Boot Camps........??? 1

[Juandaman81]

HI,

Last week, Our Technical Manager decided to hand in his notice after 9 long years at our company (I know your watching pagy). I'm the next in line to take this job, but they want me to get to his level fast, he's currently an MCSE(2003). they suggested a "boot Camp".?????????

Has anyone used this method before, i passed the 70-270 exam before xmas, but haven't started 70-290 yet. They say they can get u an mcse in 14 days, i just can't beleive that is really the case.

any input would be very helpful

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[Juandaman81]

PJamesD

what do you mean i dont need 290 for an mcse? i'm confused now!

just passed 290 - with 814 - not the highest but...anything over 700 is good enough for me, i feel like i have earned the right to at least try the other server exams...291/293/294/298 now....
The next exam is sec+ (sys01?) so this should be fun, my idea of security is turning the pc monitor off!!! lol

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[PJamesD]

No, - you dont need to pass the XP version of the 270 for the MCSE, as you've already got the W2K version of 270. That was my understanding from what you've posted.

Congrats on passing 290, - that's not a bad score.

Have fun with Sec+!!!!!

 

[Juandaman81]

290 - update, 2 didnt take and 2 others didnt pass

passed sec+, what a stupid exam that is... 1 other didnt take it and 1 didnt pass.

On to 291 now.... starting to feel the pressure with this one,


time to get my head down and learn DNS DNS DNS

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[NickFerrar]

Heh this brings back memories, yeah I had Dave on my camp to. He's very focused for sure but I think the problem is more some people think it will be run like a normal MS course where you have plenty of time to go off on tangents and discuss how you do things in your environment and chat about stuff like the MS way vs the real world way. On a boot camp though there's no time for that, there's barely enough time for them to go over stuff a couple of times if people don't understand it first time so the instructors do get a bit frustrated with people that constantly ask irrelevant stuff.

On the camp I did everyone passed 270, 4 or 5 failed 290 and it went downhill from there. 291 I thought was one of the hardest, if you pass that then I'd say carry on and take the other exams in the order you're supposed to. If you fail 291 though I'd consider working on 290 and 291 again and forgetting the design exams during the camp.

 

[PJamesD]

Nick - I appreciate the irritation of irrelivant questions and of course the very tight time-frame.

However, - there is absolutely no excuses to be aggressive, rude, or try to belittle anyone.

The entire class agreed with these sentiments, - thankfully it didn't spoil the course, and actually became a bit of a running joke

Apart from these little outbursts Dave seemed like a decent guy

 

[PJamesD]

Juan, - well done for passing Sec+ !!

Please elaborate! Why did you think the exam was stupid!??

 

[Juandaman81]

I felt the exam was a bit silly, because unlike the MS exams, there didnt seemed to be a decent amount of material to work with\from.... with the comptia, as long as i had an idea of encryption and a little common sense. i could pass... although, i have 1 real question..which is... i scored 764 out of 900.... now if you all remember the pass mark is 764. i reviewed 14 questions at the end of the test and changed 4 or 5 answers... did those changes make me pass or bring me stupidly close to failing?

Just for your info, dave had to leave on sat morning, so Waheed has taken over. it was a bit of a struggle at first getting used to his learning style from dave - especially with it being Comptia. Now we are on Ms stuff again, its a lot easier.



If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[NickFerrar]

Yeah the CompTIA Security+ is nothing like a MS exam, its a straight test of how much short-term retention you have (remembering all the encryption types and ports etc.). I've always had a pretty good short-term memory so welcomed it as an easy one but I could see why some found it annoying.

I think I had Waheed on my Exchange camp, decent bloke/trainer to but I'm still glad I had Dave for the MCSE camp as Waheed seemed to take more crap from students which led to a lot of wasted time. Some people figure that as they're paying several thousand pounds for a course it should be totally focused on their needs but ofc if they did that they wouldn't cover the material.

 

[Juandaman81]

Failed 291 --------- badly as well.


i need to make a decision now, go on to 293's exam tomorrow, or put it off?

i'm tempted to put it off, 291 has just knocked me for six.

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[PJamesD]

Sorry to hear that, - treat it as a learning experience.

How did you find the exam, - what were your weak areas?

DNS? RRAS? Subnetting? DHCP? Other?

 

[Juandaman81]

DNS was my week area. i though subnetting would be, but i must have done ok on that, the only thing is i scored 424 :-( , which i find amazing, it didnt feel that difficult, maybe i just didn't concentrate enough?



If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[Juandaman81]

just thought i'd give you guys an update...

I am now offically an MCSA:Sec+ or something ..... i Passed 291 on Sunday morning to complete the MCSA and my training. I scored an 720.... not setting the world alight, but given the toughness of that exam, i felt very happy with it.

From our group, i think we had a total of 8 passing the MCSE, and 4 others getting the MCSA. so not bad from 20 people.

I'm hoping to complete the MCSE within the next month while everythings still fresh.






If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[PJamesD]

Well done for getting your MCSA!

Any tips for 291? I'm going to be taking this soon....

 

[Juandaman81]

well,,, seeing as i have done it twice now i should be an expert!

i was tested a lot on DNS,DHCP and RRAS. the sims are the difference between passing and failing. I was lucky i got 2 of the same sims i'd previously got wrong. which i was told was worth 80 points each. that alone stuck me into the 600's if you add that to my last score. so concentrate on the sims, and with a good understanding of the topics you'll be fine.

People are scared off this exam, but pass or fail when you come out you always end up thinking, that it wasnt that hard.




If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[mi78]

Hey Guys....Just wanted to know where can i find the best Boot Camps?....

Thanks alot in advance

 

[PJamesD]

Thanks for the feedback Juan

 

[Juandaman81]

mi78,


trainingcamp.co.uk was very very good

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[mi78]

Thank you Juan69 for the information. Actually i live in Chicago, USA. so i wonder if you or others know any boot camps there.

thanks alot in advance

 

[Juandaman81]

pjamesd


how did u get on with 291?

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

MCSA 2003:Sec+

 

[PJamesD]

I'm currently studying for it.., - I am taking Sec plus in a week's time, and 291 a week tuesday!!!

Yikes!!!