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    I am an unemployed Systems Engineer. I was recently laid off in August. I worked for a small business firm in Richmond Virginia. I worked for them for 1 year, and I need some suggestions. I have 12500 to put towards training/certifications. I am already working on my CCNA with training from Train Signal. I will be done in a few weeks, and i need to get started in the microsoft track. Should I go 2003, or 2008? Most smbs around here use 2003 or 2000. Suggestions?
    Wednesday, September 16, 2009 5:26 PM

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    Even though there are many companies still using Windows Server 2003, I think you should go for Server 2008 Certifications (MCTS and MCITP).  By doing Server 2008 Certifications you will be able to market yourself better. Once you learn Server 2008, you will be able to work on Server 2003. Many features/tools are backward compatible. Face it, how many MCSE out there looking for Jobs vs. how many candidates out there has new certifications (MCTS/MCITP).

     

    I believe you are looking to get trained by using your NEG Grant. Where are you looking to get trained? Are you looking for Accelerated/Boot Camp or Regular Evening/Weekend Training?

     

    If you are looking for Boot Camp, you may consider this http://www.netcominfo.com/packages/6034/MCTS-and-MCITP-Windows-Server-2008-Boot-Camp-training.html

     

    Hope this is helpful.  

    Rubel Khan - MY BLOG!
    If your question was truly answered, please mark it as Answered and Vote as helpful. Thank you in advance.
    • Proposed as answer by Rubel Khan Wednesday, September 16, 2009 5:46 PM
    • Marked as answer by Rubel Khan Friday, January 8, 2010 6:28 AM
    Wednesday, September 16, 2009 5:46 PM
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    Double dittos.  Regular support for Server 2003 and WinXP are going bye bye July 13, 2010 (which means extended support is available, for a price). 

    If you don't want to do a boot camp, or are good at self-study, look at the Sybex (or MS Press) books and CBT Nuggets (or Trainsignal or TestOut) for video training.
    • Marked as answer by Rubel Khan Friday, January 8, 2010 6:28 AM
    Wednesday, September 16, 2009 6:20 PM
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    I would say do at least the MCSA 2003, like you said alot of companies are still using 2000/2003 in your area (and in alot of other areas also) and in this climate they will not be rushing out to buy 2008 (whichever flavor) if their current software meets their needs.  While regular support has stopped; security updates, self-help online support and paid per incident support will still be available.  Companies will still be using 2003 for the next 3-5 years, one of the companies we deal with only just retired their NT 4 servers.

    Added to that, once you have your MCSA 2003 all you have to do is do two Windows 2008 exams to gain the MCITP: SA.  Exam 70-648 will earn you 2 MCTS on Windows 2008 and the 70-646 will earn you the MCITP: SA cred.
    -Ken | http://ken.wagnerfamily.co.uk
    • Edited by KitKatNinja Wednesday, September 16, 2009 7:05 PM more info
    • Marked as answer by Rubel Khan Friday, January 8, 2010 6:28 AM
    Wednesday, September 16, 2009 7:03 PM

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    Even though there are many companies still using Windows Server 2003, I think you should go for Server 2008 Certifications (MCTS and MCITP).  By doing Server 2008 Certifications you will be able to market yourself better. Once you learn Server 2008, you will be able to work on Server 2003. Many features/tools are backward compatible. Face it, how many MCSE out there looking for Jobs vs. how many candidates out there has new certifications (MCTS/MCITP).

     

    I believe you are looking to get trained by using your NEG Grant. Where are you looking to get trained? Are you looking for Accelerated/Boot Camp or Regular Evening/Weekend Training?

     

    If you are looking for Boot Camp, you may consider this http://www.netcominfo.com/packages/6034/MCTS-and-MCITP-Windows-Server-2008-Boot-Camp-training.html

     

    Hope this is helpful.  

    Rubel Khan - MY BLOG!
    If your question was truly answered, please mark it as Answered and Vote as helpful. Thank you in advance.
    • Proposed as answer by Rubel Khan Wednesday, September 16, 2009 5:46 PM
    • Marked as answer by Rubel Khan Friday, January 8, 2010 6:28 AM
    Wednesday, September 16, 2009 5:46 PM
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    Double dittos.  Regular support for Server 2003 and WinXP are going bye bye July 13, 2010 (which means extended support is available, for a price). 

    If you don't want to do a boot camp, or are good at self-study, look at the Sybex (or MS Press) books and CBT Nuggets (or Trainsignal or TestOut) for video training.
    • Marked as answer by Rubel Khan Friday, January 8, 2010 6:28 AM
    Wednesday, September 16, 2009 6:20 PM
    Answerer
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    I would say do at least the MCSA 2003, like you said alot of companies are still using 2000/2003 in your area (and in alot of other areas also) and in this climate they will not be rushing out to buy 2008 (whichever flavor) if their current software meets their needs.  While regular support has stopped; security updates, self-help online support and paid per incident support will still be available.  Companies will still be using 2003 for the next 3-5 years, one of the companies we deal with only just retired their NT 4 servers.

    Added to that, once you have your MCSA 2003 all you have to do is do two Windows 2008 exams to gain the MCITP: SA.  Exam 70-648 will earn you 2 MCTS on Windows 2008 and the 70-646 will earn you the MCITP: SA cred.
    -Ken | http://ken.wagnerfamily.co.uk
    • Edited by KitKatNinja Wednesday, September 16, 2009 7:05 PM more info
    • Marked as answer by Rubel Khan Friday, January 8, 2010 6:28 AM
    Wednesday, September 16, 2009 7:03 PM
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    Hi Adam,

    My Suggestion is to do MCSE-2003, because its still in Market, and Windows 2008 is not opted by large number of orgs worldwide, comparing to Win Ser 2003
    Saturday, September 19, 2009 6:45 AM
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    In my opinion,if you just find a temporary job, you can go 2000.As you said ,MCSE 2000 is still in your local market.
    however ,you know ,Server 2008 has been born for long time ,and many of MCSE on Server 2000/2003 has been retired .maybe MCSE 2003 will be still in market in  a period of time ,but plz remember it is expiring ,As some post said ,mcse /mcsa 2000/2003 has timed out ?




    Nobody knows when the exams will retire - Microsoft won't reveal that information until the exams are a year or less away from retirement
    SO ,in my opinion,you could prepare for the MCTS certification in the long run .


    Wednesday, September 23, 2009 6:04 AM