New to MS certs

I have been a net admin for about 4 years. I am really interested in obtaining up to the MSCE server cert, but I really don't know where to start.

I feel very comfortable with Microsoft and I think that the MTA might be a little to slow for me, should I start with MCSA?

I have been looking for info on the 410 exam, but its literally everywhere. I do better if I work from maybe two or three sources studying from an exam, so what sources would be my best?

Any advice on the 410 exam would be greatly appreciated!

CS

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Comments

Dakinggamer87

Some resources I am using in my studies for the MCSA/MCSE include:

-Udemy courses by Infinite Skills
-Microsoft TechNet white papers, documentation, knowledgebase
-Techexams.net

-Books/study guides
MCSA Windows Server 2012 R2 Complete Study Guide: Exams 70-410, 70-411, 70-412, and 70-417: William Panek: 9781118859919: Amazon.com: Books
-CBT Nuggets/YouTube

Hope this helps

iBrokeIT

Microsoft's Virtual Academy which has free CBT style videos - https://mva.microsoft.com/
Technet Virtual Labs - free virtual labs - https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/virtuallabs/
6 Months Free to Pluralsight.com CBT videos - http://www.techexams.net/forums/off-topic/115853-microsoft-visual-studio-dev-essentials-6-months-pluralsight-free.html

Edit: Also know PowerShell!!

Cyberscum

So is it worth buying the official study guide or using UDEMY, Tehnet etc...

techfiend

The official training guides were really good, best I found. Poulton's 410 book is also good. Exam Refs and Panek weren't helpful.

Dakinggamer87

Cyberscum wrote: »

So is it worth buying the official study guide or using UDEMY, Tehnet etc...

I think a combination of resources will help you out. This includes not only passing the exam but also enforcing the knowledge and understanding the material in a strong fashion.

OctalDump

Standard advice:
* lab with at least 3 VMs. The MS online labs are good, too, but you need some hands on with Hyper-V and with installation which is best done on real hardware.
* the official books from MS seem to be better options. Sybex books haven't been great.
* some video (can't think of any specifics to recommend) for when you need a break from reading and labbing
* read the objectives and get hands on with everything
* don't be afraid to explore outside of the objectives

The 70-410 is probably about the right level if you have some experience with Windows Server already, and get most of the theory for IP/DNS/VPN, file permissions, AD, replication, etc etc

chopsticks

Thanks for the study resource information.

thatguy67

My success came from ITPro.TV (they have a remote lab you can access in 2 hour blocks as well as 2 Transcender exams a month), CBT Nuggets PowerShell course, TechNet, TestOut, and the following books:

the Training Guides from Microsoft Press, the Group Policy book by Moskowitz, Active Directory by Desmond, and Mastering Server 2012 R2 by Minasi.