MCSE 2003 Help

[wiegertjd]

Hi,
I bought the MCSE Self paced training kit and started reading it. However, I don't have any real world experience working with microsoft server. Is there anyway I can make up for this lack of real world experience. Is there any books I should read before I start on the MCSE Self paced training books? Thanks in advance.

 

[SimonDavies]

My first suggestion would be to play with the software. I would think that the best thing to do would be to get VMWare or MS VirtualPC and install the OS into a virtual session. Make sure you have plenty of diskspace and memory as each session will use up both.

I would also suggest that you create sessions for the Server and workstation as the last thing you want to do is create a GPO and apply it to your own real workstation.



SimonD.

The real world is not about exam scores, it's about ability.

 

[Larsdemo]

I did the same thing i bought the kit two years ago and start playing with the server and client like SimonDavies says.
Now i am working as a network admin and i am able to handle this realy good, if you believe this is where your interest lie you can make this, the only thing is read the books page like i did and then start experimenting not other way around.

Regards and have fun


Network admin for worldwide freight forwarders company.
mcp mcsa\: Messaging mcse -2003

 

[mrdenny]

When taking the Microsoft exams there is no substite for hands on expierence. Keep in mind that the MS exams aren't for learning. They are designed to test folks that have been working with the technology for a year plus.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com

 

[wiegertjd]

One of the the first things the 70-290 prepartion books talks about is having experience with Active Directory and Group Policy, are there specific books I should read about this before I undertake the 70-290 book?

 

[NickFerrar]

Mark Minasi's Windows Server 2003 book gives a good overview of pretty much everything, it's also very handy as a reference book once you have a job. If you have the official MS core exam traning kit though it should cover AD pretty well.

As others have said you really should get some hands-on experience even if that's just on a single PC lab you set up with virtual server.

 

[wiegertjd]

Thank you for all of the input so far. I will check into the Windows Server 2003 book. I was planning on setting up a mini lab at my home office. I have Microsoft Server 2003 eval ver set up on one pc and i have two other pcs on the same network. Unfortunately since they have XP home I learned that they can't join the domain. Is there any other route I shoudl take?

 

[NickFerrar]

Well with 3 PCs available I'd build one as a domain controller (Server 2003), one as a member server (server 2003) and one as a client. Isn't a trial XP Pro licence available? Sucks if it isn't

 

[Wishdiak]

NickFerrar,

It looks like XP x64 is available as a trial download, but XP Pro isn't. There are places where one can purchase retail XP Pro for under $100, and of course there are less reputable sources with lower prices, but no trialware that I can find.

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

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[BigFinn]

Server 2003 and Exhange 2003 can be downloaded from MS. Is there a Windows 2000 Professional trial version?

You could run a 2003 server as a member server workstation and apply policies to it, easy.