I found powershell v3 very easy to connect to our SQL servers but if you are using SQL 2008 you will also need to install SQL 2012 managament studio to make use of the SQLPS module. Very worthwhile.

I have simple routines that perform regular tasks locally and email me results (backups, integrity, version checks, transfer results).

I am in the process of creating a script that can tell me status of all required services on each of the SQL servers. This would be ran on my machine when required thus connecting remotely.

Ultimate goal is a web page output that is refreshed every 5 minutes but unsure if PowerShell can produce. Probably but not an area I have looked before.