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[edit section] All About the Microsoft MCSE 70-291 Windows Server Network Infrastructure Exam

[edit section] Microsoft 70-291 Certification Exam Synopsis

The Microsoft 70-291 exam is required for both the MCSE and MCSA certification tracks and covers exactly as the name of the certification implies – implementing and managing network infrastructure for Windows Server 2003. What this means, in practice, is that you will be tested on managing and troubleshooting complex network issues that are likely unfamiliar to you if you have not worked with DNS before. The 70-291 certification is supposedly aimed at network administrators with several year of practice under their belts, but in actuality, many people who take the exam are only prospective administrators, so don’t be discouraged by this seeming “prerequisite.” The main point of this exam is to test a candidate’ ability to troubleshoot networking issues in a Windows Server environment effectively and timely, which is what the objectives and exam questions tend to cover.

[edit section] Difficulty and Scope Of Microsoft 70-291 Exam

The 70-291 tests a variety of topics, including DHCP, DNS, Routing, Remote Access, VPN, and other networking concepts. To further complicate matters, the Microsoft 70-291 includes questions on TCP/IP networking that are comprehensive from the 70-270/70-290 exams. Many of the questions on the exam are not merely comprehension questions but instead require you to analyze information as if the problem given is a real world situation. In practice, this means that you will have to study concepts, not just facts. This makes the test considerably more difficult than the 70-290 certification, and many students encounter issues with questions on DNS, which make up a large percentage (around 25 to 30 percent) of the entire exam. Many students also find that they need to review a broader range of networking concepts to more clearly understand the Windows-specific questions on the 70-291; therefore, a quick look at the Network+ materials on ProProfs may be useful.

[edit section] When and why should I take the Microsoft 70-291 Exam?

The Microsoft 70-291 exam is part of the core of both the MCSA and MCSE exams, and therefore any candidate for MCSE/MCSA certification should be very interested in taking the exam. Other potential candidates for 70-291 certification include current or prospective network administrators who wish to gain or prove experience in DNS, which is covered quite heavily on the test. Larger network administrators should be particularly interested in the routing, DHCP, and other TCP/IP networking, which are also covered quite frequently on the exam. MCSE candidates should aim to take this exam only after completing the 70-290, and some may want to wait until they have completed the 70-270 as well, although this is not as necessary. In general, this is a more difficult exam, so experience with 70-290 certification exam is practically essential for success.

[edit section] Ok, I want to take the Microsoft 70-291 Exam! Now what?

If you are serious about taking the Microsoft 70-291 exam, the first thing you should do is set aside a decent amount of time for you to prepare and study for the exam. Everyone has their own study habits, so you will need to plan accordingly, but in general the preparation time should be at least a few months. If you must do it in a shorter timeframe, allow yourself adequate time to both review old concepts and cover new concepts as cramming for an exam as dry as the 70-291 can prove to be quite difficult. Next, you will need to select a test date and register for the exam – you can read more about the registration process for Microsoft exams here. Finally, you will need to begin to collect study materials for the test, and of course, ProProfs has resources ranging from our flash cards to our quiz school to help you out! Visit the 70-291 resources page for more information. We wish you the best of luck on all of your endeavors and specifically on the 70-291 certification exam if you choose to take it!

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