Exam 1Y0-A15 Engineering a Citrix Virtualization Solution

Yesterday I cleared exam “1Y0-A15 Engineering a Citrix Virtualization Solution”, I only used the day before to prepare, using the 1Y0-A15 prep guide from the Citrix Training website. I had my mind set on reading the XenDesktop materials such as the Administrator guides on the Citrix eDocs site, I use all the other products extensively almost daily except for XenDesktop. So my focus for this exam was on XenDesktop.

I love the fact that ‘almost’ everything you need to know for a Citrix exam can be found in the Citrix Product Guides, I just don’t like reading from the eDocs site, it’s just not pleasant. You can’t bookmark anything. Can we just get the Citrix Administrator Guide back in PDF format? I know you can create PDF’s from the eDocs site but it creates a horrible PDF format.

So, I ditched the eDocs site and start setting up my own XenDesktop environment on my Citrix XenServer @ Home. That is way more fun learning offcourse! Citrix PVS, coffee, DDC’s, coffee, WI’s, coffee, Windows XP VM’s, coffee, etc. I went all out.

About the exam.

I love the simulation part, except for the fact that you really can’t go wrong on these. It’s kind a like a one way street because items that you do’nt need to succesfully complete the simulation are disabled, for instance certain buttons are dead so you can’t actually go there. That means that you can only choose certain items that you know are correct. Citrix should enable all buttons in a simulation to create a full simulation.

After 7 simulation items there was a second part that consisted of 54 traditional questions (multiple-choice/drag and drop tasks/etc).

So, on more exam (1Y0-A16) to go to become Citrix CCIA for Virtualization. Very curious about exam 1Y0-A16.

1Y1-A21 Basic Administration for Citrix NetScaler 9.2

I love Citrix NetScaler . So, I registered this exam for Friday the 13th of august. If you are interested in taking this exam act fast because slots are limited! Prepare for a lot of questions which is not unusual for Citrix Beta exams.

Official Citrix Community Blog statement about taking this exam which seems to be removed now:

Are you interested in testing your knowledge of NetScaler 9.2? Now you can with the new beta exam 1Y1-A21 Basic Administration for Citrix NetScaler 9.2. While in beta, this exam is available FREE of cost!

Topics covered:
•    Planning the Network Deployment and Architecture
•    Initial Configuration and Installation
•    Managing and Securing NetScaler
•    Auditing and Monitoring
•    Configuring High Availability
•    Basic Troubleshooting

Exam A21 is a requirement for the CCA for Citrix NetScaler 9.
There are a limited number of seats for this exam. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so don’t delay!

Registration info: To register for this exam, please go to Pearson VUE web site (www.vue.com/citrix).

While in beta, an exam preparation guide is NOT available. Refer to the preparatory training: CNS-203-1 Basic Administration for Citrix NetScaler 9.2

Beta Exam Results: You will not receive your score until the beta period is complete, the test results are analyzed, and a passing score is established.

Exam Feedback: While taking the beta exam, you are encouraged to provide feedback to training@citrix.com. Please include the beta exam number in the subject line.
Act now to take advantage of the beta exam while it is available for free!

Good luck!

UPDATE: Seems like the original page has been removed from Citrix Communities. Exam is still available on VUE, so act fast if you are interested in this exam.

1Y1-A18: Basic Administration for Citrix XenApp 6

Just got back from taking exam “1Y1-A18: Basic Administration for Citrix XenApp 6” which was ok. Once again I think Citrix is asking way too many questions in a beta exam. This time almost 200 questions! So be prepared for this mentally and physically because it is a long time in a chair that’s meant to be sat on for 15 minutes I think. At least at the testing center where I was today. It took me about 3 hours to get through this exam, so I don’t feel my back anymore by now . But that’s the life of a IT guy, sitting in the worst chair an IT department can find in a 2 mile radius for the duration of a project.

The questions on the exam were a bit repetitive but overall short and to the point as with most Citrix exams.

Good luck anyone taking the beta or final exam.

Passed Exam 1Y0-A06 Citrix Provisioning Server 5.0

Ok, today I passed exam 1Y0-A06 Implementing Citrix Provisioning Server 5.0. I love Citrix Provisioning Server although it has it’s little flaws which I will not mention here .

Thing to keep in mind is that the exam is not worked up to the 5.6 version which you probably will be using about now. This means that you will have to know where certain items were in the pre-5.6 version of Citrix PVS Console.

I work as a Consultant performing many different kinds of setups of Citrix Provisioning Services Solutions so I have experienced the product extensively. Having this said I thought the exam was fairly easy and straight to the point.

CCA for Citrix Provisioning Server 5 in the pocket.

Microsoft Beta Exam 71-685 Pro: Windows® 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician

Ok, so I attended this exam yesterday and think I did all right. I do not want to violate Microsoft’s Non Disclosure Agreement so if I’m telling you guys too much you will let me know right?

The exam consisted of 70 questions in which I think I had to guess about 22 of them. I like the number of questions on a Microsoft Beta exams. With Citrix Beta Exams can take up to 250 (!) questions. As if anyone knows what he/she is answering after question number 120. If there are that many questions on a beta exam, that means you can toss the last 150 questions out the window for sure.

Anyway, for this exam know all the new features of Microsoft Windows 7 like BitLocker, BranchCache, DirectAccess, AppLocker, Internet Explorer 8. This information and more on this exam can be found here.

I have scheduled Microsoft Beta Exam 71-686 Pro: Windows® 7, Enterprise Desktop Administrator on October 14th.

Henny Louwers

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Henny Louwers

Passed: TS Microsoft Forefront Client and Server, Configuration

Fairly easy exam. Having some knowledge of MOM/SCOM has some advantage because it works on top of this product. Know how Microsoft Forefront installs/acts on Microsoft Sharepoint, Microsoft Exchange and how it interoperates with Microsoft WSUS Server.

More information on exam 70-557: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-557.mspx

Henny Louwers

Passed TS: MS Internet Security & Acceleration Server 2006,Configuring

60 questions / 2 hours of ISA 2006 pain . No, just kidding, exam can easily be done if you work extensively with this product. Although during the exam I thought it would barely be a pass but I passed with a sweet 907.

When you implement Microsoft Infrastructures, like we do, you are bound to come across the Microsoft ISA Server 2006 product line. This exam covers a lot of stuff that you actually come across when implementing ISA Server.

More info: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-351&locale=en-us

On to the next exam: TS: Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007, Configuring, scheduled on march 28th.

Henny Louwers