Archive for September, 2010
MCTS Certifications
Posted by Ken Thompson in I.T. Certification, Journal, Work on September 28, 2010
I’ve completed my 70-649 and 70-680 exams successfully. I scored 983/1000 on my 70-680 (Windows 7, Configuring) and 925/1000 on my 70-649 (Upgrading from Windows Server 2003 MCSE to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist).
I’m very happy with the results and I’m already starting my studies to acquire my 70-647 (MCITP : Enterprise Administrator), which I plan to do within 2-3 weeks so that I can start focussing on some alternative certifications, specifically VMware and Cisco.
VCE Mobile for iPhone – Visual Cert Exam Suite
Posted by Ken Thompson in Journal on September 26, 2010
I’ve been using VCE (Visual Cert Exam Suite) for a bit under 2 years now for my exam preparation. It’s a simple bit of software that allows you to open multiple choice exams, including drag and drop questions, point and shoot, and questions with exhibits. So it’s a perfect simulation for what you will get in the actual exam room.
They’ve finally released a version of VCE for the iPhone and Windows Mobile. You can find it in the app store…but be warned; it isn’t cheap (for an iPhone app that is) at a price of $12.99. But to able to do practice exams on the go where ever you may be, its a cheap price to pay. Especially if you serious about certifications.
While I’m on the subject of studying for your certs on your iPhone. If you have training videos, you can use an application called AVS Video Convertor to convert your videos to MP4 files with correct aspect ratio for the iPhone. So now you can take your training videos with you too!
Windows 2008 R2 Server Core
Posted by Ken Thompson in Brain Busters, I.T. Certification, Journal, Work on September 22, 2010
Having just finished studies for my 70-680 Windows 7 exam, I have begun my studies on upgrading my MCSE 2003 to 2008 (MCTS). I’ve been using Windows 2008 / R2 for a bit over a year now and am very familiar with most of the day to day running of it and a lot of the more in depth features also. But this experience has been restricted to time critical real world scenarios; that is to say that I haven’t had time to explore all potentially beneficial features and that when it came to projects I have general stuck to what I know has worked in the past. One of the features I am now very keen to test out is Server Core installation mode. The bar bones version of Windows 2008, with no GUI (command line interface only), but most essential server roles and features. Next week I plan to install some 2008 R2 VMs at home in Core mode to play around with them a little. Some things that I am keen to explore further are:
- Can you install and run any 3rd party applications on server core; specifically Antivirus
- Can you run a file server with DFS enabled and configured
- Do you get much performance increase over a full blown installation…is it worth it for increase performance, or only increase security?
70-680 & 70-649 Exams Booked
Posted by Ken Thompson in I.T. Certification on September 21, 2010
Last night, I booked in my 70-680 (Configuring Windows 7) exam for next Monday morning. I’m ploughing through my studies for it, and I’m so confident about it that I have also booked in my 70-649 (Upgrade MCSE 2003 to MCSE 2008) exam for that Monday morning also.
I have been using 2008/R2 for over a year now including extensive use of some of the new more advanced features. I am also currently on leave, recovering from shoulder surgery, for this week which allows me plenty of time to study for both exams. Both of which, I am extremely confident about.
I’m planning to study for and sit my 70-647 (Enterprise Administrator) exam within 3-4 weeks from now. After that I am going to focus on gaining VMWare certification, something (VSphere) I am now using more with my new role at work. I’m also going to be studying, but not as intensively, for Hyper-V and CCNA (Cisco) certifications.
MCITP: Enterprise Administrator
Posted by Ken Thompson in I.T. Certification on September 20, 2010
Well, it’s been quite a while since I last posted and since my last certification. I’ve been caught up in some very busy, exciting and at times stressful projects. It’s all been a fantastic learning experience though. But now it’s time to get back in the books and keep forging ahead by updating and adding certifications.
I am now focussed on achieving my MCITP: Enterprise Administrator qualification, upgrading from my MCSE 2003. I am currently studying for my 70-680 : Configuring Windows 7 exam, which I will sit in the next 1-2 weeks. I hope to do my following 2 exams and achieve the qualification by the end of November at which stage I plan to look at some more specialist certification in Virtualisation.
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