Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2008 will be released early next year.
That’s right…I said it, another major server OS will
be released with undoubtedly more to learn! However,
with this release, Microsoft is also rolling out major
changes to its certification program. All of us old
MCSEs are in for some big changes.

For example, the MCSE we’re all familiar with is going
away. Yep, you heard it, completely going away!
Instead, new certification titles, like MCTS, or
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Active
Directory Configuration or Application Platform
Configuration, will be the certification de jour.

Here’s an overview of the new Windows Server 2008
certification program. Specifically, it will address:
New changes in the Windows Server 2008 certification
program
What you need to do to transition your Windows Server
2003 MCSE skills to 2008
What you need to do to go from Windows 2000 MCSE to
2008
Learn practical tips on what you can do now to start
planning

The world’s most popular certification is going
through a major remodel-are you ready?

[Note: The MCP and MCSA have been excluded from this
article with the focus being only on the MCSE.]
First look: What’s changed?

After years of complaints about the MCSE being far too
ordinary and too generic, Microsoft is taking a new
approach to its certifications. Instead of offering a
more generically themed program (like the traditional
MCSE), Microsoft is creating certifications that are
more tightly focused on specific roles and skill sets.
These changes are part of a larger effort to revamp
the entire certification program (which includes more
than Windows Server 2008). However, for traditional
MCSEs, Windows Server 2008 is where we’ll see the most
changes.

These new tracks are referred to as the Technology
Series and the Professional Series.

Technology Series–Microsoft wants to provide a means
for cert holders to demonstrate proficiency in a
specific technology area, like configuring the Active
Directory or Vista. These certifications are known as
Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist (MCTS) and
are very technologically focused.

Professional Series-Here, there are two focus areas:
IT Professional and Professional Developer. I’ve
excluded the Developer series from this article, as
most traditional MCSEs will likely not be on the
Developer track. Professional certifications allow a
person to demonstrate they can perform a job like
Server Administrator. A person who earns a
Professional certification will be known as a
Microsoft Certified IT Professional, or MCITP.

They also require earning the equivalent technology
certification (MCTS) in the corresponding Microsoft
product. Each focus area has generally one to three
exams. For most MCSEs, there are two Professional
Certifications that will likely be right in your
wheelhouse. I list them below, and include the
necessary exams. The “TS” next to each exam number
denotes an MCTS exam, while the “Pro” denotes an MCITP
exam.
Server Administrator
70-642: TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure
Configuring
70-640: TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory,
Configuring
70-646: Pro: Windows Server 2008 Administrator
Enterprise Administrator
70-620: TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client
or 70-624: TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista
Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops
70-643: TS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Platform,
Configuring
70-642: TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure
Configuring
70-640: TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory,
Configuring
70-647: Pro: Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
Administrator

The theory with these new programs is that they allow
for more specificity by creating very tightly focused
certifications and emphasizing actual real world job
roles, thus making it easier for prospective employers
to judge abilities and talents. I’m already having
nightmares about the alphabet soup that the already
lengthy signature blocks will become. We may be seeing
something like this:

John Smith, Network Engineer, MCSE (NT 4.0), MCSE+I
(Windows Server 2000 and Windows Server 2003), MCSA
(Windows Server 2000 and Windows Server 2003), MCTS:
Windows Server 2008 - Active Directory Configuration,
MCTS: Windows Server 2008 - Network Infrastructure
Configuration, MCTS: Windows Server 2008 - Application
Platform Configuration, MCITP: Enterprise
Administrator… and so on…

Good Grief!

And finally, in a move that not only keeps
technologists current, but, coincidentally, also
generates consistent revenue for Microsoft, the new
MCTS certifications expire. In fact, they expire when
the specific technology expires. The MCITP also
requires re-certification- every three years! However,
in most cases, MCITP re-up will be a single exam, and
it will probably be the latest MCTS exam.
Transition your Windows Server 2003 MCSE to 2008

If you’re a Windows Server 2003 MCSE (W2k3MCSE), the
path to achieve certification depends on what your
goals are. Because the MCSE doesn’t exist in Windows
Server 2008 you have to “transfer” your certification
skills, as a Microsoft calls it, to the new MCTS track
(and then if you’d like, tack on the applicable MCITP
certification) .

Microsoft has created a new exam entitled “70-649: TS:
Upgrading your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to MCTS on
Windows Server 2008.” When you pass it, you will earn
three MCTS qualifications in one swoop:
MCTS: Windows Server 2008 - Active Directory
Configuration
MCTS: Windows Server 2008 - Network Infrastructure
Configuration
MCTS: Windows Server 2008 - Application Platform
Configuration

A W2k3MCSE who isn’t interested in such a large exam
could take individual MCTS exams in each of the
aforementioned technology areas. However, if you’re
looking for a less circuitous route and you don’t mind
taking the daunting single exam, the 70-649 is
probably the better approach.

It’s important to note that Microsoft is transitioning
folks to the TS level, but there’s no transition plan
to move people directly to the Professional level. You
can still get there, but you have to transition to the
TS level first, and then take the remaining exams at
whatever professional level you are seeking, just like
any other MCITP seeker.

For example, if you’re a W2k3MCSE and you want to be a
MCITP Enterprise Administrator you’d have to:
Take 70-649 to transition your skills to the new MCTS
Select a desktop MCTS (70-620 or 70-624)
Take the 70-647 Enterprise Administrator Professional
Exam

If you only wanted to obtain the MCITP Server
Administrator, you’d have to:
Take 70-649 to transition your skills to the new MCTS
certifications
Take the 70-646 Server Administrator Professional Exam

As I mentioned before, I’ve left the MCSA out of the
discussion here, but you will find a similar, if
slightly less difficult, path to upgrade a Windows
Server 2003 MCSA to Windows Server 2008. Check out the
following link for more information on MCSAs:
http://www.microsof t.com/learning/ mcp/mcsa/ windowsserver200 8/default. mspx.
Going from Windows 2000 MCSE to 2008?

If you’re a Windows 2000 MCSE or, for that matter, any
non-W2k3MCSE (NT 4.0), you’re out of luck. There’s no
transition path from Windows 2000 (or anything
earlier) to Windows Server 2008. Instead, depending on
how far along you are with your Windows Server 2003
MCSE, you have two choices:
Complete your upgrade to Windows Server 2003 (thus
making your transition to Windows Server 2008 a bit
shorter), or
Start fresh with Windows Server 2008

It actually may be easier to upgrade to Windows Server
2003 MCSE in order to make for an easier transition to
Windows Server 2008.