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Windows Server 2008 rounds the corner toward release at the end of next month. And the Microsoft Learning Group, for its part, has been keeping pace with new exams that are slated to be generally available at Prometric testing centers soon after the software hits shelves. According to blog posts from Trika Harms zum Spreckel, a member of the marketing team in the Microsoft Learning Group, MCPs will see a healthy mix of MCTS and MCITP exams in the weeks to come.
Specifically, Microsoft will release three Technology Specialist-level and two Professional-level exams targeting all aspects of Windows Server 2008 design and administration:
- 70-640 TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
- 70-642 TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
- 70-643 TS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuring
- 70-646 Pro: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator
- 70-647 Pro: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator
All of these exams were put through a month-long beta test period that ended Jan. 21. Candidates who take these exams will earn an MCTS designation as follows:
- Pass 70-640 - MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration
- Pass 70-642 - MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Networking Infrastructure Configuration
- Pass 70-643 - MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration
Those exams also make up the requirements for two new Windows Server 2003-based IT Professional titles, details of which were posted on the Microsoft site and Trika's blog late last week
According to the certification guides on the MCP site, the MCITP: Server Administrator is aimed at IT administrators who get their hands dirty mixing it up with servers and contending with daily networking issues, much like an MCSA for the new-era certifications. Obtaining that title requires passing of two TS-level exams -- 70-640 and 70-642 -- as well as 70-646 at the Professional level.
The MCITP: Enterprise Administrator title, on the other hand, requires a bit more network design-based expertise and an understanding of network infrastructure in the context of the enterprise. So, Microsoft makes the bar for obtaining this title a bit higher, with candidates having to pass at least four of the following MCTS level exams: 70-640, 70-642, 70-643 and 70-620 TS: Windows Vista, Configuring or 70-624 TS: Deploying Vista and Office Desktops (70-620 and 70-624 have been available since soon after the release of Vista last year). Over on the Professional level, candidates finally have need to pass one more exam, 70-647, to obtain MCITP nirvana.
Migrating from MCSA/MCSE on Windows 2003
As it has done in the past, the Microsoft Learning Group incorporates transition exams into both Windows 2008-based MCITP tracks for MCSA and MCSE on Windows 2003 titleholders.
For those with MCSA on Windows 2003 certificates who want to upgrade to MCITP: Server Administrator, candidates need only pass two exams: 70-646 on the Pro level and 70-648 TS: Upgrading MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist, an exam that has been available since October 2007.
For the more comprehensive MCITP: Enterprise Administrator, MCSAs have to pass either of the Vista exams (70-620 or 70-624), plus 70-643 and 70-647, as well as the transitional 70-648 exam.
For MCSEs taking on the MCITP: Server Administrator requirements means passing the same 70-646 exam, but a different transition exam: 70-649 TS: Upgrading from MCSE on Windows 2003 to Windows 2008, Technology Specialist (that one has also been available since October 2007). MCSEs migrating to the Enterprise-grade title take a similar path as MCSAs, but substitute 70-649 for 70-648.
Noteworthy: The Microsoft Learning Group is providing early adopters with a price incentive to get certified on the new Windows 2008 exams. Under its "First to Know" program, those who register to receive e-mail alerts when the Windows 2008 exams go live will receive a code that can be used to save 40 percent off the price of the news TS exams 70-640-, 70-642 and 70-643. Another code will also be issued along with alerts when the Pro-level 70-646 and 70-647 exams become generally available.
- Managing and Maintaining Physical and Logical Devices
- Managing Users, Computers, and Groups
- Managing and Maintaining Access to Resources
- Managing and Maintaining a Server Environment
- Managing and Implementing Disaster Recovery
1. Be ready for record-length questions
In the early days of Microsoft certification, exams asked multiple-choice questions that were fairly straightforward. At no point were they ever as simplistic as those on CompTIA exams, but they were comparable. As the exam numbers incremented, Microsoft started adding headers to the questions: "You are the network administrator for Acme...," etc.
Somewhere down the road, someone at Microsoft misread Bloom's taxonomy and became convinced that question length somehow parallels question difficulty. Since then, there has been no stopping them. In fact, it's easy to come to the mistaken conclusion that question writers contracted by Microsoft get paid by the word.
If you took any of the Windows 2000 exams (particularly 70-216 and 70-219), you know how verbose a simple question can be. You'll be surprised, however, at how much longer the same question has now become. The questions include a lot of superfluous information to determine whether you can figure out how much of it you really need. Although a couple of questions like this are useful, having an entire exam of them wears you out quickly, so you need to plan ahead.
2. Be ready for drag-and-drop (and other new question types)
Multiple-choice remains the primary question type, but the number of drag-and-drop questions are increasing on the exams. On the betas recently given, the number of questions of this type was at 25 percent or more.
Microsoft refers to this type of question as "select-and-place", and to quote: "A select-and-place exam item tests a candidate's ability to synthesize information and assemble a solution to a problem or scenario graphically. This type of exam item can reflect architectural, design, troubleshooting, and component recognition problems more accurately than traditional exam items can because the solution is presented in a form that is more familiar to the computer professional."
Although it's certainly arguable whether a select-and-place question is "more familiar to the computer professional" than a multiple-choice one, there is no arguing the fact that you need to be comfortable with this format. If you can't immediately jump in and start answering the question, time spent contemplating how to answer the question will devour precious minutes that could be spent finding the right answer on another question.
In addition, you'll see more interactive question types, such as Hot Area and Active Screen questions.
3. Be ready for questions on new technologies
No one likes to add nifty features to an operating system that go unnoticed, and one of the best ways to draw attention to them is to quiz you on them. The alphabetical list below covers some new and improved technologies to know. You can find information about these technologies through the use of the operating system, help pages accompanying Windows Server 2003, and Web sites such as those hosted by the support side of Microsoft.
- Automated System Recovery (ASR)
- Remote Assistance
- Remote Desktop
- Software Update Services (SUS)
- Emergency Management Services (EMS)
- File Replication Service (FRS)
- Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)
- Open File Backup
- Password Backup and Restore Wizard
- Shadow copying of shared folders
- Virtual disk services
There are several changes between operations in Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003, some subtler than others. Microsoft expects you to know about these changes. Among those to be aware of:
- You must activate the operating system to use it.
- The default share permissions for Everyone are now Read versus Full Control.
- There are (or will be) four versions of the product available: Web edition, Standard edition, Enterprise edition, and Datacenter edition. Check Microsoft's site for a comparison of the versions.
5. Know the benefits of using Windows 2003
If this list is beginning to sound like a marketing tool, you're starting to understand an important concept: Vendors, and not just Microsoft, want their most trained users - certified administrators - to also serve as evangelists for their products. The best way to guarantee this is to make sure certification holders know all the features and can expound upon them at length.
For that reason, be sure to know Microsoft's top ten benefits of using Windows Server 2003 over any other operating system that might be deployed within the organization.
6. Have a rough idea of licensing pricing
The 70-290 exam doesn't include any questions asking you to specifically figure pricing. Actual numbers never come into play because they date the exam, they do not translate well, and they are a topic for accountants rather than administrators. Nevertheless, Microsoft does want you to know that you need licenses to use the products. If you don't know that, it loses money.
A number of links related to pricing and licensing are posted on Microsoft's site, and I recommend reading through that information to get a good feel for the concept without getting mired down in the numbers.
7. Know that IIS is improved
Internet Information Server (IIS) gets better with each release. The latest version is 6.0, and it includes numerous improvements over 5.0. Although this exam is not IIS specific, it does expect you to have knowledge of the service. You'll find everything you need to know in "What's New in Internet Information Services 6.0."
Last Few Words
A number of certification exams will soon become available for Microsoft Windows Server 2003. Exam 70-290 will be among the first. It will also be among the least difficult because it emphasizes the technology and the changes in the operating system, while others are likely to focus more on planning and deployment.
One of the most difficult exams in the Windows 2000 track was 70-216, which focused on network infrastructure. When Windows Server 2003 came along, Microsoft updated the material and divided the content into two new exams: 70-291 and 70-293. Exam 70-293, Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure, is an important requirement for MCSE certification (it is not required for MCSA). The objectives for this exam are divided into the following six major categories:
- Planning and Implementing Server Roles and Server Security
- Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Network Infrastructure
- Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining Routing and Remote Access
- Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining Server Availability
- Planning and Maintaining Network Security
- Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining Security Infrastructure
1. Take 70-293 second
Do not take this exam until you've taken exam 70-291 (or 70-292 if you were waived out of 70-291 due to already being an MCSA). I say this because there are significant overlaps in topics. If you look at the bottom three (of five) major topic areas on that exam, and compare them against counterparts on this exam, you'll find great similarity.
Exam 70-291 topic areas include:
- Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining Network Security
- Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining Routing and Remote Access
- Maintaining a Network Infrastructure
- Planning and Maintaining Network Security
- Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining Routing and Remote Access
- Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Network Infrastructure
2. Skip 70-293 if you can
If you are certified as an MCSE, then you can take exam 70-296, Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSE Certified on Windows 2000, and have it count as credit for this exam and a few others. Taking only 70-296 and 70-292, Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000, you can upgrade your MCSE from Windows 2000 to Windows Server 2003 in just two tests.
If you are not currently an MCSE, then you must take 70-293; there's no other way out of it. If you are already an MCSE, however, then you should avoid this exam unless you are a glutton for punishment.
3. Know about software updates
With Windows Server 2003, Microsoft has included the Software Update Service (SUS) for centralized distribution of hot fixes and security updates. This allows administrators to update clients that do not access the Internet, as well as evaluate and test updates before making them available to network clients. By using SUS, a client updates its software from a server within the internal network instead of needing to access Microsoft to accomplish this. Be sure to read Microsoft's point of view on SUS.
Lumped in with updates, at least from an exam perspective, is the topic of Microsoft's Baseline Security Anaylzer (MBSA). This tool allows you to scan a computer and identify what is missing (service packs, security fixes, etc.). One good study resource for this topic is the TechNet Q&A on this tool.
4. Know how to differentiate versions
There are four versions of Windows Server 2003 hitting the market: standard, Web, data center, and enterprise. Since Microsoft views those holding certifications as front line marketing evangelists, they expect you to know how to differentiate between the four different versions.
Be ready for questions that require you to compare and contrast between features. Start your study with this grid, and note that the rightmost column, listing features, is a set of links. If you don't feel comfortable explaining what Enterprise UDDI Services are, for example, then click on that link and learn more about it. Be sure to also read the Top 10 Benefits of Windows Server 2003.
5. Know server roles
It's vital that you understand server roles for this exam, so be sure to read Microsoft's information about server roles. Servers can perform Active Directory related (Domain controllers) or purely service-oriented (Web server, database server, etc.) roles. Within those that are Active Directory related, there are five Flexible Single Master Operations (FSMOs) roles:
- Primary Domain Controller (PDC) emulator - used for backward compatibility
- Relative ID (RID) Master - holds the pool of ID numbers to be used
- Infrastructure Master - handles updates and name changes
- Domain Naming Master - by default, the first domain controller in a forest
- Schema Master - oversees all schema operations
6. Know security changes
By default, the Everyone group is now given Read permission when a file is shared. This differs from earlier versions of the Microsoft network operating systems in which Everyone was assigned Full Control permissions on all new shares.
Similar changes--or tweaks, really--have been made to some services, search ordering, etc. Begin your study of this information here, and then visit the Microsoft Technology Center on this topic.
7. Know ipconfig
The ipconfig utility has been around for a number of years, and a number of operating system versions. Its primary purpose is simply to interact with IP configuration values--either showing them to you or allowing modification of them. When Microsoft released Windows 2000, they enhanced this utility but did not spend much time dwelling on it.
When Windows Server 2003, the utility is unchanged from Windows 2000, but not it is indeed test worthy. Not only should you know the basic switches (/all, being the most common), but you also need to know those that allow direct interaction with DNS (/registerdns, for example). Begin your study at Microsoft TechNet and follow the related topic links, as well.
Our recommendation
The 70-293 exam is a requirement that must be taken for new MCSEs to become certified on Windows Server 2003. It is a very difficult exam and should be avoided by those who need not take it (MCSEs certified under Windows 2000 can take two upgrade exams and bypass this, and other, tests).
If you do take this exam, study for it earnestly and take it only after having already taken 70-291 or 70-292.
As Microsoft releases the new exams on the Windows Server 2003 operating system, the most important are those that will allow you to skip the baby steps and upgrade your certifications instantly. With the new OS, there are two versions of the upgrade exams - one for MCSEs only and one that is for both MCSEs and MCSAs.
Exam 70-292, Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000, is the upgrade exam for the MCSE/MCSA crowd. The objectives for 70-292 are divided into the following six major categories:
- Managing Users, Computers, and Groups
- Managing and Maintaining Access to Resources
- Managing and Maintaining a Server Environment
- Managing and Implementing Disaster Recovery
- Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining Name Resolution
- Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining Network Security
In this article, We'll provide seven tips to help you pass this exam.
1. Don't think of this as one exam
Although this is the only exam that an MCSA must take to upgrade that certification to Windows Server 2003, exam 70-292 should really be thought of as two exams. That's because the objectives and subobjectives that make up this exam are a subset of the categories covered by exams 70-290 (Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment) and 70-291 (Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure).
The first four of the six main topic categories come from exam 70-290, and the latter two come from 70-291. To put a positive spin on it, this means that the study resources at your disposal are not limited to only those specific to exam 70-292 but can also come from anything about the other two exams that is relevant to the areas of overlap.
On the negative side, you really do need to do as much studying for this exam as you would if you were to take the other two exams individually. One can argue that there should not be quite as much studying, since this exam is a subset and not the whole set of topics included in the other two exams, but the point is not worth spending much time on. The topics dropped from this exam - for example TCP/IP, DNS, and the like - were ones that anyone calling themselves an MCSA had better be familiar with already.
3. Know DNS
In the mind of Microsoft, Domain Name System/Service (DNS) means name resolution. Every version of the network operating system it creates becomes more and more dependent upon DNS, and thus a thorough mastery of it has become critical.
Knowing about zones, configuration options, and settings is only the basic part of it. You must be able to analyze a given situation and know the best solution to address any problems that may occur within it. On Microsoft's site, you can find an overview of DNS, but you'll need to delve deeper into such sections as Understanding DNS, Installing a DNS server, and Securing your DNS infrastructure.
3. Focus on security
Security is presently a buzzword in all areas of computing, and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 is no different. Whenever you're looking at a test question, always bear in mind which solution would offer the best security for the organization and weigh that against other variables in the mix.
You'll find a technical overview of security services in Windows Server 2003 on Microsoft's site, as well as a breakdown of what is new. After reading that material, focus on understanding all you can about security baseline settings and security templates.
4. Software update procedures
Software updates have become much more than just patching a utility that doesn't work properly under certain conditions. Software updates today are also used to patch security holes and enhance operating system functionality.
Be sure to read the following articles:
- Deploying Microsoft Software Update Services.
- Deploying the SUS Server Component
- Deploying Automatic Updates
Read Microsoft's online chapter on Deploying Microsoft Software Update Services. Also, be sure to read Deploying the SUS Server Component and Deploying Automatic Updates.
5. Pay attention to ASR
Windows Server 2003 introduces Automated System Recovery (ASR) to the server world. It essentially replaces the Emergency Repair Disk (ERD) in functionality and surpasses it in possibilities.
Know that this utility is accessed through the Advanced tab of the Backup utility and that the two ways to use it are to back up and restore. You can also get to the restore function by pressing [F2] at the prompt in setup (during the text mode portion of the routine).
From an exam--and real-world--perspective, one of the most important things to know about ASR is what it does not back up (data files), as well as what it does. Microsoft provides an overview of ASR on its site.
6. Know Shadow Copying
Shadow Copying is a service that essentially makes images of data as it exists at a certain time. That image can be used as a backup or to give users access to older versions of files (letting them read, restore, roll back, etc.). Shadow Copying can be done on anything from files to volumes.
For this exam, it is imperative that you understand how to make Shadow Copies of folders and to utilize/implement the Volume Shadow Copy service. Take a look at Microsoft's online demo on the Virtual Disk Service and Volume Shadow Copy service. The demo also does a great job of explaining Shadow Copying shared folders.
7. Don't overlook the obvious
When studying for a certification exam, it's easy to hone in on the topics you don't know well and study all you can about them. It's more difficult to look at the topics that you already know and spend time learning a little more about them.
With each new certification track that comes out, Microsoft endeavors to make the exams more difficult--and the exams tailored toward Windows Server 2003 are no exception. Just because you've been adding users and groups to networks since the days of Windows NT 3.1, don't think that you won't find questions that try your knowledge. Look at all of the objectives for this exam and make sure that you are more than comfortable with each subject area before signing up to take the test.
