Exam Profile: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Configuring (70-401)

Date: Oct 28, 2011

The 70-401 exam is meant to be taken by those who have a minimum of one year of experience using Systems Management Server (SMS) or Configuration Manager 2007. The candidates should also have experience using Active Directory and the Windows server system.

System Center Configuration Manager is a software solution to meet the need for end-to-end service monitoring in the enterprise IT environment. Operations Manager provides an easy-to-use monitoring environment that can monitor thousands of servers, applications, and clients. This type of monitoring provides a comprehensive view of the health of an organization’s IT environment.

After you pass the Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Configuring exam, you complete the requirements for the following certification:

Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Configuration.
You also earn credit toward the following certifications:
Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) on Windows Server 2003

For more information, go to http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/mcsa.aspx
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Windows Server 2003

For more information, go to http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/mcse.aspx

In order to earn your Microsoft MCSA certification, you will be required to pass four exams (in any order):

Two exams on networking systems
One exam on client operating systems
One elective exam

In order to earn your Microsoft MCSE certification, you will be required to pass seven exams (in any order):

Four exams on networking systems
One exam on client operating systems
One exam on design
One elective exam

The 70-401 is an elective exam.

Exam Details

Number of questions: Approximately 47 questions (Since Microsoft does not publish this information, the number of exam questions may change without notice.)
Type of Questions: Multiple choice.
Passing Score: 700

This passing score does not mean that you must answer 70 percent of the items correctly in order to pass the exam. The actual percentage varies from exam to exam and may be more or less than 70 percent. There is no penalty for guessing. No points are deducted for incorrect answers. If a question specifies that you must choose multiple correct answers, you must choose the exact number of correct answers specified in the question in order to earn a point for that item. Some of the questions on the exam may not count toward the calculation of your score. Microsoft will often throw a question in that is meant to gather data that will help them improve the exam.
Time Limit: 120 minutes
How to Register: Prometric.com

Trouble Spots

As with any exam, it will vary from person to person as to what is deemed to be difficult. Be sure you are familiar with each of the topics in the exam objectives listed below.

System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2007—Comprehensively assesses, deploys, and updates servers, client computers, and devices across physical, virtual, and mobile environments. It is the Microsoft product that replaces System Management Server. There are many enhancements in SCCM.
Windows Server 2008 Integration—Configuration Manager helps plan and manage upgrades and deployments of Windows Server 2008, reducing the labor for planning and deployment while adding manageability to the datacenter.
Enhanced Asset Intelligence—Delivers detailed tracking of deployed software by using the Asset Intelligence database to discover and report installed applications. Improved Asset Intelligence also discovers and reports on computer owners and which applications where last run (software metering). In addition, Asset Intelligence offers support for online synchronizations and support for MVLS reports integration.
Integrated Device Management—Integrated and enhanced mobile management supports the proliferation of mobile and embedded devices within the enterprise.
Enhanced Operating System Deployment—Improvements to Operating System deployment supports bare-metal, network based (PXE) deployments and in-place deployments. Configuration Manager 2007 provides an integrated view and management of deployment within a common framework. Configuration Manager brings an innovative and flexible approach to operating system deployments or upgrades without requiring large, separate images for each system type.
Software Update Management—Configuration Manager 2007 Software Update Management simplifies the complex task of delivering and managing updates to IT systems across the enterprise. You can deliver updates of Microsoft products, third-party applications, and custom in-house line-of-business applications, hardware drivers, and system BIOS to a variety of devices-including desktops, laptops, servers, and mobile devices. Being able to install a software package, such as Microsoft Office, to thousands of computers without having to physically touch that computer is an enormous time saver. Just keeping up to date with the latest Microsoft updates can be a daunting task. Software Update Manager is an extremely powerful tool for the IT professional.
Network Access Protection (NAP)—NAP in Windows Server 2008 is a component that provides a platform for system health validation. The NAP platform provides an integrated way of detecting the health state of a network client that is attempting to connect to a network and restricting access of the network client until system health has been successfully validated. Configuration Manager extends this capability to provide validation for the presence of Software Updates, one of the leading security issues today.
Schedule Distribution—The ability to schedule updates and software installations allows you to have minimal disruption to your work environment. Many software updates require that a system be rebooted. Doing this during normal work hours is usually not acceptable. Many businesses now leave their computers on 24/7 and push all of the software updates, virus updates, and software installation packages out during the early morning hours.
Manage Wake on LAN—In order to conserve energy and still install software during off hours, you can use the Wake on LAN feature of Configuration Manager. You can choose to install updates or software as soon as the work force leaves and then power off the computers. You can then choose to restart the computers using Wake on LAN just before the workforce returns in the morning.
Manage Advertisements—You can use Configuration Manager to Advertise applications that can be installed. Instead of forcibly pushing an application to a computer, you can give the user the option to install it by Advertising it. This allows users to install the applications needed on their own without administrative help.

Preparation Hints

Review the Exam Objectives below and make sure that you are familiar with them. The Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Configuring exam is designed for those who have experience in this environment. Always check the Microsoft site for the specific exam you are going to take. In this instance, the site is http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-401. Microsoft also has a white paper about SCOM.

There are many web sites and blogs that can help you to research topics, but be careful to fully research the information you read. It is not advisable to try to find sites that list questions and answers for several reasons. First, you don’t know if you will be asked a specific question; second, the answers given in a blog may be inaccurate and third, you need to understand the information to adequately prepare.

When taking the exam, read each question carefully. Microsoft is notorious for adding a lot of unneeded information in their questions. Make sure that when you click on a choice, that it is really marked. Be careful clicking anywhere on the screen. I found that by inadvertently clicking near the scroll bar on the right of the screen, I actually changed an answer. You get a single piece of paper and a marker for writing. You can use a small amount of time before you even start the exam to make notes once you enter the test area. Sometimes there is even a questionnaire at the beginning of the test that does not count against your test time. You can use this time to write down notes, facts, tables or other information rather than taking your time between answers.

Recommended Study Resources

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Administrator's Companion by Steven D. Kaczmarek and Microsoft System Center Team (2008)

System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2007 Unleashed by Kerrie Meyler, Byron Holt and Greg Ramsey (2009)

Exam Objectives

The exam objectives are broken up into seven different categories:

Deploying a System Center Configuration Manager 2007 (SCCM) Server (9 percent)

Set up and configure an Active Directory schema.
Migrate from an SMS 2003 hierarchy to SCCM 2007.
Configure an SCCM hierarchy.
Set up and configure security accounts.

Configuring an SCCM Infrastructure (19 percent)

Configure client agents.
Configure site boundaries.
Configure core site system roles.
Configure discovery methods.
Configure client installation.
Configure SCCM infrastructure for Internet-based client management.

Managing Resources (14 percent)

Build an SCCM collection by using queries.
Meter software usage.
Manage assets.
Manage inventory flow.
Manage client agents.

Distributing Applications (17 percent)

Manage packages.
Manage programs.
Manage advertisements.
Schedule distribution.
Track success and failure rates for distribution.
Manage distribution points.

Deploying Operating Systems (13 percent)

Capture a reference computer image.
Manage task sequences.
Configure site system roles related to deploying operating systems.
Deploy operating system packages.
Customize user state migration.
Deliver applications.

Securing a Network Infrastructure (13 percent)

Configure Network Access Protection (NAP).
Maintain NAP.
Migrate from Inventory Tool for Microsoft Update (ITMU) to Windows Software Update Services (WSUS).
Deploy software updates.
Manage vulnerability compliance.

Managing and Maintaining an SCCM Infrastructure (15 percent)

Manage system health.
Configure automatic maintenance tasks.
Create custom reports.
Maintain clients.
Manage systems by using configuration management.
Manage Wake on LAN.

Where to Go from Here

After you pass the System Center Operations Manager 2007, Configuring exam, you may want to take Exam 70-400: Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007, Configuring.