Search results matching tag 'study group'

MSTS: Configuring and Deploying a Private Cloud with System Center 2012 (70-247)

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 16:34:23 GMT

I’m back at working on my exams again! This time I passed this exam on Thursday morning. I also passed my ITIL exam a while back too. I notice that I never posted anything about it. ;-)

Anyways. Since Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 has been released it time to start studying for those exams. I was going to start working on Configuring Windows 8 (70-687) next however I found out that there is an upgrade exam from Windows 2008 to Windows 2012 (70-417), so that next on the list! After the upgrade exam there are so many choices but I will most like work on the Win 8 exam then.

2011 myITforum.com Donation

Anonymous — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 20:47:12 GMT

With the start of a new year, it is that time again to support the System Management Community, with that in mind I have made my yearly donation of $250 USD to MyITForum (MIF).

Have you made a donation to your community yet? http://www.myitforum.com/donations/donate.asp

SMSUG.ca Forums

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:44:41 GMT

I have decided that the forums on www.SMSUG.ca are not being used and due to some SPAMMER populating the membership list, I have closed them down. This is a good thing as it means I will arrange for the site to be convert to a blog only site. With the new site will come a new look a feel. (wait for it)

If you are looking for ConfigMgr , SCCM , SMS, v.Next Forums then I suggest:

www.faqshop.com/forums/

www.myitforum.com/forums

social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/configurationmanager

Free MS SQL 2008 administrator certification

Anonymous — Tue, 18 May 2010 12:23:40 GMT

Now that I have your attention, every SMS / ConfigMgr administrator needs to know SQL in order to support SMS/ ConfigMgr. There are no “Ifs” “ands” or “buts” about it, without SQL, ConfigMgr / SMS could not run. You could not write reports or use SSRS. Neither MDT nor WSUS work without it either. So without SQL there is no ConfigMgr / SMS /v.Next / CM11! Therefore you MUST know SQL at least from an administrator stand point and should be certified in it.

So how can you get certified? There are a number of ways: take 70-431 (SQL 2005) or 70-432 (SQL 2008) or you can take the free certification from BrainBench.

Yes, I did say free SQL 2008 administration certification. Brainbench has a number of free certifications http://brainbench.com/xml/bb/common/testcenter/freetests.xml, one of which is SQL 2008 Administrator.

SQL is the backbone of ConfigMgr / SMS, heck even OpsMgr, MOM, SCSM, DPM, SCVMM, and SCE all use it. There is no excuse why you should not be at least BrainBench certified in SQL 2008, it’s free! What is stopping you? What is your excuse for not taking this certification?

SharePoint and Belly Dancers!

Anonymous — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:20:46 GMT

As some of you who follow me on Twitter found out on Aug 14^th, I was at the award night for the Ottawa 70-631 study group with my wife, Ellen.

I have to say it was an interesting night! Where else can you heard the words “My wife couldn’t come tonight because my dog is getting a massage” and someone else saying “My Labrador ate the spoon!” it gives new meaning to the “My dog ate my homework!”

Anyways back to the main story, we were eating at local restaurant, I became curious when the manager started to move some of the tables around in order to make space. I found out that this restaurant “Chez Fatima” has a belly dancers on Friday night! This girl danced for ~20 minutes and it was very interesting. I’m also glad that it was none of the OWSUG execs doing any of the belly dancing either! I just don’t want to imaging that! Although the manager had to “wipe the sweat” from the brow of one of the OWSUG exec. during the dancing. I will let you guess who that was and no it was not me!

It was a good turn out and interesting evening for the study group. Thanks go out to Islam Gomaa for his hard work on this study group and for organizing this event.

BTW it looks like the study group will be doing the MOSS exam in the fall and maybe one of the Exchange exams too and Windows 7 in January! (The MS Press book is not released until Nov 4, 2009) Also keep your eyes open for a smaller study group for 70-400. I will most likely join that one!

70-630, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring Study Group

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:14:08 GMT

Special Announcement: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring Study Group!

1. We are pleased announce that we are now accepting applications to join our TS: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring certification study group. The previous OWSUG.ca study group was very successful with over 85% of the participants obtaining the certification by the end of the study group.

Content

The focus will be on preparing to pass the Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring to achieve the Microsoft Technology Specialist for Configuring Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007. Topics include Deploy, Monitor, Configure and Administer Microsoft office SharePoint 2007 Server. MCTS Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Configuration Study Guide (70-630) will be provided.

Schedule

Sessions take place on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 PM until 8:30 PM at CTE Solutions’ Ottawa facility beginning September, 2009 and continuing until December, 2009 for a total of 12 sessions (30 hours). Exact date will be send later after confirming the numbers of attendees

Objectives

1. Individual:

a. Prepare for the sessions by reading the training material content on the study group schedule.

b. Develop and improve skills with Windows SharePoint Services 3.

c. Obtain the TS: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring certification.

2. Group:

a. Review the content, perform demonstrations and review exam practice questions.

b. Attend 80 % of the sessions.

Mentors

The study group will be mentored by OWSUG.ca Study Group Coordinators Islam Gomaa and Abraham Melesse. The expectation will be for all participants to actively engage in the group sessions (i.e. this is not a course J).

Offer

Cost to participate in the study group is $ 250. All participants will receive a copy (to keep) of the MCTS Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Configuration Study Guide (70-630). A $150 deposit will be reimbursed if you attend 80% of the total number of session.

Apply

To apply please send an email to certify@owsug.ca. Additional registration details will be sent only to people that pre-register. Positions will not be held before deposit and fees have been received.

Proudly Supported By

70-236, Exchange 2007, Configuring

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:12:34 GMT

The Ottawa Windows Server User Group looking to start a Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Study group. The OWSUG has been running study groups for several years and many in the Ottawa IT community have taken advantage of these opportunities for assistance with certification, as well as gaining valuable knowledge that can be applied on the job.

Content

The focus of this study group will be preparing for Microsoft Exam 70-236, Exchange 2007, Configuring. Passing this exam will gain the student a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Configuration; and counts as one credit towards the Microsoft Certified IP Professional (MCITP): Enterprise Messaging Administrator. The text will be the Microsoft Press Configuring Exchange Server 2007 Self Paced Training Kit, and copies will be provided to all study group members.

Objectives

All study group members will prepare for the sessions by reading the training material content. Individuals will work in teams to take turns leading the study group sessions according to a schedule which will be provided , and will lead demonstrations where appropriate. This is study group not a course, so everyone’s involvement will be required to ensure the success of the group as a whole.

Cost

The cost to participate in the group is $250. This includes the textbook (to keep,) as well as an exam voucher valid at any Microsoft testing centre.

Schedule

The group will be meeting weekly Tuesday nights beginning Sept 15, 2009 and continuing until early December 2009.

To Apply

To apply please send an email to certify@owsug.ca. Additional registration details will be sent only to people that pre-register. Positions will not be held before deposit and fees have been received.

Proudly Supported By:

How many certified System Center people are there? (Aug 2009)

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:32:07 GMT

With all the talk about 70-401 exam this week and with at least 3 new MCTS. I thought that I would update the stats on my blog.

Here are the old stats from April 2009, if you want to compare them.
http://smsug.ca/blogs/garth_jones/archive/2009/06/05/how-many-certified-system-center-people-are-there-april-2009.aspx

I add the VMM MCTS stats too, are you one?

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007: Configuration 2,414
Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007: Configuration 1,686
Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008, Configuration 478

The numbers are from http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-overview.aspx#tab5, I wish that they would put at date on these stats.

Ottawa IT Community Awards Night (2008/2009) – Press Release

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:07:00 GMT

On Tuesday June 30th 2009, over 100 technology professionals were present at Yuk-Yuk’s downtown location for an end-of-season party and awards ceremony, hosted by four organizations that specialize in Microsoft technology: The Ottawa Code Camp, The Ottawa .NET Community (ODNC), The Ottawa SQL.net Professional Association for SQL Server, and the Ottawa Windows Server User Group (OWSUG).

In the words of this year’s event organizer, Colin Melia of DreamDigital, “the hosting organizations bring together like-minded individuals through 10 months of the year for the purpose of transferring IT-related knowledge and fostering relationships. This event celebrates the successful completion of the season made possible by the efforts of individual members and corporate partners.”

The event sponsors included Ottawa consulting firm Like 10, Inc., training and education provider e-Academy, and technical certification provider CTE Solutions, as well as community sponsors Robert Half Technology and DreamDigital. Over 40 people were recognized for their contributions.

One of the key reasons why people come to the 30+ sessions throughout the year – and volunteer to help – is because the technology itself never stands still, and the groups provide their members with the means to stay connected and continue learning. Leahette Phillips of Robert Half Technology says that “as a partner we especially appreciate the emphasis that the Ottawa .NET Community places on recognizing individuals efforts on continuing education, which is always difficult in a technology space that is constantly changing.”

This year the award for Partner of the Year went to DevTeach - a local company that organizes annual developer conferences in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. The other finalists included Robert Half Technology, CTE Solutions, Redgate, and Microsoft Canada’s Technical Community Team.

DevTeach president Jean-René Roy has received numerous accolades for single-handedly creating DevTeach and turning it into a compelling event that developers flock to. Since moving to the Gatineau area from Montreal two years ago, he has worked tirelessly for the community. A self-described “community growth freak”, he says (very modestly) that DevTeach calls this support “nourishment to the communities to help them grow”.

Over the past five years, the hosting organisations have undertaken more and more activities in the communities they serve. Participation – attending study groups, attending sessions, speaking, and helping to organize – turns out to be very rewarding. All the groups urge people to come and find out for themselves next season, starting in September.

ABOUT THE HOSTS:

· The Ottawa Code Camp (www.ottawacodecamp.ca) is a weekend session that features 16-20 sessions that solve various problems using real code that participants can take home.

· The Ottawa .NET Community (www.ottawacommunity.net) organizes presentations and study groups for developers working with .NET and other Microsoft technology.

· The OttawaSql.net Professional Association for SQL Server (www.ottawa.sqlpass.org) organizes presentations and study groups for database professionals who work with Microsoft SQL Server.

· The Ottawa Windows Server User Group (www.owsug.ca) organizes presentations and study groups for IT professionals who work with various Microsoft server technologies.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Colin Melia
Photo:

From left to right, Garth Jones, leader, OWSUG; Jean-Rene Roy, president, DevTeach; David Myers, OttawaSql.net; Orest Hirniak, ODNC.

Photo Credit: John Hansen