Reddit reviews Mastering Windows Server 2012 R2

I'd stick with Server 2012 given the amount of materials out there and the fact that companies take awhile to jump to the next server OS. Get your MCSA 2012, then when good materials hit down the road just take the upgrade exams to be MCSA/MCSE 2016.


As for training, I'd check out video training at: CBTnuggets and PluralSight.

For books I'd go with: Mastering Server 2012 R2: https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Windows-Server-2012-R2/dp/1118289420/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479126961&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=masterinng+server+2012

and MCSA complete study guide: https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-Complete-Study-Guide/dp/111885991X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479126991&sr=8-1&keywords=MCSA+2012

I found the book "Mastering Windows Server 2012 R2" really helpful for my MCSA: https://amzn.com/1118289420

It definitely shouldn't be the only book you read, but it goes over a lot of the new features in 2012/2012R2 that you'll need to be familiar with. Especially useful if you're coming from only 08 or 08R2.

I think this will be my plan of action

• Use PluralSight videos
  
• Use this book for everything Server 2012 R2
  
• Then use this to navigate the correct info from the book above
  

I have this book and it is very comprehensive.

https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Windows-Server-2012-R2/dp/1118289420

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1118289420/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1482264076&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=windows+server+2012+r2&dpPl=1&dpID=51na%2B3vL4cL&ref=plSrch

Get that, Microsoft's available virtual labs, and setup a virtual environment to lab changes in. Experience will end up being a great teacher.

Figure out what you want to standardize your documentation platform on, and implement that. Writing clear documentation will go a long way. There are Wordpress templates available, or cloud hosted documentation platforms. Just be aware you'll want something that can scale right from the start and is easy for everyone to use ( which means not Excel, Word, or OneNote).

Maybe if you're Michael Kevin Kearney you could.

I'm currently taking an MCSA course at college and it's abysmal. They're using Testout.com to teach and grade the class. Testout is garbage and there's no context to what I'm reading.

I bought an excellent book to supplement my studies: Mastering Windows Server 2012. I'm also using CBT Nuggets, Udemy, and Microsofts training website.

It's pretty deep stuff. I've never had exposure to servers before.

You're mileage may vary.

These are going to be your best goddamn friends for the next few months:

https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/
/r/sysadmin
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0470249846/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1118289420/
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hh215959.aspx

I recently took (and failed) 70-417, the upgrade exam which combines 70-410, 70-411, and 70-412. I studied all three courses as prep for 70-417 as although it only covers a subset of each course you can be examined on any area.

By far the best book I've come across for 2012 is Mastering Windows Server 2012 R2 by Minasi et al. It's not geared specifically towards the exams, you'll need to pick out the objectives. It's eminently readable but at 1670 pages will take a while to get through.

Assuming the Exam Ref books for the individual courses are similar to the 70-417 Exam Ref book, as an overview of the objectives they'll be fine but they don't go deep enough.

If you're after videos, I wasn't that impressed with 70-410 or 70-411 content on PluralSight but there are now two 70-412 courses: a retired course by Mike Hammond and a new course updated for the R2 content by Greg Shields and I thought both were excellent.

Windows Server 2012 Unleashed was good the 2016 version should be out soonish: https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-2012-Unleashed-Morimoto/dp/0672336227

Mastering Windows Server 2012r2 is good, make sure you check for corrections because there are some scripting issues in the original printing: https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Windows-Server-2012-R2/dp/1118289420/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1479226853&sr=8-2&keywords=server+2012r2

Windows Server 2012 R2 Administrator Cookbook is good, but not really a beginners book: https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-2012-Administrator-Cookbook/dp/178439307X/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1479226852&sr=8-12&keywords=windows+server

Give this a shot...

http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Windows-Server-2012-R2/dp/1118289420

I bought this book and I enjoy it so far. It goes into way more detail than the cert books though: http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Windows-Server-2012-R2/dp/1118289420/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397944616&sr=8-1&keywords=mastering+windows+server+2012+r2