Passed 299 - 3rd try

3rd time lucky. After 2 fails I passed it with 975. For future test takers, 70-299 book alone is not enough for this exam. I used Brian Komar's w2ki3 PKI book and the following: Download details: Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit: Designing and Deploying Directory and Security Services (chapter 16 and 17) as an additional resource.
So far i have 270,290, 291 and now 299, which gives me MCSA.

Next one 298 and then 294, 293 MCSE
and will keep the 351 for last. MCSE:Sec.

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earweed

Congrats!
Glad to see the hard work pay off.

Devilsbane

I've got the same book already, and will be using cbt nuggets when the time comes around.

Looks like we have the same plan but a different method to get there. I did A+ and Net+ and then 270, 290, 291 for MCSA.

I'm working on Security+ now, and I'll follow that with 293, 294, 298, and 299 for MCSE:Security. My plan is to have this all wrapped up before the end of the year.

dynamik

If you've got the 299 material under your belt, you really have nothing else to learn for 298. It's the same content in a different format; you just need to understand the design aspects of it, which you should have learned along the way.

Congratulations on the pass!

JBrown

Thank you guys !!!

Devilsbane wrote: »

I've got the same book already, and will be using cbt nuggets when the time comes around.

Looks like we have the same plan but a different method to get there. I did A+ and Net+ and then 270, 290, 291 for MCSA.

I'm working on Security+ now, and I'll follow that with 293, 294, 298, and 299 for MCSE:Security. My plan is to have this all wrapped up before the end of the year.

I do have A+ (2003), but I decided stop pursuing anything COMPTIA related. They want way to much money for their certs.

dynamik wrote: »

If you've got the 299 material under your belt, you really have nothing else to learn for 298. It's the same content in a different format; you just need to understand the design aspects of it, which you should have learned along the way.

Congratulations on the pass!

I am scheduling 298 for next week, hopefully i will be able to find a book for it by then. Thanx microsoft for extending student second shot until September 30, half the price twice the pleasure

Psoasman

Congrats!

Daniel333

Good job! I actually took a Windows Security class that covered 298/299, did the VTC training and the Microsoft Press book and still walked away a bit confused!

Finishing these off is pretty dang amazing if you ask me.

dynamik

JBrown wrote: »

I am scheduling 298 for next week, hopefully i will be able to find a book for it by then. Thanx microsoft for extending student second shot until September 30, half the price twice the pleasure .

The MS Press 298 book is awful for this exam. It's a decent reference for Server 2003 security, but it's just hundreds of pages of bullet points. Get a trial Safari membership and page through it. It's impossible to read. I used the 299 MS Press books and Transcender for both of these. I had the 298 Transcender as well, but only did a few questions. It's the same material in a different format.

ssampier

Congratulations!

I failed 70-299 last week with a score of 547. I did study the MS 70-299 book, took notes, made flash cards, and did the practice exercises. Needless to say I was feeling demoralized.

I downloaded the Windows 2003 deployment kit. I read the first 25 pages of Ch 16. It seemed very white paper-ish to me (marketing fluff). Am I missing something or does it get better?

Second, is there any practices online that are a bit more challenging? I thought the practices exercises in the book were too Mickey Mouse compared to the exam.

I have a full "virtual lab" setup with several Windows 2003 and Windows XP virtual machines and Ubuntu, just for fun.

JBrown

dynamik

One of my instructors (who happens to be my manager:)) gave me an access to Microsoft IT Academy's e-learning portal (I am currently doing M.S in Information Systems with Data Comm.). One of the e-learning pools include 70-298 (Designing Security for Microsoft Networks), and man its boring. I barely made it to chapter 2 with out shooting myself in the head(six-pack Heineken). This whole thing about different team members, access levels, teams, and Microsoft's Solution Framework drove me nuts.

ssampier wrote: »

Congratulations!

I failed 70-299 last week with a score of 547. I did study the MS 70-299 book, took notes, made flash cards, and did the practice exercises. Needless to say I was feeling demoralized.

I downloaded the Windows 2003 deployment kit. I read the first 25 pages of Ch 16. It seemed very white paper-ish to me (marketing fluff). Am I missing something or does it get better?

Second, is there any practices online that are a bit more challenging? I thought the practices exercises in the book were too Mickey Mouse compared to the exam.

I have a full "virtual lab" setup with several Windows 2003 and Windows XP virtual machines and Ubuntu, just for fun.

You did not miss anything:)) I would say 50% of MS certs are taken from their deployment kits. As a matter of fact, I prefer reading MS deployment kits before I start implementing something at work. It answers at least 90 % of my questions and the other 10% I find from IT boards.

ssampier

I'm currently studying for 70-291. At least there's some overlap with IPSec so my studying didn't feel like a complete waste of time.

I'm debating if I want to spend the money for a Transcender practice test for both 70-291 and 70-299 when I take it again. 70-290 looks relatively easy I don't think I'll need a practice test.

As for the deployment kit who knew that a free download would answer 1/2 of cert exam questions?! Silly if you think about it. I'm going to read the rest of the deployment kit chapters like you suggested. Nudge me if I'm snoring, okay?

I did like the WSUS 3.0 step-by-step download though. I hope the 291 tests WSUS and not the older SUS.

P.S. I ordered a used copy of that PKI book. I bought a few other win2k3 resources, too. I only spend less than $20 for the bundle, wahoo.

Devilsbane

dynamik wrote: »

The MS Press 298 book is awful for this exam. It's a decent reference for Server 2003 security, but it's just hundreds of pages of bullet points. Get a trial Safari membership and page through it. It's impossible to read. I used the 299 MS Press books and Transcender for both of these. I had the 298 Transcender as well, but only did a few questions. It's the same material in a different format.

I bought the 298 used off Amazon for $40. I also bought the 299 used off Amazon for $32. Both books come with the cd, so I have the pdf ebook. Normally I don't buy used books, but these books new are quite expensive, and with the ebook included the condition doesn't really matter.