SQL server exams - Getting started on MCDBA

Author

Getting started on MCDBA

oracle-dba99

2002-05-28, 11:50 am

Hi folks,

I am just getting started on MCDBA. A couple of questions I would like to ask folks who
have been there done that before.

1. There are choices of either going for SQL server 7.0 or SQL Server 2000 EE.
Could someone give me pros and cons on them.
More specifically which version has the larger installation base? Is 7.0 scheduled for retirement?

2. What study resources (books, practice tests) worked best for you?

Thanks in advance.

Oracle-dba99

hard_coder

2002-05-28, 12:01 pm

SQL 2000 definitely has more power than SQL 7.0. It also has more involved in the cert process - such as needing to know some XML and how to convert from 7.0 to 2K and to know what was in 7.0 that you should no longer use in 2K.
Overall, I would go the 2K route - been there done that on both versions. It could also be argued that you should learn and get certified in what you use at work. Being a Microsoft Partner, we use everything, usually the latest and greatest so I have to stay current on certs but at the same time I can't just discard knowledge of past versions because you never know when a new client will need those skills to drag them into the present.

J-Ho

2002-05-30, 2:15 pm

quote:
Originally posted by oracle-dba99
Hi folks,
1. There are choices of either going for SQL server 7.0 or SQL Server 2000 EE.
Could someone give me pros and cons on them.
More specifically which version has the larger installation base? Is 7.0 scheduled for retirement?

2. What study resources (books, practice tests) worked best for you?

Thanks in advance.

Oracle-dba99

1) Go for SQL Server 2000 - if for no other reason, it'll last longer. Besides, differencies aren't huge; the main difference is in what's been added in 2000 (and some smaller enhancements; collactions, grouping by bit columns etc).

2) I used MS's training kit + MOCs. Worked a treat.

If you're already good with T-SQL, you got a good head start with 70-229, so I'd suggest you go for that first.

oracle-dba99

2002-05-30, 3:05 pm

Thanks for the info, J-Ho.

Where does one get hold of MOC? Are they
in CBT or ILT format? Checked eBay, nothing
there.

Cheers,

Oracle-dba99

J-Ho

2002-05-31, 3:31 am

quote:
Originally posted by oracle-dba99
Thanks for the info, J-Ho.

Where does one get hold of MOC? Are they
in CBT or ILT format? Checked eBay, nothing
there.

Cheers,

Oracle-dba99

The Microsoft page for the exams tells you which MOCs are relevant for each exam. E.g., for 70-229 page http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/exams/70-229.asp says that MOCs 2071 and 2073 might be good.

As for getting hold of them, they're usually instructor led courses. I'm kinda lucky though, 'cause my company has pretty much all of the courseware for the MOCs available in PDF format...

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