Windows PowerShell is a Windows command-line shell that is designed for system administrators. For help using Windows PowerShell, see Microsoft's PowerShell documentation.

PowerShell includes native binary commands called cmdlets. Some Enterprise Vault administration tasks are managed using additional cmdlets that are provided in a PowerShell snap-in. To use these Enterprise Vault cmdlets, you must install PowerShell.

To run PowerShell and load the Enterprise Vault snap-in, click Start > Programs > Enterprise Vault > Enterprise Vault Management Shell.

On Windows operating systems earlier than Windows Server 2008, if PowerShell is not installed, the Enterprise Vault Management Shell shortcut lets you download and install it first. However, on Windows Server 2008, you must add the Windows PowerShell feature in Server Manager.

The Enterprise Vault PowerShell snap-in is 32-bit and you must run it with the 32-bit version of PowerShell even on 64-bit servers. The Enterprise Vault Management Shell shortcut runs the 32-bit version of PowerShell automatically. However, if you run Enterprise Vault cmdlets directly from external scripts such as backup scripts, you must ensure that you call the 32-bit version of PowerShell.