MCSE Fast Track: SQL Server 7 Administration [Textbook Binding]

Andy Ruth (Author), Anil Desai (Author)

Book Description

Series: MCSE Fast Track | Publication Date: May 1999

The SQL Server 7 Administration exam is applicable to the MCSE as an elective and is a required exam for the MCDBA certification. Intended for more advanced students, each book in the Fast Track series has two parts: Part I gets students ready for the test FAST, covering just what they need to know to pass the test. Part II takes them through the test and into real-world use of the technology. Each book contains invaluable real-world applications for the technology covered in the exam, taken from the author's training and consulting files.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Fast Track series already covers the four core exams (everyone must take these) and two of the most popular electives, passing all of which earn the candidate MCSE status. SQL Server 7 Administration adds to the growing list of popular electives offered in Fast Track format. Each book has two parts: Part I gets you ready for the test FAST, covering just what you need to know to pass the test, assuming you have a working knowledge of the technology to begin with. Part II takes you through the test and into the real-world use of the technology, with chapters on: Fast Facts Review Section: Digest of each chapter-ending 'What's Important-to-Know' section from Part I; Hotlists of Exam-Critical Concepts; Sample Test Questions: One question per key point made in the book; Insider's Spin: What Microsoft doesn't necessarily want you to know; Did You Know?: Invaluable real-world applications for the technology covered in the exam, taken from the author's training and consulting files.

About the Author

Andy Ruth has been in the computer industry since the late 1970's when he joined the U.S. Navy and provided support of flight simulators. In the corporate environment, he has provided systems support for computers ranging from large mainframes to small pc networked environments. He holds the MCT and MCSE + I certifications, as well as others, and he has written a number of other books on Microsoft products. Ruth is currently a Program Manager at Microsoft Corporation working with the Windows 2000 training curriculum and is also a guest speaker at technology seminars.

Product Details

• Textbook Binding: 265 pages
• Publisher: New Riders Publishing (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735700419
• ISBN-13: 978-0735700413
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,065,559 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Already familiar with SQL, then this book is AWESOME!, July 26, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (San Antonio, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MCSE Fast Track: SQL Server 7 Administration (Textbook Binding)

If you are familiar with database administration for SQL 6.5, then this book hits the facts hard and fast for passing the Exam for SQL 7.0 Administration. This is an extremely hard exam...even for Microsoft. This exam is not for the "faint of heart".

The SQL 7.0 Administration exam is designed for individuals that have a lot of industry experience and a good working knowledge of the product. The book does an excellent job at preparing one for the exam.

Some of the supposed errors that other people have "found" are in fact really not errors. One of the errors about hardware requirements was actually an oversight on Microsoft's part. I believe if you check their site, you will find that the requirements match up pretty well. Some of the other comments indicate that the readers are not overly familiar with SQL.

Great book, two thumbs up for the authors for concisely presenting useful information for experienced users. New Riders has always been a favorite publisher of mine and I will continue to use them.

Bob Collier MCSE + I, MCT, A+

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Errors might catch you!, June 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: MCSE Fast Track: SQL Server 7 Administration (Textbook Binding)

Hm, well the book opens with listing it's target audience. It mentions four "highlights" - brevity, focus, concentrated value and classroom tested. Well it's brief at 170 pages of material. And that is very cool (I wanted to say, at last!!!) It says it focuses on "people who know the technology but are not yet certified." This is where I have to say I was a little put off. I'm going to get to three errors in the first 29 pages, which leads me to question how successful they have been at that! "Concentrated value" in their terms says that the book might appeal to the wider audience - but with the errors, I think not!

Let me get to the nitty-gritty that makes me say that this book was not proof read too closely. These are some simple examples of sloppy work. Page 25 lists the objects in SQL 7 and gives a definition for each. However, they list VIEW twice - and each time with a different definition. On page 28 they talk about SQL application design. They show a graphic, then next to the graphic give a description of each of the four scenarios that can be used. Their definition of "intelligent Server" is incorrect, and does not match the graphic shown to illustrate it. The "business" element is completely missing from the description, they replace it with "presentation". Finally, they define "NT and SQL Authentication" and fail to explain that mixed mode allows for EITHER Windows NT authentication OR a unique SQL login. Their explanation leads you to believe that you MUST have a unique SQL login and that NT account authentication pass-through does not work. I will add - their minimum hardware requirements are off - and don't match MS's own material, either.

The book contains only one test to try - which is disappointing. It comes at the end of the book - so there is no reinforcement after each chapter. I like the idea of this book - but the execution here is poor. The editors were sloppy - which really hurts the value. I have not finished the book - probably not inclined to since there are errors so early on. I'll read some more to see what other errors I can find. Sadly, this is one great idea gone bad.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, despite the minor errors, July 10, 1999

By 

P. Lyons - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MCSE Fast Track: SQL Server 7 Administration (Textbook Binding)

I agree that there are a few obvious errors and that it wasn't proofread as well as it should have been; considering that this is New Riders IS surprising.

However, as a highly experienced 6.5 admin, I'm still glad I bought this one because it gets right to the point on all you need to know about version 7's exam. Despite the minor errors, I still stand behind New Riders all the way.

There is no such thing as a completely error-free study guide, which is why we should all be thankful for things like publishers errata Web sites, newgroups, and (of course) Amazon.com