MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-291): Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft® Windows Server(TM) 2003 Network Infrastructure, (Pro Certification) [Hardcover]

J.C. Mackin (Author), Ian McLean (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0735622884 | ISBN-13: 978-0735622883 | Publication Date: May 31, 2006 | Edition: 2nd ed.

Announcing an all-new MCSA/MCSE Training Kit designed to help maximize your performance on Exam 70-291, a core exam for the new Windows Server 2003 certification. This kit packs the tools and features that exam candidates want most—including in-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content; rigorous, objective-by-objective review; exam tips from expert, exam-certified authors; and a robust testing suite. It also provides real-world scenarios, case study examples, and troubleshooting labs for skills and expertise that you can apply to the job.

Focusing on network infrastructure management for Windows Server 2003, this official study guide covers topics such as implementing, managing, and maintaining IP addressing, name resolution, network security measures, routing and remote access, and monitoring and troubleshooting network infrastructure.

Ace your exam preparation and ramp up quickly on Windows Server 2003 by working at your own pace through the lessons, hands-on exercises, and practice tests. The flexible, best-of-class test engine on CD features 300 practice questions and pre-assessment and post-assessment capabilities. Choose timed or untimed testing mode, generate random tests, or focus on discrete objectives or chapters, and get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers—including pointers back to the book for further study. You also get a 120-day evaluation version of Windows Server 2003 and a 15 percent exam discount voucher—making this kit an exceptional value and a great career investment.

A Note Regarding the CD or DVD

The print version of this book ships with a CD or DVD. For those customers purchasing one of the digital formats in which this book is available, we are pleased to offer the CD/DVD content as a free download via O'Reilly Media's Digital Distribution services. To download this content, please visit O'Reilly's web site, search for the title of this book to find its catalog page, and click on the link below the cover image (Examples, Companion Content, or Practice Files). Note that while we provide as much of the media content as we are able via free download, we are sometimes limited by licensing restrictions. Please direct any questions or concerns to [e-mail].

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Key Book Benefits: - NEW—Fully reengineered study guide written by exam-certified authors - NEW—Deeper, more focused coverage of exam objectives and sub-objectives—plus instructive case studies and troubleshooting scenarios to enhance your performance on the job - NEW—300 practice questions on CD, with a test engine that enables customized testing, pre-assessment and post-assessment, and automated scoring and feedback - NEW—Complete objective-by-objective review section, plus a tear-out exam-mapping grid - NEW—Exam tips based on real-world test experience - NEW—120-day evaluation version of Windows Server 2003 - 15 percent exam discount voucher from a leading authorized testing center (limited time offer) - Microsoft Encyclopedia of Networking, Second Edition, eBook - Practice files on CD - Entire study guide in searchable eBook format

About the Author

J.C. Mackin, MCITP, MCSE, MCT, has 10+ years’ experience with Microsoft networks and is an IT consultant, trainer, and author.

Ian McLean, MCITP, MCDBA, MCT, has 40 years of experience in industry, commerce, and education. He's written 18 books, including coauthoring MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-291): Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure, Second Edition, plus many technical articles and papers. He currently runs his own consulting company.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1230 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press; 2nd ed. edition (May 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735622884
• ISBN-13: 978-0735622883
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.6 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #425,448 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #71 in Books > Computers & Technology > Microsoft > Development > .NET

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars No Longer Acceptable, June 2, 2004

By 

Steve Lalonde (Colorado United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-284): Implementing and Managing Microsoft® Exchange Server 2003 (Pro-Certification) (Hardcover)

Countless times I have been foolish enough to think that since it is a Microsoft product, there would be a higher quality of content, style, teachability, and quality. For me this book finally broke the camel's back. Why in the world that between two authors, all the proof readers, the senior editors, junior editors, editing editors, the project managers, acquisition editor, copy editors, desktop publishing specialist, etc etc etc, one cannot depend on a decent book with minimal errors (and I am not talking about spelling errors).

The book has you in a yoyo, dcpromoing up, down, back to standalone, then back to member server just to go through the books chapters. Just know that if you were to really go through the book as it is written, be prepared to have many machines with many operating systems, and also be prepared to build and rebuild just to learn Exchange 2003. (Hint: use vmware and answer files - also own All the operating systems and all the Exchange applications since 5.5) <-- Yeah, everyone just has those in their back pocket)

I have finished the book and the frustration of mistakes and serious errors on "how to's" alone could disappoint even an advanced technical MCSE. The authors are also over-zealous in using all the Microsoft jargon in every sentence when just some simple wording would have worked wonders. The authors also present step by step examples but leave out the very preparation where one has to be in order to start the step by step implementation. Most all of this could have been easily corrected by "someone really working through the book" as a person who wanted to learn Exchange 2003. Not someone with a "proof reader" title that does little more than review a page or two.

There are now other books that can teach you Exchange 2003. This book could be used as a 3rd book if necessary but not a first book. That is why they even get 2 stars. Microsoft seems to always get authors that are there for the paycheck and recognition but not for the customer support. Tony Redmond's book is exceptional.

(...)

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Caused me a lot of trouble and headaches, December 27, 2004

By 

K. Hudson "Technical writer" (Tempe, AZ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-284): Implementing and Managing Microsoft® Exchange Server 2003 (Pro-Certification) (Hardcover)

I used this book to teach a course on Exchange based on someone else's recommendation. I really should have read the reviews here first. That was a terrible idea. There are technical errors, the activities don't work, and there are lots of surprise requirements. The hardware and software requirements listed at the beginning of the book are not all you will need to complete the labs. What a major pain this course was for me to use. I am very sorry that I purchased 15 copies of this book. Don't be fooled by high sales numbers, this product is not worth it.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not exactly a great resource for learning Exchange 2003, July 13, 2004

By 

Frank Genar "frank_ge" (Belgium) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-284): Implementing and Managing Microsoft® Exchange Server 2003 (Pro-Certification) (Hardcover)

This book doesn't help to learn fast and efficient.
Everything in this book is explained in text, which makes learning very, very time-consuming. So many times a little diagram could have been be very helpful in explaining how the various components of such a complex system work together. It's not there. The authors leave it to the reader to reconstruct the diagram from the textual description. Takes time.
The book also doesn't have a single table. Up to the reader to reconstruct the tables from the text.
Also missing in this book are normal page numbers. Page numbering restarts from 1 at every chapter. Not very handy if you're working with the register.

This book is not the best resource for what is was intended: studying Exchange 2003. You might want to complement this book with technical articles that you download and print from the MS website, that will give some diagrams to complement the text.