True Life Tale: Telepathic Updates
User believe mind readers are hired at the help desk.
June 1, 2004
I had a user call up to query why his Symantec AV wasn't updating with
the latest virus definition files. I explained he either had to use the LiveUpdate
option or the scheduled updates to schedule Symantec to download
the updates at a given time automatically.
The user said that he had set all the PCs to update via a scheduled update
at 6 p.m. each evening.
I said, "I assume you just lock your PCs each night," to which he replied,
"Oh, no, we turn them all off, old boy, to save power."
I nearly fell off my chair laughing and spent the next 10 minutes explaining
that the PCs must be turned on to physically download the updates.
[The preceding "True Life Tale" was submitted by Roy Partington, of Swindon,
England, as part of a Help Desk Support contest we ran in January/February.
For his effort, Roy received a copy of The Ultimate Windows Server 2003 System
Administrator's Guide, by Robert Williams and Mark Walla, courtesy
of Addison-Wesley. To submit a "True Life Tale," send you 500-words-or-less
story on any IT topic to [email protected]. Published tales will win
a book from our burgeoning tech library.]

Microsoft MCP Private Web Site Newly Designed
Revamped secure area of Web site contains updated benefits.
by Michael Domingo
May 20, 2004
The Microsoft Learning group has recently updated the secure area of the
MCP Web site with a new design. The site extols new benefits, including
a certification planner, a transcript sharing tool and job search engine.
The certification planner gives a 20,000-foot view of exams taken and how
those exams fit into the myriad certification paths in a hierarchical view.
The planner gives a clear view of the exams that are needed to fulfill
a chosen path.
The transcript sharing tool also allows MCPs to provide colleagues,
potential employers or hiring agents with a secure access code with which
they can view an MCP's transcript online.
Microsoft Learning has also partnered with CareerBuilder.com to provide
the job search engine tailored to IT positions.
Microsoft Learning also provides more certification newsgroups that can
be privately accessed only by MCPs via the secure Web site.
For a complete list of benefits, go to http://www.microsoft.com/learning/
mcp/mcp/benefits.asp.
MCPmag.com Editor Michael Domingo has been tracking IT and software
development trends since 1989 and, since 1997, witness to Microsoft's
dominance in certification and training. Michael hosts MCP Radio and is
a moderator of MCPmag's live chats and discussion forums. You can
contact Michael about Microsoft MCP Private Web Site Newly Designed
at [email protected].

Linux Hits Microsoft Desktop
Conference news speaks of competing forces.
by Jeremy Moskowitz
March 1, 2004
As I stepped into the exhibit hall of the LinuxWorld 2004 conference in late
January, I wondered if someone might recognize me and throw an egg or two.
But that didn’t happen. Indeed, at the center of the exhibit hall was one of the
larger pavilions, by a well-known Gold Sponsor. This company isn’t famous
for its Linux software, yet it was up for one of the major product awards being
presented. Yup, you guessed it?Microsoft. The software Microsoft was
nominated for was Services For Unix 3.5, and it was given away for free in
every attendee’s conference bag.
Other Microsoft-related newsworthy products were also present. At the
Microsoft pavilion, several additional Microsoft partners touted integration
products, including a multiplatform virus vendor, authentication services and
programming tools.
However, the sleeper of the show was a company many have forgotten about:
Novell. Indeed, Novell’s acquisition of two major Linux players was the talk of
the event. Novell is clearly planning a one-two-three punch combination to
strike back at Microsoft.
1. The server. Novell’s taking on Microsoft head-on with its low-priced SuSE
Linux distribution, featuring paid support.
2. Directory services. Look for the Linux-compatible eDirectory to compete
with Active Directory.
3. The desktop. With its free Ximian Desktop 2 software, Novell is aiming its
desktop product right between Redmond’s eyes.
Specifically, this free Ximian package comes with a nicely pre-configured
OpenOffice (files are compatible with Microsoft’s Office), as well as the Ximian
Evolution, an almost picture-perfect Outlook clone. There’s also a paid version
of Evolution, which increases the number of supported fonts, has a slew of
browser plug-ins, and includes paid support. Additionally, with another for-sale
product, the Ximian Connector for Microsoft Exchange, you can connect Ximian
Evolution directly to Exchange via native MAPI.
Is the Linux desktop coming of age? With OpenOffice and the Ximian tools, it’s
getting closer. It’s still not quite there yet, but Novell is certainly poised to be one
to watch in the battle against the Windows behemoth.
Jeremy Moskowitz, MCSE, MCSA, founder of Moskowitz, Inc. (www.Moskowitz-inc.
com), is an independent consultant and trainer for Windows technologies. He runs
www.GPOanswers.com (www.GPOanswers.com), a community forum to answer
tough Group Policy questions. His latest book is Group Policy, Profiles, and
IntelliMirror for Windows 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 (Sybex). Jeremy
frequently contributes to both Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine and
speaks at MCP TechMentor. You can contact Jeremy about Linux Hits Microsoft
Desktop at [email protected].

Desktop Apps Exam Now Live
Exam for testing help desk support skills now available; MCDST also now
officially live.
by Michael Domingo
February 3, 2004
UPDATE: On Wednesday, February 4, Microsoft will make Exam 70-272,
Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Windows XP
Operating System, generally available. With the general availability of 70-272,
the MCDST credential is officially live. According to postings on Microsoft
newsgroups, beta testers began receiving beta exam 71-272 score reports
on February 3.
Exam 70-272 is one of two exams that candidates are required to pass in order
to obtain the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician on Windows XP
certification, the company's newest title. The other is Exam 70-271, Supporting
Users and Troubleshooting a Windows XP Operating System, which made its
debut on January 12. Both exams are aimed at corporate help desk and desktop
support personnel. (The rest is omitted)

Microsoft Crashes Anti-Spam Party
by Doug Barney
January 1, 2004
Microsoft’s recent broadside against spam kicked off at last November’s Comdex
show in Las Vegas, when Bill Gates announced the Exchange Intelligent Message
Filter (IMF), a new Bayesian-based technology that will be an option for Exchange
Server 2003?and only Exchange 2003?later this year. IMF is based on SmartScreen,
the base technology that has recently been added to Outlook 2003, MSN 8 and
Hotmail.
Bayesian analysis, used by an array of spam tools, “learns” to identify spam and
then adapts to new spam techniques. A Bayesian filter is initially taught what’s good
mail and what’s bad, and scores incoming messages based upon this learned
criteria. But Bayesian filters go beyond simple scoring and build lists of good and
bad mail attributes automatically, rather than manually. The filters look at the whole
message, not simply keywords. They can examine headers, words, word pairs and
phrases, and HTML code. Bayesian filters are initially trained by being exposed to
legions of spam and legitimate messages. In Microsoft’s case, SmartScreen can
look for some half-million spam characteristics. (The rest is omitted)

Microsoft Offers Bounties for Virus Outlaws
Stung by brutal virus attack after brutal virus attack on its core products,
Microsoft is fighting back with a $5 million reward fund for those that turn in
virus authors.
by Doug Barney
11/6/2003 Stung by brutal virus attack after brutal virus attack on its core
products, Microsoft is fighting back with a $5 million reward fund for those
that turn in virus authors.
Already half a million dollars is earmarked for the arrest of the authors of
the MSBlaster and Sobig viruses.
Microsoft first hinted of such a fund at last month's Microsoft Worldwide
Partner Conference in New Orleans. An audience member proposed the fund
to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who liked the idea, and suggested that it was
something Microsoft might very well be working on.
These viruses are a big black eye for Outlook, the world's most popular e-mail
client and a popular haven for viruses, as well as Microsoft applications and
operating systems targeted by a crafty and morally bankrupt array of virus
mongers who hide behind spoofed IP addresses and mail relays. These
criminals have been loathe to turn on their own, an attitude Microsoft plans
to change with some cold, hard cash.
Microsoft hopes that other concerned parties find similar ways to hunt down
virus authors, but the company so far is backing this fund.
At the partner conference, Ballmer stressed that Microsoft would only offer a
reward in conjunction with law enforcement. And indeed, at the press
conference this week Microsoft executives were flanked by FBI and U.S.
Secret Service officials.
"It's a partnership approach: we present a reward to draw out information,
and law enforcement agencies then use those leads in their investigations.
Persons with information should go directly to the law enforcement agencies
by calling their local FBI or Secret Service office or the Interpol National Central
Bureau in any of Interpol's 181 member countries or by going to the FBI Internet
Fraud Complaint Center Website," explained Hemanshu Nigam, corporate
attorney in the Digital Integrity Group within Law & Corporate Affairs at Microsoft.
To qualify for the reward, you must provide "information that results in the arrest
and conviction of those responsible for illegally launching malicious code on the
Internet,' Nigam said.
For now, all rewards are for virus authors who target Microsoft products, Nigam
said.
Microsoft will set rewards based on the potential destructive impact of the virus
or worm, and will not offer rewards for all 200 to 300 new viruses found each
month.
Doug Barney runs the reviews department for MCP Magazine, and has been a
technology journalist for nearly 20 years. You can contact Doug about
"Microsoft Offers Bounties for Virus Outlaws" at [email protected].

MCT 2004 Program Begins Oct. 1
New, renewing MCTs can begin preparations for renewing into 2005 program.
by Michael Domingo
9/24/2003 That time of year once again approaches for MCTs and MCT candidates
to file paperwork for retaining the MCT title for the 2004 calendar year. The MCT
2004 program begins on Oct. 1, 2004. Microsoft Learning has posted requirements
for the program on the MCT home page at https://partnering.one.microsoft.
com/mct/program/2004_renewal.aspx (a valid Microsoft Passport account is
needed to access this page).
The MCT 2004 program for new candidates is available only to those who have
an MCSE on Windows 2000, MCSE on Windows 2003, MCDBA on SQL Server
2000 or MCSD.NET title and who can offer proof of having completed the
following requirements:
Deliver 80 or more hours of Microsoft training using Microsoft Official Courses,
Microsoft Official Workshops, Microsoft Official Seminars, Microsoft Official
Clinics, Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF), Microsoft Operations Framework
(MOF) or Microsoft Academic Learning Series (ALS)
20 professional continuing education credits.
Microsoft says tracking of training hours is based on an honor system; the
company provides a sheet on its Web site for documenting training. Candidates
can turn to several methods to earn CECs, including the following:
Pass Microsoft cert of CompTIA Security+ exam (5)
Get MSF Practitioner endorsement (5)
Attend Microsoft or trainer skills course or MCT readiness event (1)
Attend qualifying Microsoft-focused conference or workshop (1 credit per day)
Upgrade MCSD on Visual Studio 6 to MCSD.NET before Oct. 31, 2003 (15)
According to an FAQ on the MCT site, the requirements have become stiffer,
with an increase in course delivery hours (in 2003, the program required
candidates to teach two 10-module courses).
MCPmag.com Editor Michael Domingo first began tracking IT and software
development trends and issues in 1989, when he was a managing editor at
Advisor Media. Since 1997, he's been a witness to Microsoft's efforts to maintain
its dominance over competitors via its increasingly popular training and
certification program and is the host of MCPmag's online chats and radio
programs. Michael is an avid photographer and T.V. fanatic. You can contact
Michael about "MCT 2004 Program Begins Oct. 1" at [email protected].

Exam Score Reports Are Back!
Based on customer feedback, Microsoft will provide graphical reports to examinees.
by Michael Domingo
8/13/2003 Count score reports among the latest change of many that Microsoft has
introduced?or, in this case, reintroduced?into the MCP program. According to an
FAQ posted on its Web site, Microsoft will be reissuing score reports to
examinees at the end of tests. The score reports will be issued for the new
Windows 2003 exams that go live on Thursday, but Microsoft hopes to provide
them for all exams by the end of September.
According the FAQ, the score report will include "a numerical score and a bar
graph for each skill section of the exam." The skills that show up on the report
will correlate with the ones that Microsoft publishes on the exam objectives
guides.
The FAQ further explains that Microsoft has developed an exam scale with a
minimum passing score of 700; the maximum will continue to vary depending on
several factors, including exam duration, question complexity, and other
psychometric measurements.
Microsoft at one time issued simple score reports, which listed numerical scores
by section, for exams early on in the program. The company decided to omit
numerical scores in June 2000, when it was introducing its Windows 2000 exams
(see "New Score Reports Debut in June" in the News archive, or click here to read
it). The company says it is reissuing the improved score reports based on
customer feedback.
Score reports are just one of several changes to be implemented in the program;
Microsoft says that exam question types will be introduced in the new exams.
Also, in June Microsoft added a specialist designation to its MCSA and MCSE titles.
To read the FAQ, click here.
MCPmag.com Editor Michael Domingo first began tracking IT and software
development trends and issues in 1989, when he was a managing editor at Advisor
Media. Since 1997, he's been a witness to Microsoft's efforts to maintain its
dominance over competitors via its increasingly popular training and certification
program and is the host of MCPmag's online chats and radio programs. Michael
is an avid photographer and T.V. fanatic. You can contact Michael about "Exam
Score Reports Are Back!" at [email protected].

MCPs Tackle Windows Server 2003
This year and next will see a major boost in the number of companies trying
out Windows Server 2003, especially among those enterprises where MCPs
are employed.
by Dian Schaffhauser
7/30/2003 This year and next will see a major boost in the number of
companies trying out Windows Server 2003, especially among those
enterprises where MCPs are employed. More than half of the organizations
where Microsoft certified professionals work have already begun researching
and testing Windows 2003 or expect to by Dec. 31. Yet only a third of those
firms expect to deploy the new operating system before the end of the year.
That’s what a recent MCP Magazine survey of technical professionals
concludes.
The same results say that 29 percent of respondents have no specific plans
to research or test Windows 2003 at this time and 42 percent have no plans
to deploy it. Among those who have no Microsoft certification, 45 percent
said their companies have no plans in place for research or testing and
47 percent said they don’t know when, if ever, deployment would take place.
Dian L. Schaffhauser is MCP Magazine's Editorial Director. You can contact
Dian about "MCPs Tackle Windows Server 2003" at [email protected].

Exams Retiring at End of June
Nine Microsoft exams whose retirements were announced in June 2002 will be
discontinued at the end of this month.
by Michael Domingo
6/12/2003 Retirement is finally coming up June 30, 2003, for nine exams,
retirements that Microsoft announced a year ago:
70-056: Implementing and Supporting Web Sites Using Site Server 3.0
70-057: Designing and Implementing Commerce Solutions with Site Server 3.0,
Commerce Edition
70-080: Implementing and Supporting Internet Explorer 5.0 by Using the Internet
Explorer Administration Kit
70-081: Implementing and Supporting Exchange Server 5.5
70-085: Implementing and Supporting SNA Server 4.0
70-088: Implementing and Supporting Proxy Server 2.0
70-091: Designing and Implementing Solutions with Office 2000 and Visual Basic
for Applications
70-098: Implementing and Supporting Windows 98
70-105: Designing and Implementing Collaborative Solutions with Outlook 2000
and Exchange Server 5.5
According to an ongoing policy, Microsoft makes impending exam retirement
announcements in June each year, with retirements taking place one year after
the announcements are made. Because of another policy implemented in
October 2001 (see the FAQ at http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/
highlights/announcement.asp for details), Microsoft also requires no
recertification in order to retain currently valid certifications. This means that
anyone holding a certification that uses any of these soon-to-retire exams
will remain certified.
So far, neither Microsoft nor its public relations company has indicated any
retirements pending for next year. Microsoft makes available retirement
announcements on this page: http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcpexams/
status/examstoretire.asp.
MCPmag.com Editor Michael Domingo first began tracking IT and software
development trends and issues in 1989, when he was a managing editor at
Advisor Media. Since 1997, he's been a witness to Microsoft's efforts to
maintain its dominance over competitors via its increasingly popular training
and certification program and is the host of MCPmag's online chats and
radio programs. Michael is an avid photographer and T.V. fanatic. You can
contact Michael about "Exams Retiring at End of June"
at [email protected].

First Windows 2003 Core Exams Get Tested
Microsoft to test out 70-290, 70-291 exams with beta testers in June.
by Michael Domingo
5/19/2003 Microsoft's certification group has announced on its MCP Web site
simultaneous beta test dates for two core exams on the MCSA/MCSE on
Windows Server 2003 tracks. Exams 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a
Windows Server 2003 Environment and 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and
Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure will both be beta
tested June 4-15. The exams will be numbered 71-290 and 71-290, respectively.
Passing both 70-290 and 70-291 exams satisfies the Core: Network Systems
portion of the MCSA on Windows Server 2003 track, and two of the four
required for the Core: Network Systems of the MCSE on Windows Server 2003.
To view the exam objective guides and MCSA and MCSE track requirements,
go to: 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment
70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003
Network Infrastructure
MCSA on Windows Server 2003 Requirements
MCSE on Windows Server 2003 Requirements
Beta exams are free but are only offered to qualified subscribers of Microsoft's
MCP Newsflash; to find out how to become a beta tester, go to http://www.
microsoft.com/traincert/mcpexams/status/beta.asp.
MCPmag.com Editor Michael Domingo first began tracking IT and software
development trends and issues in 1989, when he was a managing editor at
Advisor Media. Since 1997, he's been a witness to Microsoft's efforts to maintain
its dominance over competitors via its increasingly popular training and
certification program and is the host of MCPmag's online chats and radio
programs. Michael is an avid photographer and T.V. fanatic. You can contact
Michael about "First Windows 2003 Core Exams Get Tested" at
[email protected].

Windows Server 2003 Launch Focuses on Speed, Security and Customer Success
Windows Server 2003, Windows Server System family, make splashing debut, with
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer focusing on security, management, and performance
enhancements in the newest network operating
by Dian Schaffhauser
4/25/2003 The rain didn뭪 keep several thousand people from attending the official
launch of Windows Server 2003, which took place at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
in San Francisco yesterday. At the same time the company said it was making both
Visual Studio .NET 2003 and SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition (64-bit) available.
In a speech dominated by the theme 밺o more with less,?Microsoft CEO Steve
Ballmer said the new OS has been deployed to 10,000 servers worldwide, in
organizations as diverse as jetBlue, Honeywell, the Kentucky Department of
Education, the London Stock Exchange, Fleischer뭩 Bagels, and Rentvillas.com.
The major points of the talk focused on security, management capabilities and
performance in the new operating system.
(The rest is omitted)

70-300 Exam Voucher Deadline Extended
Microsoft last week extended the deadline for MCSD on .NET candidates to obtain
the free voucher for Exam 70-300, Analyzing Requirements and Defining .NET
Solution Architectures.
by Michael Domingo
3/19/2003 Microsoft last week extended the deadline for MCSD on .NET candidates
to obtain the free voucher for Exam 70-300, Analyzing Requirements and Defining
.NET Solution Architectures. That deadline is now Sept. 30, 2003.
Only current MCSDs who obtained their titles using Visual Studio 6.0 are eligible for
the voucher. For information on the free voucher, go to http://www.microsoft.com/
traincert/mcp/mcsd/default.asp. For more information on the 70-300 exam, go to
http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/exams/70-300.asp.

Free Voucher for 70-300 Exam
Microsoft to offer MCSD on Microsoft .NET candidates one free chance to
take key required exam. Offer good until Sept. 30, 2003.
by Michael Domingo
2/10/2003 If you're a current MCSD on Visual Studio 6.0 title holder, Microsoft
says you're eligible to obtain a free voucher for the 70-300, Analyzing
Requirements and Defining .NET Solution Architectures Exam. The 70-300
exam went live on Monday, Feb. 10.
The company will allow current titleholders to obtain the voucher beginning
Mar. 1 through the Microsoft MCP Secure site at http://www.microsoft.com/
traincert/mcp/mcpsecure.asp. Training and certification program manager
Eckhart Boehme says that the offer is also being extended to those who
"achieve the certification on the MCSD on the Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 track
by September 19, 2003." The special 70-300 voucher has a short shelf life it
must be redeemed by Sept. 30, 2003.
"I'm not sure if I passed yet," says Jason Mauss, a .NET trainer and developer
at Knowledge Relay, LLC in San Francisco, who took the beta version of the
exam in November. "I'll probably take the free voucher [that Microsoft] is
offering," he says, if his results show that he has failed. Reports on Microsoft's
own MCSD newsgroup discussions indicate that only a handful of 70-300 beta
exam takers have received results for the exam as of Monday afternoon.
For information on the free voucher, go to http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/
mcp/mcsd/default.asp. For more information on the 70-300 exam, go to
http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/exams/70-300.asp.
MCPmag.com Editor Michael Domingo first began tracking IT and software
development trends and issues in 1989, when he was a managing editor at
Advisor Media. Since 1997, he's been a witness to Microsoft's efforts to
maintain its dominance over competitors via its increasingly popular training
and certification program and is the host of MCPmag's online chats and radio
programs. Michael is an avid photographer and T.V. fanatic. You can contact
Michael about "Free Voucher for 70-300 Exam" at [email protected].

MCSA Sees Significant Growth in First Year
The past year saw the introduction of two new Microsoft certifications, and one
grew by leaps and bounds in its first 12 months.
by Keith Ward
1/22/2003 The past year saw the introduction of two new Microsoft certifications,
and one grew by leaps and bounds in its first 12 months.
The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) went live Jan. 22, 2002; and
within the first five months, about 22,000 people had attained the title, making it
Microsoft뭩 fastest-growing credential ever, according to the company. That
growth continued for the entire year, and as of the beginning of 2003, there were
47,634 title-holders. According to the monthly figures published in MCP Magazine,
about 4,000 people earned the credential each month.
The other new title was Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD), which
was released in September. As is typical with Microsoft뭩 developer-related
certifications, it was considerably less popular, with 1,306 individuals having
obtained the credential in the first three months of availability.
Both certifications require passing fewer tests than their more-difficult-to-achieve
counterparts, the MCSE and MCSD. Microsoft says both are aimed more toward
those who use the technologies on a day-in, day-out basis, rather than the design
and implementation of systems. Both are also to be considered by some mere
stepping-stones on the way to the more prestigious titles, but Microsoft disputes
that notion, saying they were introduced to more closely align with actual job
functions.
For the year 2002, 357,150 Microsoft credentials were earned. They include the
following (the total number of certifications issued for each title is listed on the
MCPmag.com home page):
Certification numbers for 2002 are up over the previous year, surprising given the
downturn in IT spending and hiring. Compared to 2001, about 36 percent more
certifications were earned, perhaps due to job-seekers looking for a competitive
edge in the marketplace.
In 2001, 142,028 MCP credentials were earned; 63,815 MCSEs; 15,493 MCSDs; and
37,917 MCDBAs. Those are the only directly applicable certifications, as designations
like MCP+Internet and MCP+Site Building weren뭪 available in 2002.
Keith Ward, MCSE, is senior editor for MCP Magazine. He was a journalist for 10
years before getting certified, and has written for The Washington Times, World
magazine, The Augusta Chronicle and The Gettysburg Times, among other
publications. You can contact Keith about "MCSA Sees Significant Growth in First
Year" at [email protected].