Todd's Blog

Todd's Tips for System Adminstrators

New Microsoft Certification Roadmap

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Microsoft has announced a new roadmap for their certifications.
The full announcement can be found at Born to Learn

For me the interesting stuff is in the newer exams for client devices. 695 and 696 are two that look promising and I will definitely go after on my certification path.

I have recently passed my MCSA on Office 365. There are to exams 346 and 347 which I did quite well at having been knee-deep in a couple of large deployments before leaving my last job.

This year I have a list of exams I want to write those are:

410 – Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012
411 – Administering Windows Server 2012
412 – Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 Services
413 – Designing and Implementing a Server Infrastructure
414 – Implementing an Advanced Server Infrastructure
243 – Administering and Deploying System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
415 – Implementing a Desktop Infrastructure
416 – Implementing Desktop Application Environments
341 – Core Solutions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013
342 – Advanced Solutions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013

In the past I was part of study groups which helped me get through a bunch of the Windows Server 2003 exams. I did 290,291, 293 and 294 with study groups. We all got a copy of the Microsoft Study guide and we took turns presenting a chapter in front of the other members. It worked really well for me to help get me over the hump and get certified. I wouldn’t be where I am today without certification. I am planning to run another study group for the 70-410 and will post an announcement here once I everything setup.

OWSUG Windows 8 Study Group

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Windows 8 Start Screen

The Ottawa Windows Server User Group is running another study group again this spring, this time for Windows 8. Having written and passed the exam this past weekend, I can tell you this exam is challenging. Studying for it is necessary and working with a group might help with your success. The cost is $250.00 and that includes an exam voucher and the study guide. Pretty good deal.

You can sign up at EventBrite: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5764587035/es2005/?rank=1

Here is the full details:

We are pleased announce that we are now accepting applications to join our Configuring Windows 8(70-687) study group.

Content

The focus will be on preparing to pass the Configuring Windows 8 (70-687) exam.
Training Guide: Configuring Windows 8 (70-687) will be provided.

 Schedule

Sessions take place on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 PM until 8:30 PM at Cistel Technology Inc. (210 Colonnade Rd, 2nd Floor)beginning March 27th, 2013 and continuing until May 29th, 2013 for a total of 10 sessions (estimated).

 Objectives

1. Individual:

a. Prepare for the sessions by reading the training material content on the study group schedule.
b. Develop and improve skills with Windows 8.
c. Configuring Windows 8(70-687) certification

2. Group:

a. Review the content, perform demonstrations and review exam practice questions.
b. Attend 95 % of the sessions.

Mentors

The study group will be mentored by OWSUG.ca Study Group Coordinators Garth Gorling, Andre Potel and Chris Stanton

Offer

Cost to participate in the study group is $ 250.  All participants will receive a copy (to keep) of the Training Guide: Configuring Windows® 8 2012(70-687) and exam voucher

Apply

To apply please send an email to EVENT BRITE.  Additional registration details will be sent only to people that pre-register.

Thank you,

Garth, Chris and Andre

 

Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Exchange 2010

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All three of these products have launched over the past few days.

I had the opportunity on Wednesday to head up to Toronto for the launch. Steve Balmer was on hand to do a keynote speech and had a few interesting points.

He was asked when Microsoft was going to force customers to upgrade to Windows 7. He countered that they have customers who are still running Windows NT.

Another question was around the 32 bit edition of Windows. When was Microsoft going to stop making a 32 bit edition of Windows. Steve’s reply was that they would let Intel dictate that as right now the Atom processor is popular and doesn’t support 64bit operating systems. As long as Intel was making a 32 bit processor, Microsoft would make a 32 bit edition of Windows.

I also had a chance to hop on a touch screen PC and see how they worked. We use some touch screens for our Kiosk computer and I wanted to see what type of improvements I could expect.

Also launching was Windows Server 2008 R2. There are a few new improvements in R2, most notably, the ability to use Direct Access, Branch Cache and improvements to Windows Deployment Services (WDS). I’ll take some time and cover these topics in more depth in the next while.

 

The last product that launched was Exchange 2010. Storage is something that is supposed to be improved in this version. I haven’t looked at the beta bits or RTM bits yet, but I will sometime later this fall, after my sessions at TechDays Ottawa.