MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-291): Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure [With

I originally received this book from my company since they are requiring each tech in our company to pass both the 70-290 and the 70-291. Initially looking through the book I was scepticle that it would adequately prepare me. After 1.5 months studying 2-3 hours daily and using this book as my primary source I passed with an 842. A coworker also used this book and passed with a 905. Each section seemed to cover the topics adquately and even more the reading of it was not dry and difficult as I expected. Both of us especially focused on each Exam Tip which is frequently emphasized throughout the book. We typed these out into about 15 pages of single spaced notes we used to review serveral times a week. A note about my work experience. Many of the topics in this book were mostly unfamiliar with me. Concepts such as TCP/IP Troubeshotting and DHCP I use regularly and the chapters about this were more of a review for me. However, I rarely if ever do anything with DNS, IPSEC, Shadow Copies, WSUS, Security Monitor, Replication Monitor, Network Monitor, Routing and Remote Access, etc as part of my normal job. I went into these sections with at best a novice understanding and at time no experience at all before studying. Yet by the time I took the test I scored well in all areas except Routing and Remote Access. My recommended study steps is... 1. Read the book once through for a general overvue. Highlight anything that is not familiar to you. 2. Read through the book a 2nd time especially focusing on things you are unfamiliar with. Make notecards of every command line command with switches that are discussed in the book. These will be on the exam. 3. Read the Exam tips at least 5-7 times before taking the exam. 4. Google anything that does not seem to be clear from the book or that seems confusing. The only thing I had to do this on was for the NSlookup command. I found a few websites that were great expalining what to use this command for. 5. Set a realistic test date to push yourself as the test nears. Not setting a date (for me) can be a recipe for not being focused and taking it much later than I should. Good luck with it!

Well, I'm impressed. For starters, I got a valuable education from this book, not to mention a 980 on the exam. This book is a thorough course and will prepare you as much for the real world as it will the exam, but it requires a practice network of at least 2 computers (I recommend 3), and a lot of time - 250 to 300 hours. This isn't the kind of book that you read in bed or on the couch. The book is approx. 25% reading, 75% hands on lab work. I give my money to Microsoft reluctantly, especially on products that depend on solid communication skills, but since the book came with a trial version of Server 2003, I plugged my nose and bought it. I expected a litany of typos, endless ambiguity and the "good enough" quality standards that their software has accustomed me to, but that wasn't the case at all. The book was 98% accurate. The practice exam software was an asset, and like I said, it was thorough. It's only shortcoming was in the topic area of "Windows Software Update Service". I should add that I had two years of experience within an Active Directory environment under my belt.

I found this book to be a great resource and a good foundational book. I goes into enough detail to get a good understanding of the principals of Windows 2003 Network Infrastructure. While I am not sure you can pass the MSCSE 70-291 test with just reading this book it is a great foundation to compliment a good purchased sample test.

It has taken a while to get this book published. 1230 pages of material takes a lot of time to put together. Obviously the stated aim of this book is to prepare the student to take the exam. However, even if you are not planning on taking the exam, the material covered here is a complete book on Windows Server 2003 Networking. It covers everything from defining TCP/IP to troubleshooting nearly any kind of trouble. Of course the main thrust of the book is to pass the test, so there are a lot of small tests throughout the book and then there are three CD's. This includes a 180 day evaluation version of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition. In addition there is a review test that will give you the look and feel of the real test. This is by no means light reading for the IT newbie, but it's all you will need to pass the certification test.

No 1 book is ever perfect. Like one reviewer said it does not do a lot of explanation. I think it explains enough for you to practice and figure out the rest. That's what some computer books are about. That's what makes this book extremely enjoyable to read without over burdening you with details. However, i did need a little more in depth to IIS 6.0 so bought the Resource Kit from Microsoft Press, that was excellent.