Todd's Blog

Todd's Tips for System Adminstrators

My Year End Review

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had a post a few week back about his certification achievements this past year. Seeing this is the last week of the year, I was reflecting on what I accomplished this past year. Listing what you have accomplished in the past year along with setting goals for the future is a good way to mark your progress and then set goals to achieve going ahead.

This past year I have been fairly steady with the certifications I passed the following exams:

  • 70-640 TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
  • 70-642 TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
  • 70-625 TS: Connected Home Integrator
  • 70-626 Consumer Sales Specialist
  • 70-622 PRO: Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Enterprise Support Technicians
  • 70-293 Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
  • 70-294 Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure
  • 70-297 Designing a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure

As a result of these exams I received the MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician and the MCSE 2003 credential.

I am also taking a program through Loyalist College’s Loyalist Training and Development Centre called Managing and Leading in a Municipal Environment as part of my job at the County.

 

In 2009 my plan is to pass the following exams:

  • 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
  • 70-236 TS: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring
  • 70-635 TS: Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008, Desktop Deployment

As well as these Microsoft exams, I also want to do an ITIL course this year and Security+ and maybe look at the CCNA from Cisco but probably won’t write that exam in 2009. I may also try and write some other Microsoft exams besides the ones above, but we’ll see how it goes. I am going to try to get through the ones listed first.

Certification Plans

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I wrote the exam I was dreading the most, 70-297. It is an exam which has multiple case studies and you only have a short amount of time to read, and answer each one. I got pressed for time on the first case study, but after that, I learned to skim over some of the reading material and was quicker at getting through the case studies. Thankfully I passed and I am happy to have it out of the way. With that one complete, the finishes the MCSE on Windows Server 2003. I started that journey back in June of 2006, which I passed 70-290 using both a 50% off coupon and the second shot. That was a sweet deal, its too bad they don’t do that anymore. You can get the second shot again but not the deep discount.

Now that I have finished up my MSCE on Windows Server 2003, I have been thinking about which exams to write next. I know both Brad and Garth are wondering, so here goes. I am writing 70-646 (MCITP: Server Admin) next to achieve some more teachable courses for Windows Server 2008. After that exam, the short list is MCITP: Enterprise Admin, MCITP: Enterprise Messaging (Exchange 2007), Server Virtualization, Vista and Office Deployment, and Office Communications Server with the order of the short list undetermined.

70-294 – Another exam down

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As per my previous post, Where has Todd been Hiding? I wrote 70-294 – Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure. I found the self-paced Study guide and practice tests with the book a good resource to study with. I had also participated in the OWSUG study group for 70-294, wrote and passed the 71-640 (AD on 2008) beta exam and work with the topics that the exam covers. I was pretty prepared for this exam and as a result, passed the exam. I found there was a lot of reading on this exam, more than I had experienced on the previous 290-series exams.

My next exam is booked for August 14th and is the 70-297 – Designing a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure exam which is the last exam I need for my MCSE. For this one I need to do some serious prep work for as I believe this is an exam based on case studies. You get a case study, then you need to answer questions on that case study, then on to next case study. I will be using the Microsoft 70-297 self-paced study kit and the Microsoft e-learning courses to help me prepare for this exam. As I study, I may post some questions from the various chapters as I go along, like Garth is doing for the 70-298 exam on OWSUG.ca.