I am now an MCSE2003 :D :D

[SimonDavies]

Well it's been a long hard slog but I have finally done it.
I sat the new and improved 70-291 today and I have to say I was worried before hand, I slept very badly and was up at 7am revising this morning. I had already failed this exam once and if I had failed it again today I would have been going back to the UK without my MCSE as I would have had a 2 week cooling off period.

Anyway the new exam is now 43 questions, I had I think 3 or 4 simulations, one on DHCP Scope configuration, DNS config and on other that slips my mind atm.... oh the other was configuring a security template.

Ensure you know the DNS and DHCP consoles, make sure you know how to setup forwarding and conditional forwarding, makesure you know how to put in scope reservations and exclusions. Make sure you understand what Primary, Secondary and Stub zones are for.

Also make sure that you know about RAS and IAS, know where and how each works, know about RIP, RIPv2 and OSPF as well.

As exams go this one was the one I dreaded but I am glad it's over. One more exam for my MCSE:Security and that should be completed by the end of this week.

 

[SimonDavies]

I should also add that I believe that the sims are very heavily weighted, I passed with a score of 737 but if you look at my score sheet I have two top marks, a third with one notch missing from it and the remaining two with 3 and 4 missing from it (all in all I would have said I had achieved an 85% score) Certainly I have score sheets where I have scored more points wise and had less on the sectional results area.

 

[NickFerrar]

Grats and good luck with teh security one

 

[Yanze]

Congratz!!!

MCSE NT 4.0
MCSE 2003

 

[EdmondDantes]

Congratulations Simon, it's a tough slog for sure. I am wondering:
1)From start to finish, how long did it take you to complete your MCSE.
2)Was experience in IT a factor in getting through all the exams.
3.)Did you go for the Security+ or did you take one of the MS security exams?

I have very limited experience in IT, no admin at all, and I have failed the 70-290 exam twice now (678 and 656). I did pass the 70-270 first crack, but needless to say, I am taking a beating on this and my expectations of completing my MCSE within 9 months is pretty much shot now.

 

[SimonDavies]

Edmond,

I started my MCSE on the 7th of March, I have been doing class room based training for all this time.
Experience in IT is a must, I have an NT4 MCSE, Novell CNE and CCNA and I found this really hard.
I did the Sec+, I actually found that really easy. I was in and out of the exam in 20 odd minutes (it's 100q) and I passed with 868 (max score is 900).

I failed 290 3 times I failed 291 once but I passed all of the other exams the first time around.

It is possible but you really need to work hard for it.

 

[Wishdiak]

SimonDavies,

Congrats! You're an inspiration to the rest of us MCSE aspirants.

EdmondDantes,

I started the MCSE 2003 track in May 2004, and had classroom time until the end of February. I had some helpdesk experience, but little IT experience to speak of.

I managed to obtain my MCSA 2003: Security, with Security+ as an elective, but since classes ended, I haven't been motivated to keep up the same pace. I still have 70-294 and 70-298 ahead of me for my MCSE 2003: Security.

While MCSE can be done in 9 months, the pace of reading, studying, and testing can be quite stressful. I wouldn't rush yourself so much.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[aftertaf]

well done....
i started on the mcp w2k a year ago... and in two weeks sit the design 297 exam... last one before MCSE 2003...

got the others due to training, revision, and hands on...
oh and about 95% blind luck ;-)

Aftertaf

"Solutions are not the answer." - Richard Nixon

 

[EdmondDantes]

SimonDavies
thanks for the feedback, you have done a lot since March 07... no way I can digest this stuff that fast.

Wishdiak, that was good info, thanks. I think I will give it another go next week sometime, hopefully I can move onto 291 after that.

Edmond

 

[aftertaf]

yeah, me 2

Aftertaf
________
Regain control of your PC, at

http://www.debian.org

 

[SimonDavies]

Well done mate.. I am really pleased for you.

What's next? MCSE:Security (which was hard btw)

 

[aftertaf]

hehe, for now... nothing...

or, using mcse to get a well paid interesting job...

giving it an earned break for now.



Aftertaf
________
Regain control of your PC, at

http://www.debian.org

 

[aftertaf]

also, with longhorn delayed till end of 2006...
no need to worry right now for keeping up to date

Aftertaf
________
Regain control of your PC, at

http://www.debian.org

 

[Wishdiak]

aftertaf,

Congrats, man. You and SimonDavies are my inspiration to finish my MCSE sometime this summer.

I only have 70-294 and 70-298 ahead of me.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[aftertaf]

Thanks loads Wishdiak,
You'll be on here soon enough jumping up n down for joy....

how's the job side looking??



Aftertaf
________
Regain control of your PC, at

http://www.debian.org

 

[Wishdiak]

aftertaf,

Since you asked...

I'm doing quite a bit of PC deployment work here and there, just did one tonight, but that doesn't really pay the bills.

I've applied for a few Admin jobs, but with little Admin experience, I haven't gotten many calls.

I will be starting a job shortly as a part-time web developer, so that's better than nothing, and could lead to an Admin job, who knows.

Finding something stable has been more of a priority than studying for exams lately, so hopefully once this job starts, I'll be back on track. I plan to take the 70-294 in June and hopefully the 70-298 shortly thereafter.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[aftertaf]

in that case, keep and good luck for near and far future developments (no pun intended!!)



Aftertaf
________
Regain control of your PC, at

http://www.debian.org