MCITP Server Admin hardware/

If you're talking about server grade hardware i'm sorry I don't know. For me I am running my VM's from my desktop so I could just choose to purchase a consumer grade SSD and install that if I so chose.

For basic lab work there is probably no need to run a proper server with how powerful Desktop PC's are these days!
 
I have found that my lab for 70-640 gets to about 100GB, so I think it would be a bit of a struggle to use a 64GB SSD for this purpose. An 80GB would be a squeeze, however it would be doable as long as you're frugal with snapshots. Ideally you'd want to go for a 120GB or larger so that you have some spare capacity. I have a 256GB Crucial M4 that I run my virtual machines from, though as I mentioned I've not come close to using even half of that during my studies.

It's hard to actively recommend an SSD for exclusive lab use - I justified in my case simply because I was losing patience and getting distracted when I should have been studying. Whether or not you'll find it worthwhile is questionable. I suspect most people wouldn't :)
 
I have my host o/s running on an SSD but the VMS are running on an old school mechanical disk

Saundie said:
Ah, you upgraded your MCSE, I understand now. What training material are you using to help you prepare for 70-640?
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I'm using this Microsoft book for my 70-640. I really need to get back to hitting the books after taking some time off.

MW
 
I'm thinking of doing the MCITP: SA/EA certs too. :)

Would my i7 920 (stock speeds), 6GB RAM be sufficient to power enough VMs so that I could achieve this cert? I was thinking I'd likely need to upgrade to 12GB of RAM. The computer also has a 240GB SSD installed, would that be enough to keep things running relatively smooth? Lots of people recommend using at least two different HDDs, wondering if a single SSD could be an adequate alternative. It's the Sandisk Extreme 240GB that has been on offer at OcUK.

How are you finding the books, Dashik? I'm probably going to self-learn this too, but haven't done much research into it yet. You can spend a lot of money on labs, and I'm trying to cut costs down as much as possible, want to get some opinions before buying anything. :D

Thanks.
 
For 70-640 you don't need to run more than four instances of Server 2008 R2. Give them 1GB RAM each and they'll run just fine. Running them from an SSD will vastly improve the responsiveness over using a mechanical drive, so the "lack" of RAM won't be noticeable. My lab for 70-640 hasn't gone above 30GB - the largest my lab has been was when I was studying for 70-681 (deploying Win7 and Office 2010), when it went up to 120GB due to all of the images I was creating.
 
Hi, As per the previous reply really. I bought a server because I could at the time and its useful. You can get by with a decent desktop pc I think.

I have the latest Windows Server 2008 R2 versions of the MS press books and a copy of Don Poultons 70-680 and its all good.

Getting closer to being able to actually book an exam as my other half has her date for her operation now.

I'm also getting ahead of the game and getting stuff for CCNA.
 
I'm booked on to do the 70-680 in July, then want to carry on and get the MCITP out of it. Whats the best way of setting up test labs at home on my machine?

I've got an i7 2700k with 16gb Ram and a 256GB SSD so I can't see my spec holding me back at all. Is it best to do it all with VMware?
 
R.O.S.S.I said:
I'm booked on to do the 70-680 in July, then want to carry on and get the MCITP out of it. Whats the best way of setting up test labs at home on my machine?

I've got an i7 2700k with 16gb Ram and a 256GB SSD so I can't see my spec holding me back at all. Is it best to do it all with VMware?
Click to expand...

Windows 7 ultimate/enterprise/server 2k8r2 and hyperv
 
Can I run Hyper V direct from Win 7 Ultimate, or would I need 2K8 R2 installed?

Want to set up my new build for work lab stuff as well as my day-to-day use if possible, and would prefer to use Hyper V if it's what exams will be based on. If not I'll have to use something else.
 
Finding this very interesting to read. I'm currently looking about getting into IT as a career. I have always been interested in IT and technology but my IT knowledge is some years out of date. Up until 7/8yrs ago I used to enjoy messing about with computers, windows xp, read up about networking and group policies (even setting up networked IT suites at my secondary school). But havn't really done anything in about 5yrs at least.

Currently thinking about getting a cisco homelab setup, a basic HP/Dell rack server and I have a old AMD XP1600 rig i can use as a workstation.
 
Have any of you taken any exams yet? I lost motivation after I failed the second time back in February, but now that Server 2012 is here I considering getting back into it. I decided to "treat" myself to a Technet Pro subscription in order to access the software, so I don't really have an excuse to avoid it.
 
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