2/13/2025 PM Publish

reference/docs-conceptual/samples/Performing-Networking-Tasks.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 description: This article shows how to use WMI classes in PowerShell to manage network configuration setting in Windows.
-ms.date: 12/08/2022
+ms.date: 02/12/2025
 title: Performing networking tasks
 ---
 # Performing networking tasks
@@ -81,15 +81,15 @@ properties.
 
 ## Pinging computers
 
-You can perform a simple ping against a computer using by **Win32_PingStatus**. The following
+You can perform a simple ping against a computer by using **Win32_PingStatus**. The following
 command performs the ping, but returns lengthy output:
 
 ```powershell
 Get-CimInstance -Class Win32_PingStatus -Filter "Address='127.0.0.1'"
 ```
 
-A more useful form for summary information a display of the Address, ResponseTime, and StatusCode
-properties, as generated by the following command. The **Autosize** parameter of `Format-Table`
+The response from **Win32_PingStatus** contains 29 properties. You can use `Format-Table` to select
+the properties that are most interesting to you. The **Autosize** parameter of `Format-Table`
 resizes the table columns so that they display properly in PowerShell.
 
 ```powershell

reference/docs-conceptual/toc.yml

@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ items:
         href: overview.md
       - name: What is Windows PowerShell?
         href: what-is-windows-powershell.md
+      - name: What is a command shell?
+        href: what-is-a-command-shell.md
       - name: What is a PowerShell command?
         href: powershell-commands.md
       - name: Discover PowerShell

reference/docs-conceptual/what-is-a-command-shell.md

@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+---
+title: What is a command shell?
+ms.date: 02/13/2025
+description: This article explains the difference between command shells, command-line tools, and terminals.
+---
+# What is a command shell?
+
+Many people use the terms _command shell_, _command-line tool_, and _terminal_ interchangeably,
+which can be confusing. This article explains the difference between these concepts and provides
+examples of each.
+
+A **command shell** is an interactive command-line interface for managing a computer, also known as a
+**Read-Eval-Print Loop** ([REPL][14]).
+
+A shell takes input from the keyboard, evaluates that input, and executes the input as a shell
+command or forwards the input to the operating system to be executed. Most shells can also read
+commands from a script file, and can include programming features like variables, flow control, and
+functions.
+
+## Types of command shells
+
+There are two main types of command shells:
+
+- General purpose command shells
+
+  General purpose command shells provide are designed to work with the operating system and allow
+  you to run any command that the operating system supports. They also include shell-specific
+  commands and programming features. The following list contains some examples of general purpose
+  command shells:
+
+  - [PowerShell][16]
+  - [Windows Command Shell][06]
+  - [bash][15] - popular on Linux
+  - [zsh][12] - popular on macOS
+
+- Utility command shells
+
+  Utility command shells are designed to work with specific applications or services. These shells
+  can only run commands that are specific to the application or service. Some utility shells support
+  running commands from a batch script, but don't include programming features. Usually, these
+  shells can only be used interactively.
+
+  - [AI Shell][04] - An interactive-only shell used to communicate with AI services such as Azure
+    OpenAI.
+  - [netsh][07] - Network shell (netsh) is a command-line utility that allows you to configure and
+    display the status of various network components on Windows. It's both a command-line tool and a
+    command shell. It also supports running commands from a script file.
+
+## Command-line tools
+
+A **command-line tool** is a standalone program that you run from a command shell. Command-line
+tools are typically designed to perform a specific task, such as managing files, configuring
+settings, or querying for information. Command-line tools can be used in any shell that supports
+running external programs.
+
+- [Azure CLI][02] - a collection of command-line tools for managing Azure resources that can be run
+  in any supported shell.
+- [Azure PowerShell][03] - a collection of PowerShell modules for managing Azure resources that can
+  be run in any supported version of PowerShell.
+- [OpenSSH for Windows][05] - includes a command-line client and a server that provides secure
+  communication over a network.
+- [Windows Commands][08] - a collection of command-line tools that are built into Windows.
+
+In general, command-line tools don't provide a command shell (REPL) interface. The `netsh` command
+in Windows is an exception, as it's both a command-line tool and an interactive command shell.
+
+## Terminals
+
+A **terminal** is an application that provides a text-based window for hosting command shells. Some
+terminals are designed to work with a specific shell, while others can host multiple shells. They
+can also include advanced features such as:
+
+- Ability to create multiple panes within a single window
+- Ability to create multiple tabs to host multiple shells
+- Ability to change color schemes and fonts
+- Support for copy and paste operations
+
+The following list contains some examples of terminal applications:
+
+- [Windows Terminal][10] - a modern terminal application for Windows that can host multiple shells.
+- [Windows Console Host][09] - the default host application on Windows for text-based applications.
+  It can also host the Windows Command Shell or PowerShell.
+- [Terminal for macOS][13] - the default terminal application on macOS that can host the bash or zsh
+  shell.
+- [iTerm2 for macOS][11] - a popular 3rd-party terminal application for macOS.
+- [Azure Cloud Shell][01] - a browser-based terminal application hosted in Microsoft Azure. Azure
+  Cloud shell gives you the choice of using bash or PowerShell. Each shell comes preconfigured with
+  many command-line tools for managing Azure resources.
+
+<!-- link references -->
+[01]: /azure/cloud-shell/overview
+[02]: /cli/azure
+[03]: /powershell/azure
+[04]: /powershell/utility-modules/aishell/overview
+[05]: /windows-server/administration/openssh/openssh-overview
+[06]: /windows-server/administration/windows-commands/cmd
+[07]: /windows-server/administration/windows-commands/netsh
+[08]: /windows-server/administration/windows-commands/windows-commands
+[09]: /windows/console/consoles
+[10]: /windows/terminal
+[11]: https://iterm2.com/
+[12]: https://support.apple.com/102360
+[13]: https://support.apple.com/guide/terminal/welcome/mac
+[14]: https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Read%E2%80%93eval%E2%80%93print_loop
+[15]: https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/
+[16]: overview.md