About the Adaptable CA PowerShell script
The Adaptable CA driver utilizes a PowerShell script that contains functions called during various stages of the certificate lifecycle.
NOTE To work effectively with any Venafi adaptable solution, you must have some working knowledge of PowerShell scripting, or you must have equivalent experience with a scripting language similar to PowerShell.
The PowerShell script includes functions that work with the Adaptable CA driver and the CA's own API.
While all of the functions must be presented in the script, only a few require actual logic in order to be implemented.
The input parameters and response format for each function is predefined. All functions receive a set of general parameters whereas those parameters that are specific to the function are only passed to it.
About hash tables
Data is passed to (and returned by) each function using hash table data structures.
A general hash table, which includes a common set of data, is passed to all of the functions. A specific hashtable, which includes data that is applicable specifically to the function, is passed to functions that require additional data. All functions must return a single hash table that includes a result along with any other variables that the function is required to return.
Functions must not return errors; rather, they must throw exceptions in the same way that actual PowerShell errors do. The Adaptable CA driver treats exceptions thrown by a PowerShell function as a fatal error and then halts processing.
Why Windows PowerShell?
Trust Protection Platform runs on the Windows Server operating system where PowerShell is already included. PowerShell is also an extremely flexible programming language because it can execute PowerShell cmdlets (both native and third party), .NET classes, and any binary that runs on Windows.
By using PowerShell, scripts that are to be used by the Adaptable CA driver can be developed and tested independently of Trust Protection Platform, making integration simpler.