MS qualifications

Prophet

Prophet

Prophet

Soldato
Joined
5 Oct 2004
Posts
7,395
Location
Notts
I'm looking to start working towards the Server 2012 (410,411,412) exams over the coming months and would like help on how best to tackle them. I've not done any MS exams before and haven't done any form of official test for years so I'd like to start off with as much info as possible.

I was thinking of setting up a small network at home so I can run through server configurations etc and to get a better working knowledge of the 2012 platform.

Any links to guide or reference tools would be a great help. I have access to all the software I need through work so that's covered.

My goal is to head towards the Server Infrastructure qualifications then onto Virtualisation but I have to start at the beginning :)

Any help would be really appreciated.
 
I've been in IT for nearly 20 years but never done any official qualifications. I'm fine with all SBS versions and Server up to 2008 but not really used 2012, so overall I've got a good base to start with.

Daily I'm all over the place so could be dealing with a new server install one minute then sorting out a paper jam the next. It's the main reason I want to get qualified to a high level, so I can get our of the mid level IT roles and actually start doing something that really interests me.
 
My view on the exams are that they are an evil necessity.
They will not award you for your knowledge of a subject but on your ability to understand what Microsoft are actually asking.
I know people who are excellent server guys who can be set to work on any MS product and they will go away and get it done, put them in front of an exam and they fail.....

Having the exams will certainly help you get a better job for a different company.
If you only want the certs head to examcollection.net.

Can you attend any MS training? They are usually pretty good at getting you started and only cost around 1k for 5 days training, not bad if you can get it in your training budget / schedule.
 
Showboat said:
My view on the exams are that they are an evil necessity.
They will not award you for your knowledge of a subject but on your ability to understand what Microsoft are actually asking.
I know people who are excellent server guys who can be set to work on any MS product and they will go away and get it done, put them in front of an exam and they fail.....

Having the exams will certainly help you get a better job for a different company.
If you only want the certs head to examcollection.net.

Can you attend any MS training? They are usually pretty good at getting you started and only cost around 1k for 5 days training, not bad if you can get it in your training budget / schedule.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I see the whole process as a way to get the higher paid positions rather than to actually prove I know what I'm doing. It's only been the last couple of years when not having them has impacted on what jobs I was considered for.


I'll check out examcollection.net when I get home. Thanks for the link :)

I can't attend any training days unless I pay for them. I'm hoping I get on OK with the exams as I'm similar to the guys you described. Practically I can do it but exams trip me every time!
 
If you're working towards those three certs I would suggest holding off until the end of March. If you don't have training as an option then you'll want to use the self study official guides which are all being updated for 2012 R2. The new releases are out on the 31st.

In the mean time, get yourself a 2012 R2 server going. Install Hyper-V and then setup a VM as a DC and use that as your test environment.

I've just passed the 410 which was quite keen to go into Hyper-V. There's a degree of sales with the certs and a lot of it is Microsoft trying to push the advantages of their stuff, and they've forever been trying to make serious inroads in visualization against the likes of VMware.

I agree with the others on experienced pros that would fail the exams. Once you get a feel for the questions you'll see that some are just ridiculous play on words or tricks to make sure you've read the questions carefully, and not necessarily test knowledge. These are NOT how certifications to prove competence should be, but you have to play the game as you've discovered ;)

Good luck
 
Thanks for the heads up about the update in March. I've got 2012 R2 so I'm good to go once they're released.

Welcome to the forums :)
 
I'm in a similar position, studying for the same qualification. I've installed VMWorkstation (trial period) and using that in conjunction with an online CBT course, hoping to go through course then practice with online exams. Also looking at purchasing the following official text, when it comes out: Exam Ref 70-410: Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 R2.
 
e-scorpio said:
I'm in a similar position, studying for the same qualification. I've installed VMWorkstation (trial period) and using that in conjunction with an online CBT course, hoping to go through course then practice with online exams. Also looking at purchasing the following official text, when it comes out: Exam Ref 70-410: Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 R2.
Click to expand...

Just accept that Microsoft want you to use Server Manager for everything in 2012. I can guarantee there will be at least a few questions on the exam where 'Server Manager' is the answer ;)

I actually find it quite handy now! Like setting up RD services took about 10 minutes once the servers were built!

Good luck with the exam :)
 
Server manager is probably one of the better things to come out of 2012 for sure!, being role led rather than server name is pretty genius.
No more remoting onto individual servers takes a lot of hassle out of management :)
 
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