MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-431): Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Implementation and Maintenance (Pro-Certification)
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Product Description
Announcing an all-new MCTS Training Kit designed to help maximize your performance on Exam 70-431, a core exam for the new Microsoft IT Professional certifications. This kit packs the tools and features that exam candidates want most—including in-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content; rigorous, objective-by-objective review; exam tips from expert, exam-certified authors; and a robust testing suite. It also provides real-world scenarios, case study examples, and troubleshooting labs for skills and expertise that you can apply to the job.Focusing on SQL Server 2005, this official study guide covers topics such as installing and configuring SQL Server, implementing database mirroring, managing database snapshots, working with XML and flat files, managing replication, backing up and restoring a database, monitoring and troubleshooting, and creating and implementing database objects.
Ace your exam preparation and ramp up quickly on SQL Server 2005 database administration by working at your own pace through the lessons, hands-on exercises, and practice tests. The flexible, best-of-class test engine on CD features 300 practice questions and pre-assessment and post-assessment capabilities. Choose timed or untimed testing mode, generate random tests, or focus on discrete objectives or chapters, and get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers—including pointers back to the book for further study. You also get a 180-day evaluation version of SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition and a 15 percent exam discount voucher—making this kit an exceptional value and a great career investment.
Customer Reviews
As Advertised
K. MorganThis is exactly what you need to study for this test. As it is published by Microsoft, it give you the ability to "think" like Microsoft which is what is needed when taking the test for the MCTS certification in SQL. The test on the CD gives you a chance to find out how much you know and also prepares you for the demanding cert exam.
Good book, but ditch the practice exam
Glubert HeiligschleppenThis thick, hefty book is very thorough and covers MOST of the bases you'll need for the 70-431 exam. There are still some useful details from the SQL Books Online (SQL Server's "help" files) that you should know, but this book gives a good starting point. Reading through each chapter thoroughly and doing every practice lesson will put you well on the road for success at the exam.
Where this book fails completely is the practice test that comes on CD with the book. The questions were very poorly written (sometimes missing vital information required to even discern what area of SQL server the question is supposed to be addressing) and were very dissimilar to the questions on the actual exam.
If you're looking for useful practice for the exam, use another book (like ExamCram) or buy a worthwhile practice test. Or, just take the test itself as practice - it's almost the same price as some of the practice exams on the web. But don't rely on the practice exam in this book - it's a terrible gauge of what the real deal is like.
Extra Content
Citizen PainI passed the 70-431 Exam using this book and a few others. I really like Murach's stuff better though.
Philip
www.SQLDataBasics.com
not a good book to use for a job
J. WannerI had to use this book for a class. It has many mistakes and the quizzes at the end of the chapters ask questions that weren't even covered. Everyone in my class including the instructor agreed that this was not a good book. It either barely discusses or doesn't even cover things that the quizzes ask you about. I am going to find another book to study from before I even think about taking the test. The labs were terrible also, some of them couldn't even be completed as set up by the book. I wouldn't even waste my money on this.
Useful for experienced SQL Server users
Conrad SeelyeI'm about 1/3 of the way through this book. As a moderately experienced SQL Server developer, I find the book useful as an exam prep beause it briefly reviews and previews the information, although it relies on the reader already being somewhat familiar with the subject.
For example, the text explanations and code snippets are good, but there are very few screenshots or other figures.
Don't get this book if you don't already have some experience with SQL Server.
Do get this book as a review or summary of what you'll presumably need to know for the exam.
Conrad