70-294 Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure - PASS!

This is starting to get tiring! All 4 core exams are now done - just need 70-298 to become MCSE Server 2003. This leads to a dilemma - what exam to do next?

70-298 and 70-299 look like they cover very similar content, but from different angles. It appears that 70-298 uses a case study style format while 70-299 is a more traditional exam. Based on this I'm going to book 70-299 first and use the studying for that as a platform to do 70-298 shortly after. Some people have posted that they took both on the same day, but I think 3 exams in a week is enough for me!

70-293 Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure - PASS!

You would think having years of experience with the product would be helpful when sitting an exam. In general that is true, but it means that some questions you end up looking too deeply. Some questions appear to be too straightforward. Some questions are on areas you would barely use over the lifetime of the product.

This raises a question - does this make the Microsoft certification process a bit of a lottery?

I don't think so. In many ways these types of questions accurately reflect the day to day experience of someone who is (or aims to be) an MCSE. Some questions you get asked every day are really easy to answer. Some questions are so obscure you have to make an educated guess. The exam reflects real life.

Having said all that, I have yet to see anyone use RIP or OSPF on Windows Server. I'll be happy if I never have to answer another question on these protocols again!

MCSA Windows Server 2003

Well, it worked! My transcript now shows MCSA Windows Server 2003.

From what I can see, the exams that count towards this on my transcript (taken from the Microsoft India Learning site) are...

• 291 Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure June 05, 2013
• 290 Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment May 31, 2013
• 210 Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional January 17, 2002

...and a fourth component which, on my transcript, could be any of the following...

• TS: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Configuring
• MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• MCSE on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
• CompTIA Security+

What next?

The original plan was to move straight on to Windows Server 2008. Due to the amount of Server 2003 studying I've already done, I'm aiming for MCSE Server 2003 first. That'll allow an attempt at the 70-649 Upgrading Your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist exam.

Next up... 70-293 Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure.

70-291 Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure - PASS!

Well, that was horrible. I was pretty sure I'd failed and was dreading pressing the end exam button. But a pass is a pass!

This should be enough to gain the MCSA Windows Server 2003 and enable me to take the 70-648 Server 2008 upgrade exam. I'll not know for sure until the exam hits my transcript.

70-290 Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment - PASS!

1 down, lots to go.

When studying for these exams I assumed a number of fundamental things-

1. The exams will cover XP SP3 as clients and Server 2003 SP2 on the servers
2. The exams won't cover technologies that have been out of support for a long time (eg Windows NT4 was retired in December 2004, so surely they can't ask me a question on that in 2013?)
3. 10 years of experience with the product would be very helpful

One of my assumptions was wrong!

Obviously with the NDA I can't reveal what I was asked, but if you're thinking of doing these exams before they are retired you might want to read over some basic NT 4 networking.

MCSA in 9 days part 2 - Exam order

Since there is a hard time limit with the Server 2003 exams, the order in which the exams are taken is important. I need a back out plan in case real life takes over and I run out of time. So, to maximise the qualifications earned I've broken the exams into some groups

• MCSA 2003 (2 exams required)
  • 70-290 Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment
  • 70-291 Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
• MCSE 2003 (3 exams required + MCSA 2003)
  • 70-293 Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
  • 70-294 Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure
  • 70-298 Designing Security for a Windows Server 2003 Network
• MCSA/MCSE : Security 2003 (1 exam required + MCSA 2003 and/or MCSE 2003)
  • 70-299 Implementing and Administering Security in a Windows Server 2003 Network
• MCSA 2008 / MCITP:SA 2008 (2 exams required + MCSA 2003)
  • 70-648 (or 70-649) Upgrading from Windows Server 2003 MCSA to, Windows Server 2008, Technology Specializations
  • 70-646 Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator

These groups are going to be helpful to determine which path to go down. At the moment the plan is to go for things in this order-

1. MCSA 2003
2. MCSA 2008 and MCITP:SA 2008
3. MCSE 2003
4. MCSA and MCSE 2003 Security

This list could (and probably will) change dramatically if there are any resits involved!

MCSA in 9 days

Microsoft have a promotion at the moment called MCSA in 90 days. It is a great package of resources and training with the aim of getting you certified as an MCSA in Server 2012. Inspired by this, I've come up with my own plan to become certified in Server 2012.

I'm aiming for an MCSA in 9 days. Not the Server 2012 MCSA, the Server 2003 one. Yes, the 10 year old credential in an OS that will be retired in 2015. I'm going to use this as a platform to upgrade my existing ancient certifications - currently MCSE:Security on Windows 2000 and MCSE: NT4.0.

My actual challenge is to get-

• MCSA Windows Server 2003
• MCSA Security on Windows Server 2003
• MCSE Windows Server 2003
• MCSE Security on Windows Server 2003

• MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
• MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
• MCITP: Server Administrator on Windows Server 2008
• MCSA: Windows Server 2008

and possibly

• MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuration

-in 60 days.

So, 9 Certifications in two months. Crazy? Possibly.

How?

As an MCSE in Windows 2000 and NT 4.0, I only need two exams to get MCSA 2003 (70-290 and 70-291). After that, two more exams to get MCSA 2008 (70-646 and 70-648). Then 70-417 to get MCSA 2012. Of course, it's not going to be that easy - these exams are going to be hard, and should get harder as the time pressure increases. Yes, this plan has a very definite time pressure - all of the Server 2003 and the Server 2008 upgrade exams are retiring on 31st July 2013.

So-

• 70-290 Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
• 70-291 Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
• 70-293 Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
• 70-294 Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure
• 70-298 Designing Security for a Windows Server 2003 Network
• 70-299 Implementing and Administering Security in a Windows Server 2003 Network
• 70-646 Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator
• 70-648 (or 70-649) Upgrading from Windows Server 2003 MCSA to, Windows Server 2008, Technology Specializations

-8 exams in 2 months. That is 1 exam per week.

The first exam - 70-290 - has been booked for Friday. I've been using Windows Server 2003 for 10 years - how difficult can it be?