MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-297): Designing a Microsoft® Windows Server(TM) 2003 Active Directory® and Network Infrastructure (Pro-Certification) [Hardcover]

Walter Glenn (Author), Michael T. Simpson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 24, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0735619700 | ISBN-13: 978-0735619708

Ace your preparation for the skills measured by MCP Exam 70-297—and on the job—with this official Microsoft study guide. Work at your own pace through a system of lessons, case-study scenarios, and review questions.

The Readiness Review Suite on CD, featuring advanced technology from MeasureUp, provides 300 challenging questions for in-depth self-assessment and practice. You can choose timed or untimed testing mode, generate random tests, or focus on specific objectives. You get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers—including a customized learning path that describes how and where to focus your studies.

Maximize your performance on the exam by learning how to:

• Analyze existing business and technical infrastructure
• Define forest, domain, and OU structure; plan Group Policy implementation
• Develop Active Directory replication and migration strategies
• Design DNS, WINS, DHCP, and remote access infrastructure
• Plan TCP/IP infrastructure and network and routing topology
• Design Internet connectivity and security services

Readiness Review Suite on CD Powered by MeasureUp

Your kit includes:

• NEW—Fully reengineered self-paced study guide with expert exam tips.
• NEW—Readiness Review Suite featuring 300 questions and multiple testing options.
• NEW—Case scenarios for real-world design expertise.
• NEW—180-day evaluation version of Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition.
• NEW—fully searchable eBook.
• Microsoft Encyclopedia of Networking, Second Edition eBook.
• NEW—Microsoft Encyclopedia of Security eBook.

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

About the Author

Walter Glenn is a freelance consultant, writer, and editor in Huntsville, Alabama. He has been working in the computer industry for over a decade and provides solutions for small-to medium-sized businesses. Walter is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and Trainer who specializes in Internet and networking technologies.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 700 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (December 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735619700
• ISBN-13: 978-0735619708
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #618,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > Computers & Technology > Microsoft > Development > .NET

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good place to start your study for the 70-297, July 18, 2004

By 

Robert Sprowl (Anchorage, AK USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-297): Designing a Microsoft® Windows Server(TM) 2003 Active Directory® and Network Infrastructure (Pro-Certification) (Hardcover)

Overall this book is a good place to start your 70-297 study.

When I study for exams I us a combination of book study and practice tests such as the readiness review CD included with this title. My personal favorite testing software for Microsoft exams is the SelfTest Software products (who also writes the offical Microsoft testing materials). Based on my current experience with the 70-297 Selftest program, most of the question reference are based on the Windows Server Deployment Reource Kit - a hefty collection of books that go indepth on all the various aspects of deploying windows.

Bottom line is that you might want to cut out the middle man (ie. the MS 70-297 training kit) and invest in the Windows Server Deployment Reource Kit instead.

The worst part about the kit is that the Readiness review test is flawed when it comes to taking a test in the Certification mode - this mode is supposed to simulate a real test environment, however the 30 minute time limit to answer 90 questions is extremely unrealistic. That works out to 3 questions/min in a scenario based test environment. Last time I checked the real tests were aloted 2 hours for the test.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the right information for the exam., February 22, 2005

By 

Andrew J. Herger "Andy" (Sparks, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-297): Designing a Microsoft® Windows Server(TM) 2003 Active Directory® and Network Infrastructure (Pro-Certification) (Hardcover)

This MS Press book does a poor job in preparing the reader for exam 70-297. Not to say it doesn't include useful information, but it doesn't focus on the same information the exam appears to consider useful. For example, I'd estimate the real exam has 20% of its questions directly related to domain upgrade/migration procedures. This book's material on the same: 2 pages.

I do appreciate other MS Press books. ISBN 0735618992 (Exchange 2003, 70-284), and ISBN 0735615772 (AD for 2003 Technical Reference) are both great. By the way, I used the latter to fill in for some of the shortcomings of this book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good summary but missing specific details, September 23, 2005

By 

D. E. MCDONALD - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-297): Designing a Microsoft® Windows Server(TM) 2003 Active Directory® and Network Infrastructure (Pro-Certification) (Hardcover)

Overall this book was a great review and summary of some of the information covered on the 70-297 vendor exam. However, it was missing some specific details about material that was covered on the vendor exam. The case studies did a great job of preparing you for the type of format you will see on the exam but the content was not nearly as in-depth or challenging as on the vendor exam. IF you are looking for the quintessential book to prepare for the vendor exam, this is not it. However, as a review of major concepts it is right on.