Exam 70-496:

Administering Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2012

Published:September 25, 2012
Language(s):English, Japanese
Audience(s):IT Professionals,Developers
Technology:Microsoft Visual Studio 2012
Type:Proctored Exam

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Exam Topics Covered
The following books includes topic areas covered on this exam.
 
 
 
 
Audience Profile
Candidates typically work in an enterprise development organization that provides application lifecycle management services by using Team Foundation Server.

The qualified candidate has:
  • a solid understanding of the Team Foundation Server architecture and components.
  • experience installing and configuring a Team Foundation Server in both single-server and multi-server configurations.
  • experience managing security for Team Foundation Server components.
  • experience configuring and using Team Foundation Build.
  • experience adapting process templates to an organization.
  • experience managing project artifacts with Team Foundation Server version control.
  • experience configuring and using Work Item tracking.
Credit Toward CertificationExam 70-496: Administering Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2012: counts as credit toward the following certification(s):MCSD: Application Lifecycle Management
Note This preparation guide is subject to change at any time without prior notice and at the sole discretion of Microsoft. Microsoft exams might include adaptive testing technology and simulation items. Microsoft does not identify the format in which exams are presented. Please use this preparation guide to prepare for the exam, regardless of its format.
Skills Being MeasuredThis exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed below.The percentages indicate the relative weight of each major topic area on the exam.The higher the percentage, the more questions you are likely to see on that content area on the exam.

The information after “This objective may include but is not limited to” is intended to further define or scope the objective by describing the types of skills and topics that may be tested for the objective. However, it is not an exhaustive list of skills and topics that could be included on the exam for a given skill area. You may be tested on other skills and topics related to the objective that are not explicitly listed here.
Install and Configure Team Foundation Server (25%)
  • Install Team Foundation Server.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: SQL Server version support; installing Team Foundation Server in a multi-tier or multi-machine environment; installing Team Foundation Server in a load-balanced environment; setting up a version control proxy server
  • Configure the application tier.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: validating an installation; configuring SMTP for Team Foundation Server; changing the URL (friendly name); changing the default SharePoint web application; setting up reporting (SQL Server Analysis Services)
  • Migrate and upgrade Team Foundation Server.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: upgrading to Team Foundation Server 2012 in-place or moving to new hardware; importing a source base from a non–Team Foundation Server system; upgrading a Team Project
  • Install and configure Lab Management.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: setting up environment templates; installing and configuring test agents; installing and configuring System Center Virtual Machine Manager (basic Virtual Machine Manager installation); creating library shares or resource pools
  • Install and configure multiple build agents and controllers.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: tagging and binding a controller to a project collection; adding a build agent
Manage Team Foundation Server (26%)
  • Manage Team Project Collections.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: moving project collections; managing team collections and projects; creating and configuring Team Project Collections; creating a team project using SharePoint and SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS); splitting and partitioning team project collections
  • Configure for backup and recovery.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: backup and recovery of Team Foundation Server and related components; recovering a failed application tier; recovering a failed database tier; implementing a disaster recovery plan
  • Monitor server health and performance.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: monitoring the server for performance issues (monitoring activity logging database and Team Foundation Server server manager); monitoring the job infrastructure for failed jobs (monitoring warehouse adapters and warehouse jobs); cleanup of stale workspaces and shelvesets; setting up Team Foundation Build to use a version control proxy server
  • Operate Lab Management.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: operating and modifying lab environments; repairing lab environments; using snapshots; storing System Center Virtual Machine Manager environments
  • Manage security.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring limited users; managing roles in Team Foundation Server using Active Directory groups; managing permissions in Team Foundation Server in SharePoint, SSRS, builds, source control, and Work Item Management; creating and managing teams; configuring security for users who do not have a Client Access License (CAL)
  • Manage reporting for Team Foundation Server.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: managing basic reporting using Microsoft Office Excel Services; customizing the SharePoint team project portal; uploading a new SSRS Team Foundation Server report; configuring Team Foundation Server to enable a report to appear in a SharePoint project portal; rebuilding the Team Foundation Server data warehouse
Customize Team Foundation Server for Team Use (24%)
  • Configure a team build definition.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: setting up for a symbol server and source server; setting up for custom build numbers; configuring build log verbosity; setting up definition properties including test impact analysis, code analysis, automated unit testing, and architecture validation; setting up build triggers (gated check-in, continuous integration, scheduled build); configuring the build drop location to be in source code control or a fileshare
  • Manage build execution.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: queuing a build with parameters; reconciling workspaces as part of a gated check-in workflow; customizing build qualities; cleanup of builds (applying retention policies)
  • Modify a process template.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: uploading and downloading process templates; troubleshooting template errors; customizing functional areas within process templates, including SSRS, SharePoint, build definitions, Work Items, and queries
  • Configure a team project.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: defining areas and iterations; managing users through the default security groups; managing portal settings (team project portal site URL, process guidance URL); defining project-level alerts
  • Apply Work Item customizations.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: adding a new Work Item type as a child of an existing Work Item; customizing field definitions for a Work Item; customizing form layout and workflows; customizing global lists, link types, and categories
  • Create Work Item queries.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: defining query folders and permissions; applying query types (tree, flat, directed); adding fields to a query; creating a query by using Team Explorer
  • Configure client connectivity to Team Foundation Server.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring Visual Studio, Team Explorer, Team Explorer Everywhere, Excel, Project, and other tools to connect to Team Foundation Server; configuring clients for a proxy server
Administer Version Control (25%)
  • Create and manage workspaces.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: cloaking, undoing delete, and modifying a workspace; deleting a workspace; specifying workspace visibility; unlocking other users’ checkouts, pending changes, and code; choosing a default workspace type for a collection; deleting a shelveset
  • Configure version control proxy.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: setting up the cache hit ratio; setting up the cache size; setting up for multiple Team Foundation Server servers
  • Configure team project version control settings.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: enabling multiple checkout; enabling get latest on checkout; configuring check-in policies for a team project (Work Items, builds, code analysis, testing policies)
Preparation Tools and ResourcesTo help you prepare for this exam, Microsoft Learning recommends that you have hands-on experience with the product and that you use the following training resources. These training resources do not necessarily cover all of the topics listed in the "Skills Measured" tab.
Learning Plans and Classroom Training There is no classroom training currently available.
Microsoft E-Learning There is no Microsoft E-Learning training currently available.
Microsoft Press Books There are no Microsoft Press books currently available.
Practice Tests There are no practice tests currently available.
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