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Home > Archive > 70-081 Exchange 5.5 > October 2000 > Which One?
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| Hi All,
I just did great on TCP/IP exam and am now faced with the big decision, which one to do last?
I have been thinking about Exchange, Proxy and IIS4....Proabably the better choice is to stick with the two former choices since they are not yet retiring...Yet, I have heard from a few that it is desirable to have at least the MCP+I certification....
In my thoughts I think it is kinda narrowed down to Exchange and Proxy..Ihave also heard though, not to touch Proxy if you don't know IIS...Not to sure on that one...I guess a big consideration might be what your long range goals are as well...
Anyway, I am sure most people here have faced the same decision and I thought I would toss this out there to see if I can benefit by others wisdom before making my decision...Any input will be greatly appreciated...Thanks. | |
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| Kang,
I too face your situation. I gotten feedback from a lot of people and eventhough i was leaning toward doing IIS4 to get th "I" 90% of the suggestions told me to do exchange 5.5 I've heard mixed reviews about being the toughest, but then i heard that about enterprise and tcp/ip. I heard and saw that proxy is a mutha!!!! very long scenarios. I'm hopeing this board will pick up because it's dead. There's a lot of action and great suggestions on cramsession, and thats where a lot of my answers came from. I want to stay loyal but it's not happening over here. Come on people!!!!!!!
Courvoisser
A+ MCPx5 | |
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| Hi Courvoisser,
Nice to see you again over on this board..Well maybe we can stoke up the fires here a little bit...I have heard basically the same stuff you have...That Exchange is the toughest test of all etc etc....That does kinda scare me too...But as you said I heard that about Enterprise and TCP/IP and while they were both challenging, you can do well, if you know your stuff!
I have a copy of the Sybex book here(as long as War and Peace!) definitely not like Exam Cram and a few Proxy books and IIS...Been looking through them trying to get some ideas..But still not sure...The +I status would be nice, but the other exams count towards Win2K, so that is tempting...I have a feeling that practicality wise Exchange is the most likely candidate for something I would use in the real world, but who knows?
Anyway, if you come up with any other ideas or suggestions, I would appreciate your input..Are you leaning towards Exchange at the moment or not sure? | |
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| Kang,
If you go to cramsession link forum for exchange 5.5 you'll see that 95% of the testtakers state that all you need is the sybex book to pass! and that 80-90% of the test questions were right in the book. I went through that whole link thread and it was interesting. I'm leaning to do exchange. I would opt for the iis4 but seriously i'd like to have something count toward 2k track if i did it and exchange is in demand!!!! I polled a lot of people and the vote is exchange 5.5. I'd like to do something simple to just get done, but realistic i'd rather get meaningful stuff.
I can handle the toughness. I devoted this last weekend on researching and getting as much info i could on which was the better choice and Kang again it's 5.5. The book is big as heck i know(i'm buying it today i guess) I've heard it'll take about 6 weeks really to be ready. I've been running about 4 up to know and i don't mind. I know i'll make it before Dec 31,2000. I'm probably going to start thursday. Check out the cramsession discussions and let me know if you feel the same way?
http://feedback.cramsession.brainbu...ange5/forum.asp
Courvoisser | |
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| Hi Courvoisser,
Well okay points well taken...I have seen some of those posts too, although lately I have been seeing people post in various places that only a few questions from the Sybex book have been showing up...Who knows. Someone on the Proxy board just mentioned that Proxy is a better choice because of the increasing need for security on the internet. To be honest I think that the topic would interest me more than Exchange, but not sure if it is more practical....
Yes, I have been doing about 3-4 weeks per exam also, but that book is one awesome read compared to your usual Exam Cram...Although I am sure there is a fair amount of fluff in there too...
Well, I will check out the Cramsession board too and see if I can get a feel for it. By the way, just as an aside I just saw that the Enterprise exam has gone back to standard format...A few people have posted just taken the exam and there were 55 questions with passing score 777!! I wonder what could be going through MS's mind to change this late in the ballgame?
By the way that is of course another nice plus about Exchange, I guess, only 35 questions. Of course they are probably the questions from H@@@!!!
Anyway, keep me posted on what you think about Exchange and any other late breaking news you come across....Thanks again.. | |
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| Kang,
Man this is tough! So many choices. I'm trying to read views and boards, post and poll people. It comes down to the individual i guess and where do you want to go. I've checked proxy, IIS4 and of course Exchange. I'm going to search some additional stuff, but i'm still hooked on exchange. I want to decide like in a day or so, because on thursday is my deadline to start something. Oh i saw your topic about enterprise now being standard, i haven't heard that yet but if it's true you know it's a microsoft attempt to get all the additional money from people will take it since the mind relief of it not being adaptive? Keep me posted dude on what you may find and what your direction will be..
Courvoisser | |
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| Hi Courvoisser,
Yea, I know what you mean I have been doing the same thing...I asked an acquaintance of mine who is a MCSE what he thought...He said while Proxy is kinda interesting, most people take it because it is "easy"(his words not mine) so they can get that MCSE status...But, he said functionally, Exchange will be more useful because there is such a high demand for it out there and later on people will need to migrate to Exchange 2000 and it will be good to have the knowledge set for both....
I am not sure if I totally agree with him on the first part about being easy, but he does have a point about the demand thing....Of course with the increased need for internet security on networks, Proxy could become really in demand too!!! Man it is tough to decide...
I think the Enterprise thing is true, because people have already started posting scores based on that standard...It could be that they are using both formats too. Anyway, keep me posted if you come up with anything to help us decide....Thanks... | |
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| Kang and Courvoisser, I agree with both of your points concerning exchange Proxy and IIS I still have one more core to complete and then I have made the decision to do Exchange for the reasons offered by the MCSE friend about the importants of Exchange in the future. I agree with security being such an issue that Proxy seems like a good choice as well and I submit this idea, why not finish the MCSE certification with either Exchange or Proxy and since neither exam is retiring do the other exam later for knowledge and background for the future. I think this what I will do.......after completion of the core exams.......do Exchange and IEAK 5.5 and then Proxy after the certification has been attained............my thought and as always.........My two cents worth......... | |
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| Hi FUBAR,
Thanks for coming in here with your comments. If nothing else at least we are getting some activity up here....Yes, actually I have thought about what you suggested too and it is probably a reasonable idea....Assuming I don't get all bogged down with Cisco stuff...
I really am kinda interested in the security aspects of Proxy but also recognize the monetary benefits of knowing Exchange...Part of me is leaning towards Exchange for a bad reason too(it is shorter exam) as opposed to the 68 question nightmare for Proxy...On the other hand there is I'm told alot more details to know for Exchange and the Sybex book is like reading WAR AND PEACE!!...
In all honesty, I probably would find Proxy a little bit more interesting especially just coming from TCP/IP, but I have also been warned(rightly or wrongly) that you better know your IIS before attempting Proxy...
Of course another scenario thrown into the mix is I could take IIS before it retires, get MCP+I and then perhaps take the others later on since they don't retire yet and who knows maybe get MCSE+I...I think that the later scenario might be a little bit too ambitious considering my other goals...I think part of me is a little chicken too because I have heard that Exchange is such a bear...But as we mentioned before, I heard that about Enterprise and TCP/IP and I survived very well...So who knows...I will toss it around a little bit more, but better get moving and decide because I would like to get started soon...Probably going to need more time than usual for either of these...Hey, if you hear any feedback that might help either of us I would appreciate it...Thanks again.. | |
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| Fubar,
Thanks for joining us, me and Kang were beginning to think we were the only game participants. I thank you also for your different view you presented. It was put to me exactly like that today. I've been on 8 boards today and just getting a feel of what people have said or doing. I've compared what the feedback is towards the test in general, people taking the test and the ones preparing(on Exchange,Proxy, IIS4)It's funny everyone states their test was harder. So i said Hmmm, just for pracitcal purpose i'll go back and do a general synopsis of Tcp/Ip, Enterprise, and Server. The same exac thing people claim it's the hardest test or it's harder than this one and so on.
I like a challenge and fubar you and kang probably do to, but don't want to put yourself out there right? My learning is different than yours and i'm sure your learning is different than mines. I'm tired of the feedback now i think i'm going to do Exchange and then after that i'm MCSE, then do Proxy, because Kang you bring up some excellent points about the security aspect, and let's face it hacking and firewalls and security big brother is at all time high, i concur with you. I figure if that one is making you burn inside do that one first then exchange? Exchange is doing it for me now on that note today I tabulated 93 post and 87 made a positive post about sybex for exchange 5.5, eventhough the book is bulky it seems that is the meal ticket for a safe flight. I hope we all make the right decision and i'm sure we will. Keep me posted
Courvoisser
A+ MCPx5 | |
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| Hi Courvoisser,
Well, wow I didn't realize that there were that many boards out there!!! Probably a good thing, otherwise I would spend too much time playing instead of studying!! Yea, I am still trying to decide...Yes, the Proxy security issue is a good one but darn,people keep telling me that everyone is screaming for Exchange support and migrations.....
I guess a little challenge is good as long as you don't get in over your head...There just seems to be so many details for Exchange...This friend of a friend said to me if you want to just be a MCSE in name do Proxy...If you really want to be a MCSE do Exchange!!! I think that his statement is a bit unrealistic because I don't think Proxy is a piece of cake....
I am just not sure...Also someone told me that the successor to Proxy, I think its called ISA server or something like that is going to be much better and neater and you might want to wait and take the exam for that, later on....He could have a point...Of course in the Win2K format it will probably be harder than Exchange!!!
Anyway, at least it looks like you have been able to come up with a decision and thats good. I had better get off my butt and decide because I think I will definitely need more time than usual for either of these...Keep me posted on any updates to what you have...If nothing else, at least we have started some activity up here!!! Catch you later....
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| All,
I feel your pain. Trust me, I do. I am one elective from MCSEland and I dont which exam to take. I just finished TCP/IP. I was leaning toward Exch55 when a trusted friend shared his experience of taking the Exch55 exam. Another MCSE told me of her experience in taking IIS 4.0. She also said that it was tough but she got the MCP+Internet designation along with the MCSE. For now, Im starting with Exch55. I have access to study material (Exam Cram and Transcender) and the Exch55 s/w. If after a cpl of weeks I cannt make any progress, then like a politician, I will have to flip the script. Later doods...Im off to see the wizard...the setup wizard that it.
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RexOrion
A+, N+, i-Net+, MCP (5/6) | |
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| Why don't you all just take both? Sure, it's an extra exam, but you'll get MCP+I, Exchange will count as a 2000 track elective, and employers will love you. That's my plan, anyway
Cheers,
Topodanny
MCPx3 |
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