MCSE....need a little help

[SilverThief]

I'm going to begin studying for a MCSE certification this year. Ive ordered study guides for tests
70-210, 70-215 but I"m unclear as to what to study for next.
If I understand correctly, there are 4 core tests and 1 or 2 electives. The 2 books Ive ordered I believe are part of that core, but I'm not sure what else is.
Can I take 70-270 WinXP as well, or is that something entirely different as the first 2 are for Win2k.

I figure to have my server+ beforehand, so I want to use that as one of my electives.

Any help in clearing this up would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[mrCide]

i took 210 and 215, then 217 then 219 and last week 216 (woo). i have 2 electives to take now (taking 228 and 229).

217 is directory services, 219 is designing directory services (core elective, you can take designing network infrastructure as a core elective also). and 216 is network infrastructure (core). and theres a list of electives.

xp/2k qualify for the same certification. mcse requirements.

i took network+ today and finished in about 20 minutes, comptia exams are a joke compared to microsoft. especially after taking 216

 

[Tripleshot]

mrCide

Congratulations.I too took that path also. I am W2K MCSE/MCDBA now. There is a big push for MCSA now. That is 70-218. It takes 7 tests to get MCSE/MCDBA/MCP, and one more test (70-218) will get you the quadfecta MCP/MCSA/MCSE/MCDBA.

70-210
70-215
70-216
70-217
70-219-------You need a design test for MCSE---You can pick this or 70-220 or 70-221
70-228
70-229

MCP/MCSE/MCDBA


70-218
MCSA-------Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator

MCSA requires only 4 tests==70-210,70-215,70-216,and 70-218. 70-216 can be substituted with compTia A+ and Network+ or Network + and Server+ but my recommendation is stay on track with rthe microsoft product line for this cert. You will need the knowlwdge anyway, so why pay more for unrelated tests?( I say that only if you know nothing of computers. A+ is an entry level computer tech test as well as network+ is entry level networking)

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

216 is a big pain in the arse, took me 3 tries to get thru it. 5 down, 2 to go.

 

[SilverThief]

Great thats exactly what I wanted to know. I'll go for MCSA first, then onto MCSE.
What is 70-218 titled? I'll need to pick up an exam guide for it.

 

[mrCide]

<< mrCide

Congratulations.I too took that path also. I am W2K MCSE/MCDBA now. There is a big push for MCSA now. That is 70-218. It takes 7 tests to get MCSE/MCDBA/MCP, and one more test (70-218) will get you the quadfecta MCP/MCSA/MCSE/MCDBA.

<snip>
>>



Thanks . Have you taken 218? I was considering it after i finish 228/229. If so, is it difficult? Hard to imagine anything as hard as 216 was..

peeluckyduckee, congrats to you too..

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

Thx. 218 was pretty simple for me actually. I did the beta exam, 92 questions, completed within 3hrs. Didn't study for it at all. Got an email from MS 2 month later saying I passed.
I've achieved MCSA status (doesn't mean much w/o experience). May not do MCSE, starting on my CCNP right now. Cisco material is very interesting I find. Also much less competition in the city, quite a few MCSE's but very few Cisco people.

Goodluck
Plucky

 

[Tripleshot]

I'm preping for MCSA now just for grins. Once you have achieved MCSE, MCSA is not that important. An MCSE should be able to administer a network he/she is capable of designing and building. The MCSA cert helps the marketplace by getting a "certified " "systems administrator" to take control of duties that an MCSE would be over-qualified for. Many of us concluded that MCSA was dumbing down MCSE to placate IT managers who wanted to decrease the payroll demands for Network Admins. MCSA's wil be paid considerably less than MCSE's, but by the same token, MCSE's can be paid for doing what they are trained for, designing networks to work. The day to day stuff of changing passwords and replacing DAT back up tapes can fall to a junior man,while an MCSE would be more into the nuts and bolts, back office stuff.

MCSA would be a logical entry point into an IT deaprtment, as the MCP titile is so generic as to not be vey meaningfull, since all one need do is take and pass one of many, many tests to abtain the cert.

Once you have obtained your networking cert, whatever path you choose, go for security and cisco anything (CCNA,CCNP,CCNE). It can only enhance your career oppurtunities.

Good luck to all of you who are pursuing these certs. It will cost you much time and some large pocket change. When it is all over and you are successful, I hope you are rewarded handsomely for your efforts.