Well, 2010 seems to be the year I really focus and knock out all of the certs that I have been dragging my feet on. The last 2 years I was averaging 2 certs a year but this year I have knocked out 4 and it’s not even March yet!

Today I went and took the 83-640 which is the revamped 70-640 test Windows 2008 active directory configuration. I’ll admit it has been a loooong time since I took my last MCSE tests. I’ll put it this way the last time I took a MCSE test TCP/IP was an elective (sure glad I didn’t choose IPX/SPX).

Many people on various boards have been freaking out because they are studying for the 70-640 and when they go to test the only option is the 83-640. Relax people it is the same material but the new “83″ designation lets you know that it has labs not just multiple choice or drag and drop questions.

I have been working with active directory since it was introduced in Windows 2000 (or should I call it LDAP+) and I deal with AD almost every day on Windows 2003. I started prepping for the test a week ago using the Sybex book (check out the widget below). I have some 2008 experience but it is not my primary environment. As I started studying it became clear that with as much as I deal with AD, DNS, and GPO’s I wasn’t going to need much studying. So, I dove into the Sybex book and after the first 50 or so pages I started going through the chapter tests to see what were new concepts and where I needed to study. I only reviewed maybe a third of the book and I was ace-ing the included practice exams and chapter tests so I decided to book my exam.

I had heard many horror stories about the labs dying on people and having to come back a second day to retake the exam so I was dreading the worst would happen. Without violating the NDA I thought the exam was fun. I had zero issues with the labs but there was a small but annoying pause between the multiple choice questions not bad but enough to break my rhythm. In fact, the only issue I had was after the test the printer at the testing center was being finicky so I had to wait about 20 minutes for my print out.

The test was fun and I can’t wait to knock out the 70-642 overall I did a week of review and the test took me 1 hour 10 minutes and I scored a 916 on the exam. If you work with AD frequently this test should be a fun and quick way to start you down your MCITP path. The book I used is below along with a couple of the other books I purchased for my MCITP studies.

Good luck on your testing and now on to the 70-642!