I'm excited to report we just released Beta 3 of our new system administration console-based shell and scripting environment known as Monad (a.k.a., Microsoft Command Shell, MSH).  You can download the bits from the following locations:

• Windows "Monad" Shell Beta 3 (for .NET Framework 2.0 RTM) x86
• Windows "Monad" Shell Beta 3 (for .NET Framework 2.0 RTM) x64

Remember Monad is built on top of .NET so you'll need to install .NET 2.0 before you install Monad.

• Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package x86
• Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package x64

Also make sure you read the "releasenotes-b3.htm" in the download package.

We also re-released an impressive collection of documentation to help you get up to speed quickly on Monad.  You can download the documentation pack at:

• Windows "Monad" Shell Beta 3 Documentation Pack

Here is bunch of other useful links and such:

• Scripting with the Microsoft Shell at the Microsoft TechNet Script Center
• Webcast: Next Generation Command Line Scripting with Monad (Part 1 of 2)
• Webcast: Next Generation Command Line Scripting with Monad (Part 2 of 2)
• The Future of Windows Scripting, by Thomas Lee
• A guided tour of the Microsoft Command Shell, by Ryan Paul
• Monad Team Blog
• Precision Computing: Software Design and Development (Lee Holmes' blog)
• Proudly Serving (Adam Barr's blog)
• Monad – Introducing the MSH Command Shell and Language, by Andy Oakley (ISBN: 0-596-10009-4)
• The Monad Script Centre – Lots of sample scripts
• Channel 9 Videos >> Jeffrey Snover >> Monad explained
• Channel 9 Videos >> Jeffrey Snover >> Monad demonstrated
• Channel 9 Videos >> Jeffrey Snover >> More talking about Monad
• Channel 9 MSH Wiki
• Wikipedia Entry for Monad