MCSE 70-291 Certification Primer

1. Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP)
2. Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA)
3. Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE)

1. Microsoft Certification provides a standard method of testing employee skills. The certifications provide employers a valid benchmark for evaluating the existing employee's abilities. This will provide you the recognition and reward as per your expertise.
2. Microsoft certifications offer prospective employers a baseline to judge your knowledge, skill, and expertise in the field. Certifications provide added advantage if you are at the same level of experience as another person without certifications.
3. Certifications are a valuable tool if you very little or no experience .The certifications that you hold can prove and reassure your employers and consultants about your knowledge in the field. This will enable you to secure good job as well as negotiate a good salary.
4. MCSE certification is a pre-requisite for opportunities with Technical solution providers, Training centers, etc.

Microsoft has developed independent certification requirements for Microsoft Windows Server 2003. An aspirant can certify directly for MCSE/MCSA in Windows 2003 if he/she is new to certification process. If the aspirant is already a certified MCSE /MCSA in Windows 2000, he/she can follow the upgrade path for Windows 2000 to secure Windows 2003 certifications. If the aspirant has been certified in MCSE for Windows NT4.0, he/she can earn MCSE in Windows 2003 by following the upgrade path for MCSEs in Windows NT4.0. 

Exam 70-291 is the second in the series of the core exams for MCSE certifications. Even though you can take the exams in any order, it is advisable to take 70-291 after your finish with 70-290,since exam 70-291 is the natural progression from 70-290 in terms of curricula as well as concepts. 70-291 is meant for administrators who implement and administer networks on Windows Server 2003. When you pass the Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment exam, you achieve Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) status. You also earn credit toward the following certifications:

	Core credit toward Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Certification
	Core credit toward Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Certification

	Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining Name Resolution
	Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining Network Security
	Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining Routing and Remote Access
	Maintaining a Network Infrastructure

Most of the questions in the exam are multiple-choice type. These questions require the "best" answer from several close responses. Other questions may present an implementation scenario, requirements, and a proposed solution, and then ask if the solution meets all of the requirements or combinations of the primary and secondary requirements. Microsoft has introduced some testing innovations for the certification exams. These new question types present a more realistic visual representation of the tasks a MCSE would do in future . These are:

Hot Area Questions - This type of question require indicating the correct answer by selecting one or more elements within a graphic.

Active Screen Questions - This type of question asks you to configure a dialog box by changing one or more elements.  

Drag and Drop Questions - This type of question asks you to drag source objects to appropriate targets within a work area.  

Build List and Reorder Questions -  This type of question asks you to indicate the correct answer by building an answer list. In a Build List and Reorder question, you need to build a list by dragging the appropriate source objects to the answer list and then placing them in the correct order based on criteria defined in the question.  

Create a Tree Questions - This type of question asks you to create a tree structure. You indicate the correct answer by dragging source nodes to the correct locations in the answer tree. Nodes consist of text and a small icon.  

Windows 2000 Simulation Questions - This type of question asks you to indicate the correct answer by performing specific tasks such as configuring and installing network adapters or drivers, configuring and controlling access to files, and managing hardware devices. Many of the tasks that systems administrators and systems engineers perform can be presented more accurately in simulations than in most traditional exam question types.

Get hands-on experience with new set of questions in Whizlabs Preparation Kit and plan your study regime to ensure success.

Question 1
Your company's network consists of a Windows Server 2003 computer with the DHCP Server service. All clients are Windows XP Professional computers. You configure DNS scope options to provide router and DNS server information to the clients. You configure reservations in the DHCP scope for some clients that require a specific IP address. Your company purchases a new router that will be the new interface that connects your network to the Internet. You reconfigure the scope to reflect the new router address. All computers on the network are then rebooted. You notice that computers with reserved addresses can no longer access the Internet. What should you do? (Choose all that apply)

Choices:
A. Configure options on each address class to include the new router.
B. Configure the scope options to include the Perform Router Discovery option
C. Configure the server options to include the Perform Router Discovery option
D. Configure options on each address reservation to include the new router
E. Run ipconfig /renew at each client computer with an address reservation.
F. Run ipconfig /release at each client computer with an address reservation

Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Correct Choice: D and E.

Explanation:
You should configure options on each address reservation to include the new router. Then you should run ipconfig /renew at each client computer with an address reservation. The problem you experienced is most likely caused by an option that has been configured at the reservation level. Reserved clients can have DHCP options configured specifically for their use. When options are configured for a reserved client, these values override any option type parameters distributed via server-based, scope-based, or class-based options. You should not configure options on each address class to include the new router because the router is configured at the scope level. Nothing was mentioned about address classes being configured. The router option does not need to be reconfigured at the address class level. You should not configure the Perform Router Discovery option at either the server or scope level. This will only allow the clients to discover their own routers. It will not override any setting at the reservation level that may be overriding the router setting. You should not run ipconfig /release at each client computer with an address reservation. Releasing the IP address using the ipconfig /release command only releases the IP address. It does not renew the lease or refresh all TCP/IP client options. Therefore, any option including ipconfig /release is incorrect.
Marks: 20

Question 2
You are the network administrator for an e-commerce company, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The network contains Windows XP Professional and Windows Server 2003 computers, all configured as DHCP clients. You have two DHCP servers named DHCP-SubnetA and DHCP-SubnetB that are configured to distribute addresses to the two subnets, SubnetA and SubnetB, using an 80/20 ratio. On Monday when you report to work, you notice that DHCP service on DHCP-SubnetB has stopped due to a hard drive failure on the hard drive that holds the DHCP database. You replace the defective hard drive and restore the DHCP database from backup. You must ensure that the database information is current. What should you do?

Choices:
A. Compact the database on DHCP-SubnetB.
B. Reconcile the database on DHCP-SubnetB
C. Update the server statistics on DHCP-SubnetB.
D. Deactivate the scopes on DHCP-SubnetB, and then reactivate them

Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Correct Choice: B

Explanation:
You should reconcile the database on DHCP-SubnetB. Reconciling the database will clear up any inconsistency that exists. You should not compact the database on DHCP-SubnetB. Compacting the database only ensures that the database takes up a minimum amount of hard drive space. It will not repair any inconsistency issue. You should not update the server statistics on DHCP-SubnetB. This option only ensures that you have the most current performance statistics for the DHCP server. It will not repair any inconsistency issues. You should not deactivate the scopes on DHCP-SubnetB, and then reactivate them. This option only temporarily stops the DHCP server from assigning addresses from the DHCP scopes. It will not repair any inconsistency issue.
Marks: 20

Passing Score:
Microsoft has normalized scoring for all MCP exams, so the same passing score applies to all exams. 700 is now the minimum passing score for all MCP exams. But the maximum score (which used to top out at 1000) varies per exam, depending on the complexity of the skills being measured.

Time Limit
The exam duration is 175 minutes and there are approximately 45 questions. You will have plenty of time to answer the questions, so there is no need to rush. If you have the time, you can double-check the questions and ensure that you have read them correctly and actually answered the question as intended

Exam Result
Instead of reporting results based on major categories for exam objectives, as it used to, Microsoft is now providing numerical scores and bar graphs for "skill clusters". Visually, the bars in the exam report show you how well you fare in each skill cluster. If bars that represent cluster scores are close to one end of the graph, they indicate stronger skills; bars near the other end indicate weaker skills. Please store your exam result in both hard copy and electronic format for later reference.

The steps to prepare for Microsoft certification are:

	Where to Begin? The MCSE exams are not easy, as advertised on many websites. The MCSE certifications are tough, so plan to put in a lot of time and effort getting ready for your certification exams. Get all information you can about the certification exams and then start working towards your goal.
	Don't go it alone = it will be extremely helpful to study with co-workers or friends, especially ones with varied experiences in networking. Your study can be enhanced with discussions and help on various training options and tough concepts. It is an invaluable help from a motivational standpoint itself.
	Get hands-on experience. There is absolutely no substitute for hands-on experience with the product. For MCSE, the aspirant needs to have at least 1 year working experience and for MCSA, the minimum recommended work experience is 6 months.
	If you do not know anything, more than what you memorize for a test, your certification would not be useful. Hence if you are not working anywhere, it will help if you volunteer your IT skill services to gain valuable experience.
	You can set up a small network at home to practice. Setting up the home network will provide you with a great opportunity to learn. You can practice the lab exercises on the home network as and when you study. This will give you a better understanding of the theories, rather than just studying the exam guides.
	Spend money on instructor-led training in related products in a Microsoft Authorized Training Centre. You can use training resources to supplement your skills and experience since the hands-on lab and instructor input are invaluable.
	Once you have the necessary hands-on experience, use Microsoft Press books to finally cover the tricky questions that you will not usually encounter in everyday applications. You can also use the Microsoft Official Curriculum for the related exam or other recommended study guides.
	For Exam 70-291, the main areas that you need to concentrate on would be: TCP/IP addressing DHCP, including DHCP authorizations, configuring scopes, relay agents, reservations, databases, and split scopes. Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) Troubleshooting IP addressing DNS name resolution and order Forwarding, Root hints, types of zones with focus in DNS AD-integrated zones DNS dynamic and secure updates Troubleshooting DNS with NSlookup, Event Viewer, System Monitor, and DNS logs Security templates and IPSec policy configuration IPSec monitoring and troubleshooting with Event Viewer and Network Monitor RSoP application PPTP and L2TP based VPNs IPSec NAT configuration RRAS and IAS configuration RADIUS Wireless clients and protocols = EAP-TLS, PEAP Routing protocols = RIP and OSPF IPSec monitoring SNMP
	Get a copy of the test objectives from the Microsoft site since the exam focuses on these topics. Use the preparation guide of the exam you plan to take and read it thoroughly. You should know all the exam objectives covered in the exam preparation guide.
	Use practice test software packages. Whizlabs Preparation Kits is an example. Practice exams help to bring together information presented in the Microsoft official textbooks. Study hard, try the practice exam, and study the answers to the incorrect responses. This helps you to learn the concepts that the question is covering.
	Do NOT use Braindumps. Braindumps might help you get the certification, but you will lack important practical knowledge about the product. Hence, your prospects of landing a good IT job will be lesser. Some braindumps deliberately mislead you. So BEWARE!
	You can participate in any online discussion forum, where you can even ask doubts if you have any. You are sure to get the right guidance. Checking the newsgroups on a daily basis tells you how the experts solve all kinds of problems.
	you've learned the details about the Exam, its pattern, objectives etc. Now its time to learn how to master the course and prepare scientifically. You can do that with the help of MCSE Exam Preparation Guide.