The Exam 70-291 is identified as the Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure exam. The main features of the exam are focused on different techniques used to implement, manage and maintain different factors utilized in Microsoft Windows Server 2003. These major categories included in the exam include IP addressing, network security, name resolution, network infrastructures and routing and remote access.

Who Should Take the Exam 70-291

The exam aims to determine the knowledge and skills of a candidate in networking using Windows Server 2003. The test is offered for people that do not have any higher-level certification from Microsoft. If a candidate has a networking certification greater than the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) status, taking the Exam 70-291 is not necessary.

An examinee that is a certified Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) may also skip taking the exam by just taking the correlated exam which is the Exam 70 292. The same goes with those people who already have Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification.

For those who do not have any Microsoft certifications, the candidate should have experience in handling complex computing procedures from medium to large companies. Six to twelve months of work experience in administering network and local operating systems is also needed to become eligible to take the Exam 70-291.

Skills Evaluated by the Exam 70-291

As mentioned earlier, the topics covered by the exam are all about techniques used in Microsoft Windows Server 2003. The IP addressing section of the test involves configuration of TCP/IP addresses on a server. This part of the exam also covers managing and troubleshooting of DHCP.

In the name resolution section of the Exam 70-291, the skills in installation, configuration and management of DNS Server Service is being measured. The exam also covers topics about network security. This portion of the test determines the abilities of the candidate to implement network administration processes. This also covers installation and configuration of software updates and monitoring network protocol security. Troubleshooting network security is also included in the exam.

Configuration of routing and remote access procedures are also tackled in the exam. The Exam 70-291 aims to know the examinee’s knowledge in different areas of Windows Server 2003 such as managing TCP/IP routing and implementing a secured private network. Skills about maintenance of the network are also necessary.

Credits toward Certification

Passing the Exam 70-291 would earn you the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) status. It also allows you to gain credits toward several certifications such as Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) on Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) on Microsoft SQL Server 2000.