MCSE Studying - Week 50

Overview
Week 50 of my MCSE studies was not as focused or busy as I would have liked, but I still managed to accomplish a few things. I finished the KnowledgeNet 70-411 Live Learning course, and worked on the prerecorded lesson for the same exam. I also managed to secure sufficient funding to renew my subscription to KnowledgeNet, a resource that I am finding very valuable.

Cool Stuff
There wasn't anything that I would consider especially cool, but I did enjoy learning more about the Distributed File System (DFS), and getting into the details of how to setup and configure this service. Even in this age of collaboration tools like SharePoint, DFS can still play an important role in managing and replicating certain types of files. Namely, files that do not change frequently, such as updates, software repositories, and corporate policies and procedures.

PowerShell cmdlet of the Week
I once again did not focus a lot on PowerShell this past week, so I don't have a cmdlet for you this week.

Stats
Total time studying: 7 hrs. 55 min.

• 70-411: 7 hrs. 55 min.

Resources used:

KnowledgeNet Live Learning Course: Administering Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2

In Closing
I did have a bit of difficulty carving out enough time to study this past week, mostly due to far too many late nights. I do need to be quite a bit more focused, as I am scheduled to write the next exam, 70-411, in about two months. I plan to continue the 70-411 prerecorded sessions and work some more on my PowerShell studies. I also have the option to take the KnowledgeNet 70-412 Live Learning course starting next week, so hopefully I'll have a bit of time to sit in on that as well.

Have a great week everyone!

MCSE Studying - Week 49

Overview
Week 49 continues my journey of becoming an MCSE. I have passed the 70-410 exam, earning the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification. My studies are now focused on preparing for the 70-411 exam, Administering Windows Server 2012. I am looking forward to being able to focus more on this exam now that it is the next one in line. There are some interesting technologies in this exam that I am eager to learn.

Cool Stuff
Perhaps the coolest thing I learned last week was the concepts behind VPN technologies, including things like RADIUS, authentication protocols, encryption, encapsulation, and integrity algorithms. There is a lot to know, but as I study these concepts more and more, I am starting to understand how the pieces fit together. Over the next week or two, I am hoping to finally cement my understanding of these concepts.

PowerShell cmdlet of the Week
I seem to have gotten away from looking for a specific PowerShell cmdlet as of late. I will ensure that I pick up my PowerShell studies again, and I'll make sure I have a cmdlet here for you next week.

Stats
Total time studying: 16 hrs. 40 min.

• 70-411: 12 hrs.
• Lab Maintenance (Prep for 70-411): 4 hrs. 40 min.

Resources used:

KnowledgeNet Live Learning Course: Administering Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2

In Closing
It was a really good feeling to get back to studying for a specific exam. I have changed my study style slightly for 70-411, opting to focus on taking more, and better notes than I have in the past. My intention is to focus a lot more on the details related to each of the objectives in addition to obtaining a solid foundation. It will require more focus than I have been giving to my studies, but I am ready for the challenge. For an example of just how detailed I plan to get, hop over to this post on my other blog, "The Frozen Geek". It is an exploration of an unlikely scenario, but I figure if I can answer questions like this, I should be able to ace the 70-411 exam.

Have a great week everyone!

MCSE Studying - What Happened During Weeks 39-48?

As you may have noticed, I have not made one single blog post in the past 10 weeks. What happened? Life. Circumstances changed quite rapidly over the past 10 weeks, and things are only now starting to settle down. In this post, I will try to catch you up on the events of the past few weeks. I will also try to get back on track doing regular weekly blog posts. So, without further delay, here's what has been happening.

On March 10, I went into the testing center, ready to write the 70-410 Exam: Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012. Unfortunately, due to a technical error at the testing center, I was unable to write the exam that day. The test center did what they could to try to correct the error, but ultimately it was up to the test provider to correct the issue. The staff at the test center encouraged me to stay in Edmonton for the remainder of the week, just in case the exam could be rescheduled before I left for home.

It was not rescheduled. In fact, It was just over a week before I heard back from the test provider, and a further 3 days (due to another technical glitch) before I could book a time to write the test. I finally managed to book the second attempt at exam 70-410 for April 29.

Also adding to the chaos of my life, I started a new job on March 16. I am working on the help desk for a local college. This is only a temporary position, as I am covering for an individual who is on maternity leave. I have been having a great time, as this job is considerable less stressful than the last position I held. It has, however, reduced the amount of time I have to study.

During the seven weeks between the first and second attempt at the exam, I managed to get very little studying done. I would say that it was less than 5 hours a week. It was very difficult to find that balance between work/home/study time. Needless to say,  few things fell by the wayside during this period, not the least of which was this blog.

I went back into Edmonton on April 29, and managed to write, and pass exam 70-410. The experience taught me a lot about myself, my studying habits, and just what is required to pass a Microsoft certification exam. I was glad I wrote it, and even happier that I passed. Upon my return home, I took a couple of days off from studying and took an opportunity to relax a little bit.

I am now back into studying, preparing myself for the 70-411 Exam: Administering Window Server 2012. I have finally managed to hit my stride, and the studying is once again back on track. I have not yet booked the exam, but I plan to do that over the next few days. I would expect to be ready to write it sometime in late May, or possibly early June.

I will be back on track with my blog posts starting next week, so look forward to more information on how things are going, and what I am learning.

Have a great week everyone!