Self-Assessment
I included a Self-Assessment in this Exam Cram book to help you evaluate your readiness to tackle Microsoft certifications. This should also help you understand what you need to know to master the topic of this booknamely, Exam 70-291, "Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure." But before you tackle this Self-Assessment, let's address concerns you might face when pursuing an MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) or MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) certification for the Windows Server 2003 and what an ideal MCSE candidate might look like. Tip Your exclusive access to MeasureUp practice tests (see inside back cover) includes a free assessment! MCSEs in the Real WorldIn this section, I describe an ideal MCSE candidate, knowing full well that only a few real candidates will meet this ideal. In fact, my description of that ideal candidate might seem downright scary. But take heart: Although the requirements to obtain an MCSE might seem formidable, they are by no means impossible to meet. However, be keenly aware that it does take time, involves some expense, and requires real effort to get through the process. More than 200,000 MCSEs are already certified, so it's obviously an attainable goal. You can get all the real-world motivation you need from knowing that many others have gone before; you will be able to follow in their footsteps. If you're willing to tackle the process seriously and do what it takes to obtain the necessary experience and knowledge, you can takeand passall the certification tests involved in obtaining an MCSE. In fact, we've designed Exam Cram to make it as easy on you as possible to prepare for these exams. But prepare you must! The same, of course, is true for other Microsoft certifications, some of which include these:
The Ideal MCSE CandidateJust to give you some idea of what an ideal MCSE candidate is like, here are some relevant statistics about the background and experience that such an individual might have. Don't worry if you don't meet these qualifications or don't come that closethis is a far-from-ideal world, and where you fall short is simply where you'll have more work to do.
Fundamentally, this boils down to a Bachelor's degree in computer science, plus three years of experience working in a position involving network design, installation, configuration, and maintenance. We believe that well under half of all certification candidates meet these requirements and that, in fact, most meet less than half of these requirementsat least, when they begin the certification process. But because all 200,000 people who already have been certified have survived this ordeal, you can survive it, tooespecially if you heed what our Self-Assessment can tell you about what you already know and what you need to learn. Put Yourself to the TestThe following series of questions and observations is designed to help you figure out how much work you must do to pursue Microsoft certification and what kinds of resources you should consult on your quest. Be absolutely honest in your answers; otherwise, you'll end up wasting money on exams you're not yet ready to take. There is no right or wrong answer, only steps along the path to certification. Only you can decide where you really belong in the broad spectrum of aspiring candidates. Two things should be clear from the outset, however:
Educational BackgroundFollowing are questions related to your education:
Hands-on ExperienceThe most important key to success on all of the Microsoft tests is hands-on experience, especially with Windows Server 2003, plus the many add-on services and BackOffice components around which so many of the Microsoft certification exams revolve. If we leave you with only one realization after taking this Self-Assessment, it should be that there's no substitute for time spent installing, configuring, and using the various Microsoft products upon which you'll be tested repeatedly and in depth.
Tip You can download objectives, practice exams, and other data about Microsoft exams from the Training and Certification page at www.microsoft.com/train_cert/. Use the Find an Exam link to obtain specific exam information. If you haven't worked with Windows Server 2003, TCP/IP, and IIS (or whatever product you choose for your final elective), you must obtain one or two machines and a copy of Windows Server 2003. Then learn the operating system. Do the same for TCP/IP and whatever other software components you'll be tested on. In fact, we recommend that you obtain two computers, each with a network interface, and set up a two-node network on which to practice. With decent Windows Server 2003capable computers selling for about $500 to $600 apiece these days, this shouldn't be too much of a financial hardship. You might have to scrounge to come up with the necessary software, but if you scour the Microsoft website, you can usually find low-cost options to obtain evaluation copies of most of the software that you'll need. Tip For any and all of these Microsoft exams, the Resource Kits for the topics involved are a good study resource. You can purchase softcover Resource Kits from Microsoft Press (search for them at http://mspress.microsoft.com/), but they also appear on the TechNet CDs (www.microsoft.com/technet). We believe that Resource Kits are among the best preparation tools available, along with the Exam Cram series of books.
Tip If you have the funds or your employer will pay your way, consider taking a class at a Microsoft Certified Partners for Learning Solutions (CPLS) or at an Authorized Academic Training Partner (AATP). In addition to classroom exposure to the topic of your choice, you get a copy of the software that is the focus of your course, along with a trial version of whatever operating system it needs, with the training materials for that class. Before you even think about taking any Microsoft exam, make sure you've spent enough time with the related software to understand how it can be installed and configured (depending on the exam, this could be an operating system or specific services and applications), how to maintain such an installation, and how to troubleshoot that software when things go wrong. This will help you in the exam and in real life! Testing Your Exam-ReadinessWhether you attend a formal class on a specific topic to get ready for an exam or use written materials to study on your own, some preparation for the Microsoft certification exams is essential. At $125 a try, pass or fail, you want to do everything you can to pass on your first try. That's where studying comes in. Tip We have included two practice exams in this book (Chapters 7 and 9), so if you don't score that well on the first, you can study more and then tackle the second. Your exclusive access to MeasureUp practice tests (see inside back cover) includes a free assessment! For any given subject, consider taking a class if you've tackled self-study materials, taken the test, and failed anyway. The opportunity to interact with an instructor and fellow students can make all the difference in the world, if you can afford that privilege. For information about Microsoft classes, visit the Training and Certification page at http://directory.microsoft.com/mprd/Search.aspx?SearchGroup=TrainingRadio&languageDropDown=173 for Microsoft Certified Partners for Learning Solutions. If you can't afford to take a class, visit the Training page at www.microsoft.com/traincert/training/find/default.asp anywayit also includes pointers to free practice exams and to Microsoft Certified Professional Approved Study Guides and other self-study tools. Even if you can't afford to spend much at all, you should still invest in some low-cost practice exams from commercial vendors.
Tip When it comes to assessing your test readiness, there is no better way than to take a good-quality practice exam and pass with a score of 70% or better. When I'm preparing myself, I shoot for 80% or more, just to leave room for the fact that you might encounter a question or two on the exam that makes little sense due to its wording. Assessing Readiness for Exam 70-291In addition to following the general exam-readiness information in the previous section, you can do several things to prepare for Exam 70-291. I suggest that you join an active Microsoft mailing list, obtain a Microsoft TechNet subscription, and regularly visit the Windows Server 2003 website for new information (see www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/default.mspx). Microsoft exam mavens also recommend checking the Microsoft Knowledge Base (integrated into the TechNet CD-ROM, or on the Microsoft website at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx) for "meaningful technical support issues" that relate to your exam's topics. Although I'm not sure exactly what the quoted phrase means, I have noticed some overlap between technical support questions on particular products and troubleshooting questions on the exams for those products. What's Next?After you've assessed your readiness, undertaken the right background studies, obtained the hands-on experience that will help you understand the products and technologies at work, and reviewed the many sources of information to help you prepare for a test, you'll be ready to take a round of practice tests. When your scores come back positive enough to get you through the exam, you're ready to go after the real thing. If you follow our assessment regime, you'll not only know what you need to study, but you'll also know when you're ready to make a test date at Prometric (www.prometric.com) or VUE (www.vue.com). Good luck! |
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