Beginners self-study tips for Microsoft exams

Hello Habraworld!

In this article I would like to share my little experience in the field of self-preparation for passing Microsoft certification exams using the example of MCITP: Enterprise Administrator

So what do we need?

First of all, Moscow needs to set a goal for itself and go towards it step by step. If you decide to become a certified MCITP - Microsoft Certified IT Professional (formerly MCSA ), then you should study which exams (and these are four mandatory exams and one to choose from) to pass. You can do this on the Microsoft website here or, for example, here . No matter in what order you will pass the exams, the main thing is to pass them! Most of the exams are available for delivery in Russian!
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Secondly, literature. There are several options: buy books, download their electronic versions, or take them from friends / colleagues / acquaintances. If you decide to buy books, then we take a denyuzhku and go to Ozon.ru or to a regular bookstore (preferably one that is in a large computer store. Tyk ). Electronic versions of the same books can be found on the Internet, and the images of the attached disks on torrent trackers. Google to the rescue.

Third, practice. Again, we have two options: imaginative physical machines or virtualization. If you have the opportunity to use physical machines (2-3 PCs or more), then this is great! But not always there is such an opportunity. This is where virtualization software comes to the rescue. Here are two of them: Microsoft's Virtual PC and Oracle's VirtualBox . In the case of the use of virtualization programs for practical training, we will need not the weakest physical computer, preferably with a dual-core processor and more, and 2-4 GB of RAM. “My dear! Iron is, but where to get the software? ”- you ask. And I will answer you: “Torrents away! Microsoft is our everything! ” Follow the link -> Choose Windows Server 2008 R2 from the list-> Download-> Select a version (here is one BUT: either x64 or Itanium) -> Enter your Windows Live ID credentials (or register) -> Download the image of the distribution kit-> Profit! A trial license is valid for 180 days after activation (serial number is not needed)! In general, a very useful resource, which is to add to your browser favorites.

Now everything is ready for a successful, or not , independent study of the material.

Read the book carefully. You need to understand what is at stake. There are a lot of pictures in books. If something is not clear - read again, and more, and more ... Do practical work. Answer the security questions at the end of each of the chapters of the books without looking into the answers ahead of time. On the accompanying discs there is additional content: the electronic version of the book in English, videos, links, as well as software for self-passing the trial exam for the current course of study.

When you decide that the training is over and you need to go to take, then you need to find the nearest testing center, for example, the same “Specialist” , register for the exam, take a denyuzhku in the prescribed amount, a passport and a second identity document. All information on deadlines and venue is better to clarify in advance on the website, or by calling the selected center.

A little bit about sad things:
“If a candidate does not pass the exam on the first try, he can retake this exam no earlier than 24 hours after the first attempt.
If the candidate did not pass the exam the second time, then the next attempt is possible no earlier than after 14 days. A similar limitation of 14 days is imposed on subsequent failed attempts.
A candidate may not attempt to pass one exam more than 5 times per calendar year. For additional attempts, the candidate will need to obtain special permission from Microsoft.
If a candidate passes the exam successfully, he will not be able to pass it again. ”

Dare! No fluff. And remember: even a 9-year-old student was able to become a certified system engineer . And you - a bearded man with a beer belly, you can even more so!

PS When using VirtualBox as a software for virtualization, it is mandatory to install a set of extensions . Otherwise there will be problems with the use of PXE-boot. And be sure to put add-ons for the guest OS after installing the system.