Introduction

Welcome to the Exam Cram 2 series. The purpose of this book is to prepare you to take Microsoft certification exam 70-215, "Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows 2000 Server."

Books in the Exam Cram 2 series are designed to help you understand the material you will encounter on the exam. Their purpose is to cover the topics you are likely to encounter on the exam, but they do not teach you everything you need to know about a topic. The book contains as much information as possible about the exam.

The book begins by providing useful information about how to prepare for the exam and what to expect on your test day. To begin, we recommend that you take the self-assessment included in the book. This will help you to evaluate your current knowledge base against what is required for an MCSE candidate. This will help you determine where your training should begin, which may be some classroom training or reading one of the several study guides available.

It is also strongly recommended that you gain some hands-on experience with the technologies being covered on the exam. Again, this may be through some classroom training or by installing and configuring the software on a home system. In any case, nothing beats hands-on experience when it comes to learning essential exam topics.

Once you pass 70-215, you receive the status of Microsoft Certified Professional and demonstrate your efficiency and knowledge on the exam topics. Passing this exam can also earn you credit toward the following certifications:

• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer ” This is one of the core exams required to obtain MCSE status.

• Microsoft Certified Database Administrator ” This exam can be used as one of the electives for the MCDBA certification.

• Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator ” This exam can be used as one of the electives required to achieve MCSA status.