90 Days

Challenge accepted

I went on a bit of a certification bent last year around this time.  Mostly because I realized that I had a BA in History with nothing to legitimize my career in IT other than a minor in Computer Science and 8 years as a Sys Admin.  For most people, that would be enough, but there were gaps in my knowledge of many of the technologies I worked on regularly that I wanted to fill with sweet, delicious utility.  So I geared up and started working on my first Microsoft certification.  An MCTS in Windows 7, which coincided nicely with a Win7 migration my employer was doing at the time.

For those who haven't taken it, the Win7 test (70-680) is a bit of a bear.  I'll admit it took me two attempts to pass it, but I got it and was proud as punch.  Then, with no further impetus driving me, I went back to work with my shiny new acronym and called it good.  Fast forward to this year.  I've got a hankering for certs again and the field of battle has changed a bit.

Microsoft has gone away from the MCTS>MCITP structure and back to a MCSA>MCSE>MCSM structure.  Server 2012 and Windows 8 have both released.  Furthermore, I have a new job that wants me certified as much as I want to get certifications.  Enter one Michael Bender (@michaelbender) who has issued the 90 Days to MCSA challenge.  Basically, the challenge is to get your MCSA in Server 2012 (or SQL 2012) in 90 days.  Sounds simple enough, I accept your challenge, sir.

The MCSA in Server 2012 has 3 exams if you, like me, don't have any of the upgradeable certifications.

• Exam 70-410: Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012
• Exam 70-411: Administering Windows Server 2012
• Exam 70-412: Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 Services

I got something of a late start and didn't really get rolling on the 2012 curriculum until mid-April, but I have already successfully knocked out my 70-410.  As far as the exam goes, it's more difficult than it seems just looking at the objectives, but not as hard as I feared it would be.  Especially considering my only prior experience with Microsoft certification exams was the 70-680.  I passed with a reasonable score with the help of some computer based training, the Exam Ref for the 70-410, and this part can't be emphasized enough, a virtual lab running 2 Server 2012 VMs.  Basically, I read up on what was going to be on the test and followed along to the CBTs with my own lab.

Next up is the 70-411, and I'll readily admit that I'm a little leery of this one.  It has some of the specific technologies that you also find client-side on the 70-680 which I didn't fare so well on, like DirectAccess.  I have my 411 exam scheduled for next Thursday and will let you know how it goes.

Microsoft has provided a multitude of resources for the 90 Days to MCSA challenge, so if you're interested, go to http://90daystomcsa.com where you'll find discussion boards, wikis, and resources such as ways to download a trial version of 2012 for your home lab.  Also, for the next month and a half Trainsignal.com is offering their videos for these exams for free to participants in the 90 days to MCSA program.  You can also kick off a 90-day trial of Windows Azure, which let's you try out some of the latest cloud technology AND run your test lab at the same time.  You can find that here.

I hope you found this first post some sort of useful.  Now if you'll excuse me, I have some studying to do.