Cisco Updates CCVP Exams

Cisco Systems announced yesterday that it has updated two exams for its mid level Cisco Certified Voice Professional certification.

The titles' Cisco IP Telephony exam has been updated to cover Cisco Unified CallManager 5.0 (exam 642-445). Candidates can now choose between it or the earlier exam, 642-444, which tackles CallManager 4.1.

Cisco also revamped the credential's Voice Gateways and Gatekeepers exam to a new version (642-453) that "features expanded labs, and updates to the lessons on IP to IP gateways and RSVP," the company said. The previous version of the exam, 642-452, will be retired in late April 2007.

Optional training courses for the new exams are available, as well.

The other three exams required to earn this title - Quality of Service, Cisco Voice over IP and IP Telephony Troublehsooting - were not updated.

Windows Vista Certifications Coming in Early 2007

Although full details are still pending, Microsoft has announced on its Web site that several new IT professional certifications covering Windows Vista will become available in early 2007. The new titles include:

* Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows Vista, Configuration
* Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): Consumer Support Technician
* MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician

Microsoft suggests that if you have taken only exam 70-271 or 70-272, you should consider completing your MCDST in early 2007 to validate your skills on Windows XP and position yourself to take advantage of a one-exam upgrade path-and limited-time 40% savings on the exam-to Windows Vista certifications when they become available.

Microsoft will be present two Live Meeting events on December 6, 2006 to explain the new certifications and exams and answer questions. To register visit the Vista upgrade announcement page.

Microsoft's New Vista, Office, Exchange Certs on Track

Right on the heels of the releases of Windows Vista and Office 2007 to manufacturing, Microsoft has released some details on its new-generation tracks for those software releases. Lutz Ziob, director of the Microsoft Learning Group, announced the new tracks today at the company's IT Forum conference in Barcelona, Spain.

The next-generation tracks follow a simpler path: one exam at the Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist (MCTS or TS) level that focuses on Vista skills, and one or two more at the new Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP or PRO) level that focus on job role.

Read the full Microsoft's New Vista, Office, Exchange Certs on Track article.

New Training Program Aims to Diversify IT

The CompTIA Educational Foundation has announced a new IT job training initiative under which it will create a fund to help returning veterans, people with disabilities and disadvantaged minorities break into the IT industry.

Announced at the organization's SMB Summit in Tucson, Ariz., from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, the Creating Futures program will be initially funded with $3 million drawn from the vendor membership of the organization, said Wayne Mize, chair of the CompTIA board of directors who also serves as vice president at the Netsourcing Business Center in the Document Solutions & Services Division of Ricoh U.S. in West Caldwell, N.J.

According to Mize, CompTIA plans to solicit additional funds from its membership to add additional tax-deductible funds to the program.

"The idea is to introduce people to technology as part of an effort to expand the base of technology jobs in the U.S.," said Mize.

Rather than administer the training directly, Mize said he expects CompTIA to reach out to any number of organizations that work directly with the constituencies that the program is intended to help.

After identifying, selecting and preparing candidates from underrepresented populations through training, certification and work experience, the program intends to assist in the placement of these individuals into long-term IT jobs.

Already boasting nearly 600 individuals placed in IT industry careers, the program's site highlights six stories of disadvantaged people who have completed CompTIA certification programs demonstrating foundation skills.

Creating Futures intends to conduct annual research on emerging skills and latest technologies to help keep workers in demand as well as to develop model programs that include both career prep and skill validation.

Are Information Exams The Next SATs?

The company that produces the Student Aptitude Test is developing a new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) exam that tests skills such as computer proficiency and search engine aptitude, and may soon be as relevant as the SAT itself.

Developed by the Educational Testing Service, the ICT Literacy Assessment tests skills such as sifting through email, scouring an academic database and completing work on business productivity software. Students are given 3 to 5 minutes to complete smaller, single tasks on the exam, and 15 minutes to complete sets of more complex tasks.

Development of the ICT has prompted the the National Forum on Information Literacy (NFIL) to establish an ICT Literary Policy Council, which will review the exam and recommend ways to make it more effective. According to the NFIL the goal of the new council is to determine, which students are proficient and which may need additional ICT literacy instruction or remediation.

Schools throughout the UK have sanctioned a similar exam in recent years, dubbed the GNVQ in Information and Communication Technology (also labelled ICT). Approximately 100,000 British students take the exam annually for placement in IT-oriented vocational programs.

There's no word yet as to when American schools will embrace the ICT exam, but as such an exam requires mass adoption to be useful it will take some time before it becomes a hallmark of 21st century education.

Cisco Widens CCIE Specialty Availability

Cisco Systems announced last week that its top-level Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Security lab exam is now available through its Tokyo-based testing center.

Earlier this month, the company added its CCIE Storage Networking lab to its Brussels, Belgium location. Online scheduling is now available for both labs.

The full-day, hands-on CCIE lab can only be taken at nine locations worldwide, and certain labs only offer certain specialties. For a complete list of what's available where, go here.

In other CCIE news, Cisco today announced that it is retiring its CCIE e-mail support in favor of the program's online support tool.

Tags: Cisco, CCIE

Microsoft Adds New Certification for Project Managers

New track features two TS-level exams, one Professional level exam, all aimed squarely at Microsoft Office Project 2007 implementers.

Microsoft Adds New Certification for Project Managers Even though Office 2007 isn't expected to ship into the mainstream until January 2007 (along with Windows Vista), the Microsoft Learning Group expects to make a big certification-related announcement around Office 2007 next week, but it has nothing to do with its Microsoft Office Specialist program. Instead, the company will now be going after professional project managers with a new line of Microsoft Office Project 2007 certifications that build upon the Project Management Institute's vendor-neutral framework. Microsoft Learning Group General Manager Lutz Ziob will officially announce the track next week, to coincide with the Project Management Institute Global Congress meeting taking place in Seattle.

Read Microsoft Adds New Certification for Project Managers here.

Windows Vista Exams on the Horizon

Preliminary information on new Windows Vista exam numbered 70-620 appears on Pearson Vue testing site this week.

A new exam for Windows Vista has appeared on the Pearson Vue site. The information seems preliminary for now, as there is no listed date for beta availability, which is a good indication that the exam still percolates in development at the Redmond campus. (Microsoft makes no comments on exams in development.)

Read Windows Vista Exams on the Horizon.

Novell To Retire NetWare 5.1 and 6 Exams

Novell recently announced on its Web site that it will be retiring the NetWare version 5 and 6 exams relating to its Certified Novell Associate (CNA), Certified Novell Engineer (CNE) and Master CNE certifications.

The exams themselves will retire in March 2007, with the related titles relegated to a "Legacy" status a few months later.

The current 6.5 track for all of the company's NetWare-focused titles will remain available.

Free Novell Betas for Linux, Identity Manager, More

Novell is currently offering several free beta exams for upcoming titles.

Two of the betas are open this week: Novell Open Enterprise Server for Linux 1.0 (#051-700) and Systems and Resource Management 1.0 (#051-702). Both are scheduled to close Friday.

Candidates can register for the betas at Prometric and Pearson Vue testing centers by phone only. Each beta is limited to 200 participants -- 100 per network testing vendor.

Another beta, Identity Manager 3 1.0 (#051-703), will be available next week. Candidates can begin registering for this exam by phone on Monday.

According to Novell, those who pass the betas will receive credit toward certification -- however, the company did not specify what credentials the exams count toward.

Certification – it's expensive, and it's hard work!

Certification – it's expensive, and it's hard work. So is it worth it, to get a few letters after your name? That's the sixty-four thousand dollar question.

The first thing to think about is what a certification like Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) or Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) actually means. It shows prospective employers that you know certain things, but there are plenty of networking professionals who will also know those things without necessarily having a certification to prove it. So particularly with the lower level certifications, an employer may be less impressed with the certification than with a few years' experience. A common mistake amongst IT rookies is to assume that a low level certification will open the door to IT jobs. It doesn't

But if you're reading this the chances are that you've been in the industry some time, and you may well already have a certification or two under your belt. So the question is this: is there any point in spending the money and taking the time to get a higher certification? And if so, which is the best investment? Which one will help you get a better job or command a higher salary? Ultimately, the question is a financial one: which one offers the highest return on investment?

In terms of landing a new job, there's no doubt that having a higher level certification opens some doors. That's because many employers – especially service providers and other organizations with customer-facing staff or even staff at their customers' premises – will only employ people with a certification to prove their skills. Call it covering themselves or whatever you like, but they need to be able to say that their staff are fully certified to reassure their customers that they are getting the best people – even though certification is not necessarily an alternative to experience.

Like most investments, a certification is risky, as you can never be absolutely sure of the return you'll get. That's because the market changes rapidly, and what's hot one year is not the next. The Sarbanes-Oxley regulations caused many companies to in-source a large number of network professionals last year, but this year it's not causing such a distortion.

What tends to happen when there is strong demand for a particular skill set is this: Employers seek the right people, and those with a certificate to prove they have that skill set get picked up first. Such is the demand that they can also command a premium salary over those without the certification. But because demand is so high, there are plenty of people without the certification – but with the necessary skills – who also pick up jobs. A certification, in other words, gets you higher pay, and that's where you get a return on your investment. "Most certifications get you a 8.5 percent bump in pay on average, while top ones, like Cisco's CCIE, will get you well beyond that with about a 10 - 15 percent pay premium," says David Foote, chief research officer at New Canaan, Connecticut-based Foote Partners.

What about the lower order Cisco qualifications – the CCNA and CCNP? Many recruitment companies find that the more demanding the job, the more reassured clients when prospective candidates have a certification, so a certification opens doors. "If you are looking for Cisco people, especially on the design side, clients are certainly more confident that candidates can do the job if they have a certification," says Leanne Thomas, a consultant at global recruitment company Hays. "For network support it's probably not as important as experience, but for hardcore networking roles, there is a lot to be said for a CCNP. If you have a CCIE you can walk into a lot of jobs."

What about Microsoft qualifications? Thomas says that the majority of networking jobs of the last twelve months have been IP related, so it's the Cisco rather than Microsoft qualifications that have been most in demand. "If you are good then you don't need a Microsoft qualification. We're not being told by clients that they won't take customers unless they have one."

So aside from Cisco's CCNP and CCIE, what other qualifications are worth looking at? The answer is VoIP: a Cisco, Nortel or Avaya IP telephony certification is likely to be a sound investment. Remember – when demand is weak it will open doors, and when it is strong it will likely earn you a premium salary. "We're seeing VoIP more and more in demand these days and not many people have the qualifications," says Paula Murphy, an account manager at international IT recruitment company SCom. "These qualifications are today what a straight Cisco qualification was five or six years ago. Everyone and their dog has got a CCNA certification these days, so it doesn't mean much."

And don't forget security. Security concerns are never going to go away, and that means that any security certification you have is going to make you more employable and more valuable. "Any flavor of security product certification is advantageous, it doesn't really matter what," says Hays' Leanne Thomas.

So remember, a qualification costs money, and isn't worth much unless it distinguishes you from the rest of the crowd. So don't follow the pack. Think long and hard before going for any certification, and what benefits it will bring you. But pick the right one and it could pretty well guarantee you well paid employment for a long time to come.

More EasyCert practice exams

JRK Software announced the next practice exams in their prodicts list - 70-292, 70-293 and 70-294.

• 70-292 - Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000. The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) on Windows Server 2003 upgrade exam is available only to candidates who are currently certified as MCSAs or as MCSEs on Windows 2000. The MCSA on Windows Server 2003 credential is intended for IT professionals who work in the typically complex computing environment of medium to large companies. More details here.
  
• 70-293 - Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure. The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Windows Server 2003 credential is intended for IT professionals who work in the typically complex computing environment of medium to large companies. An MCSE candidate should have at least one year of experience implementing and administering a network operating system. More details here.
• 70-294 - Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure. The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Windows Server 2003 credential is intended for IT professionals who work in the typically complex computing environment of medium to large companies. An MCSE candidate should have at least one year of experience implementing and administering a network operating system. More details here.

Related exams: Exam 70-290, Exam 70-270
Other certification exam articles: 70-290 exam, 70-270 exam

'Student' CISSPs put cert's value in jeopardy

Is the CISSP going the way of the MCSE? Now that colleges are beginning to offer the Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification as part of their undergraduate degree programs, this highly valued certification just might lose its luster, much like the once prestigious Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer has.

This fall, Peirce College will join Florida's St. Petersburg College as the second school offering classes tied to the domains of knowledge for both the CISSP and the Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP). Combined with other college courses, a student can not only enter the workforce with either an associate's or bachelor's degree, but also having passed one of the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium's exams. Due to experience requirements for both certifications, the candidate does not actually get the CISSP or SSCP designation until the experience has been obtained. This program will not be unique to these two schools, as the ISC(2) hopes to sign up as many as 100 colleges to offer its courses.

The CISSP is designed for people in a security management position, where they will use their experience to properly assess and mitigate security risks. Though the CISSP exam itself asks concrete questions on topics from business continuity to telecommunications, the spirit and intent of the CISSP is rooted in experience. It is certainly possible to teach someone how to perform a Diffie-Hellman key exchange, but it is the experience that dictates when it is appropriate.

As laudable as it is that colleges are becoming more aware of the need to teach students about information security, let's not pretend that this marriage of colleges and certifications will help the present and future holders of the CISSP. While offering the SSCP at the college level is not quite as worrisome -- it is targeted toward junior-level infosec pros -- offering the CISSP to undergraduates devalues the credential for those with decades of experience.

It may not be long before just about anyone lacking experience in the field can be "coached up" to pass the exam. Plus, with an embellished description of one's job duties, it will become possible for a 22-year-old kid to attain the same certification as those who earned the distinction via sweat equity, working through the ranks. Similarly, it may prove to be a long-term disservice to recent graduates, since their specific degree/certification combo will send many of them on a narrow path at a time in their lives where their true interests are probably unknown.

Let's not forget that the importance of experience in a security role cannot be understated. The scope of material covered by the certifications is so broad that an understanding of a textbook does little to help someone new to the industry. Sure, certification coursework can be taught to college students, but if this learning does not happen alongside practical field experience, then it is virtually useless.

Candidates will not be fully fledged CISSPs until the experience requirement has been met, but I don't think employers will know that. It is the prospect of these inexperienced people entering the workforce holding their CISSP test reports that causes me to draw parallels to the MCSE. Not long ago, the MCSE was the mark of an experienced and knowledgeable Microsoft Windows professional, but the rise of "certification mills" offering certification in a matter of weeks has lead to the MCSE becoming little more than an entry-level classification. Answers to the questions on all the MCSE tests can even purchased on the Internet just a few dollars, leading to the certification's second name, "Must Consult Someone Experienced."

There is, however, a bright point for those already certified: a combination of experience and the certification can be used as credit toward a degree. That is, a security practitioner with his or her CISSP can go back to school and cut up to a year off the time needed to obtain a bachelor's degree.

I applaud the ISC(2) for getting involved with colleges, but I would suggest that it be in work-experience programs and courses involving more hands-on learning. Encouraging inexperienced individuals to pursue higher level security certifications will undoubtedly hurt the industry. Today, when a company hires a CISSP or an SSCP, the company knows exactly what kind of knowledge and experience that person brings. Letting that certainty slip away would be a loss for us all.

Cisco's IPS Exam (#642-532) Review

Cisco’s newest version of this very product-specific exam for aspiring CCSPs requires in-depth exposure to the company's IDS and IPS products.

Most Cisco security exams are about understanding Cisco’s viewpoint on security and how its sales, marketing and products fit within the network. The Securing Networks Using Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) security exam is no exception: It’s all about Cisco’s IPS and Intrusion Detection System (IDS) security products. On my exam, the questions quizzed my knowledge on how to configure Cisco IPS and IDS devices and how to use them to identify, mitigate and secure a Cisco network.

Cisco's IPS Exam (#642-532) Review

Cisco CCIE Voice Labs to Update in July 2006

Cisco CCIE Voice Labs to Update in July 2006

Starting July 17, 2006 CCIE will be adding a Cisco Unity Express Network Module (NM-CUE) into the exam racks, and updating to IOS version 12.4(3a). Other equipment software is also affected. For the full list see:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/learning_certification_program_updates.html

All About the PMP Certification

When I was a kid I hated seeing those signs at festivals that read "you must be this big to ride this ride." Of course, I was always just under the minimum requirements. Bummer! It's no fun to spend a summer trapped between the kiddie rides and the lusty tilt-a-whirl that all of your buddies are barfing on.

But those signs were there for a reason - besides making little pudgy kids like me furious - and the reason was safety. Today I wouldn't dare go on one of those deathtrap thrill rides - height requirements or not. Any carnival ride that can be dismantled, hauled to Sioux City, Iowa overnight, and reassembled in half an hour is not for me.

When I talk to people about the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification I often think about those carnival rides. The PMP certification may not have height requirements, but it does have eligibility requirements. Not everyone can sit the exam - and not everyone that sits the exam can pass it.

If you're not familiar with the PMP, I'll give you a rundown. PMP is a certification that proves that the project manager who acquires it has years of project management experience, education, and has passed an exam that tests their project management knowledge. It's not specific to any particular industry, so you'll likely find PMPs with backgrounds in IT, construction, manufacturing, and health care.

I think the Project Management Institute (adoringly called PMI), the organization that owns the PMP certification, has learned a thing or two from other certifications over the past decade. For starters, by making candidates qualify for the certification it adds genuine value to the title. Being a PMP immediately shows experience, education, and project management knowledge.

Starting the PMP Process

The PMP certification requirements also helps avoid the plague of paper certifications we've endured over past years. A long time ago, I was a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. I earned my title starting with Windows NT 3.51, and then Windows NT 4.0, 95, and then it just snowballed. I was flooded with opportunity and it was great. But, before too long, being an MCSE

was suddenly no big deal. I knew things weren't good for Microsoft, and the IT world in general, when I saw a waiter wearing his MCSE lapel pin while working at Denny's. I didn't ask for details – just coffee and pie.

So, in order to sit for the PMP examination you must qualify. Here's a quick breakdown of the various requirements.

If you have a bachelor's degree:

1. You need 36 non-overlapping months of project management experience within the last eight years. That non-overlapping part means that if you worked on six projects throughout the month of January that only counts as one month of project management work, not six months.
2. Your project management experience, all projects included, must total at least 4,500 hours, and all within the past eight years.
3. You must complete at least 35 hours of project management training. There's no time limit on this educational requirement, so college courses and online courses qualify.
4. You have to promise to abide by the PMP Code of Professional Conduct. Don't worry, you don't have to sign it in blood and the confines of the code are probably things you're already doing. Mafia aside.
5. You must pass the exam with a score of 61 percent or better. (I'm hoping you do better, but rest assured it's a pass or fail exam).

If you have high school diploma, an associate degree, or global equivalent:

1. You need 60 non-overlapping months of project management experience. Again, one month of project management work equates to just one month, regardless of the number of projects you worked on during that month.
2. You must log a total of 7,500 hours of project management experience over the past eight years.
3. You must complete 35 contact hours of project management training. Contact hours means that the training must be interactive. You can't just read a book, this article, or consider on-the-job training and claim your hours. Web-based training, however, is now being accepted as interactive.
4. You must agree to abide by the PMP Code of Professional Conduct.
5. You must pass the PMP examination with at least a 61 percent score.

Thoroughly confused? Have a look at Figure 1 to see the path to PMP certification.

Applying for the Exam

The fee for the examination isn't cheap: $405 for PMI members and $555 for non-PMI members. Guess what? It's actually cheaper to join PMI and then complete your application, as their membership fee is $129. Besides, as a member you also get some added benefits such as newsletters, magazines, and other goodies.

Beware, completing the PMP application is about as much fun as a root canal. My advice is to complete your application through PMI's website where you can pause, resume, and edit the application at your convenience until you're ready to submit it. On the PMP application, you'll have to document all of your education, experience, and the details of the projects you've completed. In addition, you'll have to provide contact information for your supervisors and managers that can verify (uh, that's vouch for you) the experience you say you've gotten on the projects you've listed.

PMI can take up to fourteen days to approve your application, though most of the applicants I've trained report a speedy response. Within those fourteen days, PMI may elect to audit your application for verification.

This is not fun.

If chosen, you'll have to provide PMI with proof of your experience, your education, and your project management training. This means you'll have to track down old bosses and get confirmation letters of your experience, photocopy your degrees, and provide your training certificates. I've known a few folks that have gone through the audit with no problems other than an extra helping of anxiety as they prepare to pass their examination.

Passing the Examination

Once your application is approved, PMI will send you a letter with a confirmation code, which you'll then provide to a Prometric testing center. Be advised that these Prometric testing centers aren't the same cozy testing centers where you took your Microsoft and CompTIA exams. These centers are secured environments where you'll check-in with two pieces of valid ID, stash your belongings in a locker (where they'll remain until you're ready to leave), and take your exam in a proctored room. In addition, you'll be monitored by more than one video camera in the testing environment. (You'd better comb your hair and sit up straight.)

The PMP exam consists of 200 questions and must be completed within four hours. Ready for a twist? Of the 200 questions only 175 actually count towards your grade. The 25-mystery questions are seeded throughout the exam to determine their overall worthiness for future PMP examinations. Can you say "guinea pig?"

Getting Some PMP Help

There are many different resources available to help you prepare for the PMP certification, here are some top choices:

1. The PMP Study Guide by Joseph Phillips; ISBN: 0072262907. Hey, that's my book! Yep, I'm plugging my book as your best choice. I use this book to teach both my live and online PMP Boot Camps. It works! It's now in its second edition – go get it. Now.

2. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge from PMI; ISBN: 193069945X. No matter which resources you use to study for your exam you'll want for the simple reason that it's the book the exam is centered on. Two insider tips: Just call this book the PMBOK (pronounced Pim-Bach) and don't read it far from your pillow.

3. PMP Exam Cram2 by Michael Soloman; ISBN 0789734621. I've heard great things about this book (and the entire Exam Cram series). This book is loaded with PMP exam facts, quizzes, and exam tips. And it's from Pearson Education, which InformIT.com is a part of, so I'd better mention it, right?

There's also a bevy of online resources:

• http://www.pmpinabox.com: where you can download a free 25-question PMP assessment exam or buy their online offerings.
• http://www.college-net.com/boston.asp: where you can complete an online project management course.
• http://www.pmi.org: where you can find all of the PMP certification details, application requirements, exam objectives, and complete your exam application.

After the Exam

Once you've completed your certification you'll also have to continue your education by obtaining at least 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) over a three-year span. A PDU equates to one hour and you can earn these by attending PMI events, completing training through PMI Registered Education Providers, or by volunteering at PMI events.

The PMP certification requirements, like those carnival rides, aren't meant to make you furious. They exist to protect the value of your certification and add worth to a title that's not easy to achieve.

• MCSE 70-270
• MCSE 70-290

One More .NET Exam Goes Live in March

Last week Microsoft announced the pending release of Microsoft exam 70-529 TS: .NET Framework 2.0 - Distributed Application Development on Friday, March 24.

The exam counts toward the MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 - Distributed Applications title, and is among five exams required for the vaunted Microsoft Certified Professional Developer: Enterprise Application Developer certification.

The company says that candidates should have at least one year of experience developing distributed applications using the Microsoft .NET Framework and working knowledge of Visual Studio 2005.

Those taking the exam will have the option of coding in either Visual Basic 2005 or Visual C# 2005 for those exam questions that require answers in coded format.

CompTIA to Launch RFID Certification Exam

The Computing Technology Industry Association will officially debut the CompTIA RFID+ exam on Mar. 28.

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) has announced it will officially launch the CompTIA RFID+ examination on Mar. 28. Until the end of December 2005, CompTIA had been offering a beta version of the exam. One of the first opportunities to take the test will be at RFID Journal LIVE!, to be held May 1-3 in Las Vegas.

CompTIA RFID+ certification is intended to help address the skills shortage. The foundation committee identified the broad areas the test should cover. Subject matter experts from companies on the committee then identified specific skills implementers would need, and CompTIA experts created questions to indicate whether someone taking the test had the relevant skills. Beta exams were offered, and the test was revised to ensure the accuracy and fairness of the results.

Passing Your MCSE Exams On The Road To Microsoft Certification

To earn the Microsoft certified systems engineer certification and to prove expertise in designing and implementation of the infrastructure for business solutions based on the Microsoft Windows 2003 platform and Microsoft Windows Server system, MCSE exam is the best medium.

MCSE exam is held to improve the expertise in designing and implementing Windows Server 2003 and other issues related to it. In order to take an MCSE exam one needs to go through a fourteen-day MCSE training boot camp that helps in successfully becoming an MCSE. They use custom developed curriculum that is designed to provide both exam preparation and practical technology skills, ensuring that the examinee shall be ready for the performance based testing Microsoft has introduced in their certification programs. Experience instructors have been arranged who posses many years of experience of working wit Microsoft operating system and technologies both in the field and in the classroom.

Original article: Passing Your MCSE Exams On The Road To Microsoft Certification

CompTIA A+ Exams Undergoing Update

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) confirmed this morning that it is currently revising its A+ certification exams and hinted that the update may be significant.

In a statement released today, Neill Hopkins, vice president of skills development for CompTIA, said in part, "We are currently working with the industry on an update of our CompTIA A+ certification to meet the needs of the modern day IT technician. The most exciting development as a result of all of the research conducted...is the fact that the technician of the immediate future will have broad-based skills beyond the basic technical fundamentals, and CompTIA aims to include these options in the new A+."

Original article: CompTIA A+ Exams Undergoing Update

Linux the focus of new Australian Masters degree

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has partnered with Linux vendor Novell to offer a two-year postgraduate Masters degree which includes formal Linux certification.

Novell said in a statement the course would be the only postgraduate-level qualification which would include the achievement of Novell Certified Linux Engineer (Novell CLE) status as a key requirement.

"Students will study for their Masters degree via a mixture of distance education coupled with hands-on practical training courses with Novell's leading IT training provider Excom Education," Novell added.

The degree will formally be a stream of CSU's Master of Networking and System Administration, which currently allows students to choose streams from Microsoft and Cisco as well as pathways not specific to a vendor.

Students in the other vendors' streams complete popular certifications such as the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) or Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP).

The Masters degree in general is made up of primarily technical subjects, with applicants needing an undergraduate degree and at least two years experience in the IT industry, but students will also need to demonstrate other skills: all streams list a "Topics in IT Ethics" subject.

In Novell's statement, Excom's managing director Paul Koukounaras said there was a strong local demand for Linux certification.

"In the past 12 months, we have experienced unprecedented demand for Novell's Suse Linux training courses and certifications, from both Linux and traditional Novell IT professional," he said.

Novell said it would offer scholarships to help launch the new degree, which will be first offered in CSU's Trimester 2 -- starting in mid-2006.

CCNA: Cisco Switching Modes Tutorial

To pass the CCNA exam and earn that coveted certification, you've got to know Cisco switches inside and out.

Among the many important details you've got to know are the three methods that Cisco switches use to forward frames, and the differences between the three.

The first switching method is Store-and-Forward. The name is the recipe, because that's just what the switch does - it stores the entire frame before beginning to forward it. This method allows for the greatest amount of error checking, since the Frame Check Sequence (FCS) can be run before the frame is forwarded. As always, there is a tradeoff, since this error checking process makes this the slowest of the three frame forwarding methods.

The quickest method is Cut-Through, where only the destination MAC address of the frame is examined before the forwarding process begins. This means that the part of the frame is actually being forwarded as it is still being received! The tradeoff here is that the FCS does not run, so there is absolutely no error checking with Cut-Through switching.

The middle ground between these two extremes is Fragment-Free, so named since fragmented frames will not be forwarded. The switch examines only the first 64 bytes of the frame for errors, since that is the part of the frame that will be damaged in case of a collision. There is error checking, but it is not as thorough as Store-and-Forward.

Keeping these three switching schemes straight is vital to your CCNA exam efforts, and it will help you in working with Cisco switches in the real world as well. Keep studying!

Why Should I Train For A Microsoft Certification?

Microsoft certification is a vast combination of rich and varied jobs and responsibilities.

To successfully perform the critical IT function we should earn a specific credential providing objective validity of the ability. One of the most effective ways to reach a long-term career goal, which is even embraced by industry professionals worldwide, is Microsoft certification.

Why Should I Train For A Microsoft Certification?

642-551 Exam Review

Cisco’s newest version of this exam for aspiring CCSPs requires a foundation of security knowledge with some hands-on experience.

A Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) requires knowledge and hands-on experience with many Cisco network security technologies. Unlike most of the other exams required for CCSP certification, which are focused more on particular areas of security, the SND exam covers these from a high-level identification, implementation and configuration point-of-view. I’ll address some of the main areas to study for this new exam by mapping to the official exam objectives.

Securing Cisco Network Devices (642-551)

CCNA: Five Keystroke Combinations You Should Know

When you start studying for your CCNA and CCNP exams, many books will present you with a huge list of keystroke shortcuts for use on Cisco routers.

While the 640-801, 640-811, and 640-821 exams may ask you about one or two of these, you really have to get hands-on experience with these commands to master them. Even better, there are some key combinations that Cisco routers mention, but then don’t tell you what they are! Let’s take a look at a few of the more helpful key combinations, and conclude with the “secret” way to stop a ping or traceroute.

Full article here.

Linux Certs Gaining Popularity Among IT Pros

The value and popularity of IT certifications are tied to supply and demand, said John Challenger, CEO of IT outsourcing and jobs analysis firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. There is no question that after Microsoft and Cisco certifications, the next most important certs are for Linux, he told LinuxInsider.

IT certifications evoke expectations of both software and systems administration skillsets, but jokes abound about how little knowledge so-and-so with such-and-such a certificate has.

One thing is clear: Although Microsoft Windows and Cisco certifications continue to be the biggest, the importance of Linux certifications is on the rise. Linux occupies prominent positions in CertCities "10 Hottest Certifications of 2006" list, for example. For the first time, the list was led by Linux, with the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) credential on top.

"If you're looking for yet another sign that Linux is becoming a real player, then you've got it," wrote CertCities' Becky Nagel. "Quite a feat -- especially when you consider that the vast majority of CertCities.com's readers are Windows professionals."

Hot Certs

The list does not comprise the most popular certifications, but rather includes those that are likely to be most influential in the coming year -- "the ones that will grow the fastest, the ones that we think will show the true future of IT certification," as Nagel put it.

RHCE topped the list of ten hottest certs, with Microsoft maintaining its presence with the No. 2 and No. 3 spots for SQL and .Net certified specialists and Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA).

Other certifications on the list included the fourth, fifth and sixth hottest certs from Cisco; with a tie at fourth for the Project Management Professional (PMP) cert; MCSE and SSCP security Free Trial: Eliminate IM compliance and security threats with policy and enforcement. certs at eight and nine; and Linux again in the tenth spot with Linux Professional Institute Certification, Level 2 (LPIC 2) -- described by CertCities as "the only major offering for mid-level Linux administrators looking to earn a truly vendor-neutral title."

Looking for Linux Specifics

Nonetheless, Linux certifications have not risen to the mainstream acceptance level of Microsoft certifications, such as the MCA, Illuminata senior analyst Gordon Haff told LinuxInsider.

Still, the importance of Linux certifications will rise as the open-source operating system sees more use by enterprise organizations, he predicts, and Linux certifications make more sense.
Beyond the Guru

Some certifications, including Microsoft's, are met with criticism or ridicule by some engineers, Haff said. However, certifications do typically represent a fairly in-depth familiarity with IT skill sets or tasks.

Although there is often confusion as to what type of certifications companies want, there is a realization that organizations cannot rely on "the Unix guru with a big beard who knows everything about Unix and Linux and everything," Haff remarked. "Certifications are a reflection of mainstream and wide deployment and the realization you can't always have the guru."

Supply and Demand

The value and popularity of IT certifications are tied to supply and demand, said John Challenger, CEO of IT outsourcing and jobs analysis firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

There is no question that after Microsoft and Cisco certifications, the next most important certs are for Linux, he told LinuxInsider, describing RHCE as "a valuable experience and acknowledgment of the person's skills."

"There's no question that as more and more open source Latest News about open source gets utilized, becomes standardized, and more organizations are using it, the demand for people to operate, maintain, build and develop it increases," he said. "It's only going to grow."

Linux certifications will become increasingly significant as they become a way to evaluate skills for companies needing people who know Linux but do not have the means to verify candidates' abilities, Challenger added.

Cisco Launches Rich Media Communications Specialist Certification

Cisco Systems today announced the addition of the Rich Media Communications Specialist certification to its Career Certifications program. The Rich Media Communications Specialist certification validates the skills and knowledge required to successfully plan, install and manage rich media communications in an IP network.

Certified Cisco Rich Media Communications Specialists will have the training to develop the expertise required to design, install and manage rich media applications to address new market demands, including integrating video conferencing applications into a voice and data network while delivering the same quality, switching, speed and clarity as is expected of the traditional telephone network. The Rich Media Communications Specialist certification prepares professionals to integrate video conferencing in an IP network independently, or with other deployments such as Cisco CallManager for IP telephony, Cisco Unity voice messaging or Cisco IP Contact Centers.

Read more >

MCSE vs MCSA

Technology is advancing rapidly with each passing day. The world of Information Technology today is a forever growing vast expanse. Infact, the IT Certification industry has witnessed a significant turn in the past few years. In today’s arena, certified professionals are considered a step higher compared to others. Certification in the relevant IT technology has become an effective way to augment your career in that domain.

Certifications, offered by various vendors are a good way for IT professionals to seek validation of their skills. In today’s arena, there are lots of vendors offering specialization in particular domains. Professionals often get confused about which certification to go for as some of them have as little as hair thin difference between them. It is best to first identify your job roles, the knowledge and skills required and accordingly select to take a particular certification to ensure career success.

Let us in this article try and get some clarity between two Microsoft major certifications MCSE and MCSA which are often confused upon.

Why MCSE?

For a MCSE candidate, it is preferable that he should have at least two years of experience in implementing and administering desktop and network operating systems, and designing a network infrastructure in the typically complex computing environment of medium-to-large organizations. The candidate should also have at least one year of experience administering Exchange Server environments involving multiple physical locations, mixed connection protocols, and Internet messaging.

MCSE has two tracks Microsoft Windows 2000 track and Microsoft Windows 2003. The 2003 track requires 6 Core Exams, 1 Elective Exam and 2 Upgrade Exams to be cleared.

Core Exam includes:

• Group I: 70-290, 70-291, 70-293, 70-294;
• Group II: 70-270, 70-210;
• Group III: 70-297, 70-298.

Elective Exams include:

• 70-086
• 70-227
• 70-228
• 70-229
• 70-232
• 70-281
• 70-282
• 70-284
• 70-285
• 70-297
• 70-298
• 70-299
• 70-301.

Upgrade Exams include:

• 70-292 or 70-296.

Either CompTIA Security+ or Unisys UNO-101 can be substituted in place of the elective exams.

Why MCSA?

The need for qualified system administrators is very real in today's business market and the excitement for MCSA is growing daily. A candidate for MCSA should have at least one year of experience working with a desktop operating system, a network operating system, and an existing network infrastructure. As soon as candidates pass their first qualifying exam for the MCSA program, they achieve a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification.

MCSA also has two tracks Microsoft Windows 2000 track and Microsoft Windows 2003 track. MCSA 2003 requires 3 Core Exams, 1 Elective exam and 1 Upgrade exam to be cleared.

Core Exams include:
Group I: 70-290, 70-291
Group II: 70-270, 70-210

Elective Exams include:

• 70-086
• 70-227
• 70-228
• 70-284
• 70-299

Upgrade Exams include:

• 70-292

What’s the difference between MCSE & MCSA?

Let us take a look at a few major differences between the two certifications which will help you get a clearer idea about the two certifications:

MCSA when compared to MCSE is a basic level certification. As an MCSA you must know every thing about implementing, managing, and troubleshooting the existing network and system environments based on the Microsoft Windows Operating Systems. However, you will not be responsible to set up new networks and systems as a part of your job function. But as a MCSE knowledge about designing and deploying new networks and systems is necessary.

Being an MCSA professional means that you will be able to implement, manage, and maintain the typically complex computing environment of medium- to large-sized companies. On the other hand, being an MCSE professional you will be able to plan, design, and implement Microsoft Windows server solutions and architectures in medium- to large-sized companies.

The experience that is required for both these certifications is also different. MCSA requires 6–12 months of experience of administering client and network operating systems while MCSE requires at least one year of experience in implementing and administering network operating systems and desktop operating systems.

Jobs for an MCSA include systems administrator, network administrator, information systems administrator, network operations analyst, network technician, or technical support specialist. For an MCSE jobs include systems engineer, network engineer, systems analyst, network analyst, or technical consultant.

MCSA provides you with a credential that represents a set of skills which will be advantageous if you plan to pursue MCSE Certification. Therefore, earning an MCSA will qualify you with the option to use these credentials and acquire MCSE through Upgrade path to MCSE.

If you look carefully, both these exams although similar to each other specialize in different domains. A clear understanding of both the certifications is necessary before you decide which one to opt for. So make the right choice and get going!!

MCSE 70-290 Certification Primer

Microsoft Certifications are one of the most widely acclaimed, pursued, and achieved technical certifications in the IT industry. The demand for Microsoft Certified Professionals in the job market is increasing every year.

Microsoft offers a number of certification levels depending on specific areas of proficiency and nature of job. Some of the certifications pertaining to networking are

1. Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP)
2. Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA)
3. Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE)

Each certification level has certain exams associated with it. You can decide the appropriate certification exam based on your experience, skills, and interests.

Benefits of Microsoft Certifications

1. Microsoft Certifications provide a standard method for testing employee skills. The certifications provide employers a valid benchmark for evaluating the employee's abilities. This will provide you the recognition and reward as per your expertise.
2. Microsoft Certifications offer prospective employers a baseline to judge your knowledge, skill, and expertise in the field. Certifications can provide added advantage if you are at the same level of experience as another person without certifications.
3. Certifications are a valuable tool if you have no or very little experience. The certifications that you hold can prove and reassure your employers and consultants about your knowledge in the field. This will help you secure good job as well as negotiate a good salary.

Pre-Requisite Experience (Recommended) for Microsoft Certifications

To pursue this certification you should have at least 1 year of experience in:

1. Implementing and administering a network operating system in environments with 50 to 26,000 supported users, in approximately 3 to 150 physical locations.
2. Implementing network services and applications such as file and print services, database services, messaging services, proxy server or firewall services, dial-in server services, and Web hosting.
3. Implementing and administering a desktop operating system.
4. Designing a network infrastructure with 3 or more domain controllers.

Significance of Microsoft Certifications for Microsoft Windows Server 2003

Microsoft has developed independent certification requirements for Microsoft Windows Server 2003. An aspirant can certify directly for MCSE/MCSA in Windows 2003 if they are new to certification process. If the aspirant is already a certified MCSE /MCSA in Windows 2000, then they can follow the upgrade path for MCSEs in Windows 2000 to secure Windows 2003 Certifications. If the aspirant certifies in MCSE for Windows NT4.0, they can earn MCSE in Windows 2003 by following the upgrade path for MCSEs in Windows NT4.0.

The exams are slightly more challenging than their Windows 2000 counterparts, but they will actually test your hands-on knowledge since that is the most important part of ensuring that a certification is credible.

Exam 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment

Exam 70-290 is the first in the series of the core exams for MCSE certifications.

When you pass the Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment (MCSE 70-290) exam, you achieve Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) status. You also earn credit toward the following certifications:

• Core credit towards Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 certification
• Core credit towards Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 certification

MCSE 70-290 exam objectives are

Objective 1: Managing and Maintaining Physical and Logical Devices

In this objective you will need to demonstrate expertise in managing and maintaining physical and logical devices. As an administrator, you should understand Basic and Dynamic disks, RAID configuration and troubleshooting, driver signing, and the use of tools, such as Device Manager and Hardware Troubleshooting Wizard. Familiarize yourself with Device Manager and the warning and disabled icons found when problems are present on installed devices.

Objective 2: Managing Users, Computers, and Groups

This objective includes many topics, so you should be prepared to face many questions that fall into this category. Have a healthy introduction to profile management, user and group accounts, permissions, and troubleshooting. Practice a lot on GPOs and perform a variety of administrative tasks, including configuration of desktop settings, control of security settings, assignment of scripts, redirection of folders, and software distribution. Also, get a clear understanding on inheritance and filtering.

Objective 3: Managing and Maintaining Access to Resources

Knowing how to configure, monitor, audit and troubleshoot NTFS permissions based issues are one of those most important areas that you need to know this concept thoroughly and also be sure to brush up on your share permissions and share/NTFS permissions interaction. Do not forget to brush up on how folder and file permissions can change or stay the same when copying or moving within a drive or between drives.

Objective 4: Managing and Maintaining a Server Environment

In this objective you'll find questions from topics, such as Event Viewer, System Monitor, software updates (including the functionality of Microsoft's Software Update Service or SUS), Remote Assistance, disk quotas, print queues, performance objects and IIS 6.0. Spend time understanding IIS topics around Web sites, Virtual and physical directories, files and host and cname records in DNS. New to Windows Server 2003 is SUS. Understand clearly how SUS is used for deploying and managing client and server critical updates.

Objective 5: Managing and Implementing Disaster Recovery

In this objective you'll find questions on ASR, VSS, backing up files and system state data, configuring security for backup operators, verifying backup jobs, managing media, restoring and scheduling backups and recovering from server hardware failures. You should take some extra time to get familiar with the various types of backups that Windows Server 2003 supports, as well as the various configuration options that are available to you. Practice making backups of different types and then practice restoring them.

MCSE 70-290 Exam Model

Most of the questions in the MCSE 70-290 exam are multiple choice type. The questions require the "best" answer from several close responses. Other questions may present an implementation scenario, requirements, and a proposed solution and then ask if the solution meets all of the requirements or combinations of the primary and secondary requirements. Microsoft has introduced some testing innovations for the certification exams. These question types present a more realistic visual representation of the tasks a MCSE would do in future. These are

• Hot Area Questions -This type of question requires indicating the correct answer by selecting one or more elements within a graphic.
• Active Screen Questions - This type of question asks you to configure a dialog box by changing one or more elements.
• Drag and Drop Questions - This type of question asks you to drag source objects to appropriate targets within a work area.
• Build List and Reorder Questions - This type of question asks you to indicate the correct answer by building an answer list. In a Build List and Reorder question, you need to build a list by dragging the appropriate source objects to the answer list and then placing them in the correct order based on criteria defined in the question.
• Create a Tree Questions - This type of question asks you to create a tree structure. You indicate the correct answer by dragging source nodes to the correct locations in the answer tree. Nodes consist of text and a small icon.
• Windows Simulation Questions - This type of question asks you to indicate the correct answer by performing specific tasks such as configuring and installing network adapters or drivers, configuring and controlling access to files, and managing hardware devices. Many of the tasks that systems administrators and systems engineers perform can be presented more accurately in simulations than in most traditional exam question types.

You can get hands-on experience on new set of questions that are available in EasyCert 70-290 Exam Simulator. This will help you plan your study regime to ensure success.

Passing Score

Microsoft has normalized scoring for all MCP exams, so the same passing score applies to all exams. 700 is now the minimum passing score for all MCP exams. However, the maximum score (which used to top out at 1000) varies per exam, depending on the complexity of the skills measured.

Time Limit

The exam duration is 175 minutes with 45 questions. You will have plenty of time to answer the exam questions, so there is no need to rush. If you have spare time available, you can double check the questions and ensure that you have read them correctly and actually answered the question as intended.

Exam Result

Instead of reporting results based on major categories for exam objectives as it used to, Microsoft is now providing numerical scores and bar graphs for "skills clusters". Visually, the bars in the exam report show you how well you fare in each skills cluster. If bars that represent cluster scores are close to one end of the graph, they indicate stronger skills; bars near the other end indicate weaker skills. Please store your exam results in both paper and electronic format for later reference.

Microsoft Brings Back Second Shot Promo

Microsoft recently announced that they are bringing back the "2nd Shot" promotion, which runs from March 1st through May 31. What the heck is that you might ask?

Straight from the horses mouth, or in this case Microsoft's special Offers link, "If you register for this offer prior to taking any IT Pro or Developer exam you will get a free exam if you fail on your first try. This offer is available worldwide. As a participant, you will receive one free retake per exam you purchase and fail."

You have to register first, then take and fail any qualifying exam between the promotional dates

According to the published offer you MUST register before taking the first exam. IF you recently failed a Microsoft exam, you won't automatically be qualified for a free re-take. You'll have to register for the 2nd Shot promo, use the promo code when you sign up.

This offer is good at any exam delivery provider, such as Pearson VUE testing centers (www.vue.com) or Prometric, but be sure to tell them you are taking part in the Second Shot Promotion

70-290 Exam Review

Windows Server 2003 offers many new features and services beyond those found in Windows 2000 and the 70-290 exam reflects some of those differences. You'll find it similar to 70-218, Managing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Environment, where you were expected to prove your knowledge of AD, EFS, IIS, DNS and DCHP to name a few.

This new exam is similar in many respects as far as content, but includes additional topics such as the new DNS zone types offered in Windows Server 2003 and IAS and RRAS, which weren't as heavily tested in the Windows 2000 exam. 70-290 exam concentrates on using Windows Server 2003 and network management. You'll need to demonstrate expertise in the areas of permissions, profiles, system backup, disk management and a familiarity with new product features such as Automated System Recovery (ASR) and Volume Shadow Copy. You'll also need to dive into security from a Microsoft perspective to prepare for this exam, since it's become more of a focus for the product.

Read the full article: 70-290 Exam Review

30 free exam questions with EasyCert 70-290

JRK Software, a premier provider of certification Exam preparations solutions, today announced the launch of the full version of the Exam Simulation for Microsoft Exam 70-290, intended for MCSE, MCSA and MCDBA certifications.

The new full functioned practice exam provides a complete preparation package for a professional pursuing the prestigious Microsoft certification on the Windows Server 2003 track. The Exam 70-290 validates a professional’s ability to manage and maintain a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 environment.

EasyCert 70-290 supports all question item types - Drag and Drop, Hot Spot, Active Screen, Simulations, etc.

JRK Software provides an unconditional guarantee on all EasyCert products. A user can get his money back, if he does not pass the exam in a single attempt.

To discover the complete features of EasyCert 70-290, visit the product home page at http://www.jrksoftware.com/70-290.html.

JRK Software Releases New 70-270 Practice Exams

JRK Software has released MCSE 70-270 practice exam with its award winning EasyCert exam simulator.

http://www.sbwire.com/news/view.php?sid=4823

JRK Software, a leading IT certification exams preparation and training solutions provider, has released a new exam simulation, EasyCert 70-270, for the Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) 70-270 exam.

"The content of EasyCert 70-270 coincides with the changes that Microsoft has integrated into the new 70-270 exam," says Brian Vai, product marketing manager. "By utilizing EasyCert 70-270, MCSE candidates can measure their knowledge of current Windows XP trends to gauge their level of expertise before taking the actual exam."

The 70-270 exam is a core exam for MCSE 2003 certification. It tests a professional’s aptitude to install, configure, and maintain a Microsoft Windows XP Professional and is designed for candidates who operate in medium to very large computing environments that use Microsoft Windows XP Professional as a desktop operating in a network environment.

EasyCert 70-270 features four exams with 49 questions per exam. Each exam enables individuals to choose customized or randomized questions and provides detailed answer explanations with references to Microsoft study materials. EasyCert 70-270 also features a score report history that helps individuals pinpoint areas where improvement is needed, and like all EasyCert products, is backed by JRK Software's "Pass-the-Exam-the-First-Time Guarantee".

More realted links:
70-270 info at Setup32.com
Windows XP Pro exam at Cramsession.com
A good 70-270 study guide at Examblasters.com