Slave to 70-450!!

  • Hi all, I'm in need of some advice from some learned peeps regarding study material etc for my 70-450 exam.

    I've unfortunately just failed the exam this morning (score of 457!! :crying:).

    So, I've been a DBA since Jan 2012 using SQL Server 2008 R2 looking after 5 servers each with an instance of SQL Server supporting up to 15 databases collectively (nothing over 2GB). I've been on the MS course applicable for the 70-450 exam (M50400) and also studied for it using the MS suggested MeasureUp online course tests.

    Without breaking the terms of the NDA I can safely say the exam was soooo much more in depth than the MeasureUp questions and included topics that weren't covered in the M50400 course which took me quite by surprise!

    I passed my 70-432 exam with a score of 900 back in November and really want/need to pass my 70-450 by the end of March this year....am I being too ambitious or could someone suggest alternative methods of study?

    I've been toying with setting up virtual machines to implement security settings, replication/mirroring/failover clustering etc to give me more of a practical angle of study (I also have access to a physical test server that I can play with), what do people reckon, what would you do?? :unsure:


    MCITP
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  • Unfortunately I'm in the same boat, going to go back and do 70-450 in a couple of weeks if I can find the funds, failed it twice now with a score of 624 each time.

    I've been using the MOAC books along with SQL Server 2008 Administration - Real World Skills For MCITP Certification And Beyond and Transcenders but still no luck.

    If you have been using other media please let me know and I will most certainly have a look.

  • I really do sympathise with you Anthony as I know how gutted I was when I didn't pass (@DBAReactions on Twitter had a great post that expressed it quite well for me actually - http://goo.gl/pxX1c) 🙂

    I since re-booked my exam for the 15th of this month to give me a deadline to work towards and have been pouring over my course material from the course I did with QA Training in Bristol back in March 2012 (Designing, Optimizing, and Maintaining a Database Administrative Solution - course number 50400A) as the majority of the questions are based on that material - have you been on that course as it's recommended by Microsoft (then again so was the measureup practice tests!!!)?

    I've also been playing with my testing servers setting up log shipping/replication/mirroring etc to give me the practical experience rather than just replying on the theoretical side of things (we only use transactional replication where I work and that's only so we have a standby copy of the DB which has been in place since the crossbow was a secret weapon - really should be changed to log shipping IMHO as that would better suit the situation!). I've also been sitting in on webinars from Brent Ozar and his 'team' which have been quite informative.

    I'm on my last week of study to get me ready for the 15th so I'll let you know if using the material has paid off or not....... 🙂


    MCITP
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  • Nope not done 50400A, but did do 6231A and 6232A, which where when 2008 got released which covered the DBA and DD exam routes at the time.

    I do have a few friends in QA who became colleagues so they are going to see if 50400A is relevant to what they know I know as they still have a valid teaching certification for MS courses so still have access to the course material.

    I'm going to re-book mine for the end of the month, thinking the 29th, but need to get confirmation to have the morning off yet.

  • I'm doing 70-462 next week and I'm not even a DBA. Trouble is you now need all three to get a qualification. Have set up local environments to practice on so hoping I can cover most of what is likely to come up.

  • Richard Warr (3/11/2013)


    I'm doing 70-462 next week and I'm not even a DBA. Trouble is you now need all three to get a qualification.

    That's one of the reasons I'm concentrating on SQL 2008 rather than 2012, that and the fact that all our DB servers run 2008 R2 and we've got no need to upgrade to 2012 yet (which I suspect is the case with a lot of companies - if it ain't broke!!!). 🙂

    After I've done the MCITP (and I will pass this time!!!), I'm scheduled to do 70-448 by the end of the year which will give me the MCSA certification - fingers crossed!!

    Good luck with your exam though, out of interest, what do you do that would require you to do 70-462?


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  • anthony.green (3/11/2013)


    Nope not done 50400A, but did do 6231A and 6232A, which where when 2008 got released which covered the DBA and DD exam routes at the time.

    I do have a few friends in QA who became colleagues so they are going to see if 50400A is relevant to what they know I know as they still have a valid teaching certification for MS courses so still have access to the course material.

    I'm going to re-book mine for the end of the month, thinking the 29th, but need to get confirmation to have the morning off yet.

    6231A & 6232A got me through 70-432 first time and really set me on my SQL Server love affair!! :kiss:

    Good call re 50400A though (networking, networking, networking!!), if you do need specific material from the 50400A course manual and you can't get it from your colleagues let me know as I've got it all scanned.

    Fingers crossed you can get the morning off for the exam, are you still paying for it yourself or are your company helping with the costs?


    MCITP
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    Twitter: WWDMark

    Try not! Do or do not, there is no try

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  • WWDMark (3/11/2013)


    Good luck with your exam though, out of interest, what do you do that would require you to do 70-462?

    Thank you. To be honest, not a lot in this job as we have a full-time DBA. I do need to do 461/2 and 3 to get the MCSA qualification though. I'm a developer specialising in T-SQL but also do a bit of SSRS and SSIS.

    The admin side is pretty interesting though - there's an awful lot to it!

  • WWDMark (3/11/2013)


    anthony.green (3/11/2013)


    Nope not done 50400A, but did do 6231A and 6232A, which where when 2008 got released which covered the DBA and DD exam routes at the time.

    I do have a few friends in QA who became colleagues so they are going to see if 50400A is relevant to what they know I know as they still have a valid teaching certification for MS courses so still have access to the course material.

    I'm going to re-book mine for the end of the month, thinking the 29th, but need to get confirmation to have the morning off yet.

    6231A & 6232A got me through 70-432 first time and really set me on my SQL Server love affair!! :kiss:

    Good call re 50400A though (networking, networking, networking!!), if you do need specific material from the 50400A course manual and you can't get it from your colleagues let me know as I've got it all scanned.

    Fingers crossed you can get the morning off for the exam, are you still paying for it yourself or are your company helping with the costs?

    If you could send me the material for 50400A that would be great, unsure my contacts can send it without getting into trouble with MS, so would be good to have it to read.

    I have to pay for it myself, and if I pass they give me the fee back which isn't to bad, just must remember to use my second shot voucher just in-case the worst happens.

  • anthony.green (3/11/2013)


    If you could send me the material for 50400A that would be great, unsure my contacts can send it without getting into trouble with MS, so would be good to have it to read.

    No worries, were there specific subjects you needed as the original material covered 3 ring binders!!!?


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  • Richard Warr (3/11/2013)


    The admin side is pretty interesting though - there's an awful lot to it!

    I must admit, since I started with SQL Server (back in Jan 2012) I've definitely found a soft spot for being a DBA but going down the developer route at some point may also be on the cards as my background is primarily web design. I think I'll see how things go for me in the DBA world though as I'm quite enjoying studying for these exams at the moment (masochist much???). 😀


    MCITP
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  • The main topics I keep getting low marks on the transcript are

    Designing a SQL Server Instance and Database Solution

    Designing a monitoring strategy

    Then things on

    High availability

    Backups and Recovery

    Would also be beneficial.

  • No worries, if you IM me with your email address I'll get some bits sent over to you. Hopefully they'll help.


    MCITP
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    Twitter: WWDMark

    Try not! Do or do not, there is no try

    email: info@weekendwebdesign.co.uk
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  • Not to be a downer... but the material for those courses is copyrighted, just like training kit books and other publications.

    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 think I can get an understanding of the bits covered from the QA website

    http://qa.com/training-courses/technical-it-training/microsoft/microsoft-sql-server/microsoft-sql-server-2008-and-r2/designing,-optimizing,-and-maintaining-a-database-administrative-solution-for-microsoft-sql-server-2008/

    Couldn't find 50400 on the MS learning website any more, guess its due to the exams being retired soon so the course is obsolete.

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