thoughts
How to Install PowerShell on Linux 8 is a straightforward process that significantly enhances your system’s management capabilities. With PowerShell, you can automate tasks, manage configurations, and streamline administrative functions across different platforms, all from a powerful and versatile command-line interface.
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