Installation
AutoSPInstaller
This CodePlex project hosts a good powershell script to install and configure SharePoint 2010.
SharePoint 2010 Powershell Scripting: Unattended WebApp Install
A Powershell script to add a Webapplication
Managed Accounts
Managed Accounts can be created with powershell. This is necessary, if you want to use a local account. The GUI won't let you.
New-SPManagedAccount -Credential (Get-Credential local\account)
Business Data Connectivity Services
UserProfile Synchronization Service
Configure profile synchronization (SharePoint Server 2010)
This article explains how to connect to a directory service and configure settings to synchronize user profile information between the directory service and Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010. Synchronizing profile information is useful, for example, for importing bulk user profile information from external sources into the user profile store in SharePoint Server 2010. You can use this information, including hierarchy and group information, to drive functionality such as audiences or hierarchy-driven business processes.
Configure Server
Todd Klindt wrote a post about setting up a test server. It creates users and some other stuff