| Exam news | |
| Audience profile | |
| Credit toward certification | |
| Preparation tools and resources | |
| Skills measured |
Exam 70-293 became available in August 2003.
The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Windows Server 2003 credential is intended for IT professionals who work in the typically complex computing environment of medium-sized to large companies. An MCSE candidate should have at least one year of experience implementing and administering a network operating system in environments that have the following characteristics:
| • | 250 to 5,000 or more users |
| • | Three or more physical locations |
| • | Three or more domain controllers |
| • | Network services and resources such as messaging, database, file and print, proxy server, firewall, Internet, intranet, remote access, and client computer management |
| • | Connectivity requirements such as connecting branch offices and individual users in remote locations to the corporate network and connecting corporate networks to the Internet |
In addition, an MCSE candidate should have at least one year of experience in the following areas:
| • | Implementing and administering a desktop operating system |
| • | Designing a network infrastructure |
When you pass the Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure exam, you achieve Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) status. You also earn credit toward the following certifications:
| • | Core credit toward Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Windows Server 2003 certification |
| • | Elective credit toward Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) on Microsoft SQL Server 2000 certification |
To 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" section.
| Classroom training | Microsoft E-Learning | Microsoft Press books | Practice tests |
Course 2278: Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure Course 2830: Designing Security for Microsoft Networks | There is no Microsoft E-Learning training currently available. | MeasureUp Self Test Software |
| • | Learning Plan: Get started with a step-by-step study guide that is based on recommended resources for this exam. |
| • | Microsoft Learning Community: Join newsgroups and visit community forums to connect with peers for suggestions on training resources and advice on your certification path and studies. |
| • | TechNet: Designed for IT professionals, this site includes how-to instructions, best practices, downloads, technical resources, newsgroups, and chats. |
| • | MSDN: Designed for developers, the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) features code samples, technical articles, downloads, newsgroups, and chats. |
This certification exam measures your ability to plan and maintain a Windows Server 2003 network infrastructure. Before taking the exam, you should be proficient in the job skills listed in the following table. The table lists Official Microsoft Learning Products that may help you reach competency in the skills being tested in the exam.
| KEY: |
| Skills measured by Exam 70-293 | Course 2278 | Course 2830 | ||||||||||
| Planning and Implementing Server Roles and Server Security | ||||||||||||
Configure security for servers that are assigned specific roles. | ||||||||||||
Plan a secure baseline installation.
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Plan security for servers that are assigned specific roles. Roles might include domain controllers, Web servers, database servers, and mail servers.
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Evaluate and select the operating system to install on computers in an enterprise.
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| Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Network Infrastructure | ||||||||||||
Plan a TCP/IP network infrastructure strategy.
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Plan and modify a network topology.
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Plan an Internet connectivity strategy. | ||||||||||||
Plan network traffic monitoring. Tools might include Network Monitor and System Monitor. | ||||||||||||
Troubleshoot connectivity to the Internet.
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Troubleshoot TCP/IP addressing.
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Plan a host name resolution strategy.
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Plan a NetBIOS name resolution strategy.
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Troubleshoot host name resolution.
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| Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining Routing and Remote Access | ||||||||||||
Plan a routing strategy.
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Plan security for remote access users.
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Implement secure access between private networks.
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Troubleshoot TCP/IP routing. Tools might include the route, tracert, ping, pathping, and netsh commands and Network Monitor. | ||||||||||||
| Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining Server Availability | ||||||||||||
Plan services for high availability.
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Identify system bottlenecks, including memory, processor, disk, and network related bottlenecks.
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Implement a cluster server.
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Manage Network Load Balancing. Tools might include the Network Load Balancing Monitor Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in and the WLBS cluster control utility. | ||||||||||||
Plan a backup and recovery strategy.
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| Planning and Maintaining Network Security | ||||||||||||
Configure network protocol security.
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Configure security for data transmission.
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Plan for network protocol security.
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Plan secure network administration methods.
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Plan security for wireless networks. | ||||||||||||
Plan security for data transmission.
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Troubleshoot security for data transmission. Tools might include the IP Security Monitor MMC snap-in and the Resultant Set of Policy (RSoP) MMC snap-in. | ||||||||||||
| Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining Security Infrastructure. | ||||||||||||
Configure Active Directory directory service for certificate publication. | ||||||||||||
Plan a public key infrastructure (PKI) that uses Certificate Services.
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Plan a framework for planning and implementing security.
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Plan a security update infrastructure. Tools might include Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer and Microsoft Software Update Services. |
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.
| • | Learn more and download samples |