Introduction


Microsoft s Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) tracks for Windows Server 2003 are the premier certifications for computer industry professionals. Covering the core technologies around which Microsoft s future will be built, these programs provide powerful credentials for career advancement.

This book has been developed to give you the critical skills and knowledge you need to prepare for one of the design requirements of the MCSE certification in the new Windows Server 2003 track: Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure (Exam 70-297).

The Microsoft Certified Professional Program

Since the inception of its certification program, Microsoft has certified almost 1.5 million people. As the computer network industry increases in both size and complexity, this number is sure to grow ”and the need for proven ability will also increase. Companies rely on certifications to verify the skills of prospective employees and contractors.

Microsoft has developed its Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) program to give you credentials that verify your ability to work with Microsoft products effectively and professionally. Obtaining your MCP certification requires that you pass any one Microsoft certification exam. Several levels of certification are available based on specific suites of exams. Depending on your areas of interest or experience, you can obtain any of the following MCP credentials:

Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST)     This is the most recent offering from Microsoft. The program targets individuals who have very little computer experience. The only prerequisite Microsoft recommends is that you have experience using applications that are included with Windows XP, including Microsoft Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. You must pass a total of two exams to obtain your MCDST.

Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) on Windows Server 2003     The MCSA certification is the newest administrator certification track from Microsoft. This certification targets system and network administrators with roughly 6 to 12 months of desktop and network administration experience. The MCSA can be considered the entry-level networking certification. You must take and pass a total of four exams to obtain your MCSA. Or, if you are an MCSA on Windows 2000, you can take one Upgrade exam to obtain your MCSA on Windows Server 2003.

In addition, Microsoft just recently announced two additional specializations:

MCSA: Security on Windows Server 2003     You must take a total of six exams to get this certification. In addition to the core client and network operating system requirements, candidates must take two additional security specialization core exams, one of which can be CompTIA s Security+ exam. If you have your MCSA, you can take the Upgrade exam instead of the three core exams. However, you still need to take the two security-focused exams.

MCSA: Messaging on Windows Server 2003     You must take a total of five exams to get this certification. In addition to the core client and network operating system requirements, candidates must take one additional messaging specialization core exam. If you have your MCSA, you can take the Upgrade exam instead of the three core exams. However, you still need to take the messaging-focused exams.

Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Windows Server 2003     This certification track is designed for network and system administrators, network and system analysts, and technical consultants who work with Microsoft Windows XP and Server 2003 software. You must take and pass seven exams to obtain your MCSE. Or, if you are an MCSE on Windows 2000, you can take two Upgrade exams to obtain your MCSE on Windows Server 2003.

In addition, Microsoft just recently announced two additional specializations:

MCSE: Security on Windows Server 2003     You must take a total of eight exams to get this certification. In addition to the one core desktop networking exam and the four networking operation system exams, candidates may take three additional security-focused exams, including one security specialization design exam. If you have your MCSE, you can take both Upgrade exams (70-292 and 70-296) to satisfy the four networking operating system exams.

MCSE: Messaging on Windows Server 2003     You must take a total of eight exams to get this certification. In addition to the one core desktop networking exam, four networking operation system exams, and the one design exam, candidates may take two messaging-focused exams, both of which deal with using Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. If you have your MCSE, you can take both Upgrade exams (70-292 and 70-296) to satisfy the four networking operating system exams.

Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD)     This track is designed for application developers and technical consultants who primarily use Microsoft development tools. Currently, you can take exams on Visual Basic .NET or Visual C# .NET.  You must take and pass three exams to obtain your MCSD.

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MCSE versus MCSA

In an effort to provide those just starting off in the IT world a chance to prove their skills, Microsoft introduced its Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) program.

Targeted at those with less than a year s experience, the MCSA program focuses primarily on the administration portion of an IT professional s duties . Therefore, certain Windows exams satisfy both MCSA and MCSE requirements, namely exams 70-270, 70-290, and 70-291.

Of course, it should be any MCSA s goal to eventually obtain his or her MCSE. However, don t assume that, because the MCSA has to take three exams that also satisfy an MCSE requirement, the two programs are similar. An MCSE must also know how to design a network. Beyond these three exams, the remaining MCSE required exams demand that the candidate have much more hands-on experience.

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Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD)     This track is designed for software engineers and developers and technical consultants who primarily use Microsoft development tools. As of this printing, you can get your MCSD in either Visual Studio 6 or Visual Studio .NET. In Visual Studio 6, you need to take and pass three exams. In Visual Studio .NET, you need to take and pass five exams to obtain your MCSD.

Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA)     This track is designed for database administrators, developers, and analysts who work with Microsoft SQL Server. As of this printing, you can take exams on either SQL Server 7 or SQL Server 2000. You must take and pass four exams to achieve MCDBA status.

Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT)     The MCT track is designed for any IT professional who develops and teaches Microsoft-approved courses. To become an MCT, you must first obtain your MCSE, MCSD, or MCDBA, then you must take a class at one of the Certified Technical Training Centers. You will also be required to prove your instructional ability. You can do this in various ways: by taking a skills-building or train-the-trainer class, by achieving certification as a trainer from any of several vendors , or by becoming a Certified Technical Trainer through CompTIA. Last of all, you will need to complete an MCT application.

Note  

For more information on each of these certifications, visit Microsoft s website at www.microsoft.com/learning .

How Do You Become Certified on Windows Server 2003?

Attaining an MCSA or MCSE certification has always been a challenge. In the past, students have been able to acquire detailed exam information ”even most of the exam questions ”from online brain dumps and third-party cram books or software products. For the new exams, this is simply not the case.

Microsoft has taken strong steps to protect the security and integrity of its certification tracks. Now prospective candidates must complete a course of study that develops detailed knowledge about a wide range of topics. It supplies them with the true skills needed, derived from working with Windows XP, Server 2003, and related software products.

The Windows Server 2003 certification programs are heavily weighted toward hands-on skills and experience. Microsoft has stated that nearly half of the core required exams content demands that the candidate have troubleshooting skills acquired through hands-on experience and working knowledge.

Fortunately, if you are willing to dedicate the time and effort to learn Windows XP and Server 2003, you can prepare yourself well for the exams by using the proper tools. By working through this book, you can successfully meet the exam requirements to pass the Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure exam.

This book is part of a complete series of MCSA and MCSE Study Guides, published by Sybex Inc., that together cover the core MCSA and MCSE operating system requirements, as well as the Design requirements needed to complete your MCSE track. Please visit the Sybex website at www.sybex.com for complete program and product details.

MCSE Exam Requirements

Candidates for MCSE certification on Windows Server 2003 must pass seven exams, including one client operating system exam, four networking operating system exams, one design exam, and an elective .

You must take one of the following client operating system exams:

  • Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional (70-210)

  • Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional (70-270)

plus the following networking operating system exams:

  • Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment (70-290)

  • Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure (70-291)

  • Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure (70-293)

  • Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure (70-294)

plus one of the following Design exams:

  • Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure (70-297)

  • Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network 2000 Server Technologies (70-298)

plus one of a number of electives, including these:

  • Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 (70-086)

  • Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition (70-227)

  • Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition (70-228)

  • Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition (70-229)

  • Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 (70-284)

  • Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network (70-299)

  • The Design exam not taken as a requirement

Also, if you are an MCSE on Windows 2000, you can take two Upgrade exams:

  • Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000 (70-297)

  • Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSE Certified on Windows 2000 (70-298)

In addition, if you are an MCSE in Windows NT, you do not have to take the client requirement, but you do have to take the networking operating system, design, and an elective exam.

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Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 Certification

Microsoft recently announced that it will distinguish between Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 certifications. Those who have their MCSA or MCSE certification in Windows 2000 will be referred to as certified on Windows 2000. Those who obtained their MCSA or MCSE in the Windows Server 2003 will be referred to as certified on Windows Server 2003.

If you are certified in Windows 2000, you can take either one Upgrade exam (for MCSA) or two Upgrade exams (for MCSE) to obtain your certification on Windows 2003.

Microsoft also introduced a more clear distinction between the MCSA and MCSE certifications by more sharply focusing each certification. In the new Windows 2003 track, the objectives covered by the MCSA exams relate primarily to administrative tasks. The exams that relate specifically to the MCSE, however, deal mostly with design-level concepts. So, MCSA job tasks are considered to be more hands-on, while the MCSE job tasks involve more strategic concerns of design and planning.

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The Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure Exam

The Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure exam covers concepts and skills related to Windows Server 2003 Active Directory infrastructure deployment and support. It emphasizes the following elements:

  • Creating the conceptual design by gathering and analyzing business and technical requirements

  • Creating the logical design for an Active Directory infrastructure

  • Creating the logical design for a network services infrastructure

  • Creating the physical design for an Active Directory and network infrastructure

This exam is quite specific regarding Windows Server 2003 Active Directory requirements and network services required to support Active Directory. It can be particular about how the network infrastructure is implemented to support Active Directory so you should be very familiar with the options available. Careful study of this book, along with hands-on experience, will help you prepare for this exam.

Note  

Microsoft provides exam objectives to give you a general overview of possible areas of coverage on the Microsoft exams. Keep in mind, however, that exam objectives are subject to change at any time without prior notice and at Microsoft s sole discretion. Please visit Microsoft s Training and Certification website ( www.microsoft.com/learning ) for the most current listing of exam objectives.

Types of Exam Questions

In an effort to both refine the testing process and protect the quality of its certifications, Microsoft has focused its Windows XP and Server 2003 exams on real experience and handson proficiency. There is a greater emphasis on your past working environments and responsibilities and less emphasis on how well you can memorize. In fact, Microsoft says a certification candidate should have at least six months of hands-on experience.

Microsoft will regularly add and remove questions from the exams. This is called item seeding . It is part of the effort to make it more difficult for individuals to merely memorize exam questions that were passed along by previous test-takers.

Note  

Microsoft will accomplish its goal of protecting the exams integrity by regularly adding and removing exam questions, limiting the number of questions that any individual sees in a beta exam, and adding new exam elements.

Exam questions may be in a variety of formats: Depending on which exam you take, you ll see multiple-choice questions as well as select-and-place and prioritize-a-list questions. Simulations and Case Study “based formats are included as well. Let s take a look at the types of exam questions and examine the adaptive testing technique so you ll be prepared for all of the possibilities.

Note  

For more information on the various exam question types, go to www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcpexams/policies/innovations.asp .

Case Study “Based Questions

Case Study “based questions first appeared in the MCSD program and are prominent in the design-focused exams, including the Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure exam. These questions present a scenario with a range of requirements. Based on the information provided, you answer a series of multiple-choice and select-and-place questions. The interface for Case Study “based questions has a number of buttons , each of which contain information about the scenario.

Multiple-Choice Questions

Multiple-choice questions come in two main forms. One is a straightforward question followed by several possible answers, of which one or more is correct. The other type of multiple-choice question is more complex and based on a specific scenario. The scenario may focus on several areas or objectives.

Select-and-Place Questions

Select-and-place exam questions involve graphical elements that you must manipulate to successfully answer the question. For example, you might see a diagram of a computer network, as shown in the following graphic taken from the select-and-place demo downloaded from Microsoft s website.

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A typical diagram will show computers and other components next to boxes that contain the text Place here. The labels for the boxes represent various computer roles on a network, such as a print server and a file server. Based on information given for each computer, you are asked to select each label and place it in the correct box. You need to place all of the labels correctly. No credit is given for the question if you correctly label only some of the boxes.

In another select-and-place problem you might be asked to put a series of steps in order by dragging items from boxes on the left to boxes on the right. One other type requires you to drag an item from the left and place it under an item in a column on the right.

Simulations

Simulations are the kinds of questions that most closely represent actual situations and test the skills you use while working with Microsoft software interfaces. These exam questions include a mock interface on which you are asked to perform certain actions according to a given scenario. The simulated interfaces look nearly identical to what you see in the actual product, as shown in this example.

click to expand

Because of the number of possible errors that can be made on simulations, be sure to consider the following recommendations from Microsoft:

  • Do not change any simulation settings that don t pertain to the solution directly.

  • When related information has not been provided, assume that the default settings are used.

  • Make sure that your entries are spelled correctly.

  • Close all the simulation application windows after completing the set of tasks in the simulation.

The best way to prepare for simulation questions is to spend time working with the graphical interface of the product on which you will be tested .

Tips For Taking the Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure Exam

Here are some general tips for achieving success on your certification exam:

  • Arrive early at the exam center so that you can relax and review your study materials. During this final review, you can look over tables and lists of exam-related information.

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Exam Question Development

Microsoft follows an exam-development process consisting of eight mandatory phases. The process takes an average of seven months and involves more than 150 specific steps. The MCP exam development consists of the following phases:

Phase 1: Job Analysis     Phase 1 is an analysis of all the tasks that make up a specific job function, based on tasks performed by people who are currently performing that job function. This phase also identifies the knowledge, skills, and abilities that relate specifically to the performance area being certified.

Phase 2: Objective Domain Definition     The results of the job analysis phase provide the framework used to develop objectives. Development of objectives involves translating the job-function tasks into a comprehensive package of specific and measurable knowledge, skills, and abilities. The resulting list of objectives ”the objective domain ”is the basis for the development of both the certification exams and the training materials.

Phase 3: Blueprint Survey     The final objective domain is transformed into a blueprint survey in which contributors are asked to rate each objective. These contributors may be MCP candidates, appropriately skilled exam-development volunteers, or Microsoft employees. Based on the contributors input, the objectives are prioritized and weighted. The actual exam items are written according to the prioritized objectives. Contributors are queried about how they spend their time on the job. If a contributor doesn t spend an adequate amount of time actually performing the specified job function, his or her data is eliminated from the analysis. The blueprint survey phase helps determine which objectives to measure, as well as the appropriate number and types of items to include on the exam.

Phase 4: Item Development     A pool of items is developed to measure the blueprinted objective domain. The number and types of items to be written are based on the results of the blueprint survey.

Phase 5: Alpha Review and Item Revision     During this phase, a panel of technical and job-function experts reviews each item for technical accuracy. The panel then answers each item and reaches a consensus on all technical issues. Once the items have been verified as being technically accurate, they are edited to ensure that they are expressed in the clearest language possible.

Phase 6: Beta Exam     The reviewed and edited items are collected into beta exams. Based on the responses of all beta participants , Microsoft performs a statistical analysis to verify the validity of the exam items and to determine which items will be used in the certification exam. Once the analysis has been completed, the items are distributed into multiple parallel forms, or versions, of the final certification exam.

Phase 7: Item Selection and Cut-Score Setting     The results of the beta exams are analyzed to determine which items will be included in the certification exam. This determination is based on many factors, including item difficulty and relevance. During this phase, a panel of job-function experts determines the cut score (minimum passing score) for the exams. The cut score differs from exam to exam because it is based on an item-by-item determination of the percentage of candidates who answered the item correctly and who would be expected to answer the item correctly.

Phase 8: Live Exam     In the final phase, the exams are given to candidates. MCP exams are administered by Prometric and Virtual University Enterprises (VUE).

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  • You will be presented with several case studies during the design exams. Each Case Study is actually a testlet. Make sure you answer all of the questions for the Case Study you are currently working on. If you move on to the next Case Study, you will no longer be able to return to the previous Case Study or any of the questions you had not answered.

  • Read the questions carefully . Don t be tempted to jump to an early conclusion. Make sure you know exactly what the question is asking.

  • For questions you re not sure about, use a process of elimination to get rid of the obviously incorrect answers first. This improves your odds of selecting the correct answer when you need to make an educated guess.

Exam Registration

You may take the Microsoft exams at any of more than 1,000 Authorized Prometric Testing Centers (APTCs) and VUE Testing Centers around the world. For the location of a testing center near you, call Prometric at 800-755-EXAM (755-3926), or call VUE at 888-837-8616. Outside the United States and Canada, contact your local Prometric or VUE registration center.

Find out the number of the exam you want to take, and then register with the Prometric or VUE registration center nearest to you. At this point, you will be asked for advance payment for the exam. The exams are $125 each and you must take them within one year of payment. You can schedule exams up to six weeks in advance or as late as one working day prior to the date of the exam. You can cancel or reschedule your exam if you contact the center at least two working days prior to the exam. Same-day registration is available in some locations, subject to space availability. Where same-day registration is available, you must register a minimum of two hours before test time.

Tip  

You may also register for your exams online at www.prometric.com or www.vue.com .

When you schedule the exam, you will be provided with instructions regarding appointment and cancellation procedures, ID requirements, and information about the testing center location. In addition, you will receive a registration and payment confirmation letter from Prometric or VUE.

Microsoft requires certification candidates to accept the terms of a Non-Disclosure Agreement before taking certification exams.




MCSE
MCSE: Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure Design Study Guide (70-297)
ISBN: 0782143210
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 159
Authors: Brad Price, Sybex

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