MCSE 70-291: IT Certification Article

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.

It's widely known that jobs regarding Information Technology (IT) are a popular choice both among college students and people looking to switch careers, because of the availability of jobs in this field and the technology hype of today's age. However, many employers are looking for certain program certifications in the applicant's resume become looking further for an interview. One such certification is the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCF), which includes six different types of specific certification like technology specialist, professional, IT professional, systems administrator, database administrator, and engineer. One who is interested in getting certified for any of them must go through IT training first and then take a vigorous qualification test.

One of the most popular tests among the six is the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) test. Some call it the best known and most useful test, and various preparations are needed if you're interested in taking it. It's so vigorous that the company created a MCSE boot camp a few years ago, and now many more companies have followed suit and have their own intensive MCSE boot camps as well. You can find many of them as both online and in-person training, and the fee is around $4000-$6000 for two week courses. Many employers will cover the cost of this class if you stay with the company for a while after you improve yourself. If you want a less structured and less expensive method preparing for the MCSE test, computer training videos are another great way to do it. They usually cost less than $1000 for a set of CDs and books and you can watch them whenever you have the time. This way is perfect for anyone who already has a job and can not afford to take time off that job to train for another career.

However, these two ways waste time and money! You also have another option. You can have your exams taken by proxy. These companies have a special service for professionals that are interested to save some time or money and just want to get the certification process over with quickly and without any problems.

Regardless which method of preparing for the MCSE exam you choose, they have proven to be successful if the participants pay attention and study hard. It's important to choose by the amount you can afford to spend, how much free time you have to do it, and which method you generally prefer. After doing the research, better pick what the best way is for you and get started!

MCSA/MCSE 70-291 Exam Cram, Second Edition is the #1 quick-study guide to passing the MCSA/MCSE 70-291 exam. This book covers all exam objectives, including how to maintain a DHCP server, manage name resolution with DNS, secure networks using IPSec, troubleshoot network and Internet connectivity, and monitor network traffic. This new edition also includes two full practice exams and has been updated against Microsoft's official courseware (MOC) that corresponds to this exam.

This book will provide a refresher on important concepts and help you build on a solid foundation of knowledge on exam topics and objectives. The book also features test-taking strategies, time-saving study tips, and a special Cram Sheet that includes tips, acronyms, and memory joggers not available anywhere else.

I've used the Exam Cram series to pass XP and Server 2003 exams, I know this book back to front but it's not enough to pass the Infrastructure exam. The whole section on Update Services is out of date refering to SUS not WSUS, the book was published June 2006, SUS being phased out then and was unavailable by December 2006.

The first time you fail a test, you can retake the test the next day. However, if you fail
a second time, you must wait 14 days before retaking that test. The 14-day waiting
period remains in effect for all retakes after the second failure. Once you pass an
exam, you may not take that exam again. Registration for prerelease (beta) exams is
by invitation only, and these exams may be taken only once.

As soon as you pass a qualified MCSE Microsoft exam, you attain MCSE status.
Microsoft generates transcripts that indicate which exams you have passed. You
can view a copy of your transcript at any time by going to the MCSE secured site
and selecting the Transcript tool. This tool enables you to print a copy of your
current transcript and confirm your certification status.After you pass the necessary set of
exams, you are certified. Official certification is normally granted after six to eight weeks, so you shouldn’t expect to get your credentials overnight. The package for official certification that arrives includes
a welcome kit that contains a number of elements (see Microsoft’s website for
other benefits of specific certifications):
. A certificate that is suitable for framing, along with a wallet card and
lapel pin.
. A license to use the MCSE logo, which means you can use the logo in
advertisements, promotions, and documents and on letterhead, business
cards, and so on. Along with the license comes an MCSE logo sheet,
which includes camera-ready artwork. (Note that before you use any of
the artwork, you must sign and return a licensing agreement that indicates
you’ll abide by its terms and conditions.)

Many people believe that the benefits of MCSE certification go well beyond the
perks that Microsoft provides to newly anointed members of this elite group.
We’re starting to see more job listings that request or require applicants to have
MCP, MCSA, MCSE, and other certifications, and many individuals who complete
Microsoft certification programs can qualify for increases in pay and
responsibility. As an official recognition of hard work and broad knowledge, an
MCP credential is a badge of honor in many IT organizations.
How to Prepare for an Exam
Preparing for any Microsoft certification test (including Exam 70-291) requires
that you obtain and study materials designed to provide comprehensive information
about the product and its capabilities that will appear on the specific exam
for which you are preparing. The following list of materials can help you study
and prepare.

MCSA/MCSE 70-294 Exam Cram, Second Edition is the selling quick-study guide to help you pass the 70-294 exam from Microsoft, which is one of the four core exams in the MCSE 2003 and MCSA 2003 certification programs. This new edition covers all exam objectives, including how to implement and manage an active directory service forest and domain structure, plan effective user and group administration policies, configure user environments, and troubleshoot active directory. It also incorporates two full practice exams, and has been updated against Microsoft's official courseware (MOC) that corresponds to this exam, as well as changes made to Windows Server 2003 R2. Test-taking strategies, time-saving study tips, a special Cram Sheet, tips, acronyms, and memory joggers not available anywhere else comes with this, and all, Exam Cram books.

Ever since I failed my 70-291 test, I've supplemented all my certification studies with these shortened Exam Cram books. They always provide a great summary of what I've learned the 3 weeks or so I spend studying more detailed guides.

This one SEEMED a bit longer than the others, but there is alot of material for this test. Either way, I was able to read it in about a week (just 1 chapter each day, less than an hour), and it really explained things much clearer than MS books. The difficult concepts from the material fully sunk in, and I felt twice as confident for the test - which I aced with an 826.

I've also used the Exam Crams for the 70-291 and 70-293, but this just clearly has been the best so far. It reads very smooth - the author has a natural way with words, and turns simplicity into an art form.

I wish I could give a more detailed review of where it helped me most, but it's been a few weeks now and I'm on to my next test. On the positive, I don't remember any errors - spelling or technical. The study guide I'm reading now has already had a handful of errors in just 5 chapters!

After this book, I am giving much more consideration to using the full Exam Cram study guides for my tests! Bravo to Que - books of this quality should just boost their reputation into outer space.

Everything you need to study for the test5
As it says in the introduction, this book does not teach you everything you need to know about a topic, it is aimed strictly at test preparation and review. The authors have studied the test and put together a guide that if diligently worked will almost certainly enable you to pass the test. 70-294 is one of the core exams that everyone gaining an MCSE must pass.

This book contains a number of parts that are designed to provide information on the test. The first thing in the book is a Cram Sheet that provides key facts about the exam. This is a brief document, but covers the general areas with which you should be familiar. This is followed by the main part of the book, broken down into nine chapters. The chapters concentrate on a major area of the test and are followed by a short examination. Following this are the two complete practice examinations and their answers.

Syngress Study Guides guarantee comprehensive coverage of all exam objectives. There are no longer any short cuts or gimmicks that allow candidates to pass Microsoft's new, more rigorous exams. The days of cramming to become a "paper MCSE" are over; candidates must have a full grasp of all core concepts and plenty of hands-on experience to become certified. This book pres complete coverage of Microsoft 70-291 Exam and features one-of-a-kind integration of text, DVD-quality instructor-led training, and Web-based exam simulation and remediation, this study guide & DVD training system gives students 100% coverage of official Microsoft exam objectives plus realistic test prep. The System package consists of:
1) STUDY GUIDE. 800 pages of coverage explicitly organized in the identical structure of Microsoft's exam objectives. Sections are designed to "standalone", allowing readers to focus on those areas in which they are weakest and skim topics they may have already mastered.
2) DVD: A full hour of instructor-led training, complete with on-screen configurations and networking schematics, demystifying the toughest exam topics.
3) ONLINE PRACTICE EXAMS AND E-BOOK. Most exam candidates indicate that PRACTICE EXAMS are their single most valuable exam prep tool. Buyers of our Study Guides have immediate access to our exam simulations located at WWW.SYNGRESS.COM/SOLUTIONS. Syngress practice exams are highly regarded for rigor or the questions, the extensive explanation of the right AND wrong answers, and the direct hyperlinks from the exams to appropriate sections in the e-book for remediation.

Readers will be fully prepared to pass the exam based on our 100% Certified guarantee.
Readers may save thousands of dollars required to purchase alternative methods of exam preparation.
Because of its breadth of coverage, this book will serve as a post-certification reference for IT professionals.

Microsoft’s 70-291 Exam, Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure, is a core networking system requirement for the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) on Microsoft Windows Server 2003. It is designed for IT professionals who work in a medium to large scale business environment and have at least 12 months of experience as a system administrator.

The official domains of this exam are:

* Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining IP Addressing
* Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining Name Resolution
* Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining Network Security
* Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining Routing and Remote Access
* Maintaining a Network Infrastructure

Within these domains, Microsoft might ask realistic and complex simulation questions involving the administration of Microsoft windows and its use in a Medium to Large Scale environment. However, there is no set exact format, as the exam tends to change with time. The exam contains multiple choice, drag and drop, multiple answer, and simulation based questions with a total somewhere between 45 and 70. In order to pass the exam, you must achieve a 700 out of 1000.
Helpful: Compare this exam with others.

The Microsoft 2003 Server Exam, 70-291, is one of the core exams of the MCSE and MCSA certification tracks. The exam tests a candidate's knowledge of Windows 2003 networking environments and how to implement a successful Windows Server 2003 network in either existing Windows environments or on totally new networks. The exam features simulation and analysis questions that require the candidate to have a thorough working knowledge of the Windows Server 2003 operating system and the way that a Windows 2003 network operates.

Exam Costs: $125 each attempt. You can buy exam vouchers of VUE or Prometric to get a discount. Many online vendors also offer discounts for specific exams; read more in the “vouchers” section to learn more about exam discounts through vouchers.

Exam Location: You can register for the exam at any Pearson VUE and Thompson Prometric center.

Time Allocated: 90 minutes per exam

Total marks: Graded from 100-1000 marks

Minimum Pass Marks: About 700

Number of Questions: 50-60 questions per exam

Exam Code: 70-291

Pre-requisites: None. Microsoft recommends that the typical candidate for this certification have around 6 to 12 months of experience in Windows networking, but this is not a requirement

Exam format: Linear format; computer-based test (CBT)

Validation Period: Expires after around 4-5 years (when new and more relevant Microsoft products are released)

Score Report: Delivered immediate on test completion.

70-291 Exam Pattern

*Multiple Choice with Single answer: Student is required to select a single answer from a range of options (generally 4-5) by clicking on a radio button.

*Multiple Choice with Multiple answer: Student is required to select a range of options. The number of options to select is specified.

*Fill in the Blank: Student is required to type in the missing text to complete the sentence.

*Exhibit-based: Note that some questions will require the student to actively use exhibits presented in order to correctly answer the question

*Simulation: Some questions on the exam will require the user to accurately perform certain actions in a simulated Windows Server environment

Exam 70-291 became available on August 14, 2003.

Audience Profile
The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) on Windows Server 2003 credential is intended for IT professionals who work in the typically complex computing environment of medium to large companies. An MCSA candidate should have 6 to 12 months of experience administering client and network operating systems in environments that have the following characteristics:
*250 to 5,000 or more users
*Three or more physical locations
*Three or more domain controllers
*Network services and resources such as messaging, database, file and print, proxy server, firewall, Internet, intranet, remote access, and client computer management
*Connectivity requirements such as connecting branch offices and individual users in remote locations to the corporate network and connecting corporate networks to the Internet

Credit Toward Certification
When you pass Exam 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure, you complete the requirements for the following certification(s):
When you pass the Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure exam, you achieve Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) status. You also earn credit toward the following certifications:
*Core credit toward Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) on Windows Server 2003 certification
*Core credit toward Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Windows Server 2003 certification
*Core credit toward Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) on Microsoft SQL Server 2000 certification