InstantForum.NET v2.9.0SQLServerCentralhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/notifications@sqlservercentral.comWed, 22 May 2013 03:10:03 GMT20http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxHi all,Sean Gallardy shares his experiences with 88-970 at his blog:[url=http://www.seangallardy.com/2012/12/thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-knowledge-exam-88-970/#comment-220][/url].Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:19:47 GMTUwe Rickenhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspx[quote][b]Geoff Clark (2/11/2013)[/b][hr]But at the very least it is misleading, MCM SQL 2008 is top of the list of those that require the recertification. [/quote]MCM (or what it's being converted into the MCSM) does need recertifiying every 3 years or so, SQL one included. I haven't heard a definitive answer to what will be required for the SQL recert, not sure if it's been fully decidedMon, 11 Feb 2013 06:00:36 GMTGilaMonsterhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxThanks Robert, coming from yourself I feel reassured.But at the very least it is misleading, MCM SQL 2008 is top of the list of those that require the recertification. Also the page with all the old conditions for upgrade and the reading list has gone.Geoff ClarkMon, 11 Feb 2013 02:35:30 GMTGeoff Clarkhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxThat's not for SQL Server. It's for the other programs (Like Exchange) that still have the on-site training as a requirement. They are re-introducing on-site training for SQL Server, but it will be completely optional.Sun, 10 Feb 2013 16:55:59 GMTRobert Davishttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxLooks like you will not be able to just take the knowledge exam to get MCSM SQL 2012https://fast.omnisocial.mzinga.com/content/ss/eda339aac39b4c42a7f089442bfd62a8/newhomepage/PriceList.htmlneed to do recertification training which last three yearsMCSM: Recertification Training Rotation $13,875 USD per person, per rotation* That is a lot of cash + accommodation + travel + non-billable time.Sun, 10 Feb 2013 16:37:43 GMTGeoff Clarkhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspx[quote][b]warner chaves (2/5/2013)[/b][hr]Hi guys, I just took the remote lab exam about 3 weeks ago, just wondering if anyone knows what the turnaround time for the results is nowadays. I've read online about people getting a way different waiting time so I'm not sure when to expect them.Warner[/quote]Expect 30 business days. It may come sooner but expect the 30 days.Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:20:11 GMTSQLRNNRhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxHi guys, I just took the remote lab exam about 3 weeks ago, just wondering if anyone knows what the turnaround time for the results is nowadays. I've read online about people getting a way different waiting time so I'm not sure when to expect them.WarnerTue, 05 Feb 2013 15:17:40 GMTwarner chaveshttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspx[quote][b]Uwe Ricken (2/4/2013)[/b][hr]Hallo Vedran,the charge for the LAB is 2.500,00 USD but i get a refund of 500 USD (see my previous post!)I do not know the charging amount for the Knowledgetest but I've paid 375.00 € = ~ 500 USD.[/quote]And to be clear, the remote option is for the lab exam only. The knowledge exam must still be taken at Prometric.Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:14:22 GMTRobert Davishttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspx[quote][b]Uwe Ricken (2/4/2013)[/b][hr]Steve,that's true. I made my first try in November 2012 and failed. I got the information about my results in january and wanted to retake asap. From Prometric I got the information that LAB cannot be booked over Prometric anymore. I had to contact Microsoft direct.You get more details from Microsoft direct by sending them an email to advcert@microsoft.com[/quote]Thanks, and interesting. I just saw Robert's note about new exams, so that makes sense. I was wondering since I'd rather take it at home than in a center, though I'm not sure I'll pursue this further. I missed the first attempt at the Knowledge exam and am not sure I want to dig in further to take it again.Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:49:02 GMTSteve Jones - SSC Editorhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspx[quote][b]Vedran Kesegic (2/4/2013)[/b][hr]Thanks, Uwe!Is there any additional hardware required except camera with microphone and broadband connection?[/quote]Hallo Vedran,send me your personal email address and I will sent you the pdf I've recieved from Microsoft about the prequisits. It's definitely to long to post here :)Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:56:18 GMTUwe Rickenhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxSteve,that's true. I made my first try in November 2012 and failed. I got the information about my results in january and wanted to retake asap. From Prometric I got the information that LAB cannot be booked over Prometric anymore. I had to contact Microsoft direct.You get more details from Microsoft direct by sending them an email to advcert@microsoft.comMon, 04 Feb 2013 08:55:26 GMTUwe Rickenhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspx[quote][b]Paul Brewer (2/3/2013)[/b][hr]Prometric are no longer involved in the lab exams, you have to sit them from home using a Lync client and remote proctoring. Thats a signiificant change (for the better exam experience wise, for the worse cost wise!)Worth mentioning here in case not everyone is aware.Best wishes[/quote]Are you sure that's true. I thought I heard from someone in Dec that took the lab in a Prometric location.Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:17:48 GMTSteve Jones - SSC Editorhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxThanks, Uwe!Is there any additional hardware required except camera with microphone and broadband connection?Mon, 04 Feb 2013 06:52:55 GMTVedran Kesegichttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxHallo Vedran,the charge for the LAB is 2.500,00 USD but i get a refund of 500 USD (see my previous post!)I do not know the charging amount for the Knowledgetest but I've paid 375.00 € = ~ 500 USD.Mon, 04 Feb 2013 06:44:38 GMTUwe Rickenhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxWhat is the total price of remote option (both exams total)?Mon, 04 Feb 2013 04:26:49 GMTVedran Kesegichttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxInteresting to know that all lab exams will now be remotely proctored.I had an unpleasant experience with Prometric in London early December, losing over 1.5 hours of metered exam time (plus the continuous interruptions from the technical faults & glitches). They assured me that the time lost would be added to the exam, but it wasn't - once the original 5.5 hours were up the exam stopped and I was left stranded with some unstarted or half-finished scenarios. Some I didn't even have time to read properly.When I questioned about the missing extension (which they had reassured me repeatedly that I would get) they simply said 'talk to Microsoft'.Very relieved to have the remote option!Mon, 04 Feb 2013 03:48:13 GMTSQLChargerhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxSimon,nice to read from you. Once again "congratulation" for passing the lab.Thank you for your statement. You are right - the team will get in contact with me at 13th of February at 7:30 pm.Sun, 03 Feb 2013 23:34:06 GMTUwe Rickenhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspx[quote][b]Uwe Ricken (2/3/2013)[/b]As far as I know Simon has done his LAB in Australia and got it.[/quote]Yep, I did my exam remotely and it was very smooth. I tested my bandwidth before the exam and it's about 400kbps. All typing and mouse clicks were as fast as I'm using my local laptop.The exam proctor will contact you few days before the exam for you to connect to the lab VM. Both yourself and the proctor will get a very good grasp on the connectivity, suitability of the location ie must be quiet, working web cam, etcI reckon having a stable broadband connectivity plays a major role in your exam experience. You can be anywhere in the world (or just home) to take the exam!Sun, 03 Feb 2013 16:45:29 GMTSimon-413722http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxConsidering how many times Seacom has developed faults off the Senegalese coast, sometimes I think they don't.Sun, 03 Feb 2013 12:53:49 GMTGilaMonsterhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxHow do they keep the sea monsters from eating the cables? :)Sun, 03 Feb 2013 12:38:39 GMTRobert Davishttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspx[quote][b]Robert Davis (2/3/2013)[/b][hr]Uwe, if I'm not mistaken, the latency problem for Gail that would prompt her to travel to Europe to do the lab exam is due to issues with the internet infrastructure in South Africa.[/quote]Local infrastructure partially, mostly the fact that there are only 2 undersea cables connecting the continent to Europe and the latency is far higher than most people in the 1st world are used to.Sun, 03 Feb 2013 12:23:02 GMTGilaMonsterhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxHi Robert,good to know :)We'll see - experiences will be posted at 21st :)As far as I know Simon has done his LAB in Australia and got it.Sun, 03 Feb 2013 12:17:06 GMTUwe Rickenhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxUwe, if I'm not mistaken, the latency problem for Gail that would prompt her to travel to Europe to do the lab exam is due to issues with the internet infrastructure in South Africa.Sun, 03 Feb 2013 12:09:49 GMTRobert Davishttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspx[quote][b]Uwe Ricken (2/3/2013)[/b][hr]Hi Gail,your words frighten me ;)I was so confident that problems will not occur when I have my own infrastructure (6 Mbit).[/quote]Well that's about 3 times the best that I could buy.The latency is what I had to deal with when I wrote mine. The additional load that the Lync video requires would overwhelm even what I have at home (there's a reason when I present remotely it's audio and slides only)Sun, 03 Feb 2013 11:55:43 GMTGilaMonsterhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxHi Gail,your words frighten me ;)I was so confident that problems will not occur when I have my own infrastructure (6 Mbit).But when I read your lines i get really doubtful!I hope all problems will be fixed when I start my LAB at 20th of February.I get fingers crossed - the first try was a technical desasterThe second shot failed with 55%...I think Microsoft has enough MCM's :)Thank you for sharing your doubts - I really appreciate it.I will post my experiences directly at 21st of February after the Lab.Sun, 03 Feb 2013 11:38:21 GMTUwe Rickenhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxIt's only temporary until they roll out the new exam. One of the reasons the new exams have been delayed so much is they are moving them to a new platform that should be more reliable and more stable. Prometric is not able to continue hosting the current lab exam on the current platform and make the necessary conversions to support the new platform at the same time.Sun, 03 Feb 2013 10:42:46 GMTRobert Davishttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspx[quote][b]Uwe Ricken (2/3/2013)[/b][hr]I do not understand your resentment. You can do the LAB from whatever location you want.Why do you have to travel to Europe :)[/quote]Bandwidth. Latency.Imagine writing the lab exam you did, just add half a second latency to each and every single thing that you do. If we add in the Lync client, imagine the video cutting in and out and the VM freezing intermittently. Want to write the lab like that?Sun, 03 Feb 2013 08:51:55 GMTGilaMonsterhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxHallo Gail,I do not understand your resentment. You can do the LAB from whatever location you want.Why do you have to travel to Europe :)The lab will be organized (start / end) by pacific time zone.For me - located in Germany - it is o.k. so the lab test will start at 5:30 pm and will take 5:30 hrs.Sun, 03 Feb 2013 08:23:13 GMTUwe Rickenhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxWonderful, so not only do I have to fly to Europe when/if I need to write another lab, I need to take a laptop that can handle the Lync client and is easy to work on for hours at a time, and I potentially have to pay for internet access. :-(Sun, 03 Feb 2013 07:36:22 GMTGilaMonsterhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspx[quote][b]Paul Brewer (2/3/2013)[/b]Thats a signiificant change (for the better exam experience wise, for the worse cost wise!)[/quote]Hi Paul,that's correct in partial! You are right, Prometric will never do the lab tests and you have to do it with your own equipment at home. The costs are "moderate".I have to retake it because I failed with 55% at my first try! :crying:I will retake it at 20th of February at home.Microsoft has charged 1.950,00 US$ but a few days ago i got the following mail from Microsoft:[QUOTE]Hello Uwe,We will be issuing a refund for your recent purchase in the amount of $500. The refund is being issued as a result of lower pricing due to the recent move of exams from Prometric to Microsoft. Please allow 1 to 2 billing cycles for the credit to appear on your statement. Please let us know if you have any questions/concerns.[/QUOTE]From my point of view the "doing the exam at home" has GREAT benefits for freelancers and consultants (especially in Europe):- the exam starts at 5:30 pm (i can work for 8 hrs for the customers and don't loose money!)- the exam ends at 11:30 pm (so I can sleep for another 6 hrs before I start working)- the "real" costs are.1.450,00 US$ for the lab which is much less expensive as the lab test with prometric (I had payed 1.450,00 €!). I got all my money back from Prometric because of the technical desasters while the tests took place.- Maybe it's like a "feel good situation" to do the lab at home where - just my opinion - you don't feel stressed because you know your hardware, coffee is available, some fruits and you don't have to have a break.For me the real benefit is that the 1.950,00 US$ seems to be much cheaper than 1.450,00 € because of no missing income AND no travel costs and hotel costs!I hope that now at 20th of February I will pass. I like challenges but now it's my second try and now I really WANT to pass :). I did my recertification for MCSA and MCSE for training and hope that my knowledge is deep enough to pass the MCM Lab test; I believe it is. I do my "personal" training by writting my blog and answering as much as possible in the msdn-forums - this gave me a real boost because I have to take a much deeper dive into the problem than before - seems to be a good recommendation for "learning".Best to all candidates which are in the same situation as me. As soon as - and IF - i've passed I will share my experiences here with all others (as I did up to 88-970).Sun, 03 Feb 2013 07:25:57 GMTUwe Rickenhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxPrometric are no longer involved in the lab exams, you have to sit them from home using a Lync client and remote proctoring. Thats a signiificant change (for the better exam experience wise, for the worse cost wise!)Worth mentioning here in case not everyone is aware.Best wishesSun, 03 Feb 2013 03:58:45 GMTPaul Brewerhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxJeff,Maybe you're right - purely memorising stuff from prep books can give an artificially-high score that won't translate to hands-on abilities.At least the Knowledge exam is less prone to such a book-bias. If you haven't had real-life experience you are unlikely to pass (still theoretically possible though, since it is multiple-choice).Sun, 03 Feb 2013 03:22:38 GMTSQLChargerhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspx[quote][b]Vedran Kesegic (12/15/2012)[/b][hr][quote][b]SQLCharger (12/14/2012)[/b][hr]I've interviewed people with high scores in MCTS/MCITP exams and was unimpressed with their actual knowledge (I hope we understand what the real issue is) ;-)[/quote]Only two reasons come to my mind: you are a "hard to impress" person (perfectionist) or they cheated on exams :)Maybe you are expecting MCM's knowledge from non-MCMs, comparing everybody to yourself ?It's like you have a person with Ph.D. which doesn't have a clue about his/hers thesis - it can happen, but very unlikely (if we rule-out the cheating).I believe there is a statistical correlation between scores/certificates and the knowledge (doesn't mean that uncertified people don't have a knowledge, it's just probability stuff). Otherwise certificate would not have real purpose or value, and Microsoft could turn off the certificate programs with peace. As in every statistics, there are cases dissipating from the main curve of expectancy.(Un)fortunately I had to learn for my certificates and scores, spent many hours, months and years reading various articles and documentation, had over a decade (11 years precisely) of experience in "real life", teaching others, and then finally decided to certificate that knowledge. Not very easy path, but I'm naturally very curious, like to learn, learn deep and in detail (hence my addin is called sqlx[b]details[/b].com) and I would not do that if it is not joy for me. The real value for me is knowledge, not a certificate. I see certificates as a mean to give myself a new learning goal and to test my knowledge. Now the goal is very very high - MCM.Takes a lot of courage just to try. :)[/quote]I've run into the same problem MANY times. I'll add a 3rd possible reason... unlike you, they don't have any real experience (even if they have time on the job)... they only know what they've been taught by the course material to pass the exam.That's the real problem with some (NOT all) folks that have certs. Even the MS Press Books say that you should have experience before you take a cert exam. It IS possible, however, to pass the exams with only the "experience" that book has to offer and is one of the reasons why I generally cover up any alphabet soup after a person's name whether it be for MS certs or degrees. I'll find out what I want to know about someone during an interview (or casual conversation) or two. Heh... like I found out the Phd in Mathematics that my boss hired as a Technical Lead didn't know how to solve for "X" in the simple conversion 14[sub]16[/sub] = X[sub]10[/sub] without having to work it out on paper.Sat, 02 Feb 2013 23:39:07 GMTJeff Modenhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxPaul was first to inform me the links below embedded video work. I was so used to watch embedded videos that I overlooked the links below which work. The problem is just with embedded video. Thanks!Sat, 02 Feb 2013 02:54:58 GMTVedran Kesegichttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxThe embedded one doesn't work for me either, but downloading the WMV from the download link below does. Did you try downloading it?Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:43:47 GMTRobert Davishttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxIt seems that Bob Beauchemin's MCM video on authentication and authorization is corrupted:http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/gg429823.aspxI can't watch it in any browser or player. It plays for one minute, stalls, then stops/crashes. The same happens if I play the video from the middle or any other position.It didn't happen on any other MCM video I watched.Does anyone have a version that can be watched?I would really appreciate it.Fri, 01 Feb 2013 17:53:51 GMTVedran Kesegichttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspx[quote][b]Vedran Kesegic (12/15/2012)[/b][hr]...or they cheated on exams :)..[/quote]..exactly;-)If you really did fly past both MCITPs (dev and admin) then you may be ready to give the Knowledge Exam a try.:cool:Sun, 16 Dec 2012 00:54:36 GMTSQLChargerhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspx[quote][b]SQLCharger (12/14/2012)[/b][hr]I've interviewed people with high scores in MCTS/MCITP exams and was unimpressed with their actual knowledge (I hope we understand what the real issue is) ;-)[/quote]Only two reasons come to my mind: you are a "hard to impress" person (perfectionist) or they cheated on exams :)Maybe you are expecting MCM's knowledge from non-MCMs, comparing everybody to yourself ?It's like you have a person with Ph.D. which doesn't have a clue about his/hers thesis - it can happen, but very unlikely (if we rule-out the cheating).I believe there is a statistical correlation between scores/certificates and the knowledge (doesn't mean that uncertified people don't have a knowledge, it's just probability stuff). Otherwise certificate would not have real purpose or value, and Microsoft could turn off the certificate programs with peace. As in every statistics, there are cases dissipating from the main curve of expectancy.(Un)fortunately I had to learn for my certificates and scores, spent many hours, months and years reading various articles and documentation, had over a decade (11 years precisely) of experience in "real life", teaching others, and then finally decided to certificate that knowledge. Not very easy path, but I'm naturally very curious, like to learn, learn deep and in detail (hence my addin is called sqlx[b]details[/b].com) and I would not do that if it is not joy for me. The real value for me is knowledge, not a certificate. I see certificates as a mean to give myself a new learning goal and to test my knowledge. Now the goal is very very high - MCM.Takes a lot of courage just to try. :)Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:09:49 GMTVedran Kesegichttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxI've interviewed people with high scores in MCTS/MCITP exams and was unimpressed with their actual knowledge (I hope we understand what the real issue is) ;-)PASS videos you can probably find from as far back as 2006 - do not dismiss the old ones, many are still very relevant and well-made.The other day I came across 'advanced recovery' by Bob Ward (PASS 2006). it is a blast:cool: (hex-editor + dumpfiles). They don't make them like this anymore:hehe:SQLBits you can find videos right from the start - some are very good indeed.Also try downloading TechEd videos, there are loads of them for SQL/BI.Not free - PluralSight hosts several tutorials from the SQLSkills team - all very well made indeed.I was lucky enough to see them in the flesh back in May in London - if you could afford to attend IE1 and/or IE2 this year I would recommend it unreservedly. MCM-level.:-)Fri, 14 Dec 2012 06:13:33 GMTSQLChargerhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1120822-10-1.aspxI must admit, JohnA, You scared me a little :w00t:My average score in exams that led me to MCITP DBA 2008 and MCITP Developer for SQL 2008 was 941 (i had maximum score of 1000 on one, and very high scores on the others). All passed from the first attempt. Also I do teach colleagues once every month and it really is helpful to learn something better, forces me to clarify things in my mind. Learning is a real joy for me, especially when I can apply that knowledge (and I can - in my daily work).6 months I reserved for just the knowledge exam, and I don't expect to pass it from the first attempt. Maybe second or third if I'll have the money. I also have a vary small child, so learning time can start at approx midnight and sleeping suffers.Thank you for the materials.Unfortunately, I was not attending PASS 2011, so I can't download them for free - maybe you can help?Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:41:57 GMTVedran Kesegic