MCSE 70-291: IT Certification Article

There are two main and compulsory courses available under the Microsoft certificate system engineer program.
The exams under MCSE on Microsoft 2000 are Exam 70-217, about Implementing and administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure, exam 70-216, implementing and administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 network infrastructure, exam 70-219, designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 directory Services Infrastructure, exam 70-221, designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure, and exam 70-220 for designing Security for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network.

The subjects offered under the exam 70-216 are implementing, administering of files and folders, advanced files and folders management, hardware configuration and optimization, events and backup, recovery and installation. Other subjects such as implementing an active directory installation, replication and DNS, installation and configuration, and security and optimization come under exam 70-217. Directory services infrastructure and security are part of exam-70-219. IP routing, security addressing and naming services come under exam-70-216. Exam 70-220 verifies the candidate's knowledge about security design, communication, network services, PKI and security solution.

Exams for MCSE on Microsoft server 2003 are, exam 70-270, on installing, configuring, and administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional, exam 70-290 verifies the knowledge of managing and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 environment, Exam 70-291, for Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure, Exam 70-293 for Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure, Exam 70-294 for Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 active directory Infrastructure, exam 70-298 has subjects such as Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network, exam 70-299, Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 network, exam 70-227 is on Installing, configuring, and administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition, Exam 70-350, Implementing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004.

Do you know what 70-291 exam is? Maybe most of you just know the simple description about it, but now I will show you more about this exam. The Microsoft 70-291 test is intended to gauge your aptitude to set up and run a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 environment. Passing this test makes you a MCP (or Microsoft Certified Professional) and also supports you in accomplishing your MCSE 2003, MCDBA and MCSA 2003 certifications.

The examination is suitable for you if you desire to work or if you're already in a characteristically complex computing setting of a medium or large scale business. Although there are no particular requisites for taking this exam, it is better if you get at least a year's experience in the installation and administration of network operating systems in network environments.

Why you need to take the Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure (70-291) exam? This test prepares you for a variety of job roles, like: systems engineer, network administrator, information systems administrator, systems administrator, technical support engineers, systems analysts, technical consultants and network analysts.

For those who are eager to know more about the Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure (70-291) exam, this exam consists of Drag & Drop, Multiple Choice, Build list & reorder, Hot Area and "Build a Tree" type questions. You don't get any Case study kind of questions here. You should attempt about 55 questions in 120 minutes. And you will need at least 700 to pass. If you would like to know more about the Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure 70-291 test, you can visit the professional website about it.

If you have already started preparing for this exam, you can make use of specially designed 70-291 preparation kits available on the internet. You can also find training materials and simulated exams that will help you pass the exam in a single attempt. Make sure you use the available preparation tools on the web as this makes the job much easier.

At last, I recommend to use 70-291 practice exam guide and 70-291 study guide for exam preparation, and work hard for it in case you fail in the exam.

Microsoft 70-291 exam called called 'Implementing, Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure' is preordained for all Microsoft Professionals MCSA exams IT experts. It was instigated on August 14, 2003.

What is importance of this exam for Microsoft professionals? This is since if you overtake this Implementing, Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure exam, you will be capable to be a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP). It also hand round as the core credit for (MCSA) Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator on Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) on Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 and Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) on Microsoft SOL Server 2000 and 2003 certification.

How to pass this exam ? To pass 70-291 exam, you should first recognize the main criterion that will be assessed so that it will be easier for you to get ready yourself. The 5 major abilities measured are:

1. Implementing, Managing and Maintaining IP Addressing
2. Implementing, Managing and Maintaining Name Resolution
3. Implementing, Managing and Maintaining Network Security
4. Implementing, Managing and Maintaining Routing and Remote Access
5. Maintaining a Network Infrastructure

Now, when you have the basic indulgent, we will now move to the exam tips for this exam. The most imperative thing that you must have is the hands-on practices so that you’refamiliar with the system.

There are a lot of preparation products like selftest engine, practice exams, certification tutorials developed by Exams Experts and exercises published where you can find easily in the bookstores as a self preparation for this MCP certification. Make a good research and pick the best practice exams or exam pdf which will really helps you in passing this exam. Do a lot of practices to really recogzine the concept of network infrastructure.

Away from each other from self study guides and products, you always have the option to join online forums to seek for leadership from the expert. Talk about in the forum if you' redoubt of amazing related to the subject. Some of them strength provide you some past year questions or tips to pass this exam.

You will require a lot of lab practices to be aware of the concept. This is because based on past experience; there will be a lot of reproduction type of questions to test on your capacity. There are some websites with some scenarios which will help you to set up for the free Microsoft practice questions.

After knowing all these, plan for your exam at least one month to the front. Even though the tips are obliging.

Exam 70-291 is the second in the series of the core exams for MCSE certifications. Even though you can take the exams in any order, it is advisable to take 70-291 after your finish with 70-290,since exam 70-291 is the natural progression from 70-290 in terms of curricula as well as concepts. 70-291 is meant for administrators who implement and administer networks on Windows Server 2003. When you pass the Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment exam, you achieve Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) status.

70-291 exam is intended to verify networking knowledge and skill with Windows Server 2003 for those new to higher-level Microsoft certification. If you already hold a networking certification from Microsoft above the MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) level, you may be able to bypass this exam altogether.

If you are certified as an MCSA, you can skip this exam as well as 70-290 exam, Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment, and just take exam 70-292, Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000. Taking only exam 70-292, you can upgrade your MCSA from Windows 2000 to Windows Server 2003 in just one test.

If you are certified as an MCSE, you can also bypass 70-290 and 70-291 by taking 70-292, but you need to add exam 70-296, Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSE Certified on Windows 2000. These two exams work together to upgrade your certification and save you time in the testing center.

Here are some tips for you to pass Exam 70-291:

First,there is no doubt that It is an exam in the Windows Server 2003 track, but it probably focuses more on concepts, as opposed to products, than any other exam in the track. The IP Addressing category expects you to know and understand IP addressing (which is essentially the same as it has been for many years) and DHCP. The Name Resolution category focuses on DNS, which has not changed much since Windows 2000.

The Network Security category concentrates on security concepts with a required knowledge of some of the oldest tools in the Microsoft arsenal—Event Viewer and Network Monitor, to name two. When Windows NT became Windows 2000, "Remote Access" became "Routing and Remote Access" (RRAS vs. RAS), and little is new in the fourth category: You must understand the principles of TCP or IP routing. The final category, Maintaining a Network Infrastructure, requires commonsense knowledge of service dependencies (which are the same in almost every operating system) and some Microsoft tools—Network Monitor and System Monitor as well.

You do need a working knowledge of Windows Server 2003 to pass this exam. Far more important, though, is a knowledge and understanding of the concepts of networking and interacting with the Internet as an administrator.

Second, the concepts are universal—networking, DHCP, etc.—but spend some time concentrating on anything that Microsoft does with these items that make them sales bullets for the company. For example, DNS has been around since the days when it became apparent that scaling HOSTS files was impossible, but you need to know how Microsoft intertwines Active Directory with DNS. In other words, don't just know DNS, but know Microsoft's take on it. Read the overview of DNS posted on the Microsoft site, then delve deeper into selections about understanding, installing, and securing. Other items to similarly focus on include all the tools and utilities related to the networking functions. Add ipconfig to the list and know all the parameters or options that can be used with it.

Third, tying in with the last tip, you need to mentally acknowledge before taking the exam that some easy things can be made more difficult than they should be and be prepared for this. It is no secret that exam questions often focus on minutiae, and that is difficult enough when taking a test. But be ready for question formats—not just content—that try your nerves.

Brace yourself for marathon-length multiple-choice questions that list lots of possible answers and ask you to "choose all that apply." The problem with this format is that you still only get the question right or wrong. If there are seven possible choices and three that are correct, you don't get partial credit if you only chose two and the two that you chose are among those correct. You missed the question. Miss enough of them, and you can plan on taking the exam again and again.

Microsoft has also added a new type of question that divides the information among three screens that you have to maneuver and scroll through. There are not a lot of these questions yet, but enough to make things frustrating. Before signing up for this test, I would recommend calling the testing center of your choice and asking what size monitors they administer the exams on; the bigger the better for these questions.

Fourth, Microsoft's Internet Authentication Service (IAS) is its implementation of Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service (RADIUS), and it forms a large component of RRAS. Knowledge of this topic is crucial to passing the Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining Routing and Remote Access portion of the exam.

For studying, start with the overview, and then read how the Network Access Quarantine Control works with Windows Server 2003. After reading that information, get as much experience with it as you possibly can.

Tips From Members Who Have Taken The 70-291 Exam

These are tips provided by members who have shared their expeirence on their exams. A big hand for the members who provided this information.

(dragon 9000)
the one thing I know for sure is DNS is Huge Part of the test! WSUS was mid to small part and DHCP seem to be a mid size part

they are the longest Questions I have ever seen in a test evan for Microsoft
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(palmettosc)
Sims:

*EDITED FOR NDA*

Questions:

1/2 of the questions were dns or routing & remote access
X wsus qustions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(guse)
Most other questions containing the word "subnet" are actually DNS resolution or DHCP Relay Agent/Bootp questions. Know VLSM
3 Sims:
*EDITED FOR NDA*

Questions:

X questions on WSUS
X questions on DNS and name resolution
X questions on RRAS
X questions on network security
and a TON of infrastructure questions

I was amazed by my draw. I mean, for the first half of the exam I don't think I saw a single WSUS question... however, on the second half of the exam it seemed like every third question covered it. Out of 46 questions, I wouldn't be surprised if my ACTUAL draw wasn't around X WSUS questions.

I got only a few questions involving subnetting and IP addressing (I got 100% for that section), while I got quite a few on name resolution problem solving. This was a good draw for me, as it focused on the part of DNS I actually work with and know quite well.

I did the worst on the RRAS section... but I was pretty iffy on that one going into the test.
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(micro420)
Strange thing was that I was going paranoid about IP addressing and WSUS since I don't really understand subnetting too well. Fortunately the questions on the test about IP subnetting were very simple in terms of fitting X amount of computers in Y amount of subnets. Also I did not have any hands on experience with WSUS, but I'm surprised I was able to reason my way through and nail the questions and simulation.

Overall I scored 3/4ths and higher on every field except the Implement, Manage, and Maintain Name Resolution section (a.k.a DNS!!!).

This time, I had a completely set of different questions. I saw maybe only 3 or 4 same questions from the last test. Now I know what people meant when they said to know WSUS! To be honest, I never even touched or studied WSUS since my MS press book had a few pages of it. Luckily I must have nailed the WSUS questions since the answer seemed obvious to me.
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(pete071)
cruised through the 3 simulations which were more or less identical to cbrzana's exam report i.e. *EDITED FOR NDA*. a few words on WSUS... get some hands-on practical before taking this exam. There wasn't a sim but there was a drag&drop question and about 6 other general questions.
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(ipchain)
The only thing I can recommend for this exam is for you to know DNS, DNS, and more DNS. I got about X questions or so regarding DNS. Also WSUS was greatly covered on the exam ( X Questions ) so make sure you know it well. As for DCHP and RRAS, they were covered but not to the extend I was expecting. I wish I would have gotten more questions on DHCP & RRAS as I'm pretty good with DCHP and RRAS.

The sims were straight forward and really easy to accomplish. They were tasks you'd need to do on a daily basics as a System Administrator so don't worry about the sims.
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I would like encourage all members who have taken their exams to please share their experience on their tests in this thread. Please do not state specific questions as this is a violation, but to state only areas that were covered and might be good things to brush up on. There are thousands of questions and each exam may be different, so do not base your studies solely on this information, but know the material yourself.

Windows Server 2003 Network Infrast. exam: 70-291

This test prepares you for various job roles, which include: systems engineer, systems administrator, network administrator, information systems administrator, technical support engineers, systems analysts, network analysts and technical consultants. If you would like to know more about the Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure 70-291 test please visit the Microsoft website.

The test is appropriate for you if you are working or want to work in a typically complex computing environment of medium-to-large organizations. There are no specific prerequisites for this test, although it is recommended that you should have at least one year of experience in implementing and administering network operating systems in network environments.
What to expect in 70-291 exam?
This test consists of Multiple Choice, Hot Area, Drag and Drop, Build list and reorder, and Build a Tree questions. The test can be adaptive and simulation questions might be asked. There are no Case study type questions. You will be required to attempt approximately 55 questions in 120 minutes. To pass, you need a score of 700.

To know more about this exam please read the following : Everything you want to know about 70-291 exam

Download 70-291 practice test and get over 15 demo questions and 38 study notes absolutely free by using our demo version practice test.

Microsoft’s 70-291 test is designed to measure your ability to manage and maintain a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 environment. Upon passing this test you will become a Microsoft Certified

Professional (MCP). Passing this test will also help you in achieving the MCDBA, MCSA 2003 and MCSE 2003 certification.

Related Exams
70-290 – MCSE Windows Server 2003 Environment
70-293 – MCSE Windows 2003 Planning Network Infrastructure
Related certification
MCSE Certification (Windows Server 2003)
MCSE Messaging Certification on Windows Server 2003
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My friend Kan told me that it is hard to pass the 70-291 exam! The questions he met maybe you need to solve. Note the following:

I've been studying like crazy for 70-291, and have taken a lot of practice questions from my book and exams found from this site. I've found most of the questions long, but straight-forward enough to get a majority of them correct. My question is, what should I look out for on the exam? Any topics other than DNS, DHCP, RRAS, Dial and Demand Routing, and security that I should look out for?
What makes this exam so much harder than the other Microsoft exams?

Lilbal who pass this exam shared his experience. Note folllowing:

I just took this exam 2 days ago, passing with a score of 840. (first attempt)

For the most part the exam went well. There was an IP addressing question that involved figuring out the correct subnet for a certain amount of computers on the network.

Though what I have always had the hardest time on is trying to remember what monitoring tool you should use for what and when...such as dnscmd, netsh, netcap, replmon, nslookup, network monitor, performance monitor, ect... make sure you're confident in what is used to do what and what type of information can be found using each.

I had 3 simulation questions, one involving making groups in active directory, another for making and editing MX entries in DNS, and another for configuring interfaces in routing and remote access.

Then there were a bunch of DNS questions and security questions, none of which really caught me off guard. Pretty straight forward there.

It's a good exam.

Good luck with it.

The Microsoft exam 70-291 measures an individual’s ability to implement, manage, and maintain a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure. Before taking the 70-291 exam, you should practice the following:

1.Configure TCP/IP addressing on a server.
2.Manage DHCP clients and leases, DHCP Relay Agent, DHCP databases, DHCP scope options, reservations and reserved clients.
3.Diagnose and resolve issues related to Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) and incorrect TCP/IP configuration.
4.Diagnose and resolve issues related to DHCP authorization and verify DHCP reservation configuration.
5.Diagnose and resolve issues related to configuration of DHCP server and scope options.
6.Verify that the DHCP Relay Agent is working correctly and verify database integrity.
7.Install and configure the DNS Server service. Configure DNS server options, DNS zone options, and forwarding.
8.Configure DNS zone settings, DNS record settings, and DNS server options.
9.Monitor DNS using tools such as System Monitor, Event Viewer, Replication Monitor, and DNS debug logs.
10.Configure Routing and Remote Access user authentication and remote access authentication protocols.
11.Configure Routing and Remote Access policies to permit or deny access.
12.Configure Internet Authentication Service (IAS) to provide authentication for Routing and Remote Access clients.
13.Manage TCP/IP routing. Manage routing protocols, routing tables, and routing ports.
14.Monitor network traffic by using Network Monitor and System Monitor.
15.Manage packet filters, Routing and Remote Access routing interfaces, manage devices and ports, manage routing protocols, and manage Routing and Remote Access clients.

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The 70-291 exam measures your ability to implement, manage, and maintain a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 network infrastructure. This exam is targeted toward IT professionals who work in the typically complex computing environment of medium to large companies and have 6 to 12 months of experience administering client and network operating systems.

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