October 9, 2007 at 5:54 am
Hi everyone,
I'm thinking of taking the MCITP Database Developer exams (70-441,70-442,70-431) and would like some advice on timescales, resources, where to get sample tests.
I am a SQL Server Developer, and work with SQL Server 2005 on a day to day basis, but mainly doing data loading, transforming, and extraction (using SSIS, and DTS previously). I also have the abilities to design databases - tables, views, write stored procedures, triggers, udf's, indexing, constraints, and have lately dabbles with writing CLR sp's in VB2005. I have 4-5 years of working with SQL Server 2000, much in the same way (but using SSIS instead of DTS). So I think my database design and T-SQL is ok (can brush up on parts i don't use, but overall won't need much work). I don't really know much about roles, schemas, backing up, security so I was wondering how much time each of the test would take to revise for, and what to use for them. I have read on other posts that the Microsoft books are quite good for training you to pass the test, but don't really give you much depth in some of the areas. I've also read that Transcender is the best practice for the exams, although i've also thought about using Measure-up in the past, but read that wasn't so good. Any comments would be much appreciated.
At present i only have SQL Server 2005 Express Edition on my home pc, but I'm thinking of upgrading to the Developer Edition as the Express Edition is limited in functionality (no SSIS, SSAS) so I can go over everything covered at home in my own time (certain functionality has been turned off on servers/databases at work to reduce processing overheads i am lead to believe so I can't use certain parts of SQL Server 2005 there).
I also write apps in VB2005 for data access, but only when needed and inhouse.
From what I have read into the MCITP Certification I need to take 70-431 (Implementation and Maintenance) for whatever path i decide to go down so is it worth doing this exam first or do you think with the experience that I have 70-441 (Designing Database Solutions by using MS SQL Server 2005) or 70-442 (Designing and Optimizing Data Access by using MS SQL Server 2005) would be a better option and take less revision time and learning time?
Any comments on any of the above would be much appreciated,
Matt
October 9, 2007 at 6:17 am
the developer version of sql server is very cheap to buy, typically around £50 GBP ( about $100 us ) or you might want to consider buying a technet plus subscription which will give all the operating systems and most servers, plus lots of other stuff. The on-line ( no media ) version is fantastic value for money.
All I'll say about the exams is you should read the pre-requisites because there will be questions from there too. Many people i know just cram on sample exams and fly through the exams , transcender for example, however my view is that I don't pay much attention to the exams as they have become devalued with such products and the famous boot camps. But best of luck and follow in the described sequence.
[font="Comic Sans MS"]The GrumpyOldDBA[/font]
www.grumpyolddba.co.uk
http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/grumpyolddba/
October 9, 2007 at 8:19 am
I took that series (431, 441, 443, 444) and I thought 431 was the hardest. There were a lot of configuration and admin type questions, which I thought were nit picky. There's also a few "simulation" questions where you have to work through some dialogs on SSMS. You need to do things like add a user, change permissions, configure a linker server, etc. Be sure that you really know how to do the add/edit/delete for system objects (users, logins, tables, permissions, etc.)
The others were differently designed, but I'd really get the developer edition so you can play with the tools, then ask questions here about things you don't understand. Get a book (any of them) and work through the examples and exercised to get familiar
Tackle the exams one at a time. I didn't think any was super tough and it sounds like you've got some good grounding to move forward.
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