PowerShell 2.0: One Cmdlet at a Time #70 Import-Module

Continuing the series looking at new cmdlets available in PowerShell 2.0. This time we look at the Import-Module cmdlet.

What can I do with it?

PowerShell 2.0 introduces the concept of modules; essentially they are the evolution of snapins from PowerShell 1.0. Import-Module enables you to add one or more modules to your current session.

Examples:

Import the PSDiagnostics module and examine the newly available commands in the session from that module by using Get-Module.

Import-Module PSDiagnostics
Get-Command -Module PSDiagnostics

You will see there are ten new functions available from that module.

Import only two functions, Start-Trace and Stop-Trace from the PSDiagnostics module and examine the newly available commands in the session from that module by using Get-Module.

Import-Module PSDiagnostics -Function Start-Trace,Stop-Trace
Get-Command -Module PSDiagnostics

You will see that this time only those two functions are available.

How could I have done this in PowerShell 1.0?

You could have used the Add-PSSnapin cmdlet to import custom snapins typically produced by third-parties. For example to import the popular Quest AD cmdlets snapin you would use the below:

Add-PSSnapin Quest.ActiveRoles.ADManagement

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