Today even more than ever MCSE training is becoming a by word for excellence in the world of IT. As it is growing ever more important for employees to be proficient in the use of technology products such as those produced by Microsoft who are one of the most dominant of all so there has been a rise in the types of training that is available. Below we will look at a number of different types of MCSE training that is now available.

1. Traditional Classroom Training

All the instructors who carry out this type of training are likely to be MCSE certified and may also be qualified as a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT). With this type of training you will find that the course follows the Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC), but all students will also have access to the necessary Microsoft servers and system software that will be covered once they reach exam stage. Often classes can last for either 3 to 5 days or may last for several months. Generally the costs for these type of MCSE training courses range from about $400 and go up to as much as $5,000. But this cost will depend on what subjects are actually covered during the training as well as how long the course lasts for and finally what level of expertise the instructor has.

2. MCSE Labs

These encourage an hands on approach in relation to knowledge of the systems and applications which will be covered during an MCSE exam. Often many IT professionals will either use the equipment at their office or build a small network at home in order that they can understand the key points, as well as to practice concepts and material that they will be tested on when they eventually take the MCSE exam. Plus as there are online MCSE labs this is extremely cost effective as you do not need to buy the equipment yourself. All you do need is an IE browser so that you can experience particular Microsoft environments in order that you will know what is necessary to pass your MCSE exams. In most cases you will find that an online MCSE lab costs from about $100 and goes up to about $500 and this cost will depend on the subjects that you are covering and the length of the lab.

3. MCSE Online Courses

Many people find it much better to use this particular type of training as it can be found usually either a downloadable or streaming media. These particular courses attempt to cover the subjects by using multi-media presentation which includes slideshows, flowcharts and images in order to cover the material of the course. There are even some of the courses now being presented by MCSE certified trainers. As these courses are self paced you decide when you use them so that they can fit into your already hectic and busy schedule. Such an MCSE training course will cost between $100 and $500 to do, again it depends on the subjects that are being covered during the course and the actual time the course takes to complete.

The widely respected IT certification programs available through Cisco Career Certifications bring valuable, measurable rewards to network professionals, their managers, and the organizations that employ them.

Four Levels of IT Certification
Cisco offer four levels of general IT certification: Entry, Associate, Professional, and Expert (CCIE representing the highest level of achievement).

Seven Different Paths
Cisco Various tracks—such as Routing and Switching, Network Security, and Service Provider—are available, so that you can match your certification path to your job role or industry.

Resources
To prepare and learn more about IT certifications and technology tracks, visit the home of Cisco Career Certifications, the Cisco Learning Network.

General Certifications
Certification Paths – Entry-Level – Associate – Professional – Expert

Routing & Switching – CCENT – CCNA – CCNP – CCIE – Routing & Switching

Design – CCENT – CCNA & CCDA – CCDP -CCDE

Network Security – CCENT – CCNA Security – CCSP – CCIE Security

Service Provider – CCENT – CCNA – CCIP – CCIE – Service Provider

Storage Networking – CCENT – CCNA – CCNP – CCIE Storage Networking

Voice – CCENT – CCNA Voice – CCVP – CCIE Voice

Wireless – CCENT – CCNA Wireless – Coming Soon! -CCIE Wireless

Specialist Certifications
• Advanced Routing and Switching
• Cisco Routing and Switching Field Specialist
• Cisco Routing and Switching Sales Specialist
• Cisco Routing and Switching Solutions Specialist

Data Center Certifications
•  Data Center Application Services
•  Cisco Data Center Application Services Support Specialist
•  Cisco Data Center Application Services Design Specialist
•  Data Center Switching Network Infrastructure
•  Cisco Data Center Networking Infrastructure Design Specialist
•  Cisco Data Center Networking Infrastructure Support Specialist
•  Cisco Data Center Networking Sales Specialist

Data Center Storage Networking
• Cisco Data Center Storage Networking Design Specialist
•  Cisco Data Center Storage Networking Support Specialist
•  Cisco Data Center Storage Networking Sales Specialist

Foundation for Channel Partners
•  Cisco Express Foundation Design Specialist
•  Cisco Express Foundation Field Specialist
•  Cisco Express Foundation Sales Specialist

IP Communications Certifications
•  Cisco Advanced IP Communications Sales Specialist
•  Cisco IP Communications Express Specialist
•  Cisco IP Communications Express Sales Specialist
•  Cisco IP Contact Center Express Specialist
•  Cisco IP Telephony Design Specialist
•  Cisco Rich Media Communications Specialist
•  Cisco Unity Design Specialist
•  Cisco Unity Support Specialist
•  Cisco Unified Presence Specialist

VPN and Security Certifications
• Cisco ASA Specialist
•  Cisco IPS Specialist
•  Cisco Network Admission Control Specialist
•  Cisco Security Sales Specialist
•  Cisco Security Solutions and Design Specialist

Wireless LAN Certifications
•  Cisco Advanced Wireless LAN Design Specialist
•  Cisco Advanced Wireless LAN Field Specialist
•  Cisco Advanced Wireless LAN Sales Specialist

MCSE | MCSE Training

The Microsoft 70-281 test is designed for mostly IT professionals working in medium to large companies who have a complex computing environment that uses the Windows 2003 server operating system. They already have a conceptualised idea about basic project management and the Microsoft Implementation Network.

Generally, the kind of environments in which they have to be ready to work have supported users ranging from 250- 5,000+, numerous physical locations and single distributed Project Server production environment. They have standard technologies like Internet Information Services 6.0, Windows SharePoint Services technology, SQL Server 2000, Project Server 2003, OLAP data services and many more.

When one appears for the test and completes it successfully, it certifies them as a Microsoft Certified Professional. Exam 70-281: Planning, Deploying, and Managing Enterprise Project Management Solutions also gives the examinee an elective credit towards the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE). The test can be taken in both English and Japanese.

Basically the aim of the 70-281 Exam is to test the abilities of the professionals in various technical tasks. The tasks include planning an enterprise project management solution deployment, implementing and configuring an EPM solution, creating a management and operations plan for the EPM solution and troubleshooting project server.

To get though this exam with flying colours it is expected from the examinees to have a basic practical training in the same technical environment where they are supposed to work. Although there are currently no facilities for e-learning and press books for the 78-281 test available with Microsoft, there are many practise tests that one can take up to sharpen their skills in preparation for it. There are also various online resources that can be utilized for studying the skills that are being measured by the test, but not all topics can be found in the online resources.

MCSE Training

This article will cover a few points that you will be tested for the CCNA regarding the configuration of basic Cisco IOS router operation. IOS (Internetwork Operating System) is the software operating system running on most Cisco network devices, including switches and routers. To configure any Cisco network device you need to master the Cisco IOS Configuration Commands and use the Command Line Interface (CLI) to configure and troubleshoot a Cisco device.

How to connect to a Router in order to Configure it:

You can connect to a Cisco IOS Router either directly or remotely. For the first time when the device is not configured yet, you usually connect directly with a console cable via the CON port or remotely by dialing into a modem connected to the AUX port. These are called “out-of-band” connection methods. After you configure the router and assign IP addresses to its interfaces, you can connect to the router from the network with an “in-band” connection method using Telnet or SSH.

Router Configuration Modes

After connecting to a Cisco Router (let’s say using a console), you are presented with the Command Line Interface in which you type and enter configuration commands. After typing a command, you press enter and the command is automatically active on the device. For example using the “shutdown” command on an interface, automatically disables the interface. Now, there are two Router Configuration Modes (or access modes):

User EXEC Mode: Allows the administrator to access only limited monitoring commands. You can not actually make any configurations from this mode. The command prompt on this mode is “router>”

Privileged EXEC Mode: Allows the administrator to access all device commands, such as those used for configuration and management, and can be password protected to allow only authorized users to access the device at this “full-access” level. This mode is also called enable mode because you get to it with the enable command. The command prompt on this mode is “router#”. From the privileged EXEC mode you can start configuring the device by typing “configure terminal”.

Router Memory Types

A Cisco router has four memory types:

ROM: This is where the POST script of the router is located. The POST software (Power On Self Test) is used during startup to perform the initial hardware checking of the device. The ROM also holds a mini-IOS used for password recovery.

RAM: This is where the running configuration is located. After the device boots up, the IOS software is loaded into RAM. Also, RAM holds routing tables, network parameters during operation etc. When configuring the router, we actually change the running-configuration which as we said is stored into RAM

NVRAM: When we save the running-configuration (using the command “write”) it is stored into the NVRAM and becomes the startup-configuration. After rebooting the router, the startup-configuration is loaded from the NVRAM.

Flash: This is like the hard-disk of a PC. It holds the IOS software image file and any backup configurations that you might save from time to time.

When you issue the “show running-configuration” command on the router you instruct the device to display the current running configuration in RAM. When you issue the “show startup-configuration” command you instruct the router to display the stored configuration in the NVRAM.

MCSE | MCSE Training

The CompTIA A+ 2009 version is getting a makeover and receiving some added topics to measuring the skills and knowledge required of an entry-level PC support and service technician. The last revision of the CompTIA A+ exam requirements was back in 2006, and the new updated certification exam requirements definitely provides a clear pictures of what the job duties are for those looking to become CompTIA A+ professionals in 2009 and beyond. Since the requirements have changed for the certification exam, those looking to take the certification exam this year or the next will have to undergo some A+ training so that they can get up to speed with the new skills and knowledge added to the enhanced exam.

To help complete the changes, CompTIA sent out surveys to assist in the exam development process and to define the content for the CompTIA A+ Essentials Exam. There were two surveys: one for the proposed “Essentials” exam requirements and the other for the proposed “Technician” exam requirements. Both of the surveys talked about the current draft of the exam requirements and asked for feedback on how important each topic was, and how often a borderline qualified candidate would perform each task. The surveys covered two of the four available CompTIA A+ exams: CompTIA A+ Essentials and CompTIA IT Technician. CompTIA A+ Essentials validates knowledge of basic computer hardware and operating systems. The CompTIA IT Technician exam is supposed to be for individuals who work or intend to work in a mobile or corporate technical environment with a high level of face-to-face client interaction. Individuals may participate in both surveys. Since the A+ certification exam will feature new knowledge requirements, some A+ certification training would be very helpful learning the updated requirements needed to pass the certification exam.

While the current certification requirement structure was a draft version that’s under construction, a few things stood out from the survey. The new draft was not really that much different from the existing major category domain structure, but there were a number of various new technologies listed, such as Blu-ray, SD cards, DDR3, TV tuner cards, and Bluetooth. Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista were also listed as components, as well as some of the latest Vista technologies. Some of the older networking technologies were dropped and the latest cabling standards were added, while cellular networking was mentioned often. The security section was also updated to include encryption, authentication technologies, and updated biometric technologies, so make sure to add that to things you’ll have to familiarize yourself with.

While nothing is really final, there’s a lot of time between now and the introduction of the updated exam requirements list, but it is still a good ideal to familiarize yourself with some of the latest technologies, so that you are ready when the new list does come out to pass the certification exam with flying colors. Don’t forget that preparing for the exam will take some preparation and an A+ training course will definitely help you start thinking and learning about what you might encounter on exam.

MCSE | MCSE Training