Subject: MCSE Mini Brain Dump
Date sent: Sun, 20 Jul 1997 09:04:48 -0700

Hello All,

I have been watching the kist for a while but could not post. I did a test post and it came through so I will give this a try.

I took the TCP/IP 4.0 test the day before yesterday and passed with an 826.

I was using the New Riders TCP/IP-SMS study guide and I must say it is set up for 3.51 NOT 4.0.

Thanks to this board and the URL's to Cram session and different brain dumps I figured this out about a week before the test. Thank GOD!!!!! I started downloading everything I could find on MS DNS, PPTP, and all the changes since 3.51 that were outlined on the Cram session site.

I don't want to dis the New Riders book as I know that many people have recomended it. I would just like to say that there are several subjects that come up on the test that are NOT covered in the revision of that book that I just bought. I suppose I should be thankul because I passed. There are several white papers at the Microsoft site that specifically deal with NT 4.0 regarding: PPTP, RAS, VPN, DNS, DHCP relay.

As far as the test goes, I was very surprised to see so few questions on subnet masking!!! I wrote out the table and did a brain dump on paper for the different kinds of name resolution. I only had two questions regarding subnetting. Hey two questions is two questions. I still recomend doing the table before the test. Many questions regarding details of DHCP relay, nuances of all different DNS setups as well as mixed WINS, DNS, and local files arrangments.

Lots of questions generally presenting a situation that doesn't work and then asked what to change, install, try next, etc. I did not have any "write in" or "click on" questions. I was also thankful that all of the scenario questions were the " Meets the requirements and X number of secondary" type and not the "Outstanding, Adequate, Not desirable" kind.

I would suggest to anyone preparing for this test and using Trancsender (these are a must) to not get caught up worrying about those type of questions. If you know exactly what the question is getting to then you are probably OK. In other words when you score the test and read why they chose a particular answer, and agree with the "Why" but chose a slightly different answer, then don't waist any time or effort on it.

I did Net Ess and Win 95 before I knew this list was available, but I might not have passed TCP/IP without your collective help!

Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You

Earl