MCSA Windows Server 2016, Round 2?

malachi1612

Good luck on your next attempt, 666 seems to be a werid score many people have got when doing this exam.

I passed this exam on my 2nd attempt but it is unnecessary over complicated for what the exam is for just for one subject.

N7Valiant

Hmm, guess I'll try the MeasureUp package then.  I do want to get that cert ASAP since it's within spitting distance.

N7Valiant

Okay, as a warning:
I would NOT purchase the MeasureUp practice tests.

Their payment processor would not take my order (no confirmation upon submission), no verification of the order, no option to download it.  So I tried again with a few other browsers as the ordered item was still in my cart.

I now have 7 charges of $119 on my credit card and nothing from MeasureUp to indicate the order ever went through.  This system is either a complete screwup or it depends on a live person to process the order manually the next business day.  Needless to say, I need the product in hand now on the weekend and not when someone gets to work on Monday.

I will check out some other vendor like Boson, but I will NEVER use MeasureUp again.  I may have to forcefully refund the order via my CC company if they don't clean their mess up.

N7Valiant

Checked my junk mail, nothing in there.  It says I placed no orders, nothing in the learning locker, practice exam still sitting in my cart, yet they were all too eager to charge me.  I doubt they're "trying" to screw me over, it's just that a lack of malice doesn't preclude them from being grossly incompetent.  Any payment system that just allows a charge of $700+ without throwing a single error or any kind of feedback (and I still don't have even one of the product I paid for) is quite a hiccup.

Anyhow, ordered a practice exam from Kaplan.  Had access inside of 5 minutes with no drama.

Maybe I'm just spoiled by my constant purchases of digital media (Steam, Kindle, iTunes, etc.), but I would at least expect some kind of "something went wrong" message if I can't buy something, not letting your customer jump to different browsers and allowing the charge again and again.

eillinois31

I haven't seen any issues with Measureup either, ordered both through the site and while scheduling exam, but glad ya got some sort of practice test . I'm just starting to use the Kaplan test myself, I have a premium ITPRO.tv subscription which comes with the kaplan tests for serveral certs. I bought measureup exams for Vmware 6.5 foundations and Vmware 6.5 recently, also have the kaplan(so have 2 practice test, can you say overkill), after this probably just sticking with kaplan so I don't have to keep purchasing measureup exams(purchased 6 of them in the last 15 months). Also FYI when you purchase the measureup, they will not pop up in the learning locker right away, they email you a key and then you enter it manually.

Good luck, sure after going through the kaplan test and brushing up on the weak areas(ADFS not my strong suit either, never going to use that), you'll pass! 

N7Valiant

This whole thing has gotten me frustrated given the string of bad events recently.  The inclusion of rarely used technologies (ADFS, RMS, neither of which I've ever seen implemented in the wild), the disproportionate weight to them, and the sneaking suspicion that I'm probably going to be forced to purchase more Microsoft products like Azure just to see how it integrates with another feature, and that product isn't even part of the suite! (I need Azure experience to pass an exam for Windows Server 2016?)

The Kaplan practice exam in particular has been **** me off.  The questions are even more convoluted than the actual exam.  I forgot that they were once Transcender which I took back when I had a CBT subscription (and was utterly useless IMO).  Their scoring is not representative of the actual exam whatsoever and I expect it's deliberately harder to score well (no credit for partially correct answers with multiple checkboxes) so that they can sell the pitch that if you score well on their exams, you'll definitely pass the MS exams.

I'm just getting depressed since this whole thing is reminding me of the corporate greed and idiocy of the world.  I need the MCSA to get a job working with servers, but the entire thing seems predicated upon having years of prior experience working with servers, but employers aren't willing to let you work on servers without the MCSA (or being in an MSP where they're too short-staffed to keep you away from them).  And that all leads back to the chicken or the egg problem (MCSA or Windows Server experience first?)

I need a drink.

N7Valiant

I took the Kaplan practice exam again and I genuinely feel this has almost no value.

Attempt 1: 45%
Install and configure Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) = 26.67%
Manage and Maintain AD DS = 50%
Create and manage Group Policy = 66.67%
Implement Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) = 66.67%
Implement Identity Federation and Access Solutions = 35.71%

Attempt 2: 38.33%
Install and configure Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) = 61.54%
Manage and Maintain AD DS = 27.27%
Create and manage Group Policy = 33.33%
Implement Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) = 50%
Implement Identity Federation and Access Solutions = 26.67%

In the span of 7 hours I drastically improved my Install and Configure AD DS knowledge and simultaneously forgot how to manage AD DS and Group Policy.  So zero consistency between exams, you can't even realistically get a picture of what areas to accurately focus on studying because the score variance is so huge.

I'm not sure if the MeasureUp product would have been better, but I would say your time and money would be better spent on a 2nd attempt and working on that home lab.

N7Valiant

Part of my rush is that the exam will certainly be retired before the end of 2019 for sure, since WS 2019 is already out a while ago.  Another part is that my new job is anything but satisfying.  It was advertised to me as a Cybersecurity Analyst, but really it's just a Field Tech position and involves more physical labor than anything else.  It's a dead end job where my skills would go to die.

Jon_Cisco

I would agree with taking a break. Sometimes a single day is enough. But with the aggravation we can see building you will likely be unable to actually focus. As for the actual exam I have no doubt you will pass it and complete your MCSA just be prepared and well rested next attempt.

malachi1612

I took 2 to 3 weeks off from studying between passing or failing each exam because my brain needed the rest, yours will to.

Also Server 2016 won't be retiring till 12/01/2027.  That's 8 years away so no rush. 

N7Valiant

I wasn't referring to EoL on a product, but don't they normally retire the exam for the previous OS once the exam for the newer one is released?  There's certainly job security at my current job, it's just that it feels like working in retail again.  People there would rather I initiate imaging of a single workstation and do nothing else but stare at it for the next 6 hours rather than me spending any time practicing on my MCSA even with literally nothing else I can do.

ClickClack

No, they do not normally retire the exam for the previous OS when the newer one is released. In fact, you can get an MCSA on Windows Server 2012 today, even though Server 2016 has been out for years. So, don't worry about Server 2019 killing the Server 2016 tests.

N7Valiant

Well, it's certainly good to know the door is always open.  Although since I'm within the penalty period if I cancel, I figure it'll still be good to take another swing at it, fully rested and healthy this time.

ClickClack

Good luck.

N7Valiant

Thanks, might need an exorcism too though.

malachi1612

N7Valiant said:

I wasn't referring to EoL on a product, but don't they normally retire the exam for the previous OS once the exam for the newer one is released?  There's certainly job security at my current job, it's just that it feels like working in retail again.  People there would rather I initiate imaging of a single workstation and do nothing else but stare at it for the next 6 hours rather than me spending any time practicing on my MCSA even with literally nothing else I can do.

All MCSA certifications retires when the product is out of mainstream support which isn't till 2027 for Server 2016.

kaiju

Do you have the official cert guide for 70-742? The guide, a home-lab install of 2016 and my experience with 2012R2 are all I used for the exam.

N7Valiant

I have a cert guide by Benjamin Finkel.  Don't know if it's official.

I generally prefer to use my own virtual home lab since I'm not bound by any constraints in setting it up and there's often little niche requirements that might get missed in the guides (such as setting proper Autoenroll permissions in addition to GPO to distribute certificates across your domain).

N7Valiant

Round 2, 742 today.

I actually slept and I'm not sick!

Jon_Cisco

Good Luck!

N7Valiant

Hmm, scored a 75% on the KaplanIT Practice Exam.  Let's just see if that's worth anything.

N7Valiant

Passed it!  757/1000.  Didn't knock anything out of the ballpark, but now I have my MCSA.

Not going for the MCSE yet.  I want to see if what I got was actually worth anything and shop around for a new job(one that's actually within spitting distance of a Windows Server) before committing anymore of my time and money into more certs.

AvgITGeek

Congrats are in order for sure! Take a little time off and see which certification is going to get you to where you want to be.

Jon_Cisco

Great job! I would definitely enjoy a well deserved break. Remember you don't have to take all of the exams you can buy a few books and pick up knowledge.

Congrats on your MCSA

NetworkingStudent

N7Valiant said:

Passed it!  757/1000.  Didn't knock anything out of the ballpark, but now I have my MCSA.

Not going for the MCSE yet.  I want to see if what I got was actually worth anything and shop around for a new job(one that's actually within spitting distance of a Windows Server) before committing anymore of my time and money into more certs.

Congrats on gettings the MCSA.  Man you got the cert pretty fast.  Are you still doing the field support role?

N7Valiant

NetworkingStudent said:

Congrats on gettings the MCSA.  Man you got the cert pretty fast.  Are you still doing the field support role?

Yes, I've only been there for less than a month.  Recruiter sold me a "Cybersecurity Analyst" position, which morphed into "IT Specialist - Mid", the interviewer said they'd like me to write Powershell scripts for their Exchange Server and dip into Network Scanning.  I go in to find a piece of paper with "Field Services Technician" that has my name above it next to my desk.  And most of what I did thus far was to harass people to hand over their computers so they can be reimaged to Windows 10 1803.  I'm not within 5 country miles of a server.

This'll probably be the quickest I've ever "noped" out of any job, including my retail years.

eillinois31

N7Valiant said:

Passed it!  757/1000.  Didn't knock anything out of the ballpark, but now I have my MCSA.

Not going for the MCSE yet.  I want to see if what I got was actually worth anything and shop around for a new job(one that's actually within spitting distance of a Windows Server) before committing anymore of my time and money into more certs.

N7Valiant said:

Passed it!  757/1000.  Didn't knock anything out of the ballpark, but now I have my MCSA.

Not going for the MCSE yet.  I want to see if what I got was actually worth anything and shop around for a new job(one that's actually within spitting distance of a Windows Server) before committing anymore of my time and money into more certs.

   Awesome, congrats! A pass is a pass as others have said around here . The studying, learning and hands  on practice to me anyways is more fun that the actual test itself(which is why I have to get a practice test). I myself am waiting for the MCSA 2019 to come out, take the upgrade test if they have have one(something to think about as your an MCSA now). Anyways, awesome job, feels good to get those 3 tests out of the way(I know it did for me), been there done that in 2018

malachi1612

eillinois31 said:

N7Valiant said:

Passed it!  757/1000.  Didn't knock anything out of the ballpark, but now I have my MCSA.

Not going for the MCSE yet.  I want to see if what I got was actually worth anything and shop around for a new job(one that's actually within spitting distance of a Windows Server) before committing anymore of my time and money into more certs.

N7Valiant said:

Passed it!  757/1000.  Didn't knock anything out of the ballpark, but now I have my MCSA.

Not going for the MCSE yet.  I want to see if what I got was actually worth anything and shop around for a new job(one that's actually within spitting distance of a Windows Server) before committing anymore of my time and money into more certs.

   Awesome, congrats! A pass is a pass as others have said around here . The studying, learning and hands  on practice to me anyways is more fun that the actual test itself(which is why I have to get a practice test). I myself am waiting for the MCSA 2019 to come out, take the upgrade test if they have have one(something to think about as your an MCSA now). Anyways, awesome job, feels good to get those 3 tests out of the way(I know it did for me), been there done that in 2018

Probably be another year before we see exams for Sever 2019 as it was pulled then re-released in December.  Still will be a good reason to get the newer MCSE: Core Infrastructure cert.

eillinois31

malachi1612 said:

eillinois31 said:

N7Valiant said:

Passed it!  757/1000.  Didn't knock anything out of the ballpark, but now I have my MCSA.

Not going for the MCSE yet.  I want to see if what I got was actually worth anything and shop around for a new job(one that's actually within spitting distance of a Windows Server) before committing anymore of my time and money into more certs.

N7Valiant said:

Passed it!  757/1000.  Didn't knock anything out of the ballpark, but now I have my MCSA.

Not going for the MCSE yet.  I want to see if what I got was actually worth anything and shop around for a new job(one that's actually within spitting distance of a Windows Server) before committing anymore of my time and money into more certs.

   Awesome, congrats! A pass is a pass as others have said around here . The studying, learning and hands  on practice to me anyways is more fun that the actual test itself(which is why I have to get a practice test). I myself am waiting for the MCSA 2019 to come out, take the upgrade test if they have have one(something to think about as your an MCSA now). Anyways, awesome job, feels good to get those 3 tests out of the way(I know it did for me), been there done that in 2018

Probably be another year before we see exams for Sever 2019 as it was pulled then re-released in December.  Still will be a good reason to get the newer MCSE: Core Infrastructure cert.

   Yep, I have the newer MCSE Core Infrastucture(got in January 70-744). I'm sure people are anxiously waiting Server 2019 exams(well me anyways), but for now working on VMware VCP 6.5.  

Jon_Cisco

I actually look forward to Server 2019 just because I know there is so much I didn't truly understand the first time through 2016. It seemed to me like 2012 knowledge was expected but I had never used 2012 when I started. I would love to do 70-744 someday but I need a Microsoft break for a while.

For now I plan to renew my CCNA this spring/Summer and I have jumped on the waiting list for Stanley CC. So if I get into a course I'll move to VMware VCP 6.5.