Lab - Write Basic Scripts in Windows and Linux

Objectives
In this lab, you will write basic scripts in different scripting languages to help understand how each language
handles automating tasks.

Background / Scenario
Writing scripts to automate common administration functions saves time and gives the administrator flexibility
to perform other tasks. In the lab, you will write three types of scripts that will perform similar tasks. Compare
the different languages as you automate some simple task.

Required Resources
 Windows PC
 VM running a Linux distribution

Instructions
Step 1: Create a Windows batch script.
a. In a text editor, such as Notepad, save a text file named info.bat in your home directory
(C:\Users\yourusername) with the following text:
Open configuration window

@echo off
echo Computer Name is: %computername%
echo Windows version is:
ver
echo CPU is: %PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER%
echo Total memory is:
rem Windows Management Instrumentation Command (WMIC) is a command line
utility that can retrieve information about local or remote computers. For
more inline information, enter help wmic or wmic /? at the command prompt.
wmic ComputerSystem get TotalPhysicalMemory
echo The disks that are installed and their freespace:
wmic logicaldisk get size,freespace,caption
echo All the %computername% IP addresses
rem netsh is a command line scripting utility that allows the users to view
or modify the network configurations of a running computer. For more inline
information, enter nesh /? at the command prompt.
rem findstr is used for searching for a text string in files. For more inline
information, enter findstr /? at the command prompt.
netsh interface ip show address | findstr "IP Address"
Close configuration window

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Lab - Write Basic Scripts in Windows and Linux

b. Open a command prompt and navigate to your home directory.

c. List the content of your home directory and verify that the file info.bat is saved with the correct file. If not,
rename the file, for example, rename info.bat.txt info.bat.
d. At the prompt, enter info.bat to run the script.
Questions:
What was the output?
Type your answers here.
What are the %name% used for in the script?
Type your answers here.
Identify what the following commands do in the script:
echo:
Type your answer here.
findstr:
Type your answer here.
netsh:
Type your answer here.
ver:
Type your answer here.
wmic:
Type your answer here.

Step 2: Create a Powershell ISE script.

a. Click Start, Search for PowerShell ISE and right-click the selection and click Run as an administrator.
b. Verify that you are in your home directory: PS C:\Users\YourUsername
c. To allow the script to run, enter Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned at the prompt. Click Yes to allow
the script to run. The settings can be changed back to No after the script is complete.
PS C:\Users\YourUsername> Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
d. Choose File -> New and create a new script.
e. Enter the following text into the Untitled.ps1 window and save it as info.ps1 in your home directory.
Open configuration window

Write-Output "Computer name is:"

get-content env:computername
Write-Output "Windows version is:"
(Get-WmiObject -class Win32_OperatingSystem).Caption
Write-Output "CPU is:"
Get-WmiObject Win32_Processor | findstr "Name"
Write-Output "Total Memory is:"
[Math]::Round((Get-WmiObject -Class win32_computersystem -ComputerName
localhost).TotalPhysicalMemory/1Gb)

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Lab - Write Basic Scripts in Windows and Linux

Write-Output "The Disks that are installed and their freespace:"

Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_logicaldisk -Filter "DriveType = '3'"
Write-Output "IPv4 addresses"
Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv4 | Sort-Object -Property InterfaceIndex |
Format-Table
Close configuration window

Note: The command Get-NetIPAddress is not available in Windows 7.

Note: Within PowerShell ISE, you can press F1 or select Help > Windows PowerShell ISE Help to get
more information.
f. To see the functions of each command, click Add-ons, verify that Command is checked. In the
Command tab, enter the name of the command in the Name field. Select the desired command and click
the ? for more information regarding the desired command.
In Windows 7, click Help > Select Windows PowerShell Help. Select Windows PowerShell Cmdlet
Help Topics. Search for the desired command.
g. Enter .\info.ps1 at the PS prompt. Note: Make sure you are using the correct slash.
Open configuration window

PS C:\Users\YourUsername> .\info.ps1
Close configuration window

Question:
What is the output of the script?
Type your answer here.
h. Compare the two scripts. Match the batch command to the PowerShell commands below:

Windows Batch Command PowerShell Command

echo Computer Name is: %computername% blank

echo Windows version is:

blank
ver

echo CPU is: %PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER% blank

echo Total memory is: blank

wmic ComputerSystem get TotalPhysicalMemory blank

echo The disks that are installed and their freespace: blank

wmic logicaldisk get size,freespace,caption blank

echo All the %computername% IP addresses blank

blank
netsh interface ip show address | findstr "IP Address"

Step 3: Create a BASH script.

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Lab - Write Basic Scripts in Windows and Linux

A text editor is used to create an executable script. One of the text editor tools, vi, or the improved vi version,
vim, is based on letter and number-based commands to modify text. For example, dd will delete the whole
line on which the cursor is placed. 5dd would delete 5 lines. When vi is in command mode, input is interpreted
as a command.
To enter insert mode at the current cursor position type i. To append text at the end of the current line, type a.
To insert text on a new line below the current line, type o. Use the Esc key to exit out of insert mode to
command mode.
To save a file in the vi editor use :w from command mode. To save and quit, type :wq. To quit without saving
type :q!.
Depending on your version of Unix-like OS, you may find other text editor tool, such as nano, pico, and gedit.
The text editing tools, such as vi, nano, and pico, are accessible through the command line; while the GUI-
based text editors, like gedit, may be located via the application menu or the command line.
a. Start up a Linux computer or VM.
b. Use a text editor tool and create a file named info.sh in your home directory with the following text:
Open configuration window

#!/bin/bash
echo "Computer name is: " $HOSTNAME
echo "Operating System is:"
cat /etc/os-release | grep PRETTY_NAME
echo "CPU is"
lscpu | grep "Model name:" | sed -r 's/Model name:\s{1,}//g'
echo "Total Memory is"
cat /proc/meminfo | grep "MemTotal"
echo "The disks that are installed and their freespace"
df -h
echo "All the" $HOSTNAME "IP addresses"
hostname -I
Close configuration window

c. Open a terminal and navigate to your home directory. To make the script executable, enter chmod 755
info.sh at prompt.
d. At the prompt, enter ./info.sh to execute the script.
Questions:
What is the output of the script?
Type your answer here.
What does the “#!/bin/bash” mean at the beginning of the script?
Type your answer here.
What command would you use to learn more about the df and lscpu commands?
Type your answer here.
End of Document

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