Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 (Public Beta) ?! Heresay!

So, rumour has it that the Public Beta of Windows Home Server (Power Pack 1) is coming!
Power Packs for what I understand it, are basically renamed Service Packs, for reasons unbeknowest to me.

Nonetheless, it’s on the horizon…. coming soon!
Including a number of enhancements, fixes and general changes to the way things operate to introduce added efficiencies!

So, the future is now (or potentially now) for all you Windows Home Server enthusiasts out there!

Run, don’t walk to sign up for the Hyper-V Beta Exam 71-652! (See Trika’s Blog)

Yep, that’s right! The Virt Exam (071-652) has been posted on Trika’s Blog, on a pure First-Come-First-Serve basis… which is the type of action of “Act Fast!”

Trika’s Post on 71-652 Hyper-V Beta Exam

Seriously, run don’t walk on over to Trika’s blog for this opportunity to partake in the Hyper-V beta!

I personally am on hook to take it in a few weeks… Already signed up with Prometric! :)


(Inline are the details copied from Trika’s Blog!)

*** Update!***

Special thanks to Priscila Silva in MCS for links to the E-Learning for Virtualization (Trika Comments!)

https://www.microsoftelearning.com/eLearning/courseDetail.aspx?courseId=84700
https://www.microsoftelearning.com/eLearning/courseDetail.aspx?courseId=92459

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Deja Vu – Microsoft removes expiration of MCTS, MCITP, and MCPD certifications

We all knew on the docket that after 3 years, there would be a need to re-certify in order to continue maintaining the “Certification” status for the new Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist, Microsoft Certified IT Professional and the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer.

We accepted this as the MS Certs going the way the Cisco Certs, but then – The rules have changed again!

Dear Microsoft Certified Professional,

We are pleased to inform you about a recent Microsoft Certification policy change that affects your Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) or Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) credential.

In response to customer feedback, Microsoft has eliminated the requirement to recertify, or refresh, your MCITP or MCPD certification every three years. This is good news for you; there is no action required to maintain the certifications you hold today.

The certification lifecycle

The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS), MCITP, and MCPD credentials—Microsoft certifications for new technologies—are aligned with the Microsoft product lifecycle, and will retire when Microsoft discontinues mainstream support for the underlying technology. When a certification that you have earned retires, the record of your certification remains on your transcript, allowing you to retain documentation of your certification history.

This is great news for those of us who want to upgrade our certs WHEN we want to, instead of by some cycle as if we’ve suddenly forgotten our skill-sets!

So once again, thank you Microsoft for listening to the industry and providing an path of excellence for others to follow!

MCP Resources? Secret Squirrel Private Search Database?!

Were you aware, that a number of options have been made available to MCP’s?
And these features have been available for several months now!
I missed the window as they introduced this in October, as I was very busy during October!
But that doesn’t change them being viable now!

One specific and most applicable to others:
Partner-Level Knowledge Base available to any MCP!

!If that’s not a OMFG moment!

Partner-Level Knowledge Base (MCP only)
Search a more comprehensive version of the Microsoft Product Support Knowledge Base than what is available to the general public.

Books from Microsoft Press (MCP only)
Read before you buy. Each month you will find sample chapters from the previous month’s book releases.

Career Center (MCP only)
Powered by CareerBuilder.com, the MCP Career Center gives employers an ideal place to find top technical talent by browsing resumés and posting job openings.

Interviewing and Hiring Microsoft Certified Candidates (MCP only)
This page provides information you need to know when you interview candidates who have Microsoft Certified Professional credentials. Find out how to gain valuable insight into a candidate’s skill set by asking targeted questions about certification.

MCP Resource Center (MCP only)
This library of resources offers links to information on featured Microsoft products and technologies.

Resources:
https://mcp.microsoft.com/mcp/resources/resources.mspx

Partner Level Knowledge Base:
https://mcp.support.microsoft.com/kbresources