

Series: Exam Ref
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Microsoft Press; 1 edition (July 3, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0735684790
ISBN-13: 978-0735684799
Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 1.1 x 8.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #198,143 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #39 in Books > Computers & Technology > Networking & Cloud Computing > Network Administration > Windows Administration #54 in Books > Computers & Technology > Business Technology > Windows Server #68 in Books > Computers & Technology > Certification > Microsoft

If you're looking for a general overview, this provides it. If you're looking for a definitive guide to everything you need to know concerning the exam topics this book is not for you. The book lacks depth and would be a lot smaller if you removed all the screenshots. It's weak on concepts and annoyingly introduces things that have dependencies without covering the dependencies first. I was very disappointed in the book given my previous experience with the Microsoft Press books for Windows 2008 and Windows 2003 which were much more detailed and also twice as big.
This new series is not as thorough as exam references I've used previously; There are no practice tests, just a few questions at the end of each section.I combine with the training guide to get a fuller understanding and practice lessons
Unfortunately, this should not be labeled a study guide for the 70-411. The book does categorize the chapters based on what Microsoft says will be covered on the exam. It does give you a very vanilla overview of the topics, but you will not find the answers to the questions being asked on the exam. I looked at a few brain dumps and then cross referenced with the book. Um, yeah, totally useless. I blame this more on the Microsoft test developers than I do the authors. For instance, the questions asked about Powershell commands, not going to find the answer in this book. My advice, get the Mastering Windows 2012 R2 by Minasi and just study from Microsoft Tech Net. Although I did pass the exam, Microsoft really needs to take lessons from Cisco and learn how to write a study guide that coincides with the actual exam.
This book reads a lot like a repair manual for a car - I feel like this is a 400 page list of instructions. Literally half of the bullet points could be summarized by "Click next," and bullet points are about 70% of the content of this book. I will be returning this for a refund.I am very disappointed after reading the 70-410 textbook by Craig Zacker. That was a very concise book that I felt actually made an effort to teach the topics rather than tell you what windows to use; even though the textbook(s) don't align with the exam very closely, they should still teach what is on the cover of the book.
Had to buy this book for a server administration course. It's a great book for how to, but it fails in the why department. For example, it will take you step by step setting up a service account in active directory but is really light on why you would set up a service account versus a regular user account.
Great training guide to use in getting ready for the 70-411 section of the MCSA exam. I like the fact that this is written by and for Microsoft. Covers all the topic that will been on this exam and helps walk you through each step. Great tool and like that I can also purchase with Training guide book that goes into more detail through each topic. Easy to read format that won't put you to sleep!
Though this isn't the complete guide to all content on the exam, the book does present the concepts in an easy to understand format. I'm glad I bought it for my 70-411 study but I probably will not buy the book for the 70-412.
Half the questions in the Microsoft 70-411 exam are on PowerShell commands for doing tasks. This book is good for learning about Windows Server 2012 R2 but not good for passing the exam. If you want to pass the 70-411 exam read the book, have a lab environment to work on but do plenty of "Practice Exams". ;-)
Exam Ref 70-411 Administering Windows Server 2012 R2 (MCSA) MCSA Guide to Administering Microsoft Windows Server 2012/R2, Exam 70-411 Exam 70-411 Administering Windows Server 2012 MCSA Windows Server 2012 R2 Administration Study Guide: Exam 70-411 Exam Ref 70-410 Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 R2 (MCSA) Exam Ref 70-412 Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 R2 Services (MCSA) Windows Command-Line for Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2 (Textbook Edition) (The Personal Trainer for Technology) MCSA Windows Server 2012 R2 Complete Study Guide: Exams 70-410, 70-411, 70-412 MCSA Windows Server 2012 Complete Study Guide: Exams 70-410, 70-411, 70-412, and 70-417 Training Guide Administering Windows Server 2012 R2 (MCSA) (Microsoft Press Training Guide) WINDOWS 10: WINDOWS 10 COMPANION: THE COMPLETE GUIDE FOR DOING ANYTHING WITH WINDOWS 10 (WINDOWS 10, WINDOWS 10 FOR DUMMIES, WINDOWS 10 MANUAL, WINDOWS ... WINDOWS 10 GUIDE) (MICROSOFT OFFICE) Training Guide Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 R2 (MCSA): MCSA 70-410 (Microsoft Press Training Guide) Training Kit (Exam 70-462) Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases (MCSA) (Microsoft Press Training Kit) Windows Group Policy: The Personal Trainer for Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2012 /R2, Exam 70-410 Training Guide Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 R2 (MCSA) (Microsoft Press Training Guide) MCSA 70-410 Cert Guide R2: Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 (Cert Guides) Training Guide Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 R2 Services (MCSA) (Microsoft Press Training Guide) Exam Ref 70-331 Core Solutions of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 (MCSE): Core Solutions of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Training Kit (Exam 70-461) Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012 (MCSA) (Microsoft Press Training Kit)