Hello from Hunter...goals included !

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I've been in the IT industry officially for about 5 years. I started at the Help Desk level, then Desktop/side support. About 2 years into that I moved into a more jack of all trades role, having a bit more duties with servers and setting up file shares for users at our site. That would have been more enjoyable, though I still dealt with the hands-on deskside support at the same time. In December 2010, I moved to Florida and have been working in more of a Security/Access Management role. It's my responsibility to "audit" requests that come in to us and provision accounts/groups to servers if they are within compliance and have the proper approvals.

I enjoy working with Active Directory, managing users and groups. I am able to work remote part time, but I want to do that more full time as well. I am about to start studying for the entry level MCITP:Server Administrator (640, 642, 646). I feel that this exam, combined with my variety of experience in other fields, should assist me in getting at least an entry level job in Server Administration.

The 70-640 book pretty much requires that you are hands on with a machine to build a server and setup AD forest(s), correct? I just received my book and it doesn't seem like I can get away with reading and memorizing. Most chapters are built in a way that requires you to do lab work at the same time as reading the information.

I am going to install VMWare Player (free), and then I think Microsoft has a 180 day free trial--I'm a newbie and can't link to the Microsoft site that includes the download.

Is this the route to go? I don't have multiple desktops at home, so virtualizing is the way to go for me.

 

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Everything you said sounds absolutely spot on.

I'd say VMWare Player (I prefer Virtualbox, but to each, his own), with a Server 2008 install, and then maybe 3 XP/Win 7 VMs to see the effects of applying GP etc)

Depending on which book you have, be really careful when labbing the 640, as the book is riddled with mistakes. There are usually errata lists online, particularly from MS-Press.

 

Using the books straight from the source, Microsoft Press 70-640 book. Do you recommend something else?

 

I do apologise profusely. I am talking **** (I think) - it's the 680 book that is riddled with problems. I have no reason to think it might be any different though!

 

Oh, there's still issues with the second version of the 70-640 book, have no fear. There doesn't appear to be an errata for the second version either. I've come across 3 or 4 contradictions / syntax errors so far.

As for other options for 70-640, unsure, most recommended that one too me previously and I have access to it so that's the one I'm using. I'll prob get hold of the Boson text exams when it comes to that time too.