Deployment of Automation Setup for Windows Networked PCs using Powershell

Populate ARP table of Network via pinging to each devices

• Run as Administrator in Powershell ISE

  Change -Count for faster pinging

  # Define the base IP and subnet
      $baseIP = "10.88.18."
      $startRange = 1
      $endRange = 254
  
      # Loop through all possible IPs in the subnet
      for ($i = $startRange; $i -le $endRange; $i++) {
          $currentIP = "$baseIP$i"
          # Test the connection (ping) and select only the StatusCode property
          $pingResult = Test-Connection -ComputerName $currentIP -Count 1 -Quiet
  
          # Check if the ping was successful
          if ($pingResult) {
              Write-Output "$currentIP is reachable."
              } else {
          Write-Output "$currentIP is not reachable."
          }
          }
  

  This file stores your credentials securely and can only be decrypted by the same user on the same machine.

Powershell script to restart multiple PCs at same time

• Change IPaddress

              # Path to the file containing the list of IP addresses
              $ipFilePath = "C:\path\to\ip.txt"
  
              # Read the IP addresses from the file into a variable
              $computers = Get-Content $ipFilePath
  
              # Prompt for credentials to connect to the remote machines
              $credential = Get-Credential
  
              # Loop through each IP address and restart them
              foreach ($computer in $computers) {
              try {
                      # Print message to indicate restart is starting
                      Write-Host "Attempting to restart $computer..."
  
                      # Restart the computer using the IP address
                      Restart-Computer -ComputerName $computer -Force -Credential $credential -ErrorAction Stop
  
                      # Print success message
                      Write-Host "$computer has been successfully restarted."
                      }
          catch {
              # Print error message if restart fails
              Write-Host "Failed to restart $computer. Error: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
              }
                                          }
  
                  # Final message
                  Write-Host "All restart commands have been sent."
  

  This script will restart Computer1, Computer2, and Computer3 immediately (/r for restart, /t 0 to restart with no delay).

Powershell script to Shutdown multiple PCs at the same time

• Change IPaddress

                 # Path to the file containing the list of IP addresses
                  $ipFilePath = "C:\path\to\ip.txt"
  
                  # Read the IP addresses from the file into a variable
                  $computers = Get-Content $ipFilePath
  
                  # Prompt for credentials to connect to the remote machines
                  $credential = Get-Credential
  
                  # Loop through each IP address and shut them down
                  foreach ($computer in $computers) {
                  try {
                          # Print message to indicate shutdown is starting
                          Write-Host "Attempting to shut down $computer..."
  
                          # Shut down the computer using the IP address
                          Stop-Computer -ComputerName $computer -Force -Credential $credential -ErrorAction Stop
  
                          # Print success message
                          Write-Host "$computer has been successfully shut down."
                  }
                  catch {
                  # Print error message if shutdown fails
                  Write-Host "Failed to shut down $computer. Error: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
                  }
                  }
  
                  # Final message
                  Write-Host "All shutdown commands have been sent."
  
  

  This script will shutdown the PC mentioned in the IP.txt files immediately.

Create the Excel File for IP_address & MAC_address = NetworkDevices.csv

• Find the IP address and populate the ARP table

  Change lines 3,4 : ” $startRange = 1 $endRange = 254” range if you estimate the range and save time Change line 2 : ” $baseIP = “10.88.18.” for appropriate network.

          # Output file path
          $outputFile = "C:\Users\Octopus\Desktop\NetworkDevices.csv"
  
          # Initialize an empty array to store results
          $networkDevices = @()
  
          # Run the arp command and capture the output
          $arpTable = arp -a -N 10.88.18.__
  
          # Parse the output to extract IP and MAC addresses
          $arpTable | ForEach-Object {
              if ($_ -match "(\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3})\s+([a-fA-F0-9-]{17})") {
                  $macAddress = $matches[2] -replace "-", ":"
                  $device = [PSCustomObject]@{
                  IP          = $matches[1]
                  MACAddress  = $macAddress
                  }
                  $networkDevices += $device
              }
          }
  
          # Export the results to a CSV file
          $networkDevices | Export-Csv -Path $outputFile -NoTypeInformation
  
          Write-Host "IP and MAC addresses have been saved to $outputFile"
  
  

  This Script pings each IP once; you can modify the-Countparameter to increase the number of ping attempts. The Script will not ping the network and broadcast addresses (10.88.18.0and10.88.18.255) which are typically not assigned to hosts.

             # Define the path to the IP addresses file
      $ipListFile = "C:\Users\Helheim\Desktop\ip_addresses.txt"
  
      # Read the IP addresses from the file
      $ipAddresses = Get-Content -Path $ipListFile
  
      # Define the username and password
      $username = ""
      $password = ""
  
      # Open RDP for each IP address
      foreach ($ip in $ipAddresses) {
      # Create a secure string for the password
      $securePassword = ConvertTo-SecureString $password -AsPlainText -Force
  
      # Create a credential object
      $credential = New-Object System.Management.Automation.PSCredential($username, $securePassword)
  
      # Start RDP session
      mstsc /v:$ip
                                  }
  

  This script will start the RDP-GUI connection with Username and Password given..

Make the static Static IP based on the Device Name = NLUK0XXXXT0YY

• Copy and paste this Powershell script to each till and execute.

  Nothing to Change

              # Get the current computer's device name (hostname)
              $deviceName = [System.Net.Dns]::GetHostName()
              Write-Host "Device Name: $deviceName"
  
              # Define the IP configuration based on the device name format "NLUK0XXXXT0YY"
              if ($deviceName -match "^NLUK0(\d{4})T0(\d{2})$") {
                  $xxxx = $matches[1]  # Extract the 4-digit XXXX
                  $yy = [int]$matches[2]  # Convert YY to an integer to remove leading zeros
  
              # Construct the static IP based on the format 10.XX.XX.YY
                  $xx1 = [int]$xxxx.Substring(0, 2)  # First two digits of XXXX
                  $xx2 = [int]$xxxx.Substring(2, 2)  # Last two digits of XXXX
                  $staticIP = "10.$xx1.$xx2.$yy"
                  $subnetMask = "255.255.255.0"
                  $defaultGateway = "10.$xx1.$xx2.100"
                  $preferredDNS = "10.96.200.170"
                  $alternateDNS = "10.80.205.18"
  
                  # Get all active adapters and select the top active one
                  $ethernetAdapter = Get-NetAdapter | Where-Object { $_.Status -eq "Up" } | Select-Object -First 1
  
                  if ($ethernetAdapter) {
                  $interfaceIndex = $ethernetAdapter.ifIndex
                  Write-Host "Using Adapter: $($ethernetAdapter.Name), Interface Index: $interfaceIndex"
  
                  # Check if the IP already exists on the interface
                  $existingIP = Get-NetIPAddress -InterfaceIndex $interfaceIndex -AddressFamily IPv4 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Where-Object { $_.IPAddress -eq $staticIP }
  
                  if ($existingIP) {
                      Write-Host "Removing existing IP address: $($existingIP.IPAddress)"
                      Remove-NetIPAddress -InterfaceIndex $interfaceIndex -IPAddress $existingIP.IPAddress -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction Stop
                  }
  
                  # Set the static IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway for the adapter
                      Write-Host "Setting Static IP: $staticIP"
                      New-NetIPAddress -InterfaceIndex $interfaceIndex -IPAddress $staticIP -PrefixLength 24 -DefaultGateway $defaultGateway -ErrorAction Stop
  
                  # Set the preferred and alternate DNS servers
                  Write-Host "Setting DNS Servers: $preferredDNS, $alternateDNS"
                  Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceIndex $interfaceIndex -ServerAddresses $preferredDNS, $alternateDNS -ErrorAction Stop
  
                  Write-Host "Static IP configuration applied to adapter: $($ethernetAdapter.Name) with IP: $staticIP"
                  }
                  else {
                  Write-Host "No active network adapter found on $deviceName"
                      }
                  } else {
                  Write-Host "Device name does not match the required format: NLUK0XXXXT0YY"
                          }
  
  

  This Script will does the static IP of PC and it will disconnect from RDP.

Make the static Static IP based on the Device Name = NLUK0XXXXW00Y

• Copy and paste this Powershell script to each server and execute.

  Nothing to Change

             # Get the current server's device name (hostname)
              $deviceName = (Get-ComputerInfo).CsName
  
              # Define the regex pattern to extract XXXX from the device name "NLUK0XXXXW001"
              if ($deviceName -match "^NLUK0(\d{4})W001$") {
              $xxxx = $matches[1]  # Extract the XXXX part
  
              # Split XXXX into two parts
              $xx1 = [int]$xxxx.Substring(0,2)  # Convert first two digits to integer to remove leading zeros
              $xx2 = [int]$xxxx.Substring(2,2)  # Convert last two digits to integer to remove leading zeros
              $y = 52  # Fixed last octet
  
              # Construct the static IP based on the format 10.XX1.XX2.Y
              $staticIP = "10.$xx1.$xx2.$y"
              $subnetMask = "255.255.255.0"
              $defaultGateway = "10.$xx1.$xx2.100"  # Default gateway ending in .100
              $preferredDNS = "10.96.200.170"
              $alternateDNS = "10.80.205.18"
  
              if ($ethernetAdapter) {
                  $interfaceIndex = $ethernetAdapter.ifIndex
                  Write-Host "Using Adapter: $($ethernetAdapter.Name), Interface Index: $interfaceIndex"
  
                  # Check if the IP already exists on the interface
                  $existingIP = Get-NetIPAddress -InterfaceIndex $interfaceIndex -AddressFamily IPv4 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Where-Object { $_.IPAddress -eq $staticIP }
  
                  if ($existingIP) {
                      Write-Host "Removing existing IP address: $($existingIP.IPAddress)"
                      Remove-NetIPAddress -InterfaceIndex $interfaceIndex -IPAddress $existingIP.IPAddress -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction Stop
                  }
  
              
  
                  # Set the static IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway for the Ethernet adapter
                  New-NetIPAddress -InterfaceIndex $interfaceIndex -IPAddress $staticIP -PrefixLength 24 -DefaultGateway $defaultGateway
  
                  # Set the preferred and alternate DNS servers
                  Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceIndex $interfaceIndex -ServerAddresses $preferredDNS, $alternateDNS
  
                  Write-Host "Static IP configuration applied: $staticIP on device $deviceName"
                  } else {
                      Write-Host "No active Ethernet adapter found on $deviceName"
                  }
                          } else {
                  Write-Host "Device name does not match the required format: NLUK0XXXXW001"
                  }
  
  
              
                
  
             
  

  This Script will does the static IP of server and it will disconnect from RDP.

Installs necessary modules on the Host machine = prerequisite.ps1

💡

Run this script with ADMIN privileges.

• SetupPrerequisite.ps1

  # Check if running as Administrator
  If (-NOT ([Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal] [Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()).IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole] "Administrator"))
  {
      Write-Warning "You do not have Administrator rights to run this script!`nPlease re-run this script as an Administrator!"
      exit
  }
  
  # Install ImportExcel module
  Write-Host "Installing ImportExcel module..."
  Install-Module -Name ImportExcel -Scope CurrentUser -Force -Confirm:$false -SkipPublisherCheck
  
  # Install Selenium module
  Write-Host "Installing Selenium module..."
  Install-Module -Name Selenium -Scope CurrentUser -Force -Confirm:$false -SkipPublisherCheck
  
  # Download Microsoft Edge WebDriver
  Write-Host "Downloading Microsoft Edge WebDriver..."
  $webDriverUrl = "https://msedgedriver.azureedge.net/114.0.1823.79/edgedriver_win64.zip"
  $outputPath = "C:\WebDriver"
  $outputFile = "$outputPath\edgedriver.zip"
  
  # Create directory for WebDriver if it doesn't exist
  if (-Not (Test-Path -Path $outputPath)) {
      New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $outputPath
  }
  
  Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $webDriverUrl -OutFile $outputFile
  Write-Host "Extracting WebDriver..."
  Expand-Archive -Path $outputFile -DestinationPath $outputPath -Force
  
  # Add WebDriver to system PATH
  $env:Path += ";$outputPath"
  [System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("Path", $env:Path, [System.EnvironmentVariableTarget]::Machine)
  
  Write-Host "Setup completed successfully!"

  

  This output should you get!

Create the PreDeployment Script = PreDeployScript.ps1

• For installing Prerequisite on the desired IP address (always modify the file NetworkDevices.csv )

  It is easy to put all the files in one folder. Change line 4: path to NetworkDevices.csv Change line 8: path to prerequisite.ps1 Change line 11: path to credentials.xml

  # Import the ImportExcel module
  Import-Module ImportExcel
  
  # Path to the Excel file
  $excelFilePath = "C:\path\to\NetworkDevices.csv"
  
  # Path to the setup script
  $setupScriptPath = "C:\path\to\prerequisite.ps1"
  
  # Path to the credentials file
  $credFilePath = "C:\path\to\credentials.xml"
  
  # Import credentials
  $cred = Import-CliXml -Path $credFilePath
  
  # Read the IP addresses from the Excel file
  $ipAddresses = Import-Excel -Path $excelFilePath | Select-Object -ExpandProperty IP
  
  # Loop through each IP address and run the setup script
  foreach ($ip in $ipAddresses) {
      Write-Host "Deploying to $ip..."
  
      Invoke-Command -ComputerName $ip -Credential $cred -ScriptBlock {
          param($setupScriptPath)
  
          # Ensure the execution policy is set
          Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser -Force
  
          # Execute the setup script
          & $setupScriptPath
      } -ArgumentList $setupScriptPath -ErrorAction Stop
  }
  
  Write-Host "Deployment completed on all machines."
  

  Script reads the IP addresses from the Excel file : NetworkDevices.csv , retrieves the stored “IP_address” , and executes prerequisite.ps1 on each remote machine.

Execute the Deployment

💡Run the Deployment Script

• Open PowerShell as an administrator.
• Execute the deployment script:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser
.\PreDeployScript.ps1

Summary

• Credentials: Stored securely in credentials.xml for remote access.
• Setup Script: prerequisite.ps1 installs necessary modules.
• Deployment Script: PreDeployScript.ps1 automates the execution of prerequisite.ps1 on each machine listed in the Excel file using the stored credentials on credentials.xml.
• Execution: Run the DeployScript.ps1 to deploy the setup script across multiple machines, using IP addresses from the Excel file.