Kitkatninja

First decide what route you want to do. The older MCP track is Tier related (eg MCDST is tier 1, MCSA is tier 2, etc.), whereas the newer MCTS/MCITP route is more job related (eg there are all 3 tiers in Desktop Support, etc). Don't fall into that "trap" of thinking that way, that may be the case for the lower exams - but not for the higher ones (in my experience of both sitting them myself and teaching the courses). There are always gaps in knowledge, plus it's actually doing it Microsoft's way. Added to that questions that start with: "Using the least amount of administrative steps..." (I'm saying this without breaking the NDA). I've worked with NT4, working in a multi-site/multi-domain organisation, worked with the rest of the IT Team to upgrade the NT4 domain to a Windows 2003 domain. I now work in a multi-domain, single-site organisation and have upgrade the domain from 2000 -> 2003 -> 2003 r2 -> 2008 -> 2008 r2 with the senior tech. Added to that I have worked, on the client side, with NT4 up to the current Windows 7. I have done helpdesk, field Service and workshop; worked my way up to IT manager. However I don't say these things to boast of what I've done, I say these things to say that even I have failed a good handful of exams, even after studying for them. That is a very fuzzy question, as what may be the best way for one, may not be the best way for another. Generally speaking study for each exam, one at a time. How you study for them (class-based, self-study or a combination) is up to you. You will have to sit the Microsoft exam(s) at any Prometric testing centre. The easiest way of getting Microsoft certified is taking 1 Microsoft exam and the 4 easiest exams that I've come across (again this may be different to others) are these: 70-271, 70-272 (these two make up the MCDST, but are individual exams/qualifications in their own right), the 70-620 (vista client) and the 70-680 (windows 7 client). Just one word of advice - stay away from braindumps. If/When caught you could face the following: 1. Decertification 2. Ban from further/future exams and in some cases 3. Legal action. -ken

Good luck mate -ken

Same here... Where I want to be, but closer to home -Ken

Yes, the foundation level is suitable for any level. Yes you can self-study for the exam. I used this book (however here is the updated one) and the CBTNuggets (however one or the other would have been suitable, I just have a short attendtion span with something this boring). It took me a week to self-study for the exam. About £100, give or take. I took the exam over 2 years ago. However I do remember the ITIL exam is cheaper thru EXIN (about £10-£15 cheaper than ISEB). -Ken

Do not under-estimate desktop support. There's a lot to be learnt from that area, especially now that you also have the MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator (not to be confused with the MCITP: Enterprise Support Tech) which is classed as 3rd tier support. Don't forget, being a Network Manager/IT Manager or whatever title they decide to call it, is not just about the technology. It's also about people management, financial management (budget planning), project management, security management, Storage Management, Energy Conservation, etc, etc, etc... Based on the information that you've provided, the unknown other candidates for the prospective job and the unknown requirements for the job, I don't know and couldn't say. However as all your qualifications are technology based, perhaps some non-technical certs would boost your chances, like: 1. FITS (Level 4 and/or 5), ITIL v5 Foundation and/or MOF (some sort of best practice methodology, FITS being aimed specifically at the education sector). 2. A NVQ or other cert in either Team Leading or Management. 3. Maybe some sort of Project Management cert, like: ISEB Foundation in Project Management, Prince2 or Project+ 4. Membership into a Professional Body, like the BCS or the IET (for IT) or the ILM (for management). I can't comment on your experience, as you haven't listed wat you actually do (just your job title). But generally speaking 4-5 year experience in the actual sector does give you an edge. Just one question, you've listed that you're studying for the CCNA (part 2), do you actually configure Cisco switches/routers? Cause if you do, that's great, imo. However if you don't, is it really worth it? To be certified on a technology that you will have to recertify in 3 years time that you don't work with. I would rather recommend doing another course/qualification for career progression. -Ken

Been using it since Wednesday, I like the look and feel of it (although I miss the search in the top right of the screen, and still unsure of the moving of the favorites, etc to the right instead of leaving it on the left). I can see me using it more often than not. Haven't had any real problems with accessing sites, etc... However as I play around with beta software anyway, the odd crash doesn't really bother me. -Ken

My current job, 5 mins to the main place. However as we support other organisations, if we're going there, not more than 20 minutes. My last job, it could be up to 1 -1 1/2 hours drive depending on time of day, traffic and what site (it was a multi-site organisation). -ken

However considering that the CITP was only introduced in 2004, it is still in it's infancy (considering that the BCS only received Royal Chartered in 1984 and the Engineering Institute received it's Royal Chartered in 1965). The CITP has a long way to go. IMO, Chartered/Registered Statuses, Yes. You're assessed at working at certain level. Whereas the MCSE, CCNA, etc... (In theory) only shows your competence with technology. And even that gets reduced by braindumpers and organisations that advertise/put thru in experienced people thru the higher level professional certifications without the experience. -Ken

I would have recommended Spiceworks v3, however I found v4 very slow - sometimes even unusable. Don't know about the new version 5. To be honest, the ad never actually bothered us here (when we used it). -Ken

I come across something similar, we tested a new cable run (network point to patch panel) and everything checked out fine, but plugging in any device and there's be no activity. It turned out to be a fault network (RJ45) socket. -Ken

I've tried several free and paid helpdesk/servicedesk systems out there and the one that I've been most impress with (and bought) is the one from Richmond Systems. The only thing that I haven't been able to set up myself is the Assest Management, however this will be sort once term is back - too much to do over the summer (one thing I'll say is that are concerned with customers, they've rung me 3 times and e-mailed me once to get this sorted. Web based interface - there's a web-based interface as well as a client side one (installed) Knowledge Base - you can create them from existing jobs or create them from fresh. Asset management built in - see above. Email and web client submission - Yes and yes, we had no problems. Performance and stats reports - Yes, there are alot of pre-defined reports. One thing that I will say is that it is a paid system with an annual support charge, it is licensed on a con-current tech user basis. -Ken

Added to what GrumbleDook already said, different people have different learning styles - what may suit one person, may not suit another. I'm very pro self-studying, then again I'm very pro tutor lead also studying. What I am against are braindumps/cheaters/training organisations that promote cheating. Anyway, back to the OU module... It does not includes the Microsoft exam(s) and like any method of studying (regardless of self-study or class based) there is no gurantee that you'll pass the Microsoft exam(s) after the course either. Depending on what you have, how much you want to spend and overall goal. It may be more economical to study another OU module, do the individual Microsoft modules/exams (or use your existing ones, provided they're on the OU accepted list) and then do a credit transfer for modules MT127 and TM227. Or it may be more economical the other way - again this very much depends on you. -Ken

I actually know that person who is earmarked to teach the course, good bloke -Ken

Or you can use a simple .bat file. Eg to open up the webpage http://www.yahoo.com, in the .bat file type this in: -Ken

Personally, I buy in laptops with at least a dual core 1.9GHz or above (regardless of whether or not it's an AMD, C2D, Celeron Dual Core) - processor wise. To be honest unless it was for a "specialist" subject (eg media for video editing, D&T for CAD/CAM), the Dual Core 1.9Ghz (and above) chips will happily run any education software package including Office, DVD play back software, etc... Plus it's not just down to the CPU... HDD access/seek times, amount & type of ram, and whether it had integrated or a dedicated graphics card also dictates the overall performance of the laptop. Added to that if any laptop was still in good running order after 3 years it'd be a bonus, so a good waranty package for the laptop is one to look out for -Ken

Forget all about this post... Wanted to update my thoughts on this (and where I was). To me while all three are "Best Practices", it's the emphasis that is different between the 3, imo. ITIL - business/organisation FITS - the end user MOF - Technology -ken

Preplogic is currently offering their Megaguide's (including the one for the Server+) for $1. I've used them before and found their products to be good. I did the 2009 beta and found that relatively easy (relatively compared with what I have already), however about 50% of the questions on the beta were a bit iffy as the terminology/wording they used - however that's Comptia exams for you. You can read about my experience and others here. -Ken

We personally use MLS Connect (approx £75-£80 per year, not sure if they've raised the price from 1 1/2 years ago), which imports users from Sims automatically. However there is a way to manually import users via a csv file, quote from their KB (Article No. 1367): Importing The Data 1. Open the Management page and select Database --> Intake from the menu at the top. 2. On the right hand side press Import. 3. select your Schools Management System from the list (If unsure, select Auto instead). 4. Finally, press Browse to choose the pre-prepared CSV file . 5. Select the Import and the system will begin to process the file. This will then search the existing borrowers list and try to find a match for any of the borrowers specified in the list and try to move them into their correct groups. If no matches can be found, it will assume that the borrowers are new students to the system and leave them in the intake table ready to be transferred. Hope this helps -Ken

Congrats to Max, welcome to the fold -Ken

I used to work for a large FE/HE college, they always use to advertise in the local paper as well as Computer Weekly.

Congrats, you're going to have to invite us over -Ken

How'd the meeting go? And what are you considering studying for? -ken

While I have not had any dealings with the HLC, I don't like the sound of "a chap coming out to see me on Wednesday afternoon", sounds like a sales person to me. Did a quick search on Google, that brought up a few threads where people have had problems, but then again people are more likely to complain than to praise. I would ask the question here at Certforums, as it's a forum more dedicated to qualifications, and the studying towards them. -Ken

We use Windows 2008 r2 Hyper-V with SCVMM as our virtualisation solution and management -Ken

Off the top off our head's head, I'm not sure if the exact amount can just roll off the tongue. But our head is aware of it (a general amount)... After all (at my place) I create the IT Services budget/project plan, then that gets passed to the business manager who goes thru it with me, then he takes that to the finance governors and the head to either get it approved or reduced. After all, the ICT budget is just one many budgets that is there in schools. -Ken