CompTIA Server+ v MCSA

Curio

Curio

Curio

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Did a search and couldn't find anything about Server+ specifically...

How do these compare? I'll be taking the A+ exam soon and then want to move on to server admin type certs. It looks like the MCSA is maybe a bit more involved than Server+ and more expensive?

I work for a small company and one of my (many) jobs is basic tech support. For the server support we're at the mercy of our IT support company. I would like to be able to become more self-sufficient and take care of the basic server admin stuff myself.

Thanks :cool:
 
The server+ i doubt is going to be that useful to you, its more hardware related (SCSI ID's, cable lengths etc) than software based.

You can look at cheat sheets for the server+ (i used testkings) the MCSA is a lot more involved and will require you to actually study, expect thsi to take months if you do it properley.
 
ashrobbo said:
The server+ i doubt is going to be that useful to you, its more hardware related (SCSI ID's, cable lengths etc) than software based.
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Oh, I thought the Network+ was more for the hardware side and Server+ was more for the software?
 
I doubt many employers will have heard of Server+ whereas an MSCA will really help with what you do (if it's MS servers you support) and help you move up the ladder.
 
Yup, company is paying. The MSCA looks very pricey compared to the Server+ (we're only a small company) and it doesn't look like there are any on-line courses either?

Just talked to the GM and it looks like I'm going to teach myself (I can get MS Server for free as I'm technically still a student at my local college :) ) and I'll take the Server+ exam while I'm at it. I'm thinking A+, Server+ and HazMat (which I just got because I cover the warehouse manager) = me asking for a nice little pay raise :D
 
The Open University offer Microsoft Server Technologies which includes 70-640 and would allow you to build up a degree. It has only just started though so you'll have to wait a bit
 
From a quick look at the CompTIA website I'd say that the Server+ cert is more a general overview on servers, their usage and technologies etc whereas the MCSA is a vendor specific cert on how to configure and support their product(s).

Ultimately both are handy, most people get the knowledge that's covered in Server+ by playing around/gaining experience over time anyway though.

So depending on your experience and existing knowledge both could be worth while but I wouldn't be forking out a lot of cash to go after the Server+, grab a book and get reading for it.

The thing to remember is generally certifications are there to validate existing knowledge that you already have in a specific area, they aren't necessarily there as ways for you to learn something from scratch although a lot of people do use them in this way.
 
Isn't there also an advantage with things like Cisco and Microsoft certs where if a certain number of a companies employees have the certifications it allows them to become a Microsoft partner and get discounts on product licenses or something like that? I could have that completely wrong but I remember something along those lines.
 
I have A+, server+ and network+ but I took these exams in 2005/2006. So my information on the subject is going to be out of date. I also have MCP'S. MSCA,MSCE & MCTS. (Looking to update a few as i havent done any in a few years but I hate exams lol)

A+ is hardware and software
Server + is all server related
Network+ is all network related

The A+ wasn't to easy at the time because Comptia (not sure if this is the case now) had a stupid point of bringing quite redundant hardware into the exams so you had to learn about things that weren't used anymore by anyone, same with some parts of the software.

Network+ I found very hard only just passed by about 10+ points, mainly because of all wide range of questions it was hard to know all the different fields. I read the box twice and it was huge taking notes all the way through and only managed a pass.

Server+ was the easiest exam I have ever taken and wasn't worth the paper it was written on.

Ill give you a quick example of the one of the questions that made me laugh and ill never forget it as i was like this cant be a question.
Q. You walk into a server room which is the most dangerous
a. missing ceiling tile
b. a cup of coffee on top of a server (This being of course the correct answer.)
c. server room not having anti static carpet
d. a printer left on the floor in corner

Dist your right by the way. Companys want there staff to have exams under there belt so that they can get cheaper support, license and other stuff. Microsoft have Gold and Silver levels and different levels at that. I think the highest I have worked in so for a company so a Microsoft triple gold member.

I would say don't do courses because they are over prices and you dont learn enough they basically aim to get you through your exam but when you come to applying what you learnt its useless. Get a server,old pc reasonable spec mainly ram is required. Get VMware workstation or Virtual PC and then get on to learn some of the microsoft core server exams 70-290 and 291 are great exams to start with if you have the Microsoft books they work you through chapter at a time. This way you can practice what your learning as you and work out how everything works as your setting it up.

Prometic is were you need to book your exams from and Microsoft exams used to 88 quid a go so not to pricey. Comptia were around 150 a go when I was doing them. So all in all book of the bay and exam you could do a exam for around 100 to 200 max.

The only thing I would say is you might want to wait for the new Microsoft exams to come out but 2003 is still widely used in the IT sector we still have 1000+ servers in my company running 2003 and the same in 2008.

Sorry for the long winded reply i cant sleep as you might be able to tell...
 
Duggan do you know how hard the 'upgrade' exams are? For example I'm going for the server admin 2008 cert, I've passed the AD exam, will be taking the networking soon, and then the actual sever admin exam in a couple months. Once I've done this, how intensive will the exam be for 2008 admins to gain the server 2012 cert? Is it just to cover the new stuff in 2012, or is it basically covering everything all over again?
 
Server 2003 is still widely used, however I'd aim for 2008 as by the time you're certified in 2003 it will be on the way out. You'll learn more up to date material from the server 2008 than you would going 2003 with the 2008 upgrade. With Microsoft looking to push out a new o/s every 3 years you'll be better off staying with the curve and not constantly playing catch up.

MW
 
Dist said:
Duggan do you know how hard the 'upgrade' exams are? For example I'm going for the server admin 2008 cert, I've passed the AD exam, will be taking the networking soon, and then the actual sever admin exam in a couple months. Once I've done this, how intensive will the exam be for 2008 admins to gain the server 2012 cert? Is it just to cover the new stuff in 2012, or is it basically covering everything all over again?
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I havent taken the 2008 exams and wont until Microsoft decide what they are going to do with the exams there is a lot of talk ive heard about Microsoft rebranding the exams again and might do away with the 2003 and even the 2008 exams. Replacing them with something new but this could be rubbish given how long the 2003 exams have been in place.

But to answer your question if you can pass the 2003 exams you should be able to pass the upgrade exams for 2008 easy enough but remember to read the books and go through the sim work. Have you passed the 70-291 exam? I found that to be very hard exam I passed with 700 talk about boarder line lol but that was first time a lot of the other guys in my old company took 2 or 3 goes at that exam. From what others have said if you can pass the 70-291 and go over the book taking all the new changes your be fine.
 
It's the 2008 exams that I am taking right now. I've done the 70-640 (active directory), will soon do the 70-642 (networking) and then in a couple months 70-646(sever admin 2008). The upgrade exam I was talking about was for 2008 to upgrade to server 2012. I know very few companies are going to use server 2012 for quite a while, but if it's not too difficult an upgrade exam then could companies see it as being useful to have 2012 certified staff already onboard for when they do upgrade to serer 2012?
 
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