70-299 scheduled for next week

I have 2 vouchers left of a 4 pack that need to be used up before the end of June. I could have used these for the MCDST, but instead used a free student voucher and bought the other student voucher for $60.

Next week, I intend to take both the 298 and the 299 (I'll be taking the 299 first). I was probably 75% ready for this duo a couple months ago but then gave up because I didn't have the time to keep the foot on the gas. Last week I picked the books back up and the videos and have been going full speed ahead to meet the deadline nextweek.

Since the money is already spent, the worst case is that I take 2 cracks at each of these and walk away with 2 previews of each test thanks to the free retakes.

My biggest concern here is that since I'm using the same voucher code, I can't book the 298 until after the 299. As usual, I also can't book a retake until I fail. So I fear that come time to book there might not be any times available. Time will tell, study study study and don't worry about things that are out of my control.

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Comments

Devilsbane

DragonNOA1 wrote: »

Awesome job fellow 700 club & MCSE:S member! Feels great, huh?

There are not words to describe. I have a midterm tomorrow that I need to study for tonight, and then it is time for summer to start! I'll be having a celebratory drink (or 6) tomorrow night and I've got plans for visiting the local amusement park on Thursday. It has taken me 1 year 1 month and 16 days from the passing of the 270 to finally finishing. I'm still in awe over it.

Psoasman

Congrats!!! take some time to enjoy yourself, you earned it.

Asif Dasl

Congrats! That's quite an achievement!

Essendon

Congrats on that well-earned MCSE!

Would you look into upgrading to the MCITP:EA/SA anytime soon and this is it for Microsoft certs?

Shadly1

Congrats on that pass!

So what's the scoop? How many case studys were there? What kind of Microsoft trickery did you have to deal with? Was it all "read the question, go find the answer" stuff or was any of it "common sense then click the button"?

Devilsbane

Essendon wrote: »

Congrats on that well-earned MCSE!

Would you look into upgrading to the MCITP:EA/SA anytime soon and this is it for Microsoft certs?

It is on the table for later this year, but nothing set in stone yet. I'm sure the 70-680 won't be too far off. I'm spending 4 days in Windows 7 training next week so I'll probably hit that sometime in July/early August and then not be too concerned until later in the year. There will certainly be more MS in my future.

I'm also thinking about doing some work with Excel. The word certification taught me lots of neat tricks about word (not that the title carries any weight) and I think that I could gain some benefit out of excel. I do lots of reporting stuff with it so learning better ways to filter is always nice.

Devilsbane

Shadly1 wrote: »

Congrats on that pass!

So what's the scoop? How many case studys were there? What kind of Microsoft trickery did you have to deal with? Was it all "read the question, go find the answer" stuff or was any of it "common sense then click the button"?

I emailed mcp@microsoft.com asking if that broke the NDA and I was told no, but I never feel comfortable disclosing that kind of thing.

I used http://www.techexams.net/forums/mcsa-mcse-security/13271-passed-70-298-today.html as my source for intel on this exam. Unfortunately my exam was very different from the one that this guy had. I did about twice the work, filled up 9 sheets with notes, but I guess I can't really complain since I passed.

Shadly1

Devilsbane wrote: »

I emailed mcp@microsoft.com asking if that broke the NDA and I was told no, but I never feel comfortable disclosing that kind of thing.

I used http://www.techexams.net/forums/mcsa-mcse-security/13271-passed-70-298-today.html as my source for intel on this exam. Unfortunately my exam was very different from the one that this guy had. I did about twice the work, filled up 9 sheets with notes, but I guess I can't really complain since I passed.

That's cool. I don't want you to get into trouble. Just pre-test jitters. I'll check out that other thread. It all helps.

Devilsbane

Wow I'm such a loser. I refreshed the mcp.microsoft.com website probably 50 times yesterday and I've got to be coming up on 10 today.

DragonNOA1

Devilsbane wrote: »

Wow I'm such a loser. I refreshed the mcp.microsoft.com website probably 50 times yesterday and I've got to be coming up on 10 today.

Microsoft is going to block you for trying to overload their servers.

Just kidding, it's something we all do. Doesn't count until Microsoft records and shows it on their website. Makes waiting very hard. Hurry up Microsoft! lol

Shadly1

Gotta keep yourself occupied now that you DON'T have to brush up on security...

Devilsbane

Security?? What is that?

It looks like I'm in no mans land now. Last night I saw where the 298 is now on my transcript, but the MCSE isn't. I guess it takes a little longer for them to realize that all of the exams are complete. In the certification planner it has everything checked off. It can't be too much longer...

Shadly1

Devilsbane wrote: »

Security?? What is that?

It looks like I'm in no mans land now. Last night I saw where the 298 is now on my transcript, but the MCSE isn't. I guess it takes a little longer for them to realize that all of the exams are complete. In the certification planner it has everything checked off. It can't be too much longer...

You'd think an MCSE would know how to pull up his own transcripts. Sheesh...

Cthu1hu

When I earned the MCSE as well as a friend of mine, we both had to email Mcphelp to get the transcripts updated to show. Might be the case for you as well.

Shadly1

I waited over a month for my MCSA to show. I was waiting on the A+/Net+ to transfer over so that may have been the problem. Doesn't make you any less certified so update that resume!

Devilsbane

I'm sure it is still clicking along. I've been holding off on officially declaring myself until I see the paper. But I think seeing the exam listed on the transcript and the completed certification planner is good enough.

I kept having a bad feeling that I was going to get an email informing me that they reviewed my test and have determined that I only scored a 699. Since that isn't the case, I think I'm in the clear.

I noticed this same lag with the MCSA:Security last week. Test shows up before the certification. I'm not concerned (although I would like to see that artwork....)

Shadly1

F5-F5-F5-F5-F5-F5-F5-F5-F5...

Devilsbane

As you can probably guess from the new logo, it went through last night! I've ordered the official paper and it will be here next week.

RobertKaucher

Devilsbane wrote: »

Is it possible to get a commercial CA (such as verisign) to give you a certificate that you can use as a CA certificate to issue certificates?

I wouldn't think so, because now your enterprise would be allowed to create certificates that would be trusted by everyone. If you have bad policies in place and one of the certs you issued gets compromised, then Verisign could take a lot of heat on that.

But that is exactly what Transcender says to do.

To support digitally signed e-mail transmissions for both local and Internet-based users, a commercially signed root certificate should be purchased.

Totally irrelevant now, but...

That is not what they are saying at all. You are misreading. They are saying purchase a comercially signed certificate so that you can use it to digitally sign emails - NOT use it to issue other certificates.

Devilsbane

RobertKaucher wrote: »

Totally irrelevant now, but...

That is not what they are saying at all. You are misreading. They are saying purchase a comercially signed certificate so that you can use it to digitally sign emails - NOT use it to issue other certificates.

That makes sense except for this line. "A commercially signed root certificate should be purchased."

Shadly1

Certificates don't issue certificates. CAs do.

Devilsbane

Shadly1 wrote: »

Certificates don't issue certificates. CAs do.

A CA issues the ticket, but it requires a certificate to do so.

Shadly1

Devilsbane wrote: »

A CA issues the ticket, but it requires a certificate to do so.

But it requires a certificate that flows from the root, right? If you purchase a certificate from a commercial CA, that's a different root than yours.

RobertKaucher

Devilsbane wrote: »

That makes sense except for this line. "A commercially signed root certificate should be purchased."

I agree that could be worded better. You are not purchasing a root certificate. There is no such thing as a root certificate. There is only a root authority and they use their signing certificate to issue other certs. The truth is Verisign could do what you said; it would make you a trusted intermediate signing authority (they just won't do it). But that is not what the quote is talking about.

I'm discussing test taking strategy here:
You took a poorly worded sentance and then extrapolated an impossibility from it. The key is the action. You said "issue certificates" but the example is only talking about signing emails. If that were a test question and you started to over think it like this you'd get it wrong. Although it could be argued that the example is wrong when taken to the letter, I just consider that noise. Just don't over think the questions.

DOS

Congrats Devilsbane on your journey

I too hope to be MCSE.

I have sold my house and the last couple of months has been hectic but I hope to start studying for 70-298. I believe this should be my final cert.

How come you took 70-299? I thought with your Security+ that would give you the big title. Or do I need to take 299, I need to pop up the Microsoft page and refresh my memory. I have stretched my certs over a couple of years I am getting forgetful

Devilsbane

298 was the design exam for MCSE. 299 was for the MCSE:Security

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/mcse.aspx#tab2 for MCSE

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/mcse.aspx#tab3 shows MCSE:S and MCSE:M (although messaging has retired exams)

DOS

I see says the blind man. Now I remember, thanks for the link.

Devilsbane

DOS wrote: »

I see says the blind man. Now I remember, thanks for the link.

No problem. Looks like you just need to make sure that Microsoft has been made aware of the A+/Net+ and then knock down one of the design exams (easier said than done, I know)

Good luck!