MCSE : The Core Exams in a Nutshell, 2nd Ed. [Paperback]

Michael Moncur (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1565927214 | ISBN-13: 978-1565927216 | Publication Date: March 8, 2000 | Edition: Second Edition

MCSE: The Core Exams in a Nutshell Second Edition, is the long-awaited update to the bestselling first edition. The second edition completely updates the NT exams and the new Windows 98 exam and covers the new adaptive tests. This dense and tightly written book is a must-buy in order to be well prepared for the exams.

Microsoft's MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) program is a rigorous testing and certification program for Windows NT system and network administrators. To achieve certification, one must pass four required exams and two elective exams. Close to twenty potential elective exams exist, although only nine of them are current electives covering the most recent version of a given product. Microsoft also has the MCSE+Internet certification, which requires passing seven required exams and two elective exams. There are four current elective exams to choose from to attain this certification.

MCSE: The Core Exams in a Nutshell, Second Edition, is a comprehensive study guide that covers the required exams for the MCSE certification. The companion book, MCSE: The Electives in a Nutshell, covers the most important and popular elective exams for the MCSE certification as well as the other required and elective exams for the MCSE+Internet certification.

The required exams covered in this book are:

• Networking Essentials
• Windows NT Workstation
• Windows NT Server
• Windows 98 (you must choose either the NT Workstation or Windows 98 exam)

Each chapter in the book covers one exam. It includes:

• A summary of the key areas covered by the exam
• A description of the format and difficulty of each exam and tips for passing it
• Definitions of key terms
• Sample test questions and answers, including multiple tests to prepare you for the new adaptive tests, which have proven to be more challenging to take

MCSE: The Core Exams in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition, is an updated edition of the bestselling first edition. It is a detailed quick reference for administrators with Windows NT experience or experience administering a different platform, such as UNIX or NetWare, who want to learn what is necessary to pass the required exam portion of the MCSE certification.

While no book is a substitute for real-world experience, this book will help you codify your knowledge and prepare for the exams. Any administrator who is serious about passing the exams required exams for the MCSE certification will find this book an invaluable tool.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

With Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSEs) flooding the marketplace, employers can now afford to pick and choose among job candidates. As a prospective MCSE, this means you must use top-quality learning aids in your training. MCSE: The Core Exams in a Nutshell approaches the five core MCSE exams (four of which you must take and pass) as just a part of your total education in the ways of Microsoft Windows NT. The book contends that book learning must combine with experimentation and experience to yield a grade-A network technician. It's a reasonable philosophy that should serve its adherents well in the long term.

Because it's meant to fit into a larger regime of practice and experiment, this book is skinnier than pretty much any of its competitors. Don't let its compact size fool you, though. This is a thoroughly researched, carefully organized guide to everything Microsoft expects you to know for the four main MCSE exams. It's very dense--with lots of tables, lists of options, and procedures--but has enough commentary to help you get concepts like data-striping and database-sizing straight in your mind. Each chapter concludes with a sample test (with answers) and a "Highlighter's Index" that lists key facts in super-concise form. --David Wall

Topics covered: Everything in the published Microsoft exam objectives for Networking Essentials (70-058), Windows NT 4 Server (70-067), Windows NT 4 Server in the Enterprise (70-068), Windows NT 4 Workstation (70-073), and Windows 98 (70-098) exams. (You must pass the first three of those, plus either the Windows 98 exam or the Windows NT Workstation exam, en route to your MCSE.)

About the Author

Michael Moncur is a freelance author and consultant in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is the owner of Starling Technologies, a small company specializing in network consulting and Web content development. Michael is certified as both a CNE and an MCSE, and is the author of several books on NetWare, NT, and the CNE and MCSE programs, including NT Network Security and CNE Study Guide for IntranetWare (Sybex/Network Press) and the upcoming MCSE: The Electives in a Nutshell (O'Reilly).

Product Details

• Paperback: 484 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; Second Edition edition (March 8, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565927214
• ISBN-13: 978-1565927216
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,906,646 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, August 15, 2000

By 

Novus Focus - See all my reviews

This review is from: MCSE The Core Exams In a Nutshell (Paperback)

This book and the "Elective Exams in a Nutshell" were the primary references I used for getting my MCSE (NT 4.0). There is about 70 pages on each exam to study. Some books take 400 pages to deliver the exact same information.

The beginner will probably want additional references along with this book though. (because it is so compact the beginner might have trouble with it if they don't have other references)

I passed all of my exams on the first try with very little studying because of this book. It is absolutely the best source of information for passing the exams (not to mention one of the cheapest). I found it much better then the Trancender Exams which are so popular (and expensive I might add).

(note: this book will be out of date very soon though and you should probably look for a newer edition)

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Review Book, January 17, 2000

By 

R. Krause (Tempe, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MCSE : The Core Exams in a Nutshell (Paperback)

After studying much larger study guides, I used this as a final review. For each section being around 40 pages, it covers alot in so few pages quite well. I have uncovered a few errors, such as in one place they say that the /d flag sets the temporary directory while installing windows nt, which is wrong, there is no /d flag. The correct flag is /t though in all other sections it is stated as being the correct /t. But, if you know your stuff like you should before even attempting the real test, the few errors should pop out at you, like they did for me. I also the highlighters section was pretty cool: 4-5 pages cramming all the high points. For it's size and cost, I feel you really can't go wrong picking it up as your final review.

A+,Network+,MCP

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommendation from a beginner, January 5, 2000

By 

Jeremy T. Carr (Kodiak, AK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MCSE : The Core Exams in a Nutshell (Paperback)

I am currently studying at home to get my MCP+I. It is very well written and designed for the student with little computer knowledge, who is just knocking at the door of the IT field. But, after completing the 1400 pages of course work for exam 070-067 NT Server and 070-073 NT Workstation, I felt lost and not even close to being ready to take the exams. I ordered this book because it was both cheap and highly recommended. I passed both of my exams on the first try. I received a score of 866 on Server and 833 on Workstation. This book is awesome as a cram session book and a pocket guide for the field. I highly recommend this book to anyone studying for the exams and for the those who are already in the IT field.