One of the major reasons I love the IT world is that its always changing, and changing relatively quickly. That means there is always something to learn.

I love learning. Anyone in IT seems to have this same love, since solving problems is learning in its purest form. then there is the learning for Certifications, which are supposed to show our IT chops. Microsoft recently released the new MCSA Server 2012 exams, and in short order Michael Bender (MVP) has issued the 90 Days to MCSA challenge. So I have decided to throw my hat into this challenge and see if I can pull this off.

There is a sign up area for this, which allows you to then participate in a community area (as compared to just read) so that everyone can help each other along the way. They give a wiki for each exam with not only what Microsoft Press books are recommended for each exam (some of the books are not even available yet), but also links to Technet articles that will help you study. The Technet links are broken down by exam objectives, making it easier to know what you are learning, and how it relates to everything.

The first exam is the 410 which is installing and configuring Server 2012. The nice thing is that there are books for this exam already. I am using the Microsoft Press book “Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 Training Guide” instead of the Exam Prep, mostly because the Training guide seems to go more in depth. Of course one of the things recommended is to have a lab to get hands on experience, and for the first time I have a machine I can do that with. For those that can’t, there are ways with the Virtual Academy from Microsoft to get hands on experience now also. For me though, I looked at the system requirements and found that my 5 year old machine I just decommissioned, which is an Athalon 4200 x64 dual core with 4GB ram, is powerful enough to run Server 2012. The fact that Server 2012 has low machine requirements is a definite plus for a lab setting. I still wouldn’t use the machine for production purposes.

Over the course of this challenge I will blog some progress reports, and interesting tidbits that I learn along the way, so stay tuned my friends!