MCITP certification retirements

ms learningAs Windows 8 and Windows 2012 are available to us for a while now, it seems that Microsoft has released a timeframe for when the Windows 7 and Windows 2008(R2) exams and certifications wil retire.

Here’s an overview of the MCITP Server track:

These certifications will be retired on July 31, 2013. You must meet all of the requirements for these certifications prior to that date in order to earn the certification.

Certification title Required exam
MCITP: Enterprise Administrator on Windows Server 2008* 640

642

643**

647**

plus either

620**

or

624***

or

680

or

681**

MCITP: Server Administrator on Windows Server 2008* 640

642

646

MCITP: Virtualization Administrator on Windows Server 2008 R2 669**

693**

and either

659

or

652***

*By passing the exams for this certification, you’ll earn your MCSA: Windows Server 2008 certification.

**This exam will be retired on July 31, 2013.

***This exam has been retired.

For all other tracks please viti this link.

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert: Private cloud

Last Wednesday I took the 70-246 (monitoring and operating a Private cloud with System Center 2012) and passed. Today I saw on the MCP website that I could download my certificate and an updated version of my transcript.

So as off now I am officially a charter member of the admins which hold the MCSE Private Cloud certification. I didn’t think that I would be a charter member for this certifcation as so many other admins went before me with the beta exams and passing it (congrats to everyone who passed the exam and earned this status). But here I am. I’m also a charter member for the MCITP Enterprise Administrator so I’m honored to join this group of early adaptors.

Here’s the new logo they created for this.

Because I already passed the following exams I only needed to pass the 70-246 to become MCSE Private cloud.

MCSA: Windows Server 2008 (=Exam 70-640 + Exam 70-642 + Exam 70-643 + Exam 70-647 + Exam 70-680) and as a special bonus everyone who has passed the 70-659 (MCTS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Virtualization) exam doesn’t have to take  70-247 (Configuring and Deploying a Private Cloud with System Center 2012)

1Y0-A20 exam prep material

For my 1Y0-A20 XenApp 6.5 administration exam I’ve used a lot of knowledge base articles and other resources besides the self paced online course (courtesy of my employer).

This is a great document which shows all ports used by all Citrix products. Not only useful for an exam but also for troubleshooting purposes.

Go through the free XenApp 6.5 overview training from Citrix Education and read the 1Y0-A20 Preparation Guide from Citrix.

Here are the most useful kb articles and other free online resources I used to prepare for this exam. Continue reading “1Y0-A20 exam prep material”

MCSA/MCSE in a new version

Today (April 11th 2012) Microsoft has released a new and improved version of the old MCSA/MCSE certification.

I hear you thinking. Oh no, not again….

Well, MCSA and MCSE are NEW acronyms for Microsoft Certified (so far the same) Solutions Associate !!!! and Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert.

In stead of being associated with the OS certification this is now a sign of cloud skills.

MCSA is an entry level certification program for professionals who are looking for their first job in IT. So if you are a guru in the Microsoft field and have loads of certs, skip this status and go straight through to the MCSE version.

MCSE is the Expert level of the cloud certification. If you have years of experience and done lots of troubleshooting and maintaining servers with System Center and other MS products then you’d go for this.

Certification tracks: Continue reading “MCSA/MCSE in a new version”

Exam prep guide 1Y1-A25

When you are preparing for the 1Y1-A25 Engineering a Citrix Virtualization Solution beta exam Citrix has released a prep guide for this. you can download the prep guide here.

Seating for this beta is limited when you want to enter. There’s now fee (as it is a beta exam). more information about this exam can be found here.

As always you need to register for this exam on the Pearson Vue website.

For those who are going good luck and post an update here when you have done the exam if you like.

 

Discontinued exams for Citrix

Citrix is discontinuing a couple of exams and trainings in the coming months.

In the PDF at the bottom of this page is a list of new exams which will replace the discontinued ones.

January 31, 2012:

February 29, 2012:

March 31, 2012:

July 31, 2012:

For a complete list of recent and upcoming discontinuations, click here.

Citrix XenApp 6.5 beta exam **Updated**

Hi guys,

As of now you can register at PearsonVue for the Citrix XenApp 6.5 beta exam. Only thing you have to do is logon to the PearsonVue website, register as a user with your citrix ID (if you already have a citrix certification you have it) and register for the free exam (examcode 1Y1-A20). There is no need of a voucher.

I’ve registered for it and naturally searching for learning materials.

This is what I’ve found already. If you have other learning materials let me know and i’ll update this post and be gratefull for your contribution. Continue reading “Citrix XenApp 6.5 beta exam **Updated**”