MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-292 and 70-296): Upgrading Your Certification to Microsoft Windows Server 2003: Upgrading Your ... Windows Server(tm) 2003 (Pro-Certification) [Hardcover]

Dan Holme (Author), Orin Thomas (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0735619719 | ISBN-13: 978-0735619715 | Publication Date: October 1, 2003

Upgrade your MCSA or MCSE certification—and your job skills—to Windows Server 2003 with this official Microsoft study guide for Exams 70-292 and 70-296. Work at your own pace through a system of lessons, hands-on exercises, troubleshooting labs, and review questions to maximize your performance on the upgrade exams.

The Readiness Review Suite powered by MeasureUp provides 850 challenging questions on CD 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.

You also get expert exam tips plus a full review section inside the book that covers all objectives and subobjectives for both exams, including:

MCSA/MCSE Exam 70-292

Implement, manage, and maintain:

• Users, computers, and groups
• Access to resources
• Software update services
• Remote access and Web servers
• Disaster recovery
• Name resolution
• Network security

MCSE Exam 70-296

Plan, implement, and maintain:

• Server roles and server security
• Network infrastructure
• Server availability
• Network security and security infrastructure
• Active Directory infrastructure
• User, computer, and group strategies
• Group Policy

Readiness Review Suite on CD Powered by MeasureUp

Your kit includes:

• NEW—Fully reengineered study guide covering two exams, two certification tracks. Includes complete objective-by-objective review plus expert exam tips.
• NEW—Readiness Review Suite featuring 425 questions per exam and multiple testing options.
• NEW—Case scenarios and troubleshooting labs for real-world expertise.
• NEW—180-day evaluation version of Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition.
• NEW—Fully searchable eBook.
• NEW—Microsoft Encyclopedia of Security eBook.
• Microsoft Encyclopedia of Networking, Second Edition, 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

Dan Holme is a Microsoft MVP and a contributing editor for Windows IT Pro magazine. He has more than 10 years’ experience as an IT consultant and trainer.

Orin Thomas is a writer, teacher, and consultant whose books include the Self-Paced Training Kits for Windows® 7, Vista®, Server 2008 / 2008 R2 and Exchange exams.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1488 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735619719
• ISBN-13: 978-0735619715
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.5 x 2.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,034,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Heavy Duty, November 13, 2003

By 

Wallace V. French III (Boston MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-292 and 70-296): Upgrading Your Certification to Microsoft Windows Server 2003: Upgrading Your ... Windows Server(tm) 2003 (Pro-Certification) (Hardcover)

Big heavy book with some big heavy content. A lot of info in this book. I got through about half of it before I took the exams. I passed the exams, but felt like I didn't really need to spend the time reading the book in order to do so. It comes with the Measure-Up practice tests which are pretty good. None of the questions from the practice tests were on the production exam, but taking them puts you in the test taking mode. Plus the practice tests give you an idea on what they are testing on with these new exams. A previous review mentioned DNS. DNS is big time on the 296 exam, but Microsoft assumes you already know about DNS and they really only ask questions about the new features in 2003 DNS. Conditional forwarding is a big new DNS concept as well as stub-zones. Know what they are. 292 is 55 questions and 296 is 51 questions. The 296 test is set-up a little different. You are asked 24 questions in one section then you can review then you are given another 26 questions. Once you get through the first 24 and you start the second half you cannot go back to review the first 24. Weird I know. Not sure about the method of their madness there, but they are trying to do something different. 292 is all about administering 2003. You really need to know 2000 as well. A lot of scenario questions on 296 regarding design. Windows 2003 introduces a bunch of new modes you can be in. Remember in 2000 you had mixed mode or native mode. In 2003 there are forest-level modes and domain-level modes. It is a little confusing. You need to know each mode or level and understand what features you can use with each. A few drag and drop questions on that. Remember some questions are worth more points than others so getting the big drag and drop or matching questions correct will get you more points. Universal group membership caching is important. Users no longer need a global catalog to log in provided you are in the right 2003 mode. A few questions on trusts as well. Overall this is a good book, but to me it is not 100% necessary to read it in order to pass. You might be better off with a smaller exam cram book and check out the 2003 white papers on Microsoft's website. These are both very passable exams for the MCSA/MCSE. 296 is a little harder, but if you know your stuff it shouldn't be much of a problem. Good luck.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great foundation for 70-292 and 70-296 studies, December 28, 2004

By 

Steven L. Umbach (Bartlett, Il United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-292 and 70-296): Upgrading Your Certification to Microsoft Windows Server 2003: Upgrading Your ... Windows Server(tm) 2003 (Pro-Certification) (Hardcover)

I recently upgraded my MCSE 2000 to MCSE 2003 and used this book as my core study material. First off I must say that unless you are very experienced with Windows 2003 I doubt any single book alone will suffice to provide all the needed material. Having said that for me it was a great start explaining the differences between 2000 and 2003 and hammering home the important points. It makes references to other online sources such as various white papers for more detailed information which should be taken advantage of. The explainations of trusts, dns namespace and name resolution, sites/global catalogs, UPN logon, users/groups, Group Policy, software installations, Organzational Units, redirected folders, Terminal Services/Remote Desktop, and backup/restores/shadow volume, were particualry good and very accurate. However I thought that the information on Certificate Services/PKI was a bit lacking and is HEAVILY covered in the 70-296 exam.

The quiz questions in the book are quite good with some real brain teasers that help you determine if you know a subject good enough. I would not spend too much time on questions that relate to rote memory facts but concentrate on those that present a problem/solution format. The real exams rarely test you on memorizing facts anymore like the maximum memory this edition of the operating system can have, etc. What is very helpful is that many of the questions will supply the answer, why it is right and why the others are wrong. I did not even try the cdrom quizzes. There are several hands on practice examples in the book. Unless you are real familiar with the particular topic I would be sure to do them and at least read through the others as there is often helpful information included such as the permissions needed on a share for redirect folders.

Beyond the book I did supplement my studies with pertinent chapters from the Windows 2003 Server Resource kit which you can download free. Of course I have had a lot of hands on experience with Windows 2003. In my case this was on my own home network, so you don't have to work in a large network. The one area as mentioned previously I thought Upgrading Your Certification to Microsoft Windows Server 2003 was lacking in was Certificate Services/PKI to the extent that the exam covered it. In general the upgrade exams, particularly 70-296, were heavy on security. Much more so than any past exams I took. What I suggest and what worked for me was to also supplement my studies with the Microsoft Press MCSE book on implementing security for the 70-299 exam. That book covered PKI, ipsec, kerberos/ntlm authentication, smart cards, and wireless network security in much more detail that I found helpful.

All in all if found the Micrsoft Press MCSA/MCSE Upgrading Your Certification to Microsoft Windows Server 2003 to be a great core study guide. If you look at it in that regard and not the sole source of information to pass the exams, which in my opinion is unrealistic, I believe you will find it very helpful.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book that meets the exam requirements, August 25, 2004

By 

J. Bailey (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-292 and 70-296): Upgrading Your Certification to Microsoft Windows Server 2003: Upgrading Your ... Windows Server(tm) 2003 (Pro-Certification) (Hardcover)

Hey, you all know that people respond differently to different authors styles...

Mark Minasi is quite entertaining; but IMO his style is better suited to conferences and desk references than certification study. This book covers the topics you need to pass the test. If you want entertaining reading, may I recommend the /Lensman/ series by E. E. "Doc" Smith or the /Redwall/ series by Brian Jacques?

I wager you'll find the bad reviews are either from folks who read the book superficially and expected to pass the test without sufficient hands-on experience or people who hate MS Press. Similarly, the good reviews are a mix of MS Press shills and folks who _did_ pass the tests. You can draw what conclusions you will from that bit of overly obvious prose.

I read the book, did the practice work, and passed 70-292 _easily_ (in and out of the test center in less than an hour). And since I'm old and slow, you young'uns could do better than me!! I'm working my way back through, more carefully this time, to prepare for 70-296.

Key Points:

1. When the book says look up something online, look it up.
2. When the book gives an example, try to recreate it in your home or office testing lab.
3. Those who try to short-sheet their studying are wasting their time and money.

Have a blessed day!! And may you meet good fortune on your quest to upgrade your MCSE certification!!