Tips To Help You Pass Exam 70-293

By Author: Mike Jones
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The Microsoft Windows 2003 Server Network Planning exam, 70-293, is one of the core exams of the MCSE Certification, MCSA, and MCDBA certification tracks. Unlike its counterpart, the 70-293 exam tests a candidate's ability to successfully plan a working Windows 2003 networking environment. It also covers how to integrate old networking environments into the 2003 Server networking system. The IT Exams features simulation and analysis questions that require the candidate to have a thorough working knowledge of the Windows Server 2003 operating system and the way that a Windows 2003 network operates.
When Windows Server 2003 came along, Microsoft updated the material and divided the content into two new exams: 70-291 and 70-293. Exam 70-293, Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure, is an important requirement for MCSE certification (it is not required for MCSA).
There are some tips for ensuring that you pass exam 70-293:
1. Take this exam second
Do not take this exam until you've taken exam 70-291 (or 70-292 if you were waived ...
... out of 70-291 due to already being an MCSA). Talking about this because there are significant overlaps in topics. If you look at the bottom three (of five) major topic areas on that exam, and compare them against counterparts on this exam, you'll find great similarity.
The similarity goes beyond just the wording of the major topics and permeates the objectives and subobjectives as well. Within these three areas, exam 70-293 can be thought of as a superset, in many ways, of the content appearing on both exams. It is so much easier to add to what you already had to learn for 70-291 than to start studying for this MCITP certification from scratch.
2. Skip this exam if you can
If you are certified as an MCSE, then you can take exam 70-296, Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSE Certified on Windows 2000, and have it count as credit for this exam and a few others. Taking only 70-296 and 70-292, Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000, you can upgrade your MCSE from Windows 2000 to Windows Server 2003 in just two tests.
If you are not currently an MCSE, then you must take 70-293; there's no other way out of it. If you are already an MCSE, however, then you should avoid this exam unless you are a glutton for punishment.
3. Know about software updates
With Windows Server 2003, Microsoft has included the Software Update Service (SUS) for centralised distribution of hot fixes and security updates. This allows administrators to update clients that do not access the Internet, as well as evaluate and test updates before making them available to network clients. By using SUS, a client updates its software from a server within the internal network instead of needing to access Microsoft to accomplish this. Be sure to read Microsoft's point of view on SUS.
Lumped in with updates MCP certification, at least from an exam perspective, is the topic of Microsoft's Baseline Security Anaylzer (MBSA). This tool allows you to scan a computer and identify what is missing (service packs, security fixes, etc.). One good study resource for this topic is the TechNet Q&A on this tool.