Passed MCSE after 2,5 years - Late post!

Hi all,

I've been away from this great site for a very long time but I'm back now with some great news. First of all - THANK YOU VERY MUCH to all of you that contributed to my success by giving hope, inspiration and all those valuable tips. I should have posted this earlier but I had an accident that prevented me from doing so.

So I thought I'd post and let you know I passed

my MCSE in October 2009 and I started it in March 2007 doing the Win XP Pro cert as my first MS test.

It was a very frustrating and long journey for me and I failed some tests along the way. I did the security design "70-298" and Small Business Server "70-282" as electives. The hardest test (even harder than 70-291 or 70-293) was 70-282. There are no exam books especially written for that test and it covers so much such as Win 2003 Server, SQL Server, Exchange Server, SharePoint, etc....failed that test once just on the line and on the second attempt when I passed, it was not much over pass score.

So here is what I used

MCSE training kit for each exam + the Sybex book to go along (they are all listed on Amazon). For the 70-282 exam I used a total of three books covering Small Business Server concepts:

* Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 Unleashed (ISBN: 0672328054).
* Pro Windows Small Business Server 2003 (ISBN: 1590597036).
* Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 Administrator's Companion (ISBN: 0735622809.)

I think that the 70-282 (Small Business Server) test give you so much in one package and that you really don't need to take the SQL Server Admin/Exchange Server/SharePoint certs....what you need is much covered there....at least for a beginner. But of course you could dive in deeper if you have the time and money.

I also used MeasureUp, Trancsender and Self-Test to check how I was doing. For lab I first used several computers but then moved over to VMware - That saved a lot of money and noicy computers.

I'm moving over to Linux now because of job change and leaving Microsoft behind (at least it won't be my main area of focus and responsiblity). I'm on the SUSE Enterprise Server track for Novell so you'll see me in the Novell forum from now. Oh, this last monday the 12th of March, I nailed the CLA10 (Certified Linux Adminsitrator) for SUSE Enterprise Server 10. I think the CLA10 is a great beginners' certification.

Look here if you are interested in CLA10: Novell Certified Linux Administrator

Best of luck to all of you that struggle with your MCSE and NEVER GIVE UP

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Comments

RobertKaucher

Good work!

mikej412

Congratulations

for both the MCSE and the "good stuff" (Linux)

Swany

Congrats!! What did you use to study CLA10?

peanutnoggin

CONGRATS on both of your exams... Good luck on your Linux studies!!!

motogpman

Congrats. I wouldn't worry about the length of time, the main thing is that you finished it. I can relate. A few of the guys that started the MCSE path on TE have already finished, I had to take a 7-8 month break, but am back at it. Good luck with the next certs!!!!!

Ahriakin

Well done!

bwcarty

Congrats! I took about that long, too.

Good luck with the Linux studies. I've seen a lot of demand for it lately.

impelse

Congrats

snadam

Congrats!!!

Perhaps I should take your advice and finish up already!

Cosmocat

Swany wrote: »

Congrats!! What did you use to study CLA10?

THANKS

I posted all about how I prepared for the CLA10 cert in the Novell Forum. Check this out: http://www.techexams.net/forums/novell-certification/53143-another-cla10-admin-certified.html

Turgon

Cosmocat wrote: »

Hi all,

I've been away from this great site for a very long time but I'm back now with some great news. First of all - THANK YOU VERY MUCH to all of you that contributed to my success by giving hope, inspiration and all those valuable tips. I should have posted this earlier but I had an accident that prevented me from doing so.

So I thought I'd post and let you know I passed my MCSE in October 2009 and I started it in March 2007 doing the Win XP Pro cert as my first MS test.

It was a very frustrating and long journey for me and I failed some tests along the way. I did the security design "70-298" and Small Business Server "70-282" as electives. The hardest test (even harder than 70-291 or 70-293) was 70-282. There are no exam books especially written for that test and it covers so much such as Win 2003 Server, SQL Server, Exchange Server, SharePoint, etc....failed that test once just on the line and on the second attempt when I passed, it was not much over pass score.

So here is what I used

MCSE training kit for each exam + the Sybex book to go along (they are all listed on Amazon). For the 70-282 exam I used a total of three books covering Small Business Server concepts:

* Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 Unleashed (ISBN: 0672328054).
* Pro Windows Small Business Server 2003 (ISBN: 1590597036).
* Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 Administrator's Companion (ISBN: 0735622809.)

I think that the 70-282 (Small Business Server) test give you so much in one package and that you really don't need to take the SQL Server Admin/Exchange Server/SharePoint certs....what you need is much covered there....at least for a beginner. But of course you could dive in deeper if you have the time and money.

I also used MeasureUp, Trancsender and Self-Test to check how I was doing. For lab I first used several computers but then moved over to VMware - That saved a lot of money and noicy computers.

I'm moving over to Linux now because of job change and leaving Microsoft behind (at least it won't be my main area of focus and responsiblity). I'm on the SUSE Enterprise Server track for Novell so you'll see me in the Novell forum from now. Oh, this last monday the 12th of March, I nailed the CLA10 (Certified Linux Adminsitrator) for SUSE Enterprise Server 10. I think the CLA10 is a great beginners' certification. Look here if you are interested in CLA10: Novell Certified Linux Administrator

Best of luck to all of you that struggle with your MCSE and NEVER GIVE UP

You got there in the end. But a long journey has it's own rewards, I have been preparing for the CCIE on and off since 2001 and I have never felt it held me back. Well done!

Novell is the way forward on lots of levels, the SuSE offerings and integration have been a little known secret for a few years now. Do it.

RobertKaucher

Turgon wrote: »

You got there in the end. But a long journey has it's own rewards, I have been preparing for the CCIE on and off since 2001 and I have never felt it held me back. Well done!

Novell is the way forward on lots of levels, the SuSE offerings and integration have been a little known secret for a few years now. Do it.

+1 here. You know if MS is in bed with them, it has to be for a reason!