PowerGadgets

Have you had the chance to try out PowerGadgets, which are cmdlets that can be used to create rich graphical representations of data?  You can use it to create charts, gauges and even maps.  They also provide some other useful cmdlets to send mail, connect to an SQL data source and connect to a web service.

Think about it...  A simple gauge style gadget in your Vista sidebar that gives you utilization of a remote server and/or application.  If you're wanting to watch something remotely, and now that you can get the information you want via WMI.  To keep an eye on a WMI value, for example, you can pipe that to a PowerGadgets cmdlet and have that available in your sidebar with Vista.

Check out this cool example of using PowerGadgets and Operations Manager 2007 to create a sidebar showing the alerts within OpsMgr.

Check out their 60-day trial.

If there's anything you ever wanted to try with PowerGadgets, but either weren't sure if it was possible or how you would proceed, drop me a comment here, and I'll make sure to answer any questions or pass them along to PowerGadgets.

I've previously mentioned their PowerGadgets MVP program that people may qualify for.

New PowerShell Remoting beta

/n software has released beta 2 of their PowerShell Remoting product.  What this gives you is full access to remote PowerShell sessions.  I'm not just talking about the remoting capabilities that using WMI via PowerShell can give you, but complete *objects* that are passed along remotely.

PowerGadgets build 1.0.2760

A new build of PowerGadgets was released recently to address a few minor issues that came up on the support forums.

Definitely worth going with a the latest release if you are seeing/getting any unexpected results.

PowerShell Podcast

Along with Sapien, I'm going to put up a link to

Jonathan Walz's PowerShell podcast site.  He mentions my site in his latest edition, and that I'd like to start a Canadian PowerShell user group.

PowerGadgets updates

PowerGadgets just released version 1.0.2755 (currently build 1.0.2755.24126) of their cmdlets.

Juan also just published a super blog entry on using conditional attribute parameters with their out-chart gadget.  These parameters have just been recently modified to be able to use scriptblocks!

You need to check PowerGadgets out if you haven't already.

You will find good support online to get you going, and I am always willing to try to lend a hand to anyone.

Custom maps with PowerGadgets

PowerGadgets' out-map cmdlet allows you to create your own "maps" to visually represent data.  I've blogged before about how I used a view of a World map to represent some data.

Following a PowerGadgets team blog entry, I've decided to play with a traffic light type of map to address a feature request from several months back in the PowerGadgets community forums.

So here you have a very basic traffic light gadget:

Unfortunately, using a true circle is not supported, so creating a square/rectangular light is the path I took.

The possibilities of using PowerGadgets for visualizing custom data are almost limitless.  Check out this out-map view of an airplane!.

PowerGadgets MVP program

PowerGadgets has come out with an MVP program that offers a free NFR license for qualified individuals.

Quote: "Are you an influential IT professional, software vendor, UG leader or technology reviewer? Let us know and we may provide you with a FREE NFR copy of PowerGadgets."

You simply fill out a form online, and you should be contacted within a few days.

This is definitely a good way to spread the word.