MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-293): Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft® Windows Server(TM) 2003 Network Infrastructure, Second Edition [Hardcover]

Craig Zacker (Author), Anthony Steven (Author), Content Master (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 10, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0735622876 | ISBN-13: 978-0735622876 | Edition: 2nd

Ace your preparation for the skills measured by MCP Exam 70-293 and on the job with this official Microsoft study guide, now updated for Service Pack 1. Work at your own pace through a system of lessons, hands-on exercises, troubleshooting labs, and review questions.

The Readiness Review Suite on CD, featuring advanced technology from MeasureUp, provides 425 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 expert exam tips and 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:

• Plan TCP/IP network infrastructure, topology, and Internet connectivity
• Configure server roles and baseline security settings
• UPDATED—Plan routing and remote access strategies, including new information on Network Access Quarantine Control
• UPDATED—Design and administer a security infrastructure
• NEW—Identify and deploy critical updates with update management tools
• Deploy IPSec, harden servers, and manage certificates
• Maintain server availability with clusters and network load balancing

Your kit includes:

• 15% exam discount from Microsoft. Offer expires 12/31/10. Details inside the book.
• Official self-paced study guide with expert exam tips.
• Readiness Review Suite featuring 425 questions and multiple testing options.
• Case scenarios and troubleshooting labs for real-world expertise.
• NEW—180-day evaluation version of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition.
• NEW—Demos and bonus material on the CD.
• Fully searchable 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

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

Craig Zacker is a writer, editor, and educator who has written or contributed to dozens of books on operating systems, networking, and PC hardware, as well as several college texts and online training courses. Craig is the author of the Windows Small Business Server 2008 Administrator's Pocket Consultant, and co-authored the MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-686): Windows 7 Desktop Administrator.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1150 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press; 2nd edition (May 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735622876
• ISBN-13: 978-0735622876
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.6 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #813,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars "Two thumbs down.", December 14, 2006

By 

Alla Serebrennikova (Staten Island, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-293): Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft® Windows Server(TM) 2003 Network Infrastructure, Second Edition (Hardcover)

Generally, MS-Press Self Paced Second Edition books are good. Especially they did a great job on 290 and 291. This book, however, is an exception. This book does not cover many exam areas at all, and I am not talking nuances. There is no mentioning in this book about PKI certificate archival (new feature in Server 2003 family, well tested on 293 exam), or the GC placement, and several other areas. Those subjects that are covered in the book, are not covered in depths, in fact, they look like poor summaries and will not prep you for the exam in any way, nor will they prepare you for real life situations. Author jumps around same topics and is not able to clearly explain most of them. Practices are not worth installing a fresh copy of Server. There are no good "Exam Tips", like in other MS-Press books. I doubt that Craig actually took this exam.
I understand that no exam preparation book alone is enough to prepare for the exam, but those that I read so far, did a pretty good job on it. I was able to ACE several Microsoft exams using Self Paced guides and Testout videos.
This book tried to trick me into thinking that 293 exam was peace-of-cake. It is not! Do not be fooled. Exam is probably as hard as 291. It may seem easier after taking 291, but without that preparation 293 would be close to impossible to pass for the first time. Yes, it is in some ways similar to 291, but it covers whole bunch of different topics, and focuses on a different agenda. This book will not help you pass the exam. Book is a joke.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not comprehensive, but definitely worthwhile, November 7, 2006

By 

Christopher Parker "Always in training." (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-293): Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft® Windows Server(TM) 2003 Network Infrastructure, Second Edition (Hardcover)

I currently have my MCSA with relatively little experience(comparatively speaking). Therefore, I knew I needed to be thorough with my reading for this particular test. A lot of what's in here is stuff I've never dealt with hands on(ie Clusters, NLB, RRAS, and CA). That said, I figured the most comprehensive route would be LearnKey training videos coupled with a cover to cover reading of this book. I've heard the second edition of these books are much better. While this book does do a very good job covering all the exam topics, it's fatal flaw is that it mentions nearely nothing about dealing with legacy systems within a AD Infrastructure. I was horrified to discover about 10-15% of the questions(and even a simulation) that require you to maintain support for NT4 and Windows 98 clients while simultaneously requiring you to meet the requirements for security or GPO assignments. The book only mentions these OS's in passing really, and says nothing regarding how you handle these scenarios. Needless to say, I was very unprepared for these questions despite a good solid month and a half of comprehensive preparation. However, I did pass with a 775, and if you can find something else to make up for this lapse in coverage(be it experience or another book), you can ace the exam with a thorough reading of this book. Just don't skip the practice questions at the end! They may be tedious and not be anything like the actual exam questions, but they actually do a very good job focusing you on the things you should know for the exam.

2.0 out of 5 stars Does Not Cover Near Enough Material For The Exam, August 24, 2009

By 

Jonathan Pinto (Ohio) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-293): Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft® Windows Server(TM) 2003 Network Infrastructure, Second Edition (Hardcover)

This was the first MS Press book I went through. I like how Microsoft gives you instructions on how to prepare your server for the labs to follow. The problem is that the labs, and more importantly the other material in the book, do not go into near enough detail in covering what you need to know for the actual exam. When I took my first practice test, there was so much information that wasn't covered in the book. I'm glad I borrowed this from the library instead of paying money for it. In my opinion, the Syngress book for the 70-293 is much more detailed. If you are not taking the exam and want a high-level overview of how to plan and maintain a Windows Server 2003 network, then this might be a good book to start with. However, if you are preparing for the exam and want a book that covers all of the exam topics in detail, look elsewhere.