Preparing to Upgrade
If you're considering upgrading to either of the Windows 2003 certifications, you'll want to take the 70-292 upgrade exam first. This step will gain you the MCSA certification. If you're qualified as an MCSE, you can then take the 70-296 upgrade exam. Although the content of each upgrade exam is different, the 70-296 content builds on the foundation made in Exam 70-294: Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure. Each exam is built from the content of two of the core Windows 2003 exams. As a result, candidates will most likely need to double their usual exam preparation time to come to terms with each upgrade exam's material. Candidates should approach each upgrade exam as two exams condensed into the length of one rather than as one typical MCP exam.
The first upgrade exam, 70-292, focuses on the administration of Windows 2003 and its underlying network infrastructure. The material for this exam is drawn equally from the objectives for Exam 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment and Exam 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure. An equivalent version on the Win2K track would be if Microsoft merged the content of Exam 70-215: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server with half the content of Exam 70-216: Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure. To pass the 70-292 upgrade exam, candidates must successfully demonstrate that they have the knowledge to manage group and user accounts, troubleshoot authentication, troubleshoot Win2K Server Terminal Services, and manage Software Update Services (SUS). They will also need to show that they understand the processes necessary to manage Microsoft IIS, perform system recovery, configure and manage DNS, and implement and manage network security. A detailed set of the objectives for exam 70-292 is available on Microsoft's Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/exams/70-292.asp.
The second upgrade exam, 70-296, focuses on additional networking knowledge and knowledge of the Windows 2003 AD infrastructure. An equivalent version on the Win2K track would be if Microsoft combined the rest of the content from the networking infrastructure exam (70-216) with Exam 70-217: Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure. To successfully pass the 70-296 upgrade exam, candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the process involved in planning and maintaining network infrastructure, ensuring server availability, using server roles, and applying appropriate security. Candidates must also show that they know how to maintain network security, implement security and AD infrastructures, and maintain and troubleshoot Group Policy. A detailed set of objectives for exam 70-296 is available at http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/exams/70-296.asp.
Waiting on Longhorn
Some Win2K–certified candidates might decide to wait until Microsoft announces the Longhorn MCSE before they again journey to the testing center. We can assume that Microsoft will provide an upgrade track from the Windows 2003 MCSA and MCSE to the Longhorn MCSA and MCSE. If the upgrade track for the future certification is similar to the current upgrade path, candidates would need to take an additional two exams. Under the same scenario, candidates without a Windows 2003 MCSE certification would need to take seven exams to achieve Longhorn MCSE certification. Assuming that Microsoft takes this approach with the next upgrade path, upgrading to Windows 2003 now might save candidates from taking three extra exams in several years' time. With the ability to retake each upgrade exam that you fail, candidates who are certified on Win2K and want to update their credentials have little reason not to take this approach. Although some candidates will decide to take each of the core exams individually, remember that sitting two exams is easier and cheaper than sitting four exams.
FASTFACT
As of November 2003, Microsoft had certified more than 700 Windows Server 2003 Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSEs), more than 228,000 Windows 2000 MCSEs, and more than 394,000 Windows NT MCSEs.
Source: Microsoft
FASTFACT
According to a recent Instant Poll on the CertTutor.net Web site, more than half of the survey respondents schedule their certification exams less than 1 month but more than 1 week in advance of taking the exam.
Source: CertTutor.net Instant Poll
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