Windows Server 2008 portfolio

Static M.e.

Thought this might interest some here..

Windows Server 2008 portfolio
Five distinct certifications: three technology-specific tracks and two role-specific tracks

70-646: PRO: Windows Server 2008 Administrator
70-647: PRO: Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator

One exam to earn each of the MCTS certifications
70-640: TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
70-642: TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
70-643: TS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Platform, Configuring

Our plan right now is to release these to the marketplace 30 days form the RTM of the product. So when Microsoft makes an official announcement about an RTM date for Windows Server 2008, add 30 on to that, and that’s when you’ll see these exams in the marketplace. So you can kind of keep that number in

your head in terms of gauging when you’re likely to see the exams in your local test center.

MCITP: Server Administrator

In terms of building up to a job role, the new Server Administrator track is three exams. Keep the paths very targeted and short. Microsoft Certified IT Professional Server Administrator is the first job role. I think a lot of people are immediately going to say that it’s a replacement for the MCSE. That’s not entirely true. It tends to be more operations focused than Systems Administrator was previously. So it’s not entirely a replacement for the MCSE credential.

In fact, it’s more than that. It’s a more extensive job role and a better fit with what people are currently doing. So in order to get the Server Administrator credential, you take two of the three Technology Specialist exams, 640 and 642: Networking Infrastructure, and Active Directory. Then you take Exam 646 which is the PRO exam: Windows Server 2008 Administrator. Something to note is that the TS exams will likely be out 30 days from RTM. The professional or job role exams will likely be out 60 days from RTM. So this is the Server Administrator path. Within 60 days of the release of the technology, you would be able to take all three of these exams and earn three very different certifications. So that’s the first of our two job roles

MCITP: Enterprise Administrator

Five exams to earn the MCITP – Enterprise Administrator
70-620: TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client
or
70-624: TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops

70-643: TS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Platform, Configuring
70-642: TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
70-640: TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
70-647: PRO: Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator

The second job role is the Enterprise Administrator Certification and it consists of five total exams. Previously, MCSE took seven exams. In the new world, it takes five exams to earn the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator certification. In the case of the TS requirements, this requires all three of the Windows Server 2008 Technology Specialist Certifications: Exams 640, 642, and 643. It will also require one of two client-related exams: the 620 Vista exam or the 624 Vista Client and Office Desktops exam. Both of these exams are out currently and some of you have used them already to fulfill elective requirements for MCSA or MCSE, or simply to be certified in new technologies. These exams will be part of the Longhorn program.

In the older and current MCSA and MCSE programs we required you to take a client exam and we also left room for electives. While some people liked the flexibility of those programs, over time we found that most people were going on very prescriptive paths. Most people were not using a wide variety of electives to earn their certifications. So largely that is why we have eliminated this whole idea of electives. It has also caused us problems historically as electives have come and gone and been retired, and technologies have come and gone, and it’s created confusion sometimes and systems issues as well, relative to when an elective does or doesn’t apply. So we’ve removed all of that in the new program. It’s very specific. You have the three Windows Server TS’s and you have a little bit of flexibility in what you use as the final TS; it can be one of those two exams there.

Lastly, you take the Enterprise Administrator exam, 647, to earn your MCITP: Enterprise Administrator. So you invest in five exams and you actually earn five certification credential. Previously, you would have earned an MCP for each of the exams you took and the build-up would have been an MCSA or MCSE. In the new world, you earn very specific credentials that showcase your talents much more directly.

I know a lot of folks have wondered why we haven't used the term “engineer” for the Enterprise Administrator credential. In the history of Microsoft Learning certification, the use of the word “engineer” has caused us a lot of problems worldwide. It’s a protected word in many countries and we have been sued in about 20 countries. It is a word that is legally protected. For example, in the province of Quebec, Canada, you cannot use the word “engineer” in any way unless you have passed the Order of Engineers professional engineering exam. So that is the biggest reason we have chosen not to use the word “engineer.” We’ve also had a number of issues with the word here, in the United States, in a couple of states in particular. So it was simply to avoid litigation in a number of parts of the world. Having said that, we are in the process of talking to several of the most countries where we have issues with the word, about ways that we might amend the usage of the word. So what I will tell you is that at this moment in time it is off the table, but we are continuing to actively pursue using it down the road. Please understand that we are sensitive to some who may be angry about that and we are trying to rectify that. But it is not something that is easy to do, and nobody likes being sued.

You might be wondering:
Will there be a messaging track for Windows Server 2008 certifications? No. We’ve already released the Enterprise Messaging Administrator certification, a three-exam cert that’s been out since Exchange was in the market, and that is our primary messaging certification.

What about Security? Virtualization? Right now we’re not releasing specific information on new tracks or distinct certifications for those. In some respects virtualization is going to be covered in the Windows Server 2008 program within the application platform exam we just discussed. But we are continuing to look into ways to introduce security in particular into our certification program and we’ll be making some announcements about that at the end of the summer, in terms of trying to marry what we do with some of the best practices in the industry.

Static M.e.

MCSA \ MCSE 2003

If you’re currently an MCSA on Windows 2003 only, you can transition to two of the TS credentials by taking Exam 648. If you pass that, you earn those two TS credentials: Active Directory and Networking Infrastructure. If you’re an MCSE, you can take 649 and earn all three of the Technology Specialist credentials for Windows Server 2008. So those are our transition recommendations for MCSAs and MCSEs certified on Windows Server 2003 as a way to get to Windows Server 2008.

MCSA \ MCSE 2000

Is there a transition path from Windows Server 2000? No. That’s why we’re doing a lot of promotions and offers right now, to try to help people get from 2000 to 2003. 2003 to 2008 is the transition or upgrade path we’ll be working with.

So if you want both the Server Admin & Enterprise Admin Certs you will need to sit the following exams

Server 2008 Administrator
70-640: TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
70-642: TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
70-646: PRO: Windows Server 2008 Administrator

Then/or

Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator
70-620: TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client
or
70-624: TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops

70-643: TS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Platform, Configuring
70-642: TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
70-640: TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
70-647: PRO: Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator

Any Questions feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer

Static M.e.

Trika just posted

Thursday, November 01, 2007 11:18 PM
Nothing too fancy: exam guidance for WS2008
So many questions, understandably, about what you should do next, with Windows Server 2008 certifications on the horizon. Lots of "I have 2000, and want to get 2008 certified, what do I do?" or "I'm an MCSA wearing a cape, what exam is right for me?"



Here is a little chart--bereft of bells, whistles, or officialliness*--that I've been using toward my own dark purposes. I figured I'd post it here for you to gnaw while we are finalizing Windows Server 2008 certification paths and announcements. This won't be particularly helpful if you don't have any clue** what is coming for Server 2008, to start with. Please download slides or watch this recording for our preview. and see the little legend at the bottom. In our December 5 Live Meeting, Rob and Jim (who know all the things) will be available to answer any specific questions about 2008, too.



For someone starting from scratch:

We recommend you plan for certifications on the technology you are using today or will be working on in the near future. There is nothing wrong with starting a 2003 certification track today—skills on 2003 will be in demand for a long time to come in different locations around the world.

If you want to earn your MCITP: EA in the future, you can start on that now with exams 620 or 624.
If you want to earn BOTH WS2003 and 2008 certs, start with 620, which will apply to both
For an MCSA 2000:

It is the same number of exams to go direct to 2008 certifications as it is to do so via MCSA 2003. Although 292 is known for being a very challenging exam, this route lets you take advantage of the upgrade path (only available until March), earns a valuable 2003 cert NOW, and lets you get started on your path right away (rather than waiting for months for the 2008 exams).

For an MCSE 2000:

It is basically the same. To earn your MCTIP: SA, you can take 3 exams and earn MCSA 2003 along the way (292, 648, 646) or go direct to 2008 in the same number of exams (640, 642, 646). To earn your MCITP: EA, you could go the upgrade route (292, 296, 649, 620, 647) for five exams, the direct route (5 exams, but no WS2003 cert), or go via MCSA 2003 (292, then 648, 643, 620, 647). With this final plan, you do not earn your MCSE 2003, but you do hold a 2003 cert (MCSA) and get to the 2008 certs without taking both difficult upgrade exams.

For MCSA and MCSE 2003:

Your paths to 2008 professional-series certs are shorter due to your upgrade or transition exam options. For MCSA 2003, you save one exam in each professional-series WS2008 path. MCSE 2003 save one exam on the MCITP: SA path and two on the MCITP: EA path. The transition exams from 2003 to 2008 test you ONLY ON THE TECHNICAL DELTA (do not cover job-role skills). They are intended to be challenging, but we anticipate for the target candidates, these will test all the necessary skills without making it more difficult to pass than a standard exam.



292 = 2000-->2003 upgrade

296 = 2000-->2003 upgrade

648 = 2003-->2008 upgrade (earns equivalent of 640 and 642)

649 = 2003-->2008 upgrade (earns equivalent of 640, 642, and 643)

640 = MCTS: WS2008 Active Directory

642 = MCTS: WS2008 Network Infrastructure

643 = MCTS: WS2008 Applications Infrastructure

620 = MCTS: Vista Configuration

624 = MCTS: BDD

MCITP: SA = Server Administrator on WS2008

MCITP: EA = Enterprise Administrator on WS2008

*This table was low-rent to start with, and after 15 minutes of experimental Pasting Special activities it is worse, and smaller, and I'm fed up.

**Even if you do have a clue, this might not be particularly helpful. What would be helpful?