First "Real world" IT Certification...

Discussion in 'New Members Introduction' started by greenstarthree, Aug 12, 2013.

  1. greenstarthree

    greenstarthree Nibble Poster

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    Hi All,

    I've worked with the same growing company since I left school just under 10 years ago, and, having always had an interest in IT, have gradually fallen into that role at work. But with the company expanding and having only a GNVQ in ICT to my name I decided to earn some Microsoft Certs.

    I'm looking at starting with the MCSA Windows Server 2008, with a view to upgrade this to Server 2012, as this seems most relevant to our current tech and the work I've recently been involved in. So my first exams are 70-640, 70-642, 70-646. I just received the (nice and thick!) Microsoft Press study materials for these exams.

    I'm hoping that these forums will be as much of a help to me as they seem to have been with other members. And I'll gladly accept any getting started tips, rules of thumb, other resources etc. that anyone has to give!

    Thanks!
    Adam
     
    Certifications: MCP, MCTS 70-640, MCTS 70-642, MCSA 70-646
  2. GSteer

    GSteer Megabyte Poster

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    Hey Adam,

    Replied to your other thread regarding Technet etc - so I'll keep this one short.

    I'm studying the same MCSA currently with the same upgrade intentions. We're only just filtering 2012 servers into clients so makes sense to start at 2008 and then upgrade in 8-12 months or so once we've more 2012 boxes around. Might even be on the 2012 R2 exams then.

    Give us all a nudge with any questions on the content that we might be able to assist with :)
     
    Certifications: BSc. (Comp. Sci.), MBCS, MCP [70-290], Specialist [74-324], Security+, Network+, A+, Tea Lord: Beverage Brewmaster | Courses: LFS101x Introduction to Linux (edX)
    WIP: CCNA Routing & Switching
  3. nXPLOSi

    nXPLOSi Terabyte Poster

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    Hi Adam, welcome to the forums!

    I'm in the same boat as you both, MCSA 2008!

    I'll be sitting the 70-640 exam in a week or so and then straight onto the 70-642, so again, if you have any questions let us know. 8)
     
    Certifications: A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA 2003 (270, 290, 291), MCTS (640, 642), MCSA 2008
    WIP: MCSA 2012
  4. greenstarthree

    greenstarthree Nibble Poster

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    Hi guys, thanks for the welcome!

    Rest assured Ill be checking in with a few questions! I'm sure some of them will be "obvious" but everybody's got to start somewhere right?!

    Gsteer - thanks, ill take a look at the other thread

    Nxplosi - good luck with the exam! Did you use the MS books and a home lab to study?

    Cheers all
    Adam
     
    Certifications: MCP, MCTS 70-640, MCTS 70-642, MCSA 70-646
  5. nXPLOSi

    nXPLOSi Terabyte Poster

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    Thanks mate!

    I used the MS Press R2 book, the CBT Nuggets and an extensive lab. Throughout the book you must have to install over a dozen server instances so be prepared for that! On Chapter 17, AD FS, the book states you need 4 servers running at once and my hardware wasn't capable of that so I have had to reply on theory work and videos, hopefully it will see me through the exam next week. :ohmy
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2013
    Certifications: A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA 2003 (270, 290, 291), MCTS (640, 642), MCSA 2008
    WIP: MCSA 2012
  6. greenstarthree

    greenstarthree Nibble Poster

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    Hope it does! Sounds like I'm going to end up investing in a spec'd laptop to get these servers running!

    Just curious if you don't mind me asking, how long have you been studying for the 70-640 before you decided to book your exam?
     
    Certifications: MCP, MCTS 70-640, MCTS 70-642, MCSA 70-646
  7. nXPLOSi

    nXPLOSi Terabyte Poster

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    Yeah I invested in the laptop I'm currently using for study but this exam has pushed it to the edge that's for sure! It's only an i5 with 6GB RAM so I'll probably have to go back into the market soon for something better.

    I set myself a challenge of 10 weeks from picking the book up to passing the exam, and if all goes well next week then I would have made it within that time frame. I have been putting in around 2-3 hours a night and 4-5 hours on Saturday and Sunday so it's not been easy by any means. I also have the advantage that because I have already completed the MCSA 2003, some of the material in the 640 wasn't new to me.

    Once you get through the first few chapters you'll have a better idea of a reasonable time frame. 8)
     
    Certifications: A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA 2003 (270, 290, 291), MCTS (640, 642), MCSA 2008
    WIP: MCSA 2012
  8. greenstarthree

    greenstarthree Nibble Poster

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    That's a pretty dense schedule you set yourself! Hope it comes off!!

    Yeah I think once I get my lab set up and get running ill grab an idea of how well it's going. I know from what I've worked on in my job, there are areas I'm confident in and areas I've literally never explored so its hard to guess really!

    Going laptop hunting tomorrow / this weekend so time to knuckle down after that!

    Cheers
    Adam
     
    Certifications: MCP, MCTS 70-640, MCTS 70-642, MCSA 70-646
  9. greenstarthree

    greenstarthree Nibble Poster

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    Well I've now got a laptop on the way, so looking forward to getting my home lab set up!

    Just wondered what everyone's opinions were on Technet, I believe the official line is that we can still purchase a subscription till the end of August, and subscribers will still be able to download software until September 2014

    Would you say it would be worth buying a Technet subscription for a year, while the option is still there, or see how I go with the 180 day trials??

    Cheers
    Adam
     
    Certifications: MCP, MCTS 70-640, MCTS 70-642, MCSA 70-646
  10. monobrow

    monobrow Nibble Poster

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    Watch out for the activation deadline. I think I read that you could buy/renew a sub but there was a tight deadline (end of Sept?) after which they won't activate any products.

    I've used Technet for a few years, and it's been perfect for study. But if you can get trials of the products you want to learn about, and get your images built, patched and sysprepped then it's not that much hassle to use trials instead.

    If I'm wrong about the activation deadline, then £120 for Technet is money well spent, IMO
     
    Certifications: MOS Outlook 2010, MOS Word 2010, MCTS Windows 7, ITIL v3 Foundations, MCDST

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