Where to start for windows server certifications?

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• יום שישי 27 יוני 2008 14:17

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  Honestly, certifications are nothing more than proof you took and passed an exam - by any means necessary. You should only seek to get certified if you are experienced on the tested objectives that can be found at Microsoft Learning. That's not to say that proficiency is required, just high recommeded. This is to maintain the value of the certification program and your integrity as an I.T. professional. With all that said, let's move on to your question.
  
  If you plan on administrating your current company's network, you must determine what product you are using. From the information provided by your post, I would assume (or rather hope) that your company is running either Windows Server 2000 or 2003 - this would include Small Business Server if installed. It also sounds as if your comapny administers other company networks by reading your post. You must also determine what version they are running as well. If the networks in question are on a Windows 2003 network, then studying the material that makes up the MCSE 2003 track is your best choice.
  
  The difference between the MCSE and MCITP certification is branding. The MCITP certifications are part of Microsoft's next generation certifications - while the MCSE is part of the past certification program. It is Microsoft's attempt to create a more specific certification, designed for specific positions.
  
  You mentioned Windows XP certifications. There are currently 3 popular exams to test your wits on this product - 70-270 (MCP), 70-271 and 70-272 (combined equal the MCDST). If you are pursuing the MCSE track, a client exam is required.
  
  So again, your question is where to begin. You have to evaluate yourself both mentally and monetarily to determine if either the MCSE or the MCITP certification is what you can handle or afford. Then you have to determine which on will benefit you the most right now by your evaluation on the version or product your comapny is currently working with. It's no good for you to start the MCITP track for 2008 if your company or the companies that you administer have no plans in the near future to upgrade. Let me know if this clears up some of your questions. If not, I will be happy to explain further and answer any questions you still have.

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  Michael D. Alligood www.theitclassroom.com

  • הוצע כתשובה על-ידי Michael D. AlligoodModerator יום שישי 27 יוני 2008 14:17
  • סומן כתשובה על-ידי djwunder שבת 28 יוני 2008 05:26
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• יום שישי 27 יוני 2008 16:39

   

   
  

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  What do you do now?
  
  What Microsoft products have you worked with?
  
  For most people, the start to certification really begins with the "Client" exam, that is, the Windows XP or Vista exam.  I honestly would not start with the MCSE and MCITP tracks if you are not yet at that point in your career.
  
  So start out with asking yourself where you are and where you want to be.  It seems pretty clear you want to work with servers in the microsoft space.  So start with the vista exam.  Figure out how to use some of the more 'corporate' features.  You do not need to have college to go after certifications, instead you need to build your own experience with the product and put int he time and investment to be able to study for the tests.
  
  Start with 70-620.
  Then 70-624.
  
  Plan how are you going to build your experience with Windows Server 2008.  What are you doing now?  How can you continue to build your experience?
  
  For a lot of people this means having a computer at home that they can use as kind of a learning lab.  install Windows Server 2008, work with the product.  Use Active Directory and DHCP and DNS and AD CS and IIS 7.  Install some IIS 7 features.  Again, invest the time and money to study.
  
  If you want to be a Network Administrator and be certified in that discipline, map out a course to the credential that takes into account how much time you have to study and realistically when you can apply money and time to it.

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  - Wayne Anderson MCITP, MCSE, MCT(http://blog.avanadeadvisor.com/blogs/waynea)

  • הוצע כתשובה על-ידי Wayne S. Anderson יום שישי 27 יוני 2008 16:39
  • סומן כתשובה על-ידי djwunder שבת 28 יוני 2008 05:26
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• שבת 28 יוני 2008 05:26

   

   
  

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  Thanks for the help both of you.
  
  Currently we only have one customer that is upgrading to Server 2008 right now.  We're sure that others will fall in line soon enough, but currently they're using server 2003, so it would kind of make sense to me to start on a track towards my MCSE, then upgrade to MCITP once more clients of ours are on that platform, correct?
  
  Wayne, you mentioned the Windows XP and Windows Vista exams.  Is it really viable to take the vista exam at this time with businesses not even upgrading to that platform?  All of our clients are still on XP.  I actually don't think we have a client running xp.  I'm not 100% sure though to be honest.
  
  A current Windows Admin at my company and I were talking and he mentioned like you both did about obtaining the exams for Windows XP first.  So it kinda sounds like I should start by obtaining a MCDST, and going from there.  If I'm wrong, please let me know, but that's what I'm hearing. :)
  
  I would eventually like to be skilled and certified on Server 2003 and 2008, but it seems starting with MCDST is a great step in that direction.
  
  Again, thanks for all the information guys. :)
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• שבת 28 יוני 2008 05:45

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  Since you have the desire to move into the Windows Aministrator role, why don't we scale down your certification track for now. Meaning instead of jumping head first into the MCSE 2003 track, we start you looking into the MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) certification. I believe this would suit your job role better. It can also be a steeping stone for when you want to achieve the MCSE. The nice thing about the MCSA is that it accepts the MCDST as an elective. But wait, there's more! By taking the 70-271 and 70-272, not only will you get your MCDST and MCSA elective taken care of, but that leaves you the opportunity to bypass the 70-270 XP exam and take the 70-620 Vista exam to fulfill the client os requirement. So you can actually achieve both your goals at the same time. More information can be found here: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcsa/windows2003/default.mspx
  
  If you follow this course, you will have achieved the following:
  
  MCP
  MCDST
  MCSA 2003
  MCTS: Windows Vista, Configuration
  
  Think of the knowledge built into those certifications.
  

  ---

  Michael D. Alligood www.theitclassroom.com

  • הוצע כתשובה על-ידי Michael D. AlligoodModerator שבת 28 יוני 2008 05:46
  • סומן כתשובה על-ידי djwunder שבת 28 יוני 2008 06:56
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• שבת 28 יוני 2008 06:59

   

   
  

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  I like where you're going with that Michael, and that sounds very good to do.  Starting with the 70-271 and 70-272.  My question here, though, is why take the 70-620 (Vista) instead of the 70-270 (XP)?  As far as I see it, the business world is still sticking with Windows XP over Vista, and just from a guess, will be for a long time.  Am I mistaken in this?  I know that Microsoft is trying to phase out Windows XP and get everyone onto Windows Vista, so I don't know.  Any thoughts on that?
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• שבת 28 יוני 2008 13:53

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  I chose the 70-620 over the 70-270 for you because you are undecided as to which OS you should take. This way you get the best of both worlds. Your 70-271 and 70-272 will cover the Windows XP Platform, and the 70-620 will cover the Vista configuration side. Afterward, if you want to take the 70-270 exam, you can. It becomes a want not a need. Then when your company or the one you support get around to rolling out Vista, you will have some knowledge on the platform. After you gain proficiency on the Vista platform, you can upgrade your MCDST to MCITP: Enterprise with one exam: 70-621.
  
  

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  Michael D. Alligood www.theitclassroom.com

  • הוצע כתשובה על-ידי Michael D. AlligoodModerator שבת 28 יוני 2008 13:53
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• יום ראשון 29 יוני 2008 03:59

   

   
  

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  djwunder said:

  I like where you're going with that Michael, and that sounds very good to do.  Starting with the 70-271 and 70-272.  My question here, though, is why take the 70-620 (Vista) instead of the 70-270 (XP)?  As far as I see it, the business world is still sticking with Windows XP over Vista, and just from a guess, will be for a long time.  Am I mistaken in this?  I know that Microsoft is trying to phase out Windows XP and get everyone onto Windows Vista, so I don't know.  Any thoughts on that?

  
  
  I know that SOME select businesses are choosing to stick with XP instead of upgrading to vista.  In my experience, this will be an untenable position.  First, support for XP sales is going away for the most part.  Second, enterprise support for XP will begin to phase out.
  
  Also note that many of the security and application infrastructure technologies in Windows Server 2008 are most effectively used when your client computers are running Vista.  I think that the migration curve is going to take a little bit longer for Vista than it did for XP but I think the notion in the industry that it is not happening at all or that it is widespread in not making the migration is not neccessarily correct.
  
  There is a very vocal minority which is choosing XP over vista.  When you have 1 billion people worldwide using windows and only 5% are disgruntled with making the change to vista, even though that is a tiny portion of your overall audience, it is still 50 million people complaining on the internet :)
  
  Personally, I disagree slightly with Michael here.  I think that you should definitely narrow down your scope here but start with the Vista client exam.  Many of the concepts are the same as XP and you have the opportunity to then apply it to an MCITP in one of the client support disciplines OR the Windows Server 2008 certification track, depending on your long term career goals.

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  - Wayne S. Anderson MCITP, MCSE, MCT http://blog.avanadeadvisor.com/blogs/waynea

  • הוצע כתשובה על-ידי Wayne S. Anderson יום ראשון 29 יוני 2008 03:59
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