70-662 - Anyone pass?

peakbagger66peakbagger66 Member Posts: 47 ■■□□□□□□□□
in Exchange Server & Office Communications Server Exams
Just curious if anyone has taken this exam recently. Were there alot of SP1 questions?

Reading the recent messages I see alot of exam candidates failing it and it is scaring the bejeezuz out of me. icon_surprised.gif

Through work, we have Trainsignal, CBTNuggets, and the MCST book. Are there others that might be better?

Has anyone used STS, Transcender, Measureup, or Preplogic for the 70-662 exam material? We can buy a couple of these.

I suppose I would feel less pressure if I had more than 25 days to prep for it!
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  • Chivalry1Chivalry1 Member Posts: 569
    Sorry that I can be much help. I took the exam before Sp1 release. However going through the Microsoft Exchange 70-662 was good enough. But the home lab provided the most benefit. Which included 2 different AD domains. 2 Different Exchange environments (Exchange 2003 & Exchange 2010). And also a Linux Ubuntu email system just to make it interesting. Most of the questions were standard on 70-662. If you read the book with 60 hours of lab time you should pass the exam.

    70-663 is the hardest because there is no books. Since I am a Exchange consultant I primarily utilized my experience to help pass this exam.
    "The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: be satisfied with your opinions and
    content with your knowledge. " Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915)
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  • jibbajabbajibbajabba Member Posts: 4,317 ■■■■■■■■□□
    I keep reading a lot of people complaining about that too - but to be honest, when digging deeper it seems that their "issue" is based on **** downloaded, that they don't reflect that (which is GREAT if you ask me :D:D) .

    One of the main differences "I" noticed, between SP1 and not, is that the Managed Folder tabs are gone from SP1 and you require the shell or work with retention tabs and policies.

    Let's face it - if you do study with or without SP1 - you should still be able to use the shell so it shouldn't matter whether you get SP1 or non-SP questions ..

    If you are worried, then simply check the related PS commands when performing any changes. Some actions in the EMC will show you the result and corresponding PS command - so take not of that ..

    Some bits in the EMC don't but you have a little button you click so you can still see the resulting PS command

    v6ovoz.jpg

    As for books - I studied using

    Exchange Server 2010 Administration: Real World Skills for MCITP Certification and Beyond Exams 70-662 and 70-663: Amazon.co.uk: Joel Stidley, Erik Gustafson: Books

    Oh and in my case I have two virtual machines - one with and one without SP1 and keep comparing both when studying and performing certain changes :p
    My own knowledge base made public: http://open902.com :p
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  • peakbagger66peakbagger66 Member Posts: 47 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Thanks guys! Some really good pointers here. Have a pretty large VM environment to work in so I anticipate on labbing it up crazy.

    Exam simulations have been really helpful in the past. I guess we will hit on Transcender for sure, plus one other that I haven't figured out yet.

    I have no hands on with Exchange 2010, but I've deployed more than a few Exchange 2007 solutions for clients. Maybe I can convince one to upgrade icon_wink.gif.
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  • jibbajabbajibbajabba Member Posts: 4,317 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Sat the exam today and most of them were SP1 ...
    My own knowledge base made public: http://open902.com :p
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  • peakbagger66peakbagger66 Member Posts: 47 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Gomjaba wrote: »
    Sat the exam today and most of them were SP1 ...

    Did your study strategy pay off? Setting up my lab now...
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  • jibbajabbajibbajabba Member Posts: 4,317 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Yes and no. Some parts were dead easy. For example, I wrote some scripts myself to create new mailboxes remotely etc., but some bits weren't in books, Trainsignal, Transcender or cbtnuggets.

    Good thing with powershell is the structure of the commands is always the same so a lot of questions can be solved through logic and process of elimination. One thing I did notice - CBTNugetts are useless - too short and don't even scratch the surface ... In my opinnion anyway ..
    My own knowledge base made public: http://open902.com :p
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  • BarryprBarrypr Member Posts: 71 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Gomjaba wrote: »
    Yes and no. Some parts were dead easy. For example, I wrote some scripts myself to create new mailboxes remotely etc., but some bits weren't in books, Trainsignal, Transcender or cbtnuggets.

    Good thing with powershell is the structure of the commands is always the same so a lot of questions can be solved through logic and process of elimination. One thing I did notice - CBTNugetts are useless - too short and don't even scratch the surface ... In my opinnion anyway ..

    Damn I have just started studying for this cbtnuggets was the material I got icon_sad.gif
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  • peakbagger66peakbagger66 Member Posts: 47 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Gomjaba wrote: »
    Yes and no. Some parts were dead easy. For example, I wrote some scripts myself to create new mailboxes remotely etc., but some bits weren't in books, Trainsignal, Transcender or cbtnuggets.

    Good thing with powershell is the structure of the commands is always the same so a lot of questions can be solved through logic and process of elimination. One thing I did notice - CBTNugetts are useless - too short and don't even scratch the surface ... In my opinnion anyway ..

    Ahhh...thank you for that piece of info Gomjaba, as usual you are a source of good info. I now know what NOT to waste my time with in my studies. I am finding that having many sources of study material can be counter-productive.
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  • jibbajabbajibbajabba Member Posts: 4,317 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Barrypr - that is just me though ... A lot of people love them ... Just make sure you don't just rely on the CBTs, make sure you make notes while watching and try to work with exchange and maybe try to replicate what you ssee ...

    Peakbagger66 - you can't study too much .... Knowing too much isn't counter productive icon_wink.gif Try not to study just for the exam icon_smile.gif
    My own knowledge base made public: http://open902.com :p
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  • peakbagger66peakbagger66 Member Posts: 47 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Gomjaba wrote: »
    Barrypr - that is just me though ... A lot of people love them ... Just make sure you don't just rely on the CBTs, make sure you make notes while watching and try to work with exchange and maybe try to replicate what you ssee ...

    Peakbagger66 - you can't study too much .... Knowing too much isn't counter productive icon_wink.gif Try not to study just for the exam icon_smile.gif

    I'm under a time crunch! I plan on revisiting the interesting bits after this craziness is over icon_study.gif
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  • jibbajabbajibbajabba Member Posts: 4,317 ■■■■■■■■□□
    peakbagger66 wrote: »
    I'm under a time crunch! I plan on revisiting the interesting bits after this craziness is over icon_study.gif

    lol - same here ... although I do run my private mail for a wihle now on Exchange 2010 for that purpose of studying - even got a proper SAN certificate for one of my domains.

    But certain things I just didn't find the time to test out ... backup /replication for example .. the manual way anyway - DAG - couldn't get it working on our network - so skipped that too ... I know the theory obviously lol - but the practical side is just missing on some parts.

    But I just finished installing a nice virtual lab

    2x Edge Server
    2x Client Access Server
    2x Hub Transport Server
    2x Mailbox Server
    2x DCs
    and
    2x Zeus Loadbalancer

    Tomorrow is DAG / CAS Array / OWA LB'd day :p
    My own knowledge base made public: http://open902.com :p
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  • CChilderhoseCChilderhose Member Posts: 137
    I am planning Exchange 2010 as a next cert and wondered of these 2 books which is better for studying -

    http://www.amazon.ca/MCTS-Self-Paced-Training-Exam-70-662/dp/0735627169/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297688858&sr=8-1

    http://www.amazon.ca/Exchange-Server-2010-Administration-Certification/dp/0470624434/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1297688858&sr=8-2

    The first one is MS Press and the second is a Sybex book that seems to cover both 662 & 663.

    Just wanting to know before starting to study.

    Thanks.
    VCAP-DCA, VCP 55
    MCITP: EA, VA, SA
    VCAP-DCD, VCP6 -- COMING SOON
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  • jibbajabbajibbajabba Member Posts: 4,317 ■■■■■■■■□□
    CChilderhose wrote: »
    I am planning Exchange 2010 as a next cert and wondered of these 2 books which is better for studying -

    http://www.amazon.ca/MCTS-Self-Paced-Training-Exam-70-662/dp/0735627169/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297688858&sr=8-1

    http://www.amazon.ca/Exchange-Server-2010-Administration-Certification/dp/0470624434/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1297688858&sr=8-2

    The first one is MS Press and the second is a Sybex book that seems to cover both 662 & 663.

    Just wanting to know before starting to study.

    Thanks.

    Got both. Put down the Microsoft book - hated it .. second one wins by miles .. in my opinnion anyway ...
    My own knowledge base made public: http://open902.com :p
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  • peakbagger66peakbagger66 Member Posts: 47 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Gomjaba wrote: »
    lol - same here ... although I do run my private mail for a wihle now on Exchange 2010 for that purpose of studying - even got a proper SAN certificate for one of my domains.

    But certain things I just didn't find the time to test out ... backup /replication for example .. the manual way anyway - DAG - couldn't get it working on our network - so skipped that too ... I know the theory obviously lol - but the practical side is just missing on some parts.

    But I just finished installing a nice virtual lab

    2x Edge Server
    2x Client Access Server
    2x Hub Transport Server
    2x Mailbox Server
    2x DCs
    and
    2x Zeus Loadbalancer

    Tomorrow is DAG / CAS Array / OWA LB'd day :p

    Sweet lab setup. I'm not there yet. Just immersing myself in the Trainsignal setup. Finding it difficult to map to the exam objectives to the Trainsignal. Kind of jumps all over the place!
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  • jibbajabbajibbajabba Member Posts: 4,317 ■■■■■■■■□□
    i jumped back and forth myself. I first watched the topics I know I am missing and I was most interested in. But even worse are the CBTNuggets. Way too short in my opinion and the horribly hand written whiteoards on the 663 videos are doing my head in. Trainsignal are still the better choice I think regardless.
    My own knowledge base made public: http://open902.com :p
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  • CChilderhoseCChilderhose Member Posts: 137
    Gomjaba wrote: »
    Got both. Put down the Microsoft book - hated it .. second one wins by miles .. in my opinnion anyway ...

    Sounds good. I will get the second book mentioned and not the MS Press book.

    I also have both the Train Signal videos for these 2 exams so that should round things out for studying as well as labbing. :D
    VCAP-DCA, VCP 55
    MCITP: EA, VA, SA
    VCAP-DCD, VCP6 -- COMING SOON
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  • jibbajabbajibbajabba Member Posts: 4,317 ■■■■■■■■□□
    CChilderhose wrote: »
    Sounds good. I will get the second book mentioned and not the MS Press book.

    I also have both the Train Signal videos for these 2 exams so that should round things out for studying as well as labbing. :D

    Just received another book

    Amazon.com: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Inside Out (9780735640610): Tony Redmond: Books

    I don't think there is anything Exchange related which isn't in there :)
    I just read one chapter so far (specifically about DAGs) and I really like it ..

    If you got the time / money then read this one cover to cover - It isn't aimed at the exam, but if you master this book - then the exam is a walk in the park obviously :)
    My own knowledge base made public: http://open902.com :p
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