MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-640): Configuring Windows Server 2008 Active Directory [Hardcover]

Dan Holme (Author), Nelson Ruest (Author), Danielle Ruest (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0735625131 | ISBN-13: 978-0735625136 | Publication Date: June 14, 2008 | Edition: 1

Announcing an all-new Self-Paced Training Kit designed to help maximize your performance on 70-640, the required exam for the new Microsoft® Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration certification. This 2-in-1 kit includes the official Microsoft study guide, plus practice tests on CD to help you assess your skills. It comes packed with the tools and features 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 customizable testing options. It also provides real-world scenarios, case study examples, and troubleshooting labs for skills and expertise that you can apply to the job.

Work at your own pace through the lessons and lab exercises. Focusing on Active Directory in Windows Server 2008, this official study guide covers configuring, managing, and supporting user and computer accounts, groups, Domain Name System zones and client settings; group policy objects; the new Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service and Active Directory Rights Management Service; backup and recovery; and communication security.

Then assess yourself using 300+ practice and review questions on the CD, which features multiple, customizable testing options to meet your specific needs. Choose timed or untimed testing mode, generate random tests, or focus on discrete objectives. You get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers including pointers back to the book for further study. You also get an evaluation version of Windows Server 2008 and an exam discount voucher making this kit an exceptional value and a great career investment.

Key Book Benefits:

In-depth coverage of exam objectives and sub-objectives plus instructive case studies and troubleshooting scenarios to enhance your performance on the job

300+ practice and review questions

Test engine that enables customized testing, pre-assessment and post-assessment, and automated scoring and feedback

Complete objective-by-objective review section, plus a handy exam-mapping grid

Evaluation version of Windows Server 2008

15 percent exam discount voucher from Microsoft (limited-time offer)

Entire study guide in searchable eBook format

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dan Holme is the owner and founder of Intelliem, a consulting and training company. He is coauthor of the Self-Paced Training Kit for the Windows Server 2003 exam 70-290, among several other Microsoft Press® titles.

Tony Northrup, MCTS, MCSE, CISSP, and Microsoft Most Valuable Professional, is a consultant and author. He is coauthor of the Self-Paced Training Kits for the Windows® XP exams 70-270, 70-271, and 70-272, among several other certification exam prep titles.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 860 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press; 1 edition (June 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735625131
• ISBN-13: 978-0735625136
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.6 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #449,381 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book, lots of typo'd/wrong commands, August 20, 2008

By 

Raymond J. Ackley (Livonia, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-640): Configuring Windows Server 2008 Active Directory (Hardcover)

The good: The book quickly dispenses what you need to know for the exam, then tells you what you need to survive in the real world. I.e. Powershell and scripting. Coming from a 20,000+ user environment it is refreshing to see a book actually written for the "real world".

The bad: I'm only through the first four chapters, and oddly enough I find myself actually doing the examples. To my surprise, about one in ten commands is flat out wrong. Parameters are specified that aren't part of the program being executed (p.122), PowerShell commands that are typo'd bad enough to throw errors that would be undecipherable to most people (p.127), etc.

And no, despite the fact that they show it about 20x, you cannot use %username% from the command line to set a variable with dsmod as they show it, since it uses the logged in users' username (the admin running the command).

If they would have proof read and tested these commands before throwing them in the book it likely would have raised by rating of this book to a five. However, it's hard to overlook such glaringly obvious and *frequent* errors. I hope the other books in this series aren't as bad in this department.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Proofreading Wanted!, June 14, 2008

By 

A. Amos (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-640): Configuring Windows Server 2008 Active Directory (Hardcover)

I recently recieved this Microsoft Press training Kit for Exam: 70-640,
MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-640): Configuring Windows Server 2008 Active Directory

After reading through its over 860 pages of information, I was equiped to pass the Certification Exam. Although it is an excellent tool for preparing for the test, there are quite a few errors in the text. The book seemed rushed, as if the writers were trying to meet a deadline. There are many references to outside sources for concept understanding throughout the book. Some of the answers in the back do not match the questions in the lessons from each chapter. A few mispelled/misplaced words, and some information, such as on Page 280 which states that you can troubleshoot RSoP with Gpupdate.exe is just not correct. The statement should say Gpresult.exe instead. Nothing that a little more proofreading would not have solved.

All in all, the book was easy to grasp. I was happy overall with the content supplied by the curriculum. Once the errors are resolved, I feel that this will be an excellent source for 70-640 enthusiast.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, May 29, 2009

By 

M. Swiger (Moundsville,WV USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-640): Configuring Windows Server 2008 Active Directory (Hardcover)

I bought the MCITP Enterprise Administrator bundle which included this book. This was the second one I read in preparing for my certification. Overall not bad it goes into some detail on important key AD features. There was some incorrect information and mispellings throughout the whole book. I noticed this within the first 2 chapters. I even looked it up and Microsoft has a web page dedicated to the incorrect data. Including incorrect answers to questions they ask. The other portion that was lacking was the AD LS/CS/FS/RMS chapters. They each had one chapter and for ADFS and ADRMS overview that may be ok. However, they did not cover details on AD LS that was on the test and the AD CS chapter which is 13% of the test was really lacking. It went over some walk throughs for installs and setups, but did not cover much of the details needed for the exam. I recommend reading the book for the exam, but use other resources as well for the AD LS/CS/RMS/FS.