Questions about the 70-642 Exam

edgar2387

Hello all,

I just passed the 70-640 last week, it took me a few months to prepare, but I really pushed it since Microsoft stated they were going to retire the exam in January. Any who, I just found out that Microsoft has extended the Server 2008 exams until July of this year, so I am planning to stop by a local book store to purchase the 70-642 press book.

My question is, how difficult is the exam? Or preparing for the exam itself? I am MCTS/MCITP/MCSA for Windows 7 and I must say, the 70-640 was a beast, but luckily, what helped me pass was not only the 70-640 press book, but youtube channels such as itfreetraining, and the fact that though I do not a Server admin, my daily job function requires working in Active Directory such as provisioning users/computers/groups etc, and other AD tools

I am somewhat intimidated by the 70-642 since its title does staes Network, although I am going to take the exam, just wanted to see if some of you can share your thoughts on preparing for it, and really, what areas does it mainly cover. Since I've passed the 70-640, will that help me with 70-642?
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Essendon

Though it's been a few years since I took this exam or the 640, I found the 642 to be not too difficult. Like you I didnt have too much experience with servers either, but I labbed the hell out of it. My exam was heavy on DNS and Group Policy with other bits and pieces thrown in here and there. The MS Press book was inadequate I found out, as most of them are anyway. I used:

- the Mastering 2008 book
- the Server 2008 Unleashed book
- TechNet, very extensively
- Group Policy: Fundamentals, Security, and the Managed Desktop: Jeremy Moskowitz: 9781118289402: Amazon.com: Books
- and my home lab, of course.

More than enough in my opinion. But you really need to understand DNS and Group Policy. Lab up every possible aspect of both. And dont be intimated by this exam, far bigger beasts await (the 647 was the grand-daddy of them all and the 643). Not scaring you or anything, what I want to say is this - Dont let fear take hold of you. Even if you fail the first time, you'll come out better for the 2nd go. And it's just an exam for Christ's sake. If it makes you feel any better, I failed the 647 thrice before passing it the 4th time. You'll do just fine mate, just dive right in! And dont buy the MS Press book, use the materials I listed and you wont go wrong.

Qord

Just to clarify, the 2008 exams were never set to expire, and they will not be expiring in July. The MCITP title was going to go away, not the exams themselves, and was getting replaced with MCSA/E.

Retired exams

DoubleNNs

I think the MCTS moniker just got retired too. So you no longer get a "certification" for just passing one of the 3 exams needed for the MCSA. All or nothing now.

edgar2387

@Essendon thanks brother, I guess I just needed a little push and you helped me with that. I am purchasing all materials this weekend and start preparing for the exam, once I pass, I will aim for the 70-646 in order to become MCSA, I would love to be MCITP, but I would not only need to pass 70-642, but the 70-643, and 70-647 by July 31st, not sure if I would make it

@Qord you are correct brother, I was confused, its the MCITP Enterprise that retires in July, not MCSA, no retire data as of yet since technology still relevant

@DoubleNNs you are correct, I just spoke with Microsoft, they stated MCITP retires in July 31st, no exp data for MCSA, although you need 640, 642, and 646 to be MCSA