Reddit reviews MCSA Windows Server 2016 Complete Study Guide: Exam 70-740, Exam 70-741, Exam 70-742 and Composite Upgrade Exam 70-743

> I have my A+ cert
>
>they recommended a segmented network. and I had to google what that even was.
>
>I am the "IT Guy" The previous "IT Guy" got me this job

You need to start reading cbks right now in all your free time. Even if you don't take the cert exams for the cbks below, it is knowledge you need to know asap.

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I suggest these (in order):

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https://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Network-Certification-Seventh-N10-007/dp/1260122387/ref=sr_1_3

https://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Server-Certification-Guide-SK0-004/dp/125983803X/ref=sr_1_1

https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-Complete-Study-Guide/dp/111885991X/ref=sr_1_4

https://www.amazon.com/Windows-PowerShell-Cookbook-Scripting-Microsofts/dp/1449320686/ref=pd_sbs_14_5/143-0552349-3403540

https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-Complete-Study-Guide/dp/1119359147/ref=sr_1_3

https://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Security-Guide-Fifth-SY0-501/dp/1260019322/ref=sr_1_4

I would check out PluralSight and maybe Linked Learning which used to be Lynda.com.

The other best way to learn is to setup a Windows server, or a couple of them.

Get the study guides https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-Complete-Study-Guide/dp/1119359147/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2/145-7316884-9625834?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1119359147&pd_rd_r=3ebe9773-3160-11e9-acf9-71fc83dc301e&pd_rd_w=XFi6u&pd_rd_wg=XP1ZR&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=Y28TXVP9K6BTA30AM6PW&psc=1&refRID=Y28TXVP9K6BTA30AM6PW

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And follow their hands-on labs. You will need a computer / computers for the learning portion.

Videos - CBT Nuggets. Expensive but I bet being an IT guy you know where you can get a "free" discount ;x

Books - https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-Complete-Study-Guide/dp/1119359147/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1504744564&sr=8-5&keywords=70-742

Labs - I bought 3 dell r210s off ebay used. Around $100 each. I bought 3 and installed ESXi on them. They don't need much storage... just enough to get a basic OS installed x3 (about 90 GB) and toy with services. The multiple servers let me setup more VMs, multiple domains, trusts, failovers etc.

I read through all that, watched all that, and read exam objectives. If I couldn't explain something on the objectives to a brand new sys admin, fresh off the help desk, I revisited that objective. I re-read that part of the book, rewatched the video, read technet documentation, and played with it in the labs. I also used the labs to mess with troubleshooting scenarios.

At work - I literally implemented things like failover. I switched servers to core. I only used powershell to do tasks to learn it. I used ADAM to do things in GUI and reviewed the powershell output it shows to understand the commands. All and all, I had a great admin background and worked, at minimum, 2 hours a night after work on the cert. On weekends I did more.

Thanks for the input! What test prep book/s did you use? I'm thinking about getting this one https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-Complete-Study-Guide/dp/1119359147

MCSA Windows Server 2016 Exam Ref 3-Pack: Exams 70-740, 70-741, and 70-742 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1509303669/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_hJgRBb7HXWZ0Z

MCSA Windows Server 2016 Complete Study Guide: Exam 70-740, Exam 70-741, Exam 70-742 and Composite Upgrade Exam 70-743 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1119359147/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_aKgRBb0R68GA0

I have looked at this book https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-Complete-Study-Guide/dp/1119359147/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1539691560&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=windows+server+2016+book&dpPl=1&dpID=51dNuDKz2UL&ref=plSrch.

As far preference for the study material I can do both book and online videos. The combination of both helped me a lot on my previous cert

I do not have a home lab or hands on the software. I am also looking to get that because I know that it would be beneficial for me while preparing for the certification.