Microsoft PowerShell to make it into Longhorn Server, after all

Microsoft's command-line scripting shell, originally code-named "Monad," and known now as Windows PowerShell, is going to be part of Longhorn Server, after all.

In 2005, Microsoft officials admitted that it was iffy as to whether Monad would be integrated into Longhorn Server. They promised the technology would be built into some future Windows Server build, but not necessarily Longhorn Server.

At the Microsoft Management Summit in San Diego this week, however, Microsoft changed its tune and said that PowerShell will debut in Longhorn Server Beta 3, which is expected to go to testers in April. Jeffrey Snover, Windows Management Partner Architect and "father" of PowerShell, acknowledged the change in strategy on his blog on March 27.

"At the Microsoft Management Summit in San Diego today we announced that Windows PowerShell will be included in Windows Server code-named 'Longhorn' and will be available in Beta 3 of 'Longhorn.' "

"That's right, every version of Windows Server will ship with PowerShell!" Snover blogged "It's a pretty big day for us in the PowerShell world."

PowerShell is an environment "similar to the Korn, Bourne, or other shells on UNIX and Linux," as explained in an article in TechNet Magazine, "and a rich programming language like Perl or Ruby, combined with the functionality of the Microsoft .NET Framework."

Microsoft released PowerShell as part of Exchange Server 2007. A version of PowerShell for Vista is available for download, as well.

The final version of Longhorn Server is slated to ship before the end of 2007, most likely in the fall, according to sources.