The recent release of Windows Management Framework (WMF) 3.0 features PowerShell 3.0, the command-line scripting tool for system administrators. Also included are updates to Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), Windows Remote Management (WinRM), and a new OData IIS extension.
According to Microsoft, PowerShell now includes 2,400 cmdlets. Version 3.0 introduces disconnected sessions, workflows, scheduled jobs, cmdlet discovery, delegated administration, and more natural-language syntax. This release can be used on Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 (it’s already built into Windows 8 and Windows 2012).
New features in WMI include:
- the ability to write PowerShell cmdlets in native code
- a new MI (management infrastructure) client API for CIM operations that allows PowerShell management of non-Windows servers or devices
- a simplified provider development model
WinRM's connectivity has been updated to provide more secure and robust sessions that will restart if interrupted. In addition, multiple PowerShell sessions from one administrator can now take place in the same process, rather than requiring separate processes.
The Management OData IIS Extension is an OData service that allows for web-based administration from both Windows non-Windows clients.