Exam 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment is designed to cover the skills necessary to perform most day-to-day administration tasks. Before you begin studying for this exam, you should have extensive hands-on experience with general Windows Server 2003 administration, including management of disks, hardware devices, shared folders, and printers. You should also have a detailed understanding of configuring local, roaming, and mandatory user profiles; managing users, computers, and groups; and working with filesystem permissions and changing file ownership. Troubleshooting and monitoring are major parts of the exam. Many troubleshooting skills are tested, including the ability to solve user and computer account issues, user authentication problems, and remote access issues. You'll need to be able to monitor server hardware using Device Manager and Control Panel utilities, and the Hardware Troubleshooting wizard. You'll also need to demonstrate skill with regard to monitoring system and application performance, server optimization, and disaster recovery. The exam covers some not-so-routine tasks as well. For example, you'll need to be able to manage software site licensing and software update infrastructure. You'll also need to be able to resolve Terminal Services security and Terminal Services client access issues. In many large enterprises, these tasks are handled by dedicated help desk staff rather than by individual administrators. Some of the most common problem areas for people taking the exam have to do with:
To be prepared for Exam 70-290, you should have 12 to 18 months experience as a Windows Server 2003 administrator. You should have recently studied a Windows Server 2003 administrator's book, taken a training course, or completed a self-paced training kit that covers the related areas of study. You will then be ready to use the Exam 70-290 Study Guide in this book as your final exam preparation. Tip: Exam 70-290 is a required exam for both MCSAs and MCSEs. If you take and pass this exam as your first exam, you will receive your MCP credentials. MCP is an entry-level certification program that requires taking and passing one Microsoft Certification exam. If you are a current MCSA on Windows 2000, you need to pass Exam 70-292 to upgrade your certification to Windows Server 2003. If you are a current MCSE on Windows 2000, you need to pass Exam 70-292 and Exam 70-296 to upgrade your certification to Windows Server 2003. Skills measured by Exam 70-292, representing a subset of Exams 70-290 and 70-291, are indicated in exam overview sections with the X symbol. |