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Todd's Tips for System Adminstrators

New Microsoft Press Book : MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-652): Configuring Windows Server Virtualization

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If you are planning on writing the Microsoft Certification Exam for 70-652: Configuring Windows Server Virtualization, Microsoft Press has released a self-paced training kit. The Microsoft press books are always well written and are of good quality. I have no doubt this one maintains the status quo. Here is a link to the Micorosft Press Self-Paced Training Kit. Chapters 6 & 8 are available for free, find them here.

MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-652): Configuring Windows Server Virtualization Book

I was planning on writing this exam over the summer, but with the baby looking like he maybe early, that might hold out until the fall. If I do wait, I might be interested in doing a self study group for this exam. Server Virtualization is something that comes up a lot and is probably a decent exam for a lot of people to write as a base. Virtualization is becoming more popular all the time and the certification exam would be a great asset to have.

Congrat’s Trika

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For those who read Trika’s blog, “So, a booth babe and a geek walk in to a bar” you’ll already know she’s leaving her marketing post with Microsoft Certification and Learning and moving into a role with the Windows Embedded team. I am sad to see her leave as she gave the Certification and Learning team at Microsoft a personality. She will be missed but I know she will do well in her new role with Microsoft and I know her replacement will have big shoes to fill.

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.