Well, if you recall the last time I took a test, I reported it was "Amazing", though I cannot declare the same feelings for this particular exam.

On the surface, there was nothing wrong with this exam, yet in the same gesture there was also nothing right about it.  I’m not judging the content as it was delivered free of most complaints I typically comment about on exams.    No, this was something different, something else.   The kind of something only that of an infrastructure, architectural geek wouldn’t get.

Two weeks in the trenches working with EBS and this particular exam will be a godsend to you.  You’ll be prepared, ready and set to deliver.   The same could be said though of someone who has never touched anything else outside of EBS.

But opening the doorway to SBS, if you’ve ever touched a "real server", and happen to be a command line guy, you’ll find SBS, EBS and this particular exam to be considerably frustrating.  Now don’t get me wrong! I’m not knocking EBS, or SBS.  I’m just letting you know, if you’re not that guy, this is not the test for you.

Know your product, know the in’s, the out’s and you’ll do fine.   But this is not an exam to think outside the box.

 You’ve been warned!

So, today I read this Whitepaper published in May of this year – omg! Cool is what I say!

Discounting factors aside (And it makes for a great read) the excellent XenApp Citrix’s replacement for Presentation Server steps into the Virtualization Space on fire!

While physical does get some presentation value, the fact that the Virtual instance running on XenServer vs a Physical is able to perform with an 8% penalty is amazing.

Citrix has been a player in this space (Well, really the only player) who is able to produce clear, consistent and reliable results.   And this just takes the cake to a new level.

I encourage anyone interested in Application, Presentation and OS Virtualization to this out.

Optimizing XenApp Performance with XenServer 4.1.0 Enterprise Edition

For a Whitepaper, it is a good, short and non-boring read.

This is only the beginning of a whole new Citrix and XenServer revolution, especially with their NetApp Integration, Partnership and NetApp Adapter

The heat is on – oh uh oh oh! :)

Well, it seems LiveWriter decided to destroy my old link here, by updating it to a new date!

Oh well! Anyone with stale entries to the Free Testing Archive – It is available here.

Thanks for checking it out! Always keeping it current!

Take the MDOP Challenge!

We’ve been challenged to charter ourselves to take, pass and Win!

Pass the Exam & Get the Goods!

How do you join the MDOP Charter Membership Program? It’s easy! All you have to do is take and pass the 70-656 Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, Configuring Exam…but there’s a catch…

…only the first 200 IT Pros who pass the 70-656 Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, Configuring Exam will be MDOP Charter Members who receive the exclusive MDOP Charter Member jacket and award!

The MDOP Charter Membership program is open to any IT Professional – so you better move FAST if you want to be the first to get Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) insider updates, exclusive content, and great MDOP Charter Member SWAG.

Plus, the exam is FREE for the first 500 IT Pros who take the exam through Prometric. Just enter “MDOP” as a promotion code when you register on the Prometric Web site.

Special thanks to Dan Rey for raising the flare about this, and our good friends at the MDOP Charter Program!

Visit the MDOP Charter Program site for details, including Training plans!

I know you’re tired of all of these MCTS SQL Beta Exams

Which means now it is time for the PRO SQL 2008 Beta Exams!

SQL Server 2008 Exam Beta: 71-450: PRO: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Designing, Optimizing, and Maintaining a Database Administrative Solution

Registration begins: August 15, 2008
Beta exam period runs: August 18, 2008– September 16, 2008
Promo Code: 239F4

SQL Server 2008 Beta Exam: 71-452: Designing a Business Intelligence Infrastructure Using Microsoft SQL Server 2008

Registration begins: August 8, 2008
Beta exam period runs: August 13, 2008– September 10, 2008
Promo Code: 3568C

Registration Information
To register in North America, please call:
· Prometric: (800) 755-EXAM (800-755-3926)
Outside the U.S./Canada, please contact:
· Prometric: http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp

So, get down with your fairly straight-forward self, get out there:

sign up, register and test! test! test!

Special thanks to our good friends at the Certification Beta Blog for these postings.