questions about "the beast"

I'm a CCNA, and a Net+. I also passed 70-059 back in the day, but abandoned getting MCSE certed back then cause they were about to yank the NT exams.

Now I'm goin for 2000. I've een administrating a W2k network for about a year or two, but have been administrating networks (mostly MS) for about 8 years altogether.

I found 70-210 and 70-215 to be alot harder than I expected. I mean I work with those OSes all day and didn't think there was much new information I could be tested on. I thought the questions on Unix interop were ridiculous. you get 50 questions, and it jumped around so much it barely spent any time on normal everyday admin stuff. If i need to interop with a unix box, I'll find the details in a book or on the web. The best skill an IT pro can have, IMHO, is the ability to locate information quickly. I don't know everything, but I can find it. I know where to look because of my experience in networking.

anyway.... sorry for ranting, but this is the first time I'm posting about any test and I got no one to talk to about them, because none of my friends are technical. Here's my question...

Should I be more scared of the beast? It seems to be very broad, but cover stuff I already learned about. My CCNA got me tremendous knowledge of protocols on Layers 2 and 3, including TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, DNS, ARP, DHCP, Subnetting, etc... (I reccommend CCNA to anybody interested in networking, cisco products aside)

So is it deceptive? is it more general networking or Microsoft implementations of general networking? I gonna schedule it for next week, because I'm tearin through the book and practice exam, but all this talk of "The beast" has got me scared...

Thanks for your input

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pandimus

Hey Adam,

Welcome to TechExams.net.. I took the beast 2 months ago and i must say it was a bit tough. But it seems your experience is more broad than mine is. It is definitly a broad test, and it is important to know several things well. Subnetting. DNS, RRAS, i got a little DHCP, I cant remember ipx/spx, nothing on ARP...
Best thing, get yourself a good book. Mspress cover's all topics well, but are a bit dry. If i recall alot of people liked the sybex books. Also get yourself a good test engine.. I/e Transcender.
Dont worry about spilling your guts here. I do the same and havent been crusified yet. I too am like you, a techie with no techie friends. My best friend is in law school.. Blaaaa. and my associates work on airplanes. Matter of fact the only time i really get to talk tech is when i go take my tests.
I have one more test and i will be an mcse. Then i am working on my CCNA. This forum could always use someone with your experience for input on the aspect from the real work place. We all read books, but books dont always cut it..

pandimus

So is it deceptive? is it more general networking or Microsoft implementations of general networking? I gonna schedule it for next week, because I'm tearin through the book and practice exam, but all this talk of "The beast" has got me scared...

My bad, you already got a book.. and tests.. The reason most people have a hard time with the beast is the subnetting and DNS...

adamdrayer

pandamis--

Thanks. As for real-world experience, MS suggests 1-2 years working in an environment before getting certified. While this is good in theory, it doesn't make sense why they offer the certifications right away and retire the exams after 4 or so years. Most companies would wait a year to implement a new networking platform, then you run test environments with small groups of computers, then you migrate. MS wants you to wait 1-2 years after all this, and then get certified? doesn't make much sense.

The ideal scenario, would be to have the resources to join the beta-testing MS offers, and get advanced copies of OSes before release. It's extremely difficult to get certified in something if you have no experience. Especially MS products.

As far as the tests themselves preparing you for the real world, I don't think any test could. The way you should look at certifications is that they force you to learn some of the more detailed areas of what you hope to be working in. A test on troubleshooting can't teach you how to troubleshoot, but preparing for test will help you be a better troubleshooter.

So I'd say that if you can pass the tests by studying the proper way, you have the mindset of an IT guy, and will probably do well in the field. Plus hopefully you learn alot. I still am learning tons of stuff. I'm a progarmmer, but i never got into web development. Not even a tiny bit. I'm mostly a database programmer. These tests are forcing me to learn IIS and SSL and it's great because now I can implement an intranet into the company I work for.

yeah, I would definately go for your CCNA. it's very techy if you like that stuff. I was lucky and my company paid for these CD-ROMs from www.learnkeydirect.com. Excellent CCNA course, the best. But very expensive. I also had a 1600 lying around to practice on. I love my cisco cert and am planning on going for the CCNP after this.

Hey i got another question, but I don't feel like starting another thread. are you taking a speciality? I would like to go for the MCSE: Messaging, but I'll probably go for the security. Security is like a buzz word that will probably get you more work and more money. But honestly... I'd rather learn messaging. I don't really undestand how exchange works that well, and i am administrating it every day. It always bothers me.

anyway, thanks again for responding and letting me know about the 216

pandimus

Yes, i am taking a specialty.. I am taking security like you.. I need to more tests and i will be in there regarding this.. Personally i like the tought of security more than messeging.. My buddy specializes in exchange, but it doesnt interest me much.. Matter of fact i think i would rather specialize in data base than messaging.

I just picked up a few routers and a switch to practice my CCNA.. now if i will get off my butt and practice for my next 2 tests..

adamdrayer

Yeah, lots of people love learning about security. I find it very dry and boring.

As for exchange, I think knowing exchange is just as important as knowing any other part of windows. Lots of companies use it and it's very large and complicated. If you plan to do work in windows environments as a admin, definately learn Exchange. I've had to figure it out as I go along, and I just pray that the next time it screws up, I'll be able to search for the answer online. eventIDs become your best friends. experts-exchange is a godsent.

Most security is setup already when you walk into an IT Role. You probably won't do much designing in the beginning of your career which is where security plays the biggest role. With the Security certs, come responsibility that you don't want early in your career either. I've seen too many people take the CompTIA Security+ and try to do independant security consulting. As a network consultant, I had to deal with these jagoffs who didn't really know business or networking that well. Security people like to use scare tactics, but when there's a breach, the security expert's career is ruined, and the networking guy is usually safe.

Also, you probably won't be using your security skills all that much. There is always compromise. You can create complex password requirements, and your users will write their passwords down on stickies next to the screen. You can't freak out about it.

So I agree, that you should probably be going for the Security specialty, but I would advise everyone to learn Exchange, and not go around selling yourself as a security specialist, until you've designed some networks and supported them after implementation.

I always tell companies, you can spend $1 million on Firewalls and authentication methods, but I if I can climb in through the window and run off with a backup tape or the server itself, you implemented a pretty stupid unsafe network.

2lazybutsmart

adamdrayer wrote:

I always tell companies, you can spend $1 million on Firewalls and authentication methods, but I if I can climb in through the window and run off with a backup tape or the server itself, you implemented a pretty stupid unsafe network.

2lbs.

adamdrayer

what does 2lbs. mean? sorry. :P

2lazybutsmart

pandimus

I find it very dry and boring

ahmen to that

definately learn Exchange

I agree to that.. i will eventually

Security people like to use scare tactics, but when there's a breach, the security expert's career is ruined, and the networking guy is usually safe.

Never thought of it that way.

Also, you probably won't be using your security skills all that much. There is always compromise. You can create complex password requirements, and your users will write their passwords down on stickies next to the screen. You can't freak out about it.

so true

So I agree, that you should probably be going for the Security specialty, but I would advise everyone to learn Exchange, and not go around selling yourself as a security specialist, until you've designed some networks and supported them after implementation.

I did plan on learning exchange.. Eventually...

pandimus

2lazybutsmart

Also kinda reminds me of the saying 2 cents

just my $ .02[/quote]

2lazybutsmart

in my case: it'll be "2 pounds"

but please, don't call me "2 pounds"

2lbs.

aznluvsmc

The 216 is the toughest exam no questions about it. They test you on Microsoft's implementation of specific features. They will test you on small detail about how Windows 2000 DNS works. They will NOT test you on how DNS works in general. They already expect you to know what DNS does, what DHCP does, what RAS and RADIUS are used for.

The exam will see whether you understand what settings you need to configure to achieve a specific outcome. They will show you diagrams until your head blows up!!

Good luck!!