Starting the journey to the MCSE

I'm finally starting the journey to the MCSE now that I have had some time to relax and unwind after the Master's degree. This is more of a personal achievement that I would like to obtain. I'm sure the ROI will be great on this certification. However, I am moving more into management as I moved up to a Systems Admin which is actually more of an IT Manager in terms of my actual job role.

I have a lot of experience with AD, GPO, and Windows Server in general. Since, I completed the MCSA in the past this helps my familiarity. The goal is to be done by next June around my performance review timeframe.

Let the study and faith journey begin!!

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Passed 70-410 now onto 70-411 hoping to smash it in 2 months or so...

Congrats! That's great news. Let us know how your 411 studying goes.

Thanks amigo I plan to start on Monday reading the MS Press book and watching some CBT Nugget videos for the 70-411.

Congrats man, hoping to be following you shortly.
How many hours do you get to study during the week?
I can usually do 2 hours a night during the week and 6-7 during the weekend.

pizzaboy wrote: »

Congrats man, hoping to be following you shortly.
How many hours do you get to study during the week?
I can usually do 2 hours a night during the week and 6-7 during the weekend.

Thanks man it wasn't as bad as I thought. The hardest areas for me on the exam were the IP v6 questions and a question on Group Policy here and there. I studied about 2 hours a day give or take during each week. The weekend maybe a hour or two since I like my free time outside of work/IT.... lol

I know right, feels like I'm back at school sometimes.
Happy hunting with 411!! Don't forget to check for that 50% off when you schedule it.

Dakinggamer87 wrote: »

Passed 70-410 now onto 70-411 hoping to smash it in 2 months or so...

You Gat this Brother..........you Gat This

pizzaboy wrote: »

I know right, feels like I'm back at school sometimes.
Happy hunting with 411!! Don't forget to check for that 50% off when you schedule it.

At times it does lol... I will definitely consider that but I fortunately get the student pricing discount per my WGU email and my employer will reimburse me upon passing each exam.

greg9891 wrote: »

You Gat this Brother..........you Gat This

Thanks brotha!!

The next exam 70-411 is scheduled for the end of March/beginning of April. I'm moving through the content quite fast with lots of review on AD and GPO. I did get a nice refresh on VPN and remote access technologies. I definitely need to focus on NPA/NPS before attempting the exam..

Update:

I am almost finished with all CBT Nuggets videos. It’s time for some review of MS Press and Technet articles. Afterwards practice exams and more practice exams...lol

Powering through, good for you. I have just exhausted the videos for the 410, hoping to get back into the groove of reading the book.

pizzaboy wrote: »

Powering through, good for you. I have just exhausted the videos for the 410, hoping to get back into the groove of reading the book.

Yup I want to get it knocked out as soon as possible to spend time on other personal and professional goals outside of IT!!

Dakinggamer87 wrote: »

Yup I want to get it knocked out as soon as possible to spend time on other personal and professional goals outside of IT!!

Outside of IT!!!!! heresy!!!
Yeah I understand, wife wanted me to learn a foreign language with her but MCSA is so much more fun

pizzaboy wrote: »

Outside of IT!!!!! heresy!!!
Yeah I understand, wife wanted me to learn a foreign language with her but MCSA is so much more fun

Good choice, since September I have been going to night classes to learn how to speak German. Then coming home and continue studying for my Server MCSA. I am also in a full time job. Doing all is very hard!

My goal is to be done by August/September with the MCSE because I am going on vacation in October...

sounds doable, I would like to be finished by the end of the year the latest. Once I'm finished the MCSE will move onto CCNA.

pizzaboy wrote: »

sounds doable, I would like to be finished by the end of the year the latest. Once I'm finished the MCSE will move onto CCNA.

Awesome the CCNA would be a great cert to add to your portfolio.

Passed the 70-411 this morning will start on 70-412 on Monday!!

My resources: TechNet, CBT Nuggets, MS Press, and Sybex Server 2012 R2 Guide.

that's awesome guy. Powering through. How was it compared to the 410?

pizzaboy wrote: »

that's awesome guy. Powering through. How was it compared to the 410?

I found it easier to be honest except for the NAP/NPS technologies which was new to me in some ways. This is because I hadn’t used it/implemented it outside of studying for the exam.

I was super familiar with VPN, Group Policy, and AD but I needed some review on some syntax lol..

Congrats!!

Thanks!!

Failed the 70-412 with 618 so close... I’ll try again in 2 weeks pushing my timeline to mid July...

It is what it is not a fan of certificate services and federation services guess I’ll have to drill that area a lot harder.

Best of luck on your re-take.

I actually found myself checking in here as I used some of your guys 410/411 study materials to get me over 742. I'm not sure if the same applies the other way around.

Aww man that sucks. But like you said, no time for pity party regroup and attack. All the best for the second attempt. I had to put my studies on the back burner for a bit but hoping to complete the first exam before month end.

Looking forward to hearing (seeing) the MCSA 2012 msg in time for World Cup 2018

Dakinggamer87 wrote: »

Passed the 70-411 this morning will start on 70-412 on Monday!!

My resources: TechNet, CBT Nuggets, MS Press, and Sybex Server 2012 R2 Guide.

geezzzz now that was fast... Wish I could study that fast and pass the exam. I'm having a hard time sticking to the material after being off for a year.

The book you use from Sybex was it. MCSA windows Server 2012 Administration study guide exam 70-411 from William Panek?

I used the pluralsight site for a few days since I tried the trial. It was okay but wonder if the CBT is better for the 70-411. I want to get this done by end of July.

Any other material you use?

Louie1277 wrote: »

geezzzz now that was fast... Wish I could study that fast and pass the exam. I'm having a hard time sticking to the material after being off for a year.

The book you use from Sybex was it. MCSA windows Server 2012 Administration study guide exam 70-411 from William Panek?

I used the pluralsight site for a few days since I tried the trial. It was okay but wonder if the CBT is better for the 70-411. I want to get this done by end of July.

Any other material you use?

That’s about it aside from drilling TechNet and some YouTube MCSE series.

pizzaboy wrote: »

Aww man that sucks. But like you said, no time for pity party regroup and attack. All the best for the second attempt. I had to put my studies on the back burner for a bit but hoping to complete the first exam before month end.

Looking forward to hearing (seeing) the MCSA 2012 msg in time for World Cup 2018

Thanks for the encouragement and I’m feeling good on the second attempt as I was really close.

Good luck on 412 mate. You should nail it second time around.

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