!!!\|/00T!!! Johnny is an MCSE and MCSA on Server 2003!

Ok, after many months and many trials, tribulations and sleepless study nights, I am now certified an MCSE and MCSA on Server 2003.

The last course that I finished in the track was CompTIA's Security plus. A little known and much hated credential to secure. I was on top of it! I was so on top of it! Until I started the Vendor exam. It scared me after just 3 questions! The books and pretests that I was using were way too soft for this one.

The first 3 questions threw me. They covered topics NOT discussed in my curriculum, not touched on in the Knowledge Nets, and not even mentioned in the books! (I was using Sybex and Syngres study guides)

I guess that I should count my stars that I passed. It completed both the MCSE and MCSA credentials for me.

W00H00! I am now one of 86,645 other MCSE's on Server 2003; one of 133,850 MCSA's on Server 2003 and one of 2,152,049 Microsoft Certified Professionals. Good Company to keep? Who knows.

So, let's review:

Dakkon now holds the following credentials:
CompTIA A+ ....1997 - 3 Tests (Core, Dos/Win, MacOS)
Certified Netware Administrator .... 2000 - 1 Test
Microsoft Certified Professional .... 2006 - 1 Test (70-270 - WinXP)
CompTIA Security+....2007 - 1 Test
Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator .... 2007 - 4 Tests (including exam for MCP)
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer .... 2007 - 7 Tests (Some included in MCSA and MCP exams)

Did I mention that the State of Texas paid for all of the training and exams except the A+ and CNA? My Revenge is Complete.

Now for the MCSA plus Messaging. I am currently studying the 70-284 Echange 2003 Course to get the + Messaging rider on the MCSA. I will blog about that piece of work soon.

That is all for now, kiddies!

~|)4kK0|\|

First of all, let me state, for the record, that 70-298 - Designing Security for a Server 2003 Network is a COMPLETE waste of time, exam vouchers and ink for the study guide.

My Mentor at Techskills said that this one would be easy. That was the biggest understatement I have heard all year. Not only was this exam easy, it was ridiculously easy.

This exam was all about case studies of ficticious companies and their Infrastructure, not much on actual SECURITY, more like "Here is the company, what they have, what they want, and what the CIO/CFO will allow; Now answer these multiple choice questions about the case."

I really feel that this exam was just Microsoft's way of making an extra $125.00 as a tax for all those MCSE candidates out there! LOL

Well, it is over now, I scored an 880-something. ( I know, if was so darn easy, why did I not make a 1000? Answer: I was not paying attention to the details. But it was simple! Took about 45 minutes of the allotted 155 Minutes.)

Well on to the MCDBA stuff now. The next exam (70-229 SQL Server 2000 Database Design and Implimentation) is my elective for the MCSE and one of the core exams for the MCDBA. This one may actually be a challenge!

~|)4kK0|\|

Well, it has been over a year since I started at Techskills. Unfortunately health issues, injuries and surgeries knocked me down for a while, (a few times.)

I really should be done with both the MCSE on 2003 Track as well as the MCDBA. So far I am just over halfway to the MCSE. 5 exams left to the MCSE and MCDBA

70-293 - Planning and Maintaining a Windows 2003 Network Infrastructure - is in the bag, baby! Yeah!


Although 293 was pretty much just a re-hash of 291, it still took me 3 months to do the 4 week course and vendor exam, due to medical leave. After that much time, Techskills' final exam and "hands on" practical exam made me nervous. They were a no brainer, really.

If the final made me nervous, imagine how I felt when I signed in for the Vendor exam! I was as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rockin' chairs! Although I was answering the questions in a fairly confident frame of mind, all I could think was that when I clicked the End Exam button, it was going to say "Sorry, you failed the exam. Please review Microsoft's re-take policy and schedule your next exam accordingly." Like it did at the end of my first attempt at 291. I made sure that I did not study before the exam, so as to avoid 291's fate of overstudy. It worked.

I was shocked and pleasantly surprised when the screen flashed "Congratulations, You Passed!" And to top it off, I scored my usual 850-something. LOL I was on cloud nine and ready to start 70-294 right away!

Speaking of starting courses, I am now working completely from home. My equipment is far superior to what they have at the campus for one, secondly, transportation and mobility have limited my ability to get to and from the campus as well as stay there for the prescribed time. All that I go in for are the Practical Exams and the Vendor exam. Everything else is remote.

I admit that it is a little more difficult studying at home, taking weekly remote "Proctored" exams. Making the time to do the work instead of going off on tangents or playing W.o.W., is especially difficult for me, but I am on target and on schedule. I am actually halfway through 294 already! 2 weeks to go and I will be making another post! One more exam after 294 and i will be done with all of the "Core" exams of MCSE on 2003.

I look forward to making that post! Till then, I guess it is back to the grind. If ya play W.o.W. you know what that is....LOL! ^.^

~|)4kK0|\|