Question from an Exchange Newbie

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Thanks for taking time to read this post

Wonder if anyone can answer some basic questions about 70-284 from someone who knows nothing about it.

I work in IT, mainly on NT supported systems, but have some practical WIN2K commercial knowledge, but no email tech experience. I have passed 270 290 and 291.
I have a test lab at home with 3 WIN2003 servers and one WIN2K pro client.

Would this be a good elective to take to complete MCSA, I have an interest in messaging?

Can anyone compare this course in length and complexity with exams I have already taken ?

Is the exam a real beast ?

Any ideas on how it may take, to complete from scratch to passed exam ?

Is the exchange software available from MS, with the MS Press book ?

If so, what sort of lab config do you need to run it ? 2 of my servers are bare min spec for WIN2003 ?

I do have a possible opportunity to get involved with supporting Exchange ‘cos our account has just converted a whole load of Notes systems to Exchange, so I will probably get some help from my employer with some training time.

Many thanks

 

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Hi,

Hopefully one of our more experienced members will be around soon to help, sorry i can't

 

I was put off doing Exchange by a person I have the utmost respect for, a Tutor on another IT related site.

IMHO the exchange exam is very difficult in comparison to the ones you have taken thus far. It is a beast!

I jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire and took ISA instead. That took me a year, it was a killer too

They tend to get tougher as you progress.

 

it took me two months start to finish to learn exchange well enough to start studying for the exam, study for the exam, and pass it
its a beast, for some people that stuff comes a little too easy, and i still spend a fair bit of time on my exchange gear learning it and troubleshooting it, as an exam will never prepare you for a real exchange environment when things go wrong

it is a handy elective, as lots of orgs use exchange, especially MS houses looking to employ MCSA/MCSE folk

 

Thanks for the prompt and very useful replies.

I've found it very stressful and tiring this year studying in my own time, with no help from employer. The fact that I will get support (study time and on-line courses) with the Exchange course from my employer may well tip the balance in it's favour.

Thanks again.

 

I took the Exchange W2K exam and found it to be very fair. Consider the fact that EVERYBODY has e-mail.

 

I took 70-284 and 70-285 a couple of months ago and they are hard but fair exams. As far as resources for studying go I used:

Sybex 70-284 Study guide http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...8770/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_11_8/203-1918419-5175134

Tony Redmond's
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...852/sr=1-14/ref=sr_1_2_14/203-1918419-5175134

and this from Microsoft
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...8888/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_11_1/203-1918419-5175134

and frequenting sites such as

http://www.slipstick.com/exs/index.htm as well as the Technet Virtual labs at:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/traincert/virtuallab/exchange.mspx

I would also recommend trying to get hold of some instructional videos - they are often listed on ebay.

As far as the practical aspect goes hooking up a couple of machines would suffuce, play around with things like routing groups, admin groups, policies,OWA etc and you should be ok -

Let us know how it goes...