Just passed Server+

KandinskyKandinsky Member Posts: 108 ■■■□□□□□□□
I scored an 842, which is honestly higher than I expected. The study materials I used were the CompTIA Server+ All-In-One Exam Guide by Daniel Lachance, the Pluralsight video courses and the Transcender practice tests. What's worked best for me with certifications is to have multiple different sources of information. For instance a textbook, videos, and practice tests. I've worked a lot of lower level IT jobs over the past 15 years, including a brief stint in a data center, and I think that experience combined with my previous certs helped.

The test material was really broad. Even with the different sources of information I used, I still came across questions that I was unfamiliar with. Really take your time. I flagged several questions and finished them at the end. Sometimes you have to really think about what they're asking you. I finished with less than 5 minutes left on the clock, so my best advice would be to really know the material and be aware of the time, but don't rush. I studied for a little over a month before I took the test. Perhaps 5 weeks. Glad to have this one behind me now.

Comments

  • joegranejoegrane Member Posts: 9 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Congratulations on passing the test, and doing so convincingly!

    I agree about using several sources when preparing for a test. For example, when recertifiying my Cisco CCNA some years ago, one of the labs was based on one of a dozen commands on one page in only one of the 3 books I used! Of course that is an extreme example of a vendor being a #$%^!

    Do you remember your score on the practice exam in the All In One book?

    Do you recall the general areas that were covered by the questions you were not familiar with--networking, storage, disaster recovery, Linux, etc?

    I was supposed to take the test yesterday but the testing center canceled. I think it was too nice of a day for someone to stay around : ( I'm scheduled to take it this week.
  • Dakinggamer87Dakinggamer87 Member Posts: 4,016 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Congrats!! icon_cheers.gif
    *Associate's of Applied Sciences degree in Information Technology-Network Systems Administration
    *Bachelor's of Science: Information Technology - Security, Master's of Science: Information Technology - Management
    Matthew 6:33 - "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

    Certs/Business Licenses In Progress: AWS Solutions Architect, Series 6, Series 63
  • KandinskyKandinsky Member Posts: 108 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Wow! Join Date 2002! And 6 posts in 15 years! I'm glad my OP could merit a response lol

    I got 100% on the Transcender tests after running through them several times. The ones in the All in One book I think I scored somewhere in the 80-90% range. Like I said, the material is very broad. The transcender test questions were pretty different than the ones in the All-In-One book. I think the area I struggled with the most during the exam were the power related questions. I feel like I could have used a bit more study on those. Good luck on your test when you take it.
  • joegranejoegrane Member Posts: 9 ■□□□□□□□□□
    The job I had for the past 6 years did not require certs. I just took an occasional Brainbench.com cert to show that I was still studying. I also had some health problems that caused me to put career development on hold. ( Lead toxicity undiagnosed by my 6 mainstream doctors over 15 years! I was busy in health related groups looking for leads and clues. A functional med doctor--a medical detective--was helpful. Thankfully that issue is almost entirely behind me so I'm back to career development. )

    I too struggled with some of the power related issues in the books and practice tests, especially the conversion of Volt-Amps to Watts. I had to do some digging online.

    What I learned is that the equation is VA * PF = W. PF is not a standard number like Pi in mathematics. It varies from one type of equipment to another. A heavy duty motor might have a fairly low number; however a newer server might have a relatively high number. This type of calculation is needed when selecting appropriate UPS gear for your servers. APC.com has a useful article on the subject.

    For example I saw a chart comparing a Gen7 HP server's power supply to some older Dell gear. The HP's PF was above .9 in most tests of various power loads. However for all of the servers tested the PF dropped substantially as the load dropped below 20% I suppose that is why one book listed PF as .8 and another book had it at .67. .8 would be easier to calculate in one's head during a test!

    Thanks for the thoughts on the practice tests. I'm encouraged since I scored an 88% on the All in One book's test.
  • KandinskyKandinsky Member Posts: 108 ■■■□□□□□□□
    That's interesting. Anyway, a day later my thoughts on Server+ is that it's a great cert for someone who is actually looking to perhaps be a server tech, in a data center. It's good, practical knowledge. It probably wouldn't be too useful to you if you were just going to stick to fixing personal PCs or being a database admin or something like that, but if your goal is to work with servers as an admin or a tech in a data center I think it's a great introductory cert and I do recommend it.
  • joegranejoegrane Member Posts: 9 ■□□□□□□□□□
    I agree. Server+ would be reasonable next step for a desktop support specialist with an A+ and N+ and who is interested in work as a server room tech.
  • greg9891greg9891 Member Posts: 1,189 ■■■■■■■□□□
    Congrats!
    :
    Upcoming Certs: VCA-DCV 7.0, VCP-DCV 7.0, Oracle Database 1Z0-071, PMP, Server +, CCNP

    Proverbs 6:6-11Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard?
    When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep, So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler And your need like an armed man.
  • nascar_paulnascar_paul Member Posts: 288 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Congratulations!
    2017 Goals: 70-411 [X], 74-409 [X], 70-533 [X], VCP5-DCV [], LX0-103 [], LX0-104 []
    "I PLAN to fail!" - No One Ever
  • clarkincnetclarkincnet Member Posts: 256 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Congrats!
    Give a hacker an exploit, and they will have access for a day, BUT teach them to phish, and they will have access for the rest of their lives!

    Have: CISSP, CISM, CRISC, CGEIT, ITIL-F
  • KandinskyKandinsky Member Posts: 108 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Sorry for the late reply. Thanks everyone!
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