70-656 MS Desktop Optimization Pack Resources

Claymoore

Study Guide and Resources for the 70-656 MDOP exam.

Recommended Reading:
Creating the Secure Managed Desktop. Buy it for the SoftGrid (now App-V) chapters, and keep it for the rest of the information.
Group Policy: Fundamentals, Security and Troubleshooting. If the AGPM secition is as good as Moskowitz' other book, you can skip the Resource Kit.
Windows Group Policy Resource Kit. The AGPM chapter is about the only useful chapter in the book.

Skills Measured:
TS: Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, Configuring

Reference Sites:
The Desktop Files: The Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack
The Official MDOP Blog : MDOP 2009 R2: What's New in MDOP for Windows 7

Configuring GPOs by Using Advanced Group Policy Management.
Configure Group Policy Object Roles
Technical Overview of AGPM
Delegate Access to the Production Environment

Configure AGPM
Configure AGPM Server Connections
Step-by-Step Guide for Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management 4.0
Creating or Controlling a GPO

Deploy a controlled GPO
Deploy a GPO
Roll Back to an Earlier Version of a GPO

Manage controlled GPOs
Performing AGPM Administrator Tasks
Performing Editor Tasks
Performing Approver Tasks
Performing Reviewer Tasks

Monitoring Desktops Using MS Desktop Error Monitoring (DEM)
Install DEM

Configure the management server
How to Configure a Management Server for Client Monitoring in Operations Manager 2007

Configure the SCOM administrative template settings
About Client Monitoring in Operations Manager 2007

Configure clients for client monitoring
Using MDOP Desktop Error Reporting
System Center Operations Manager : Troubleshooting Agentless Exception Monitoring (AEM) and Desktop Error Monitoring (DEM) features
How to Configure Clients for Client Monitoring in Operations Manager 2007

Managing Software Inventory Using the Asset Inventory Service
Asset Inventory Service Overview

Deploy AIS clients
Step-by-Step Guide to Deploying the Asset Inventory Service Client Software

Manage computers that report to AIS
Computers Workspace
Home Workspace

Configure software inventory by using AIS
Software Workspace
Software Categories
Licenses Workspace

Repairing and Diagnosing Computer Systems using the Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DaRT)
Install and configure DaRT
Crash Analyzer for MSDaRT 6.5

Restore Deleted Files
ERD Commander in MSDaRT 6.5

Recover Computer Systems
How to Create a Boot CD for MSDaRT 6.5
Just Blog'n : How to Create a ERD Commander 2009 R2 Recovery Disk
Restore Unbootable Windows System using Offline System Restore Raymond.CC Blog

Configure Application Virtualization Servers
Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 - New Features
App-V Architecture
www.appvirtguru.com :: Index

Configure Application Virtualization infrastructure
Application Virtualization Predeployment Considerations
How to Install the Servers and System Components
Application Virtualization Sequencer
Branch Configuration Guide

Configure Application Virtualization components
How to Configure Servers for Server-Based Deployment
Application Virtualization Client
Application Virtualization Server

Install Application Virtualization servers
Application Virtualization Predeployment Considerations

Configure Active Directory for Application Virtualization

Configure security for Application Virtualization
Planning for Security and Protection

Configuring Application Virtualization Clients
Deploy Application Virtualization clients
Planning for Client Deployment
App-V Terminal Services
App-V Desktop Client Overview
App-V Standalone Client Overview

Deliver and Maintain virtualized applications
How to Manage Applications in the Server Management Console

Manage Application Virtualization clients
How to Use the Desktop Notification Area for Application Virtualization Client Management

Configure client options
Applications Node
File Type Associations Node
SFTMIME Command Reference

Deploying and Managing the Application Virtualization Sequencer
Install the Application Virtualization Sequencer
How to Install the Application Virtualization Sequencer
Application Virtualization Sequencer Options Dialog Box

Configure the Application Virtualization Sequencer
Best Practices for the Application Virtualization Sequencer
How to Configure the App-V Sequencer

Sequence applications for virtualization
How to Sequence an Application
Sequencing Wizard

Manage application sequencing
How to Upgrade an Existing Virtual Application
How To Use Dynamic Suite Composition
How to Use the Differential SFT File
How to Branch a Package
How to Create a Virtual Environment for a Web-Based Application
The App-V Blog : MSI Utility for Microsoft Application Virtualization FAQ

Claymoore

Sorry, something came up at work. I'll finish posting the study guide later.

Claymoore

Ok, the rest of the guide is up. I wasn't sure where to place this guide as it could go in the Virtualization, MCITP/MCTS, or Other MS Elective forum. Moderators, feel free to move it.

This exam is a requirement for the Desktop Virtualization MS Partner Competency and may be a partner requriement to deliver MDOP Proof of Concept engagements. There were a few requests over on Born to Learn to add 656 as an option for the Desktop Virtualization exam, but since this exam doesn't cover any MED-V topics I doubt that will happen.

There isn't a lot of information out there about this exam. I will probably need to pick this exam up to support some client interest so I needed to put together a study guide and I am sharing it with the TE community. If you have any other resources, please add them.