Helmers Blog

Trika updated the big list again. For the most actual list, please visit the Number of MCPs Worldwide website.

These numbers are current as of February 4, 2008.

Several people were asking me if I also attended the 71-646 and the 71-647. The answer is : YES, I did! The thing is that I’m kinda busy right now for the study I’m following, so I didn’t blog about it. I did the exams last Thursday and I got a lot ‘Window Server 2003 Questions’. I have no idea if I passed or failed, I just have to wait and find out.

I used the information from Lukas Beeler’s blog (you can find the information in my former post) and some info from the comments of the ‘former post’. And offcource I ‘played’ with Windows Server 2008 in a virtual machine.

Sander told me that he has found some info about the upcoming (for me at least) Windows Server 2008 exams (the 71-646 & 71-647). Lukas Beeler took both the exams and below you can see what the main subject were :

First some info about the 70-647 a.k.a. 71-647 :

A few days ago i posted that I will attend the 70-647 and 70-646 betas.

But luckily i was able to shuffle the 70-647 date back into this year – so i attended the 70-647 (Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator) this morning.

I’m currently not in Horgen, so i attended the exam at a different Prometric testing center – this time at Alpha Solutions – the room was well lit, an older 15″ TFT at 1024×768, and a PC with acceptable performance. I was even provided a free drink.

So, what was in the exam?

This was an exam in the Pro-Series, so there were very few directly technical questions which required a direct answers – almost all questions focused on design or which tool to use.

• I’ve had many questions related to the usage of RODC, on their placement and which “parent” domain controllers they need, etc.
• A lot of question centered around applications and how they can be deployed – the answers usually involved GPO deployment, Softgrid Application Virtualization and of course Terminal Servers
• NAP was of course extensively covered, plus placement of remote access servers and NAP servers in a network
• Remote access and all of its possibilities (L2TP, PPTP, SSTP, TS Gateway, RPC over HTTP)
• The usual Active Directory design questions, which have gotten a bit more complex (Three functional levels: 2000, 2003, 2008)

There were no simulations, but i encountered a single Drag&Drop question. There were a lot more exhibits than in the TS exams, a few questions were worded awkwardly, but I didn’t find a question which I thought i answered wrong. I’m a lot more confident that I passed this exam than 70-649.

And some info about the 70-646 a.k.a. 71-646 :

A few days after i did 70-647, i attended 70-646.

My biggest worry was if Microsoft was able to really create distinguishing exams between the Enterprise Administrator and the Server Administrator part – and i think it worked out really well.

I attended this exam at BCD Sintrag, which isn’t my usual testing location either. Service was okay, no free drinks though.

The shift in focus on the Server Administrator exam is quite visible:

• There was a lot regarding to storage design and configuration – RAID levels, iSCSI, VDS, IO MultiPathing, iSCSI, FibreChannel
• Permissions, permissions, more permissions – Active Directory delegation and delegation of administrative privileges on servers
• The usual Terminal Server questions, and also several RAS questions (VPN, PPTP, SSTP, L2TP, TS Gateway, etc.)
• PKI questions till you puke – make sure to know about the PKI changes in Vista SP1 and how to administrate bigger PKI environments
• No design questions!
• A few firewall / IP configuration questions
• DHCP and a few basic subnetting questions

With this, i’ve got the two new MCITP exams done. Yay.

So enough to study for the next few days….

I already received the codes, but tonight when I was checking Trika’s blog again I saw that she has posted them also so their public at last (as I announced in my former post).

I already posted the skills that will be measured here so I’m just posting the info about how to register for the exams now :

You are invited to take the following beta exams.

• 71-646: PRO: Windows® Server 2008, Server Administrator counts as credit towards Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): Server Administrator
• 71-647: PRO: Windows® Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator counts as credit towards MCITP: Enterprise Administrator

If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will be added to your transcript and you will not need to take the exam in its released form. By participating in beta exams, you have the opportunity to provide the Microsoft Certification program with feedback about exam content, which is integral to development of exams in their released version. We depend on the contributions of experienced IT professionals and developers as we continually improve exam content and maintain the value of Microsoft certifications. Please remember that participation in the beta process is completely voluntary and Microsoft makes no promises or guarantees regarding the beta exam process. You can expect to receive your score on the beta exam within 12 weeks of taking the exam, although in some instances, beta exams may take longer to score and your results may be delayed.

Availability

• Registration begins: December 21, 2007
• Beta exam period runs: December 21, 2007–January 18, 2008
• Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta; we recommend that you register immediately. Beta exams have limited availability and are operated under a first-come-first-served basis. Once all beta slots are filled, no additional seats will be offered.
• Testing is held at Prometric testing centers worldwide, although this exam may not be available in all countries (see Regional Restrictions). All testing centers will have the capability to offer this exam in its live version.
• Regional Restrictions: India, Pakistan, China

Registration Information

• You must register at least 24 hours prior to taking the exam.
• Please use the following promotional codes when you register for your exam.
• 71-647: use Promo code 647Q at registration
• 71-646: use Promo code Q646 at registration
• Look for the prefix “71″ at registration
• Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta; we recommend that you register immediately.
• To register in North America, please call: Prometric: (800) 755-EXAM (800-755-3926)
• Outside the U.S./Canada, please contact: http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp

Test Information and Support

• You are invited to take this beta exam at no charge
• You will be given four hours to complete the beta exam. Please plan accordingly.
• Find exam preparation information:
• http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-646.mspx
• http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-647.mspx

So just for the record :

71-646 : Use Promotional code : Q646 71-647 : Use Promotional code : 647Q

Just a few hours ago I received the beta codes to participate in the two MCITP Windows Server 2008 Exams! I’m very sorry everybody but I’m not allowed to share the codes with you guys (until further notice), so you don’t have to ask for them!

The Prometric website is very slow at the moment, but I finally were able to schedule both the 71-646 and the 71-647! You upcoming weeks are going to be busy weeks for me…