Certification Books

I just finished my test and I was somewhat surprised that a lot of the content in this book was not tested on. I know Microsoft changes the test but I expected that the book would be very close to the exam not in exact questions but in overview. Most of the question on encryption I couldn't find a mention in the book.

I would still use this book but I would caution you to add other books, notes to better emcompass the technology.

Having recently studied and sat the prerequisite 070-431 exam, using the 070-431 study guide put out by this same publisher, this book for exam 070-443 is much closer to the Microsoft exam content and format than the 070-431 book. Whereas I gave the 070-431 book 3 stars, due to how closely (or not) the contents matched what was examined, this books in comparison gets 5 stars.

It is NOT a rehash of SQL 2000 material and it is present to the reader in the same style as the 070-443 exam.

Each chapter covers the material to be examined on and then presents a case study with 10 or so questions based on that case study - just as per the exam.

The content is relevant and the style helps the reader become familiar with how the exam is presented. That alone is enough to deserve the 5 stars.

As with any exam preparation, if you are planning on sitting the exam I would still recommend supplementing the material in this book with other sources - I am currently reading the equivalent 070-443 MS Press exam book.

Personally, for this exam, I have found this Sybex title the better suited study guide.

Microsoft clearly owns the desktop marketplace, and they are clearly lacking such penetration into the world of big IT systems. For the past few years Microsoft has been orienting their company and their software products towards the enterprise level. With the latest version of SQL Server (2005) Microsoft is increasing their focus towards the larger end of the market. Part of this effort is the creation of the Microsoft Certified IT Professional. This certification is much higher end than the earlier certifications in areas like Word or Excel.

A person with MCITP certification has evidence that he knows how to set up and operate a truly big database. This means multiple databases, running on multiple servers, perhaps in different countries, backed up against disasters, running the latest software upgrades, protected against intruders, operating efficiently with maximum availability and convenience to users.

This book is in part a preparation for the 70-443 examination, but is also a book written by two authors who have been there and done that so that they can speak with personal experience about things that can go wrong.

This is a good book that covers all you need to know for this exam.

Having studied similar material by both Sybex and MS Press for other Microsoft's SQL 2005 exams, I found this particular book a good preparation guide for the 70-442 exam.

As you would expect, it covers the appropriate material and presents its material in an easy to follow and relevant manner. Having just sat the 070-442 exam today, I can strongly advise that just reading this book alone is not enough preparation. Having a thorough understanding of the different locking mechanisms, Multiple Active Result Sets (MARS) and transaction isolation levels, as well as using the supplementary material frequently quoted in this book (website articles, practice lessons and the companion CD included) are an essential must for anyone planning to sit the 070-442 exam.

The companion CD included contains practice questions, a PDF version of the book (great for searching), as well as excerpts from the other four MS Press Inside/Programming SQL books.

Having prepared by also studying other SQL material (namely the Inside-SQL series), I kept forgetting this was the official Microsoft exam guide - the style and format is less like a classroom/lab and more like an informative text with hands on examples. As a negative, the end of section review question are very light on, and the one scenario question at the end of each chapter is also extremely brief and not at all indicative of the exam. But that's precisely why you need the companion CD to fill the void.

Another negative - there were some exam questions on topics that never received a mention in this study guide: "Begin Transaction WITH MARK", and using "savepoints" as examples. That alone prevents me from awarding 5 stars.

Overall, this is an excellent resource, but supplemental study on the sections that emphasize "This is on the exam" is definitely required, as well as the areas mentioned above.

This book is the training manual for taking Microsofts 70-442 certification examination on SQL Server 2005. And like other training manuals, it gives an excellent introduction to the exam and provides the information that you'll need to pass the test. It includes sample tests, a time limited version of SQL Server 2005 to help with the examples, all the usual things.

This book, however, goes beyond the normal cram for an exam book in that it provides descriptions and explanations that go well beyond what will be asked on the test. This provides a basic understanding of SQL Server that goes well beyond what will be asked on the test.

For instance Appendix B runs for 70 pages and covers the internal architecture of the SQL Server product with special notes as to its operation on the new multi core CPUs, the use of CLR programming techniques (part of the .NET environment) and a lot more.

This is a book aimed at the expert. The SQL code examples are way above the trivial level. You may find that you'll need another book on SQL programming for the 2005 product to help explain what this book is covering fairly briefly.

I found this training manual to be spot on.

With quiet a few years experience and a 3 years since my last MS Exam, I reviewed the material in this book for 2 days before my exam and nailed it.

A lot of reviews I read had people failing this exam first and second goes, but with this book absolutley no worries.

The only part I don't like are the questions with "The solution provides the required result and both optional results" or "The solution provides the required result and one of the optional results"

To me they are pointless as the MS Exams don't have questions stuctured like that.

Well done to Lee Scales on a fantastic write up.

-Mark

The first of a 4 book series leading to MCSA/MCSE certification, this is the best training guide I have ever seen. I have taken the Microsoft recommended course, 2274, as well as read several other books and training guides. I am a MCP, using several resources to reach MCDST certification in route to MCSE certification. This book is amazing! The reference section on how the exam is structured is exactly right. The chapters are well laid out, and track the sections of competency Microsoft tests in the 70-290 exam. That makes it very easy to focus your attention on areas where additional study is necessary. The glossary at the end of each section provides additional study opportunities. In addition, the exercises really give a grasp of the materials. Finally, the Fast Facts section at the end of the book is a great exam review tool. This book will stay on my bookshelf long after certification as a tool to help me be a better system administrator.

I used this publisher for other tests and did well. I really can't say the same for this book for the 70-290. I have taken the actual test twice and did worse the second time. The second time, the test was 200% harder and longer. Many of the questions were not from any of the material that I read and used. The book says to use their exercises and practice tests but that didn't really help with the second tests at all. I've made a formal complaint to the testing company and to Microsoft but honestly don't think Microsoft cares one way or the other. It's their Certification and they make the rules. Using the FAST FACTS at the end of the book an hour on two before the test will do you absolutely no good at all!!
It's really too much money for what you get and there isn't any assurance that the book and disc included will help you. I think that the book publishers should offer the money back if their material doesn't help you pass the real test.

I loved this book, it does prepare you for the exam.

Excellent primer for the exam. I would recommend it.

In my quest to pass the 70-214 exam I had very little material to work with and even less to practice with. Sybex has released a book with over 80 exercises and 200 practice questions that will certainly making taking the 214 exam a little easier.

First let me say that the 70-214 exam is by far the toughest exam I have passed or taken, this book is written by 2 people who certainly have an in depth understanding of the world of Windows 2000 Security.

Taking you on a path that starts of with the basic of group policy configuration and works you all the way through the updating and management of the security system, including auditing, you have a very complete study guide to work with.

The coverage of the certain areas like the MBSA is great and the exercises make it easier to understand the use and purpose of the utility. I found the question to be very close to the actual exam, but I think more case study type of questions should be included as a separate test prep section.

The cd include also has a great number of questions and practice test. What I found missing was the MBSA utility, which means you have to find and download it from Microsoft's website. Also they could have included other security type of utilities for help in the real world, but that can be included in any updates.

Overall, having passed the exam in January, this book certainly does what it's designed for.

This book is very well written, easy to read, and covers the subject matter perfectly. Anyone who has at least a little bit of AD experiance and reads this book should have no problems passing the exam.

With the the seemingly little selection of quality prep books for the design exams, I wasn't expecting much-- but I must say I was pleasantly surprised. This book covered exactly what it was intended for, not the "how's", but the "why's" you will be expected to know for this exam. Just like the author says, don't take this exam until you have passed the AD implementation first. I found this book clear, concise, VERY accurate, and doesn't take long at all to read the entire book. It has the right combination of what you need to pass, without having to read 1,000 pages. It seems that the Dummies books may now be the best "exam crams" for W2K, judging by reviews for the other Dummies books. Now if they would just hurry up and make the Network Design book!

This book is accurate with VERY few errors. It covers all the topics required for the exam but not in the depth required to pass the exam. This book is good on installation and configuration issues but weak on the theory behind topics such as WINS and IP ADDRESSING. This being my first MCSE 2000 exam, I failed it the first time around. A lot of question that came out weren't covered in the book. This book should be complemented with another book. I read Mark Minasi's Windows 2000 server(Fantastic book, I give it a triple 5 star rating). I passed the exam second time around. A WORD OF WARNING MCSE 2000 EXAMS ARE MUCH MORE DEMANDING THAN PREVIOUS EXAMS. I HAD A FIXED LENGTH EXAM 55 QUESTIONS IN 2HOURS 35 MINUTES. I FINISHED WITH 1 MINUTE TO SPARE. THE REASON IS THAT A GOOD 85% OF THE QUESTIONS ARE SCENARIO BASED,WITH MULTIPLE ANSWERS. THIS REQUIRES ATTENTION TO DETAIL ALSO AFTER 90 MINUTES YOU ARE MENTALLY DRAINED.

This book serves as a tremendous bridge between resource guide and testing strategy. The integration of the theory along with the test preparation questions is excellent. The author's inclusion of outside resources proved invaluable and helped me pass my first two exams on the first try!

This is an excellent book for anyone who has never seen a Microsoft exam. The author dedicates the first three chapters to thoroughly preparing you to take an exam. He covers the exam methods, as well as mapping out the best strategy in taking the tests. The rest of the book takes you through each of the four core exams and two electives in great detail. The author enhances the practice questions with screen shots and information tables to further clarify your learning. After reading this book, you will go into each test with the confidence and knowledge needed to pass.

This is an excellent book for anyone who has never seen a Microsoft exam. The author dedicates the first three chapters to thoroughly preparing you to take an exam. He covers the exam methods, as well as mapping out the best strategy in taking the tests. The rest of the book takes you through each of the four core exams and two electives in great detail. The author enhances the practice questions with screen shots and information tables to further clarify your learning. After reading this book, you will go into each test with the confidence and knowledge needed to pass.

I used this book in conjunction with Exam Cram and found it more thorough, as well as more understandable. I got an excellent score on the test and purchased more books in this series.

I used this book in combination with the Transcender exams and was seriously OVERPREPARED for the test.

It has tons of useful pointers and tells you which areas you are most likely to be tested on.

It also comes with a handy tear-out guide in the front that you can use as a quick reminder of key points from each section. Perfect for last-minute cramming!

I found this book good for my exam revisions. All the practise questions were useful as well. The format of this book is excellent, and Exam tips and traps are very helpful. And the section where they reverse-engineer several practise questions is excellent, as it show how the tests are made, and what the commonly used "confusers" are.

However, I must add a ", but". The book misses some of the things you must know for the exam. Even worse are the errors in this book. There are several errors that should have been spotted by the author and the technical advisors.

I like the format of this book, but it does miss out on some things, and there are errors in the book. A good alternative to this book is the Sybex "MCSE exam notes" series.

I use Exam Crams as a final round up for my studies. They rarely fail and this one is no different!

the Exam Cram books are great. I like the fact that they are a quicker read and really get to the point. Pay attention to the alerts - they accurately reflect points that came up on the exam. This book combined with testking's online practice exam (...) and I passed the test easily. Well, I studied my (...) off, but using these two resources I was well prepared.

I have studied for six Microsoft tests, reading between two and five books for each. Of all those books, this one was one of the most outstanding. This book made the difference for me in feeling unprepared for the test before I read it to scoring 800 two days after I finished it. Excellent, organized, detailed coverage. If you have a lot of hands on experience, this book is probably all you'll need. If, like me, you need additional study due to lack of experience, I'd recommend including some extra focus on DNS.

These cards were a great help in passing my MCP exam in Server 4. I started studying for the exam with Sybex Test Success, and followed-up with Exam Cram flashcards. These cards filled in most of the gaps from the Sybex book, but didn't quite have everything I needed for the exam (the Exam Cram cards filled in the rest of the gaps). These cards were not quite as informative about Server 4 as the Workstation 4 cards were about Workstation, but they certainly did help. Overall a good set to study from.

I've used the FlashCards for both Net Ess and Server and passed both on the first try. I got an 899 on Server and these cards were part of that. I used these cards to get a start on the material and supplemented with the Exam Cram book and the MCSE Readiness Review (indispensable).

These flash cards are great, and really helped me with McSe Windows Nt 4 Server.

This book reads at a great pace, pointing out potential test items and has great end of chapter tests and reviews. Nice CD included filled with lots of MCSE quizzers and self test software.

Although I have had very good experience with other "Dummies" books, this one is just too brief. Good for a quick review at best.

I purchased these cards after I finished studying the Sybex NT Workstation 4.0 book, and they helped fill in all the gaps, and even helped me gain a greater understanding of the intricacies of Workstation. Also, my wife, who helped me study, learned enough that she is now able to do some of her own tech support on her work computer (an NT Workstation on a Netware domain). This set is definitely worth the cost.