MSDBA Certification

  • I have been a SQL Server DBA for a couple of years now and I have decided to pursue my certification.  What books does everyone recommend to get started because I have read some HORRIBLE reviews about most of the prep books and I want to try not to waste my time and money.

     

    Thanks

    Chad

  • Yikes, hate to hear that. I worked on the 443 and 444 exam book for Sybex.

    In SQL Server 2005, there's the MCTS and MCITPro certs. Use SQL Server 2005 and practice working with tasks.

  • yes it's good to certify yourself with 2005 than 2000. With 2008 to be in market in next year go for new technologies than the older ones.

    Cheers,
    Sugeshkumar Rajendran
    SQL Server MVP
    http://sugeshkr.blogspot.com

  • I used the self paced training kit (I think it was from MS Press, but it was ~100 on Amazon).

    Using that and ALOT of working through the practices, plus reading up and learning in depth the new features of 2005, I was able to pass 70-431 / 70-443 (going to begin studying for the 444 test next week) and while it's rough, it's not impossible to pass the tests.

     

  • I've passes 70-431 so far:

    http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/mladenp/archive/2007/05/10/60199.aspx

    I've used this book for it:

    http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/mladenp/archive/2007/05/10/60200.aspx

     

    the test wasn't that hard though. You do have to know SSMS GUI pretty well.

    _______________________________________________

    Causing trouble since 1980

    blog: http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/mladenp

    SSMS Add-in that does a few things: www.ssmstoolspack.com

  • I used the following book as partial prep for the 70-441 exam (Database solutions design) and I would highly recomend that others do NOT do the same.

    http://www.amazon.com/MCITP-Developer-Microsoft-Database-Solutions/dp/0470040521/ref=sr_1_1/105-4139392-2116416?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183538693&sr=1-1

    The book is littered with errors and is not adequate to prep for the exam. Teh exam is a case-study based exam, but the majority of the book reads like an excerpt from books online, stating what features do, but not why or when to use them.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • I have an MCSD cert and I am 1 exam away from an MCDBA cert.  For those I have relied upon Transcender test prep materials with good results.  Of course it definitely helps to have every day experience with SQL Server.  The exam prep materials usually help me fill in the gaps in areas which I do not normally tread.  They also help you focus on the most likely exam subjects. 

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