Passed 70-217 with an 840, 70-219 Next.

TechGeekPro

Well that's 2 exams in 2 weeks. Yahoo! 2 more exams in the next 2 weeks to go before my 4 vouchers expire. *whew* I think I'll allow a little more time for the 70-219 and a little less time for the 70-218 (1 week each) since other than not having the 70-216, 70-218 I hear should be sort of a review. After that I'll have plenty of time to tackle "the beast". Then I'll have my MCSA and be 1 exam away from my MCSE. I think for my last elective, I'll get the Network+ (albeit not necessary) and the Security+. I figure, what the h***, 2 exam gains me 3 certs.

: What's everyone's opinion on using Network+/Security+ as an elective for the MCSA/MCSE?

Thanks to everyone for all the encouragement!!!

aznluvsmc

Congrats on the pass. Which 2 exams did you pass? If you want to get your MCSE, do a Security+ certification as A+/Network+ is not an elective towards your MCSE. Also, a base level security certification is good for you. Network+ is a good exam to test your basic network knowledge but 216 kinda covers the same thing.

TechGeekPro

Thanks! I have A+, 70-210, 70-215, and 70-217 (last 2 being the most recent). Next I'll do 70-219 then 70-218, 70-216, Network+, and Security+. I know I won't be able to use the Network+ as an elective for the MCSE but I heard the the Security+ was hard (security is a weak area for me) so I was going to use Net+ as a stepping stone toward the Sec+. Plus, it wouldn't hurt to have 1 more cert on my resume.

aznluvsmc

Sounds like an excellent plan! I look forward to seeing you follow through on it. As for me, I'm doing my 219 exam right now and then Security+ right after that to finish off my MCSE and my certifications for 2004. I will then be casually studying Linux from May - Aug until I head back to school for my graduation year.

Lexxdymondz

Congrats on the pass, I too am studying 219 and hope to take it in the next couple weeks after that im goind 216>Sec+ to finish out my MCSE. The 218 exam really isn't that hard and I figure after all the studying you've done so far you shouldn't have too much of a problem with it. It basically reviews the 215-216-217 tests in 1 test. Good Luck.

2lazybutsmart

Congratulations on the pass

ajs1976

TechGeekPro wrote:

Thanks! I have A+, 70-210, 70-215, and 70-217 (last 2 being the most recent). Next I'll do 70-219 then 70-218, 70-216, Network+, and Security+. I know I won't be able to use the Network+ as an elective for the MCSE but I heard the the Security+ was hard (security is a weak area for me) so I was going to use Net+ as a stepping stone toward the Sec+. Plus, it wouldn't hurt to have 1 more cert on my resume.

You might want to do Net+ before 216. Having a stronger foundation in general networking concepts will help you with 216.

janmike

Congrats TechGeekPro.

lseals

Congrats

JOblessELement

ajs1976 wrote:

You might want to do Net+ before 216. Having a stronger foundation in general networking concepts will help you with 216.

I definitely second that. From what I've heard Sec+ makes pulling out ball hair with a pair of tweezers look like an easy task. For more info about Sec+, just ask pandimus

Congrats on the pass and good luck with the rest

pandimus

For more info about Sec+, just ask pandimus

I can definitly tell you not what to do.. If you wanna know what to do ask russ.

TechGeekPro

ajs1976 wrote:

You might want to do Net+ before 216. Having a stronger foundation in general networking concepts will help you with 216.

That's an interesting idea, I hadn't considered that. My only reservation would be that 70-216 will be my last Microsoft exam in the MCSE track, the last 2 would be CompTIA. I've heard that on the Net+ and the Sec+ exams, there are more than one answer that could be right; that part of the trick to passing the exam is knowing which answer is the "most correct" according to CompTIA. And of course, anyone who has taken a Microsoft exam knows that they have their own approach to things. So, based on that, I'd be hesitant to take a Microsoft exam, then CompTIA, then Microsoft, and then CompTIA again. I figured that the best approach would be to tackle the all the Microsoft exams and then all of the CompTIA ones.

I'm certainly open to sugesstions.

pandimus

Heck if your not interested in the NET+, and you are interested in CCNA, you could go for the intro and icnd exams..

TechGeekPro

pandimus wrote:

Heck if your not interested in the NET+, and you are interested in CCNA, you could go for the intro and icnd exams..

What intro and icnd exams? I'm considering going for the CCNA after I get the MCSE so if you could explain, I would appreciate it. I do want the Net+ but it will only help me get the MCSA whereas I'm not really interested in the Sec+ but it will help get the MSCE. After reading some of the posts in the Security+ forum on this site, I'm seriously reconsidering persuing the Sec+. I'm more interested in Messaging then Security, so I may go for that specalization. (Although... if I got the Security AND Messaging specalizations, would I be an MCSE S&M? Sorry... couldn't resist.) So the question remains: will having the Network+ be worth it if I achieve the MCSE?

pandimus

MCSE S&M?

Thats gotta be one of the funniest things ive heard in a long time..


What i meant on the net+ thing is this. Basically the net+ and the CCNA intro exam are pretty much alike. You have a choice when getting a CCNA.. you can take one CCNA course which is a combination of CCNA intro and CCNA ICND. Or you can take each test individually. of course if you go the 2 test route it is a bit easier. But if you want to take NET+ and CCNA, that will give you 2 certs on your name.. It is up to you. Since i passed the Net+ already, i think i will just take the one test option and fill in the rest.. LOTs of subnetting which is not covered in NET+.

TechGeekPro

Duh, if I would've just took 2 minutes to go to Cisco's site, I would have known what you were talking about. I figured, once I got the Core Four knocked out, the Net+ shouldn't be that tough. As far as Cisco, I have NO experience with their routers so I figured I would probably need to take a class for those exams.

pandimus

I have NO experience with their routers so I figured I would probably need to take a class for those exams
honestly,

thats what i thought too... But now that I put a few hundred bucks into my routers and started messing around with them it is not too hard. Seems like a hundred commands and your in there. Why spend 2k on a class when you can spent 400 on routers and then resell them after.. Also what i noted. I bought my routers individually for cheaper than what a combined set of lesser quality routers would cost me on ebay, so i can proably sell the whole rig for a profit. (if i decide i need the money that bad.

TechGeekPro

I notice on the Linksys Web site that they are owned by Cisco. I have a Linksys BEFW11S4 Wireless 4-port router.
Does that count for anything?

rcsnydley

Congrats on the pass.
I have four more exams to get my MCSE-Security.
Then I think I will dabble in Linux for a bit (Linux+) then on to Cisco (CCNA, CCNP)

jcourtenay

1 week each? Thats a bit too quick if you ask me.

John Courtenay
MCP (210,215,216), working on 217

TechGeekPro

jcourtenay wrote:

1 week each? Thats a bit too quick if you ask me.

John Courtenay
MCP (210,215,216), working on 217

Yeah, it probably was but I had to take 4 exams before my vouchers expired. Fortunately I passed them all. It did burn me out a little and I haven't taken an exam since I passed the 70-218.