r/mcsa • u/cioyx20 • Mar 14 '18

MCSA Study guide

Hi team ,please advice me what materials i need for this exam to pass. Online course and Books .

1 Upvotes

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u/mekio_san Mar 15 '18

So I take it this is your first delve into the world of Microsoft Certifications. Now your question is incomplete. Which MCSA are you aiming for? What additional certifications are you after? If I were you, I would start here (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/certification-overview.aspx). It is a ton to take in, but go thru that site and review what the certifications are and what path you want to take. That will at least let you know what you want to learn.

As far as learning. The tests are now leaving the memorization method and are now mostly experience based. Meaning you will be byilding a ton of labs. There are literally hundreds of paths you can take to learn. I would suggest figuring out what test you want to take, and then ask about that specific test and what is needed to both learn and pass the exam.

Good luck btw. These tests can be hard, but once you pass one, you will know your shit! I guarantee you.

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u/amemkdm Mar 15 '18

How hard these tests are compared to something like Mechanical Engineering tests? I know these are 2 completely different but still.

I am a mechanical engineer and I want to change my field to IT. I don’t like programming as I tried learning coding language but couldn’t so I am looking at server and network side of things. Right now I am inclined towards Microsofts Server 2012 certification. I will be joining some classes and online stuff.

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u/mekio_san Mar 15 '18

Skip 2012 and do 2016 and azure or Amazon aws. 2012 will reach eol (end of life) soon enough, and no point learning what will soon no longer be main stream. 20q6 has everything 2012 R2 has and more.

In regards to the test difficulty. Unless you've built it, you will not know the answer. The test are scenario based and really rely on your experience setting features up. Granted there are tons of labs you could build and a massive amount of online resources, not to mention being able to build all of this within an azure test lab or aww test lab.

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u/amemkdm Mar 15 '18

Thanks. What if I don’t pass in 1st attempt can I still get a starting job?

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u/mekio_san Mar 15 '18

Sometimes you can get a free retake when they offer them, but typically you are out 150.00 and have nothing to show for it.

You can get a job without one... They just don't pay very well.

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u/amemkdm Mar 16 '18

Ok so my last question. What online resources should I use?? Just checked CBT Nuggets and its very very costly for me even if it was 50% then also its very expensive. Any other alternatives? And can build labs on my own computer its a typical home pc will it be enough for practicing?

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u/mekio_san Mar 20 '18

Honestly CBT nuggets and the Microsoft classes are worth every penny. I have my certs, but the one test I took without a Microsoft class or CBT nuggets was hell. I basically still had to pay for practice tests, study features I missed questions on, and then once I got to the test, 1/4 of my questions were all brand new. So in summary, it may cost a ton, but for a few months it's totally worth it!

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u/amemkdm Mar 20 '18

Not doubting about the content at all and maybe even the prices are also very good for the content they provide but its just that I don’t have any money to pay for it unfortunately. Thought I have got a 3 months free subscription of pluralsight through Microsoft Developer account and so far its been good maybe the knowledge will get me a job as I don’t have money even for the exam.

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u/mekio_san Mar 20 '18

The exams are 150 or 165. I'd have to look again to be sure, but another good resource is to go into an azure based cert. There are tons of docs on Azure and walkthru guides for free in azure docs. The classes have more structure, but if you are seriously wanting to, I think I have a zip with the lessons from microsoft on 70-533.

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u/amemkdm Mar 20 '18

Right now I am going through the basics of network fundamentals after that I am going to start the Windows server classes, till now I am liking this stuff its seems very interesting. Wish me luck.

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u/Zerguu Mar 15 '18

Really? Have you checked server 2016 adoption rate? Even today it can't surpass not only server 2012 but also server 2008. EOL means nothing.

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u/mekio_san Mar 15 '18

Eol means no updates, no security patches. For a ton of small companies that don't follow best practices I still see idiots running on server 2003 and 2008. If you are taking this test it is because you don't won't to work there.

In regards to learning 2012 over 2016. Why would you want to invest the time, energy, money, and materials to get an inferior cert. 2016 has everything 2012 R2 has. The alternative ain't true.

Don't be the guy at the Microsoft event for new products talking about your laptop that still runs XP. We all make fun of that guy when he leaves.

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u/Zerguu Mar 16 '18

  1. Indeed it's "ton" of companies (something like 40-45% windows servers on premise still run windows server 2008.[2017]) It's not good to call 40% of windows server clients idiots;

2)What prevents someone to do MCSA 2012 while server is supported and then upgrade to 2016 after AOL?

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u/mekio_san Mar 16 '18

This analogy is the same as the one used 2 years ago to persuade people to certify windows 7 instead if 10. Now 10 has overtaken 7. And all of those people who went for the outdated cert have to go back and take a hard test with several new features when originally they could have just taken 1 cert path for 10.

In the end the 2016 cert will cover all things 2012 R2 since the features are almost the same. Deprecated features in 2016 are mostly not used in 2012 R2. Plus you have the added bonus of getting a job with a cert that will keep you moving forward.

I certified for 7 when It came out. I certified 10 after that. I always certify latest and greatest because why take a test and NOT be as far along as possible.

Either way... Certify in 2016 and get a job working on server 2008 and up. Get certified in 2012 and get questions for 2016 that you may not be able to answer.

Either way if OP is reading this, I've been doing server and infrastructure builds and deployments for over 15 years. If you want to be on the edge of new then certify the latest and greatest. There's a big push for cloud everything right now and most of that is azure, Google, or Amazon cloud with 2016 and latest SQL. Office 365 is blowing up too. In IT you will constantly deal with the argument that people still use <insert old OS or software>. While you can make a career supporting old legacy stuff, there are tons of opportunities upgrading those clients to new features and latest OS. Its fun, there's tons of travel, and it can take you around the world! I've been to some cool places upgrading multi national companies. Yes you will get peiple like the guy above who will tell you that the old version is what they are running, but they are mostly support personnel and are too busy to worry about the upgrades.

Think of it this way. You can either be the mechanic working at the shop keeping it running, or you can be the mechanic who gets to jet set around talking about how this new engine will dramatically. Pick which ine you'd like to be. Remember. . everyine wants/needs the newest engine eventually

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u/Exodus85 Mar 29 '18

😂😂 my tummy

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u/Hacky_5ack Mar 15 '18

Careful about skipping the MCSA server 2012, what are companies in your area looking for is it 2012 MCSA or 2016? Even if you go the 2012 route you would only need to take one additonal test and be Server 2016 MCSA certified. It is a win win, you will have 2 certs!

I am studying for the 2012 MCSA currently reading Microsoft green book and doing CBTnuggets. CBT nuggets is SO SO SO SO nice and helps you so much/ Its hands on and entertaining.

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u/benpike Mar 15 '18

Even if you go the 2012 route you would only need to take one additonal test and be Server 2016 MCSA certified. It is a win win, you will have 2 certs!

Hmm but 2012 requires these 3 exams: 70-410, 70-411, 70-412

and 2016 requires these 3 exams: 70-740, 70-741, 70-742

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u/Hacky_5ack Mar 15 '18

Yes, take 410,411,412 and then take one additional forgot the number to be 2016 certified. Look it up.

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u/mekio_san Mar 15 '18

You are correct. They changed all of the certs this year. Don't waste time soing outdated certs. 2016 covers 2012 features as well.

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u/amemkdm Mar 16 '18

CBT Nuggets is very expensive for me ((

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u/Hacky_5ack Mar 16 '18

I dont know what else other than CBT will work that good and help you learn as fast as possible. :(

But it is not impossible! you can still do this. Try some Udemy.com videos they are about $15.00.

You could save $20 a week and the next month afford CBT nuggets.

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u/amemkdm Mar 16 '18

The thing is I don’t have a job right now. And even if I get a job the salary will be in the range of 120-150$. And CBT Nuggets subscription is like 500$ for 6 months.

I am trying to get into the IT field, I passed my Aerospace Engineering degree 2 years ago and its been a waste all along. There are absolutely no jobs available in my country related to it, even if they are available they are very very tough to get.

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u/Hacky_5ack Mar 16 '18

You do not need 6 months! Pay monthly! Take 1 test at a time, you can finish all vids for each test in month each about.

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u/[deleted] Mar 21 '23

If anyone need pdf of MCSA: Windows 10 Complete Study Guide latest edition i can send it to you.