MCSE Training Kit: Designing Highly Available Web Solutions with Microsoft (MCSE Training Kits) (Paperback)

~ Microsoft Corporation (Author), Robert Sheldon (Author), Microsoft Press (Creator) "Protecting business uptime is an important challenge to many businesses..." (more)
Key Phrases: security auditing strategy, intersite replication strategy, system monitoring strategy, Application Center, Active Directory, Northwind Traders (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The MCSE Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000 Training Kit is a strange book. Most serious MCSA students will absolutely, no questions asked, need this book to pass the exam... but you wouldn't want to read it. That being said, the CD-ROM has something that's key for MCSE and MCSA students--a 120-day trial edition of the ISA software itself. Considering that the ISA software costs $1,500, buying this book to install that software legally and fool around with it at your leisure is a net savings of $1,440.

The book itself is a step backwards from Microsoft's usually excellent beginners' series, and is neither fish nor fowl--it doesn't offer the gentle introduction to the basic concepts that most Microsoft training kits do, and yet it contains a howling vacuum when it comes to real-life examples. What's left is a book that outlines each of ISA's functions in loving detail, without ever telling you why you would want to use any of them.

Let's give a real-life instruction from the book to explain what we mean:

On the Cache tab, select one of the following options contained in the Cache Content section:

• If you want all content to be cached, select the All Content, Including Dynamic Content, Will Be Cached radio button.
• If you want content to be cached only if source and request headers indicate to cache, select the If Source and Request Headers Indicate to Cache, Then the Object Will Be Cached radio button.
• If retrieved objects should not be cached, select the No Content Will Ever Be Cached radio button.

See what's missing? At no point does this book actually say what the drawbacks or advantages of caching dynamic content are.

Why would you want to do it? When would it be a bad idea? What are the real-world differences between caching dynamic content and caching only the content that the headers indicate should be cached--and what option do most system admins choose? From this book alone, you'd have no idea. And this is a constant problem throughout the book. You're told what ISA can do without being told the reasons behind the options, or even a hint as to what the best option usually is.

Admittedly, most Microsoft training kits are notoriously bad when it comes to actually preparing you for what you'll face on the exam--their sample questions aren't even in the standard multiple-choice MCSE/MCSA format, for gosh sake--but they do excel at providing basic introductions for novices and are excellent refresher courses, making them perhaps the best starting points in the business for any serious certification student. This book, on the other hand, is more of a documentation of the ISA application itself--it tells you quite clearly what ISA does. The book discusses the attacks that Microsoft can automatically detect, but doesn't tell you what to look for in the logs, nor what common approaches hackers take, or even what to do when you're under a Denial of Service attack.

Which is not to say that you can't learn anything from the book--it actually has more content than many other training kits. However, it does mean that if you haven't used ISA server in the real world until now, you'll know exactly how to specify a locally bound TCP port, list, or range in the Firewall Client Applications setting.

The short version: The incredible software savings here is worth the cost of the book alone, and then some. And the book is not a bad reference for those who've used ISA in the real world--or at least have configured firewalls and proxy servers. But most users will probably install the software and buy at least one other book to pass the exam with flying colors. --William Steinmetz --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

This official MCSE TRAINING KIT teaches IT professionals how to design mission-critical Web solutions using Windows 2000 Server technologies-as they prepare for MCP Exam 70-226, a core elective on the MCSE track. The kit balances high-level conceptual information with practical application: students learn through an integrated system of skill-building tutorials, case study examples, and self-assessment tools. Topics map directly to the objectives measured by the MCP exam, including planning and designing cluster and server architectures, network infrastructure, capacity requirements, security strategies, and application and service infrastructures. Business scenario examples help students apply the concepts they learn to real-world work situations. An economical alternative to classroom instruction, this MCSE TRAINING KIT enables students to set their own pace and learn by doing!

Product Details

• Paperback: 510 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735614253
• ISBN-13: 978-0735614253
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,142,276 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 3NF or "Don't put all your eggs in one basket", March 25, 2002

By	Yuri Mikailkov (Fredericksburg VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MCSE Training Kit (Exam 70-229): Microsoft SQL Server(tm) 2000 Database Design and Implementation (Pro Certification) (Mass Market Paperback)

In response to the other reviews, I do not believe that any one book is going to prepare you for the exam. And this book itself does not claim to. Throughout the text, there are ample references to Kalen Delany's "Inside SQL Server 2000" (A must have for any serious DB Designer/Admin) and to the BOL. If you use the book as it instructs, and you have the requisite experience (as outlined in the "About" section) then you will have learned a great deal and be prepared to pass the exam. If you are just looking for quick exam prep then buy the Troytech or Testkiller cheatsheets, but if you actually want to learn something then get this book and the aformentioned title by Ms. Delany.
Also, the other reviews are correct regarding the "generic" nature of the examples. The idea being to provide the prospective examinee with the fountations of good design and implementation practices. If you've been designing MS SQL solutions than it is an excellent way to review these principles. And if you've never designed MS SQL solutions then it's not a bad place to start.
Follow the instructions and you can't go wrong.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better ways to prepare, May 29, 2001

By	"alecw" (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MCSE Training Kit (Exam 70-229): Microsoft SQL Server(tm) 2000 Database Design and Implementation (Pro Certification) (Mass Market Paperback)

Although this book will probably help get you "ready" for the test (70-229), you will need several other resources to gain a true understanding of the concepts set forth. The excercises are far too general, but the essay type reviews at the end of each chapter are extremely helpful.

I would suggest Professional SQL Server 2000 Programming and SQL Server 2000 Developer's Guide as companions.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Study Guide, February 15, 2001

By	"tcolgrov" (Waukesha, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MCSE Training Kit (Exam 70-224): Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server Implementation and Administration (IT-Training Kits) (Paperback)

I thought was a very good Training Kit for the 224 exam. One of the included CDs had .avi's showing all Practice Exercise's that were very usefully incase you dont have access to test equipment. The book was well written and I did not found any blatant errors. For my test prep, I used this and the Exchange 2000 Resource Kit. The training kit provided a great overall coverage and example exercises. The Resource Kit then was able to pound the deeper more technical aspects into my brain.

Again I will go back to the exercises and .avi's. I personally dont have a cluster server to test on, but the training guide steps you through the install and configure process, while you watch it on video. The book also includes an eval copy of Exchange 2000 Enterprise and Outlook 2000