Desired State Configuration (DSC) basics in PowerShell - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to define a DSC configuration named 'MyConfig'.

PowerShell

Configuration MyConfig {
    Node localhost {
        File ExampleFile {
            DestinationPath = 'C:\Temp\example.txt'
            Contents = 'Hello DSC!'
            Ensure = '[1]'
        }
    }
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

APresent

BInstalled

CRunning

DEnabled

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'Installed' which is not valid for File resource.

Using 'Running' or 'Enabled' which apply to services, not files.

The 'Ensure' property in DSC File resource uses 'Present' to make sure the file exists.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to apply the DSC configuration stored in 'MyConfig'.

PowerShell

Start-DscConfiguration -Path '[1]' -Wait -Verbose

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AC:\Configs\MyConfig

BC:\Temp\MyConfig

CC:\DSC\MyConfig

DC:\Scripts\MyConfig

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a path that does not contain the MOF files.

Confusing script folder with configuration folder.

The DSC configuration is usually compiled to a MOF file in a folder like 'C:\DSC\MyConfig'.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the DSC configuration to ensure the service 'Spooler' is running.

PowerShell

Configuration ServiceConfig {
    Node localhost {
        Service PrintSpooler {
            Name = 'Spooler'
            State = '[1]'
        }
    }
}

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AStopped

BEnabled

CPresent

DRunning

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'Present' which is invalid for service state.

Using 'Enabled' which controls startup type, not running state.

The 'State' property for the Service resource should be set to 'Running' to ensure the service is running.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a DSC configuration that ensures the 'C:\Logs' folder exists and the 'W32Time' service is running.

PowerShell

Configuration MultiResourceConfig {
    Node localhost {
        File LogsFolder {
            DestinationPath = 'C:\Logs'
            Ensure = '[1]'
            Type = 'Directory'
        }
        Service TimeService {
            Name = 'W32Time'
            State = '[2]'
        }
    }
}

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APresent

BRunning

CStopped

DAbsent

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'Absent' for folder when it should exist.

Using 'Stopped' for service when it should be running.

To ensure the folder exists, 'Ensure' should be 'Present'. To keep the service running, 'State' should be 'Running'.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a DSC configuration that ensures a file exists, a service is running, and the configuration is applied.

PowerShell

Configuration FullConfig {
    Node localhost {
        File ConfigFile {
            DestinationPath = 'C:\Config\settings.ini'
            Contents = 'mode=auto'
            Ensure = '[1]'
        }
        Service ConfigService {
            Name = 'ConfigSvc'
            State = '[2]'
        }
    }
}

FullConfig
Start-DscConfiguration -Path '[3]' -Wait -Verbose

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APresent

BRunning

C.\FullConfig

DStopped

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'Stopped' for service state.

Using wrong path for Start-DscConfiguration.

The file should be ensured as 'Present', the service state 'Running', and the configuration path is the folder '.\FullConfig' created by the configuration.