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MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-292 and 70-296): Upgrading Your Certification to Microsoft Windows Server 2003
by Microsoft Corporation, Dan Holme, Orin Thomas
List Price: $69.99
Our Price: $48.99
ISBN: 0735619719
Publisher: Microsoft Press (10 September, 2003)
Edition: Hardcover
Sales Rank: 3,062
Average Customer Rating: 3.4 out of 5
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Rating: 5 out of 5
Worth it!!!
MCSA/MCSE Training Kit covers Exams 70-292 and 70-296. These are the core exams for current Microsoft Windows 2000 MCSA/MCSE who want to upgrade their certs for Windows Server 2003. The book is not designed to be a Server 2003 guide, for that I recommend Windows Server 2003 Administrator's Pocket Consultant by Stanek (it has filled in many gaps and has just the right amount of coverage). The training kit, at over 1,000 pages, does an excellent job of covering the exams (from what I've seen). I have just now started working with the CD-ROM and the practice questions, and these seem to be excellent as well. I like the structure for taking practice tests and the pointers back to the training kit. I believe everything I need to pass the exams is cover. I'll post back in a few months with my results.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Heavy Duty
Big heavy book with some big heavy content. A lot of info in this book. I got through about half of it before I took the exams. I passed the exams, but felt like I didn't really need to spend the time reading the book in order to do so. It comes with the Measure-Up practice tests which are pretty good. None of the questions from the practice tests were on the production exam, but taking them puts you in the test taking mode. Plus the practice tests give you an idea on what they are testing on with these new exams. A previous review mentioned DNS. DNS is big time on the 296 exam, but Microsoft assumes you already know about DNS and they really only ask questions about the new features in 2003 DNS. Conditional forwarding is a big new DNS concept as well as stub-zones. Know what they are. 292 is 55 questions and 296 is 51 questions. The 296 test is set-up a little different. You are asked 24 questions in one section then you can review then you are given another 26 questions. Once you get through the first 24 and you start the second half you cannot go back to review the first 24. Weird I know. Not sure about the method of their madness there, but they are trying to do something different. 292 is all about administering 2003. You really need to know 2000 as well. A lot of scenario questions on 296 regarding design. Windows 2003 introduces a bunch of new modes you can be in. Remember in 2000 you had mixed mode or native mode. In 2003 there are forest-level modes and domain-level modes. It is a little confusing. You need to know each mode or level and understand what features you can use with each. A few drag and drop questions on that. Remember some questions are worth more points than others so getting the big drag and drop or matching questions correct will get you more points. Universal group membership caching is important. Users no longer need a global catalog to log in provided you are in the right 2003 mode. A few questions on trusts as well. Overall this is a good book, but to me it is not 100% necessary to read it in order to pass. You might be better off with a smaller exam cram book and check out the 2003 white papers on Microsoft's website. These are both very passable exams for the MCSA/MCSE. 296 is a little harder, but if you know your stuff it shouldn't be much of a problem. Good luck.
Rating: 1 out of 5
Does not address the 70-296 exam
As far as the 70-296 exam is concerned this book is totally irrelevant. I admit that after having successfully done 14 exams in the last 9 months that I am a little mentally exhausted. However it was still easy for me to see that at least 65 -75% of the exam was somewhat foreign when compared to what I studied for. It was not a matter of being completely ignorant of the material being tested but more that the book totally missed the target in terms of preparation. The exam goes into GREAT depth on DNS, Certificate Authorities, GPOs and other aspects, all with a slight focus on security. This book merely skims the surface. The book is better suited to assist with a pratical introduction to Windows 2003.
Let me reiterate - Do not rely on this book in any way, shape or form to prepare for the 70-296 exam.
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