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Home > Archive > Windows 2000 track general > September 2000 > Answers and Paths for BOTH Certification tracks
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Answers and Paths for BOTH Certification tracks
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| Hello boys&girls,
Many people are wandering what to do now. Start W2K? Continue NT? Start NT now and upgrade later?
The answers lay in what you want to achieve, and objectively looking into the amount of time & effort you are capable of putting in. Important thing to realize is that it's still NOT too late to do any combination, if you are motivated and dedicated.
The ideal situation is to achieve BOTH NT & W2K certifications, as that will more than double your opportunities in the workforce.
I have identified 3 different paths, two of them getting you BOTH NT & W2K MCSE and the last one getting you NT MCSE+Internet and W2K MCSE (the ultimate combination!).
ALL Paths require you to finish at least 4 NT Core exams by the end of 2000. This can be done even if you start now (it takes about 5 months of dedicated self-study to do these 4 exams)
IMPRTANT NOTE: You can achieve NT MCSE even in 2001, since ONLY Core exams retire - electives are still, of course, 'live'.
Path ONE:
Idea - Getting both certifications in record time, with least number of easiest exams. Very good for 'paper MCSE-s' who strive for Certificates rather than in-depth understanding of subjects:
1. Complete all 4 Core exams by the end of 2000.
2. In January 2001, prepare Proxy 2.0. (This is an easy exam, can be prepared in 3 weeks easy and counts for both tracks). You will be only ONE away from MCSE.
3. By the end of March 2001, complete Internet Explorer 4 (not 5). This exam in relatively easy, and there is a lot of study materials for it (there isn't ANY for IEAK 5 still). Also, It will count for both Tracks.
So, now you are MCSE in NT + you have 2 electives for W2K.
4. Now, complete Designing W2K Network Infrastructure - this is one of the requred exams, and looks to be the most general of all. It covers TCP/IP, Net Essentials, Internetworking Technologies and W2K, of course. Try to complete it by end of June 2001.
5. Now, you have 6 months for your Accelerated exam. Start studying for it and plan to take it ONLY once you are absolutely sure you've prepared as good as you can. Leave this exam for December 2001. By that time there will be many resources to help you go through this one.
So, there you go - NT MCSE & W2K MCSE!!!
PATH TWO:
Idea: This is geared for people who are already half-way through NT track, and wander what to do next. It involves more exams, but their passing now, helps save time later, and the path follows a more logical learning curve.
1. Certify Yourself as an NT MCSE by the end of this year: select TCP/IP and IIS4.0 as your electives. Yes, they will retire at the end of this year, BUT the New W2K heavily relies on your TCP/IP knowledge + contains integrated IIS 5.0 and will require that knowledge as well. Plus, this way you get 2 Certifications: MCSE and MCP+i
2. In January 2001, do Proxy 2 as your FIRST elective for W2K. Exam is easy and you already have 'groundwork' done through your TCP/IP and IIS 4.0. Proxy shouldn't take you more than 3 weeks to prepare.
3. Select: Migrating from NT to W2K as your second elective for W2K - this seems to be most logical way of making the transformation and will give you very good overview of W2K technology. I anticipate this may take 2 months to do, so let's say you are now in April 2001.
4. Now take Designing W2K Network Infrastructure: this is where your TCP/IP, Net Essentials, IIS 4.0 and Migrating exams come to your aid!!! This exam will be difficult, but passing those 4 before will give you at least 60%-70& of knowledge necessary to pass it.
5. Now, it may be June 2001 - you have 6 months for Accelerated exam (see the logic for this above!).
At the end of 2001, you are MCP+i, NT MCSE and W2K MCSE.
Finally, Path THREE:
Idea - this is for most dedicated people. You should be an NT MCSE with TCP/IP and IIS 4.0 by the end of 2000. This will give you NT MCSE+Internet (The most premier Certification from MS) AND W2K MCSE with only 1 exam more than the path Two!
1. Do your NT MCSE (with TCP/IP and IIS 4.0) by the end of this year.
2. In January 2001, do Proxy 2 as your first elective for W2K
3. Than do IEAK 4, as your second elective for W2K - and second core for NT MCSE+Internet.
4. Than do Exchange 5.5 (as your Final Elective for MCSE+Internet). Remember: Exchange IS difficult, but TCP/IP, IIS 4.0, Proxy 2 and IEAK will help you GREATLY in preparing this exam.
5. finaly do the Designing W2K Network Infrastructure...
6. ...and start preparing for Accelerated exam to give it by the end of 2001/
This track is, of course, most demanding - but is is also MOST rewarding. I am sure that people who achieve this will be counted in Thousands, but not in tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands as MCSE's are now.
Logis is this: it takes 9 exams for MCSE+Internet. With only 2 more you recertify to W2K.
So, as you see, all of this CAN be done. Yes, it is difficult, so choose your path according to your needs and abilities. I will not even mention the necessity to work with the product for any exams, specially for ANY W2K exam.
FYI: All this is written from personal experience. I am now only 1 away from my MCSE+Internet and than only have 2 to complete for W2K (Yes, am on the 'Path Three').
If you have any comment, questions or suggestions, please post them and we can refine this further :-)
Sincerely,
Dalibor
MCSE, Network+, i-Net+
PS. Don't forget that whatever MS says, NT MCSE IS an NT MCSE even after 2001. There WILL be more than enough NT networks in 2002 and after... guess whom they will look for :-) | |
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| I agree with path three, but what is IEAK4?. | |
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| first of all if im currently an mcse than im pissed off that im having to prove myself again! Second of all the current mcse's wouldnt be having to prove themselves if not for the fact that the certificate holds less weight than it should. Third because it has become a paper cert the truly best way to go is to wait for the w2k test. Why suffer the trouble of rushing to get a cert. | |
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| Louis - IEAK is Internet Explorer Administration Kit. An elective exam in the MCSE and Core exam for MCSE + Internet.
Rob, preparing for MCSE (in any tracks) is, thank God, a thing of choice, and not a thing of force. It is only another way to distinguish yourself from the 'rest'. If it takes passing 20 exams to distinguish myself from the 250.000 others, well - be it.
;-)
dalibor | |
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| First of all dado good for you if you are mcse, the point i was trying to make is there are thousands of mcse's walking around right now that currently do not have enough knowledge to be in the positions there in. People that i have spoken to who set up networks are often having to go into companies to clean up the mess that the on site mcse network administrater has caused. The test has been passed around so much that you can find alought of the test verbatim over the internet. I was just trying to make the point that with the 2000 cert, companies will at least know you learned it on your own. | |
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| Thanks for all your help about which classes to go for. I've been wanting to get started but I wasn't sure where to go for help. So far, not even the resources that I wanted to use aren't available for sale. (Dummies books). I think I'm going to take your advice. Thanks for the work you put into this! | |
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| Sorry about that please refer to My other post
Ladi Jagun
Nigeria
[This message has been edited by okjagun (edited 07-02-2000).] | |
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| rob,
that is the whole point! Because so many MCSE,s dont know anything, they are basterdising the certificate, e.g. I Worked in an international firm (Nigerian office) in the property department, and then i wasn't an MCP but i knew more about NT and networking than our on-site MCSE's i was always consulted by them when they had problems - in my opinion, they are people who took the exams because the money is good, had no interest or prior knowledge of computers or their importance in the world of today, Had not attained the mental development and analytical thinking required for the job. when you use such people in your establishment that is what you get!
i have seen transcender win2000 sample tests and i Believe that the manner in which these tests are handled - hands on like- wouls filther out the trash!!!
Ladi Jagun
Mcp Nigeria | |
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| For dado1470:
I just felt like thanking you for your excellent advice. I see some stupid people on this board who don't appreciate your advice, but I think you not only did a good job, but you did an incredable job by putting that 3 options. It really gives readers a path to follow. I know what I should consider now. I was debating myself if I should go for SQL server stuff, that way I have MCSE+I and MCDBA. But I think I'll be better off with your advice of Exchange, IEAK.. Is there any particular reason you advice for Exchange 5.5?? like IEAK4 instead of 5. how about if I try SQL admin??is it easy? I have my own lab at home and so far I didn't have problems installing SQL 7 or win2k...Thanks in advance for your advice.
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| Thanks for your reply,
Sure there are good reasons: First, Exchange is probably the best MS
Backoffice application for it's worth. Mail is an absolute nessesity in any
mid-sized and bigger Corp + Exchange is very widely used. There are, of
course different Mail Server programs for Unix and Linux platforms, but I
think that at this time Exchange 5.5 (and Exchange 2000 once it is rolled
out) is the best thing for NT. (When we talk about databases, there is a
very wide range of 'better' options, such as Oracle and IBM's DB2).
Secondly, if you are following my paths, they are all based on Internet
technology (mail being a part of the big picture), and knowing TCP/IP + IIS
+ Proxy + IEAK before you go to the Exchange does give you a very solid
understanding of underlying technology to quicker understand Exchange.
(Quicker being the keyword here).
Thirdly, Sybex Study Guide is a COMPLETE resourse to pass this exam. They
got this one nailed down to the last question. You master the topics from
Sybex guide, answer the questions after each chapter and you will pass!!!
IEAK 4.0 is an established browser, and a well established exam, too. I
recomend it (instead of IEAK 5) for 2 main reasons: It is NOT being retired
yet (like IEAK 5, of course) and there is an abundance of study materials
out there (unlike for IEAK 5). Also, study materials can be found very
cheaply, and they are everywhere (at least where I live).
IEAK 5 is a 'mystery' exam. It did not seem to catch on very well: there
seems to be NO good study resources out there, and you are left to search
for answers alone. Now, that IS a challange, but I prefere a clean-cut
preparation materials, since I have so many other things that I can not
afford too much 'searching & hunting' time.
I look at IEAK only as a required exam for MCSE +Internet, and not as a
challenging exam to put lot of efforts in. If they are both LIVE and NOT
retiring, and if they both get me my MCSE + Internet, and if I can get
through one of them much easier (IEAK 4) than another (IEAK 5), then the
choice is obvious for me.
SQL is a great product to know, and if you do that as your +Internet
elective you will only gain. However, it is a databse, and it requires
totaly different set of skills and background than Internet based exams
(IEAK, Exchange, IIS, Proxy, TCP/IP). If you are familiar with SQL - sure!
do it. If you are not, then, Exchange would probably require less time to
get you the Certificate.
See ya!
Dalibor
MCSE, i-Net+, Network+ | |
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| Well I thought you had planned my certifcation path out to the "T" but I have just checked the exams retirement page and IEAK 4 is scheduled for retirement Dec. 31 2000, so I have to regear one more time. But I for one really appreciate your efforts here with the 3 routes you hae devised. Thanks again.........My two cents worth
[This message has been edited by FUBAR (edited 07-17-2000).] | |
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| Thanks FUBAR,
Obviously, this is NEW info (that IEAK 4 will retire).
This changes things slightly, but you still have time to complete it by December 2000. If not, than you can do IEAK 5.
The difference between the 2 is not too big, and the only reason I suggested IEAK 4 over 5 is due to the fact that there are NO study guides available for 5.
If this situation with Study materials chages, then, by all means, start preparing for IEAK 5 and do according to my plan.
note: I hope it is clear for everyone that IEAK is a requirement for MCSE + Internet, and that it is ONLY in that light that I recommend IEAK as an exam. That means that you shouldn't need to worry that IEAK 4 is retiring soon (apparently); you should only worry to pass it, so you get +Internet. MS is not planning to have W2K MCSE+Internet track, so It is now the matter of prestige more than anything else to be MCSE + Internet, as those certifications will not exist after Dec 31 2001 and IEAK is a Requirement.
Thanks for a note
Dalibor | |
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| Here is a link to the page where I read about the exam scheduled to be retired at the end of December of this year, unless I read it wrong. Just wanted to make you aware of it is all I was doing. Thanks again for the nice job on the three different paths.
P.S. If anyone knows where an Evaluation copy of Proxy Server 2.0 could be downloaded or bought cheap I would appreciate it..
http://www.microsoft.com/trainingandservices/default.asp?PageID=mcp&PageC all=retired&SubSite=examinfo
[This message has been edited by FUBAR (edited 07-18-2000).]
[This message has been edited by FUBAR (edited 07-18-2000).] | |
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| Thanks Dado. Yeah Dado! Great advice. I'm new to this forum. Excellent info. Whatever gives you an edge over competition is what matters. I admire dedicated people that share knowledge, enjoy their work and help others, It's what makes IT challenging, and fun.. instead of some useless hypocritatical procrastination that is posted sometimes.
Found a book on IEAK 5 at Amazon.com.. Very helpful to search for books. Just type in the certification code like 70-240 and it will list all book resources.. and any others soon to be available.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...5478947-8171150 | |
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| dado1470,
Excellent advise!
I hope those people whom going for it the best and study hard to get it.
Don't cheap yourself.
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| Thanks for the great information. Up until now, my fellow students who are either recent MCP or are one test away from MCP, had no idea what to think of this announcement about the "2000" track. We aren't even through studying the NT 4.0 one yet! Your information about which track to take is great and I am printing it off to show to them at class tomorrow. Most of us all are upset thinking we spent all that money for training for certification only to be told to start over with the "2000" track. I myself have had 15+ years on mainframe, DB2, SQL, COBOL, utilities, etc. and am studying this NT 4.0 to get a handle on the PC side of things and to increase my experience base.
One question: I have 5-7 years experience with DB2 and SQL on mainframe. Will this help with passing the SQL Server test or is SQL on a PC too different than it is on mainframe? Again, thanks for the suggested "paths".
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| Xmainframer & everybody else!
Thanks for your encouraging comments. To answer your question regarding SQL first: As you know, SQL is a language, and as such has a lot of similarities amongst all of it's 'incarnations'(similar to UNIX and it's flavours). All relational databases follow similar principles, and therefore, not only will your vast experience help, but it will give you tremendous head-start in preparing for MS SQL. What you will need to focus on is to understand how NT Server provides a backdrop to SQL, and some command differences between your current platform and MS SQL. I gather you are at some kind of structured training course for MCSE. I am sure that your course will go through NT Server before it dives into SQL, so that will be a way to go.
Note, though, that all my 'paths' are focusing on 'core' MS Internet technologies where one passed exam builds on another. I realized that that is the ultimate & quickest way to do this: use what you know and build as you go.
Although SQL (rather - Relational Databases) should be thought of as 'core' Internet technolgy (they allow Companies to make money, after all, by providing product databases, etc); it's technology has nothing much to do with any other exams on my 'paths' and would require a lot more effort to get to the same 'end result', in terms of certifications.
Thanks again,
Dalibor
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| Umm....Exchange 5.5 is not a hard exam! In fact, I think it was my easiest, besides of course the joke that Net Essentials is. | |
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| I see that this thread is active again...
Please read my thread in General Discussions (***MSCE Crackdown part3***). I think that the whole thing is getting ridiculous. And people wonder why Microsoft made a change.
While dado's advice is helpful, it further proves the fact that the MCSE has been devalued. Read a couple of books, memorize a few braindumps, pass a test and BAM, you are a MCSE. Does that mean that you know how to use the product? No. All that says is that you have good study skills and can pass a test.
I know MCSEs who have never even looked inside of a computer. I know some who cannot even map a network drive, but they passed the test.
I have noticed that the ones who are crying the most about Microsoft's change are the newly certified individuals (had their certification for about 1 year).
Those who have been certified longer and/or been in the IT industry before it got "hot" are glad Microsoft made a change. Just like any other profession where certifications(or licenses) are required, it has to be made positively reflect a person's abilities. | |
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| Amen, Microsoft had to do something. I work with some MCSE's that are complete moron's, and it makes me sad knowing that I am associated with that type of individual. | |
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| Hey, Guys replying August 31!!!
I do agree with you. Microsoft made a good move to strenghten the certification. I also met (and heard of) a few MCSE's with absolutely no understanding of the subject matter.
However, I believe that the truth about someone's skills and knowledge becomes obvious within first month or two at the job. Also, I am aware that many companies do actual tests during interviewing process. At the end, everythings must fall into its place, right?
I think that MCSE nowdays became the 'door-opener' before anything else, and that it should be thought of as the proof that the person is willing and capable of learning and not a guarantee that they are as savvy as they would want to think.
This is how I understand it. That is why I am now deeply into Cisco, and I am seriously considering doing some sort of Security Certification afterwards.
As millions of people stream into the field, competition will become fearce, companies with streighte-up the hiring process.
That is a fact. Hoewever, this is a MCSE-to-be Help Group, and I wish everybody in it the best of luck. That is why I compiled the suggested tracks to get the most out of everyones time & effort.
I do NOT support braindumping, I do NOT recomend cheating and I still do NOT own any Transcenders.
I do recommend hard work, understanding, practice, honesty and years of experience.
After all, that is what brings success in this field. Everything else is a coloufull, pompous mesh of nothings.
Dado |
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