Certification Regurgitation

This is the MS certification track I followed and completed…

MCSA (4 exams) – July 2008

• 70-270 - Windows XP
• 70-290 - Windows Server 2003 (manage & maintain)
• 70-620 - Windows Vista
• 70-291 - Windows Server 2003 (network infrastructure, dns, dhcp, rras)

MCITP – Server Administrator (3 exams) – October 2009

• 70-640 - Windows Server 2008 (configuring AD)
• 70-642 - Windows Server 2008 (network infrastructure)
• 70-646 - Pro: Admin Windows Server 2008

MCITP – Enterprise Administrator (2 exams) – February 2010

• 70-643 - Windows Server 2008 (app infra: wsus, iis, sharepoint, etc.)
• 70-647 - Pro: Enterprise Admin (review test)

Normally the EA set consists of 3 exams, but the third exam is a toss-up of 620 or 680.  Since I had passed 620 already I didn’t need it.

For me, the toughest exams were 291 and 642.  However, 647 was the trickiest.  I failed it the first try by one question.  However, I did try to make it through while going head-first into a bad stomach Flu, so I tried to hurry up half-way through.  I passed it the second time about two weeks later, after studying every spare minute I had.  The trickiest part of 647 is reading the questions.  The wording throws you off.

Certifiably Certifiable

As of this week, I am edumacated certificated as such…

• Microsoft® Certified Professional (MCP)
• MCSA on Microsoft Windows Server 2003
• MCITP: Windows Server 2008 Server Administrator
• MCTS: Microsoft Windows Vista: Configuration
• MCTS: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager, Configuration
• MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory: Configuration
• MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure: Configuration

…and yet when I get home I *STILL* have to take out the trash.  I get no respect.

Boo-Yah! MCSA at last!

Go ahead and snicker. It's not an MCSE or MCITP or whatever, but it's an MCSA on 2003! I passed the fourth and final exam (70-291 / "Implementing, Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure"). By far the toughest exam I've taken yet. I'm sure there are others which are equally (or more) challenging, but I don't care. I finally got a cert! I've had an MCTS/MCP for 70-401 "System Center Configuration Manager 2007" since December 07, but this is icing on the cake for me.

2008 started off badly. Very badly. But maybe this finally a sign that my bad luck is turning around. I'm going to use the same metrics that economists use though. I'll decide how my luck is going after two consecutive quarters. :)

Catching Up

Just a follow-up to some e-mails asking where I've been. I've been in an 8-day MCSA "Boot Camp" course all week (and part of next week). Grueling but very cool. So far I've passed the first two exams, with two more yet to go. Not getting much sleep but like I said: it's worth it.

Commuting still sucks but it's par for the course. Today I finished the exam at 7pm (I think, I can't keep track of time this week) and it took me until 8:30 to get home due to another break-down in the HRBT.

Anyhow, back to studying. I will post more when I have more time.