Exam 70-291 became available August 14, 2003.

The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) on Windows Server™ 2003 credential is intended for IT professionals who work in the typically complex computing environment of medium to large companies. An MCSA candidate should have 6 to 12 months of experience administering client and network operating systems in environments that have the following characteristics:

• 250 to 5,000 or more users
• Three or more physical locations
• Three or more domain controllers
• Network services and resources such as messaging, database, file and print, proxy server, firewall, Internet, intranet, remote access, and client computer management
• Connectivity requirements such as connecting branch offices and individual users in remote locations to the corporate network and connecting corporate networks to the Internet

When you pass the Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure exam, you achieve Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) status. You also earn credit toward the following certifications:

• Core credit toward Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 certification
• Core credit toward Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 certification
• Core credit toward Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) on Microsoft SQL Server 2000 certification

We make a wealth of preparation tools and resources available to you, including courses, books, practice tests, and Microsoft Web sites. When you are ready to prepare for this exam, here's where you should start.

Instructor-led Courses for This Exam

• Course 2276:  Implementing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure: Network Hosts
• Course 2277:  Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure: Network Services

This certification exam measures your ability to implement, manage, and maintain a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 network infrastructure. Before taking the exam, you should be proficient in the job skills listed in the following matrix. The matrix shows which Official Microsoft Learning Products may help you reach competency in the skills being tested in the exam.

		The course includes material to prepare you for this task.
		The course includes some material to prepare you for this task. You will need to supplement the course with additional work.
		The course provides a general introductory overview of this task. You will need to supplement the course with additional work.

Skills measured by exam 70-291	Course 2276	Course 2277
Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining IP Addressing
Configure TCP/IP addressing on a server computer.
Manage DHCP. Manage DHCP clients and leases. Manage DHCP Relay Agent. Manage DHCP databases. Manage DHCP scope options. Manage reservations and reserved clients.
Troubleshoot TCP/IP addressing. Diagnose and resolve issues related to Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA). Diagnose and resolve issues related to incorrect TCP/IP configuration.
Troubleshoot DHCP. Diagnose and resolve issues related to DHCP authorization. Verify DHCP reservation configuration. Examine the system event log and DHCP server audit log files to find related events. Diagnose and resolve issues related to configuration of DHCP server and scope options. Verify that the DHCP Relay Agent is working correctly. Verify database integrity.
Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining Name Resolution
Install and configure the DNS Server service. Configure DNS server options. Configure DNS zone options. Configure DNS forwarding.
Manage DNS. Manage DNS zone settings. Manage DNS record settings. Manage DNS server options.
Monitor DNS. Tools might include System Monitor, Event Viewer, Replication Monitor, and DNS debug logs.
Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining Network Security
Implement secure network administration procedures. Implement security baseline settings and audit security settings by using security templates. Implement the principle of least privilege.
Monitor network protocol security. Tools might include the IP Security Monitor Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in and Kerberos support tools.
Troubleshoot network protocol security. Tools might include the IP Security Monitor MMC snap-in, Event Viewer, and Network Monitor.
Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining Routing and Remote Access
Configure Routing and Remote Access user authentication. Configure remote access authentication protocols. Configure Internet Authentication Service (IAS) to provide authentication for Routing and Remote Access clients. Configure Routing and Remote Access policies to permit or deny access.
Manage remote access. Manage packet filters. Manage Routing and Remote Access routing interfaces. Manage devices and ports. Manage routing protocols. Manage Routing and Remote Access clients.
Manage TCP/IP routing. Manage routing protocols. Manage routing tables. Manage routing ports.
Implement secure access between private networks.
Troubleshoot user access to remote access services. Diagnose and resolve issues related to remote access VPNs. Diagnose and resolve issues related to establishing a remote access connection. Diagnose and resolve user access to resources beyond the remote access server.
Troubleshoot Routing and Remote Access routing. Troubleshoot demand-dial routing. Troubleshoot router-to-router VPNs.
Maintaining a Network Infrastructure
Monitor network traffic. Tools might include Network Monitor and System Monitor.
Troubleshoot connectivity to the Internet.
Troubleshoot server services. Diagnose and resolve issues related to service dependency. Use service recovery options to diagnose and resolve service-related issues.