Customer Reviews

MCSE SQL Server 2000 Administration for Dummies (with CD-ROM, covers test #70-228)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are too many mistakes in this book. You have to read fairly carefully to not get caught by them. For example, one of the "Prep Test" questions for chapter 14 is, "How do you create a temporary backup device?". In the answers it refers the reader to the "Performing Backups" section, which does not contain the specific answer that they're looking for. This is one example out of many where the text does not prepare you at all for a question.

There are also quite a few outright errors in the Prep Tests and Answers sections.

The book in general is quite informative, I'm only rating it this low because of the poor quality of the questions and answers -- it's as if they were added as an afterthought. I'm using this to prepare for 70-228, and now I wish I had a better book.

This book is the first I've read from the "Dummies" series and it provided a solid foundation for exam 70-228. It's a practical guide for working through and understanding the objectives for the exam. If you have little or no experience with SQL Server, the hands-on exercises will quickly get you on track with SQL administration. I read this book, worked through the exercises and studied the Transcenders to pass the exam.

I have never worked with SQL Server and had no previous knowledge of it until I started studying for this test. Because of that, I read several books (5) in preparation, including the Exam Cram, the one by Joyjit Mukherjee, and the Readiness Review from Microsoft Press. I thought this book was invaluable and taught me by far the most. Unless you are experienced with SQL Server, I would still recommend reading other books, especially the Readiness Review, but I can't say enough about the easy to understand, easy to read, but yet comprehensive coverage I found in this book. My good friend studied for the same test at the same time and felt the same.

I almost did not find anything on replication in this book, except for a small lab on how to create a standard publisher and subscriber. Also little info on auditing and troubleshooting, since this is an important part of the exam.

I read this book through once. I didn't read it altogether as I had long stints out of town for work. I also didn't do many of the excercies. I ended up almost passing the exam by doing nothing more. I missed by two questions I think. (My exam actually had scores.)

I'm sure I could have passed if I did even a little more or reread the book through within a reasonable time period instead of the 4 months or so I stretched it out over.

The book doesn't cover all the topics I had on the exam, and what it does cover it does without much depth. That's OK, I know how to use BOL. I never used the practice question in the book so I can't speak to those. You can get by with this book for the exam if you have some practical experience (imagine that!), use the BOL and most importantly (for me at least), a good practice exam.

This book explain difficult concepts in a easy way. It is very well organized but lacks of in depth coverage; most T-SQL commands are just covered briefly with no examples at all (Sybex book has more Exercises). I suggest to buy this one with Sybex 70-228 study guide or any other study guide of your choice. This one alone (if you have no previous experience with SQL 2000) will guide you to "failed" screen message when you reach the end of the test.

My first step for any certification is always a Dummies book. I find them well written and helpful to get me started... and this book was no exception. I did find a few mistakes and wrong information but that's been my experience with every certification book I've ever bought. This is a good book and well worth the money.

I used this book and practical experience as my main tools for preparation. The material covered in the book is the one required by the exam, and that's a good thing, although there are some inaccuracies.

The practice exams contains a lot of questions that are relevants,although there are again some mistakes.

Overall, the exam is difficult, and this book does help,so you may consieder it as an aid for your study.

Overall, an excellent piece to your I.T. library. While I always recommend buying the more serious Sybex or Microsoft book, I always suggest newcomers pick up a matching "For Dummies" version as well. Sometimes the major certification books can be confusing and the For Dummies series can be a good second look for others who hit a rough patch on a subject or topic when training. Buy this, trust me....