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How to Obtain Your Project Management Professional (PMP) Cert
The overwhelming majority of IT professionals that I have met or interacted with want to reach a level in their careers which engages in managing projects, resources or services.
Management has become the ultimate pinnacle of most career oriented workers today. One way to reserve a chair at the management table is through business schools; the alternative and more professional approach is to obtain management certificates.
As NetworkWorld.com pointed out a couple of weeks ago, project management certifications do matter. The article states “more and more CIOs believe in the importance of project management certifications” and the PMP credential is in high demand.
Today I’m going to discuss the very popular and reputable option — Project Management Professional (PMP) certification which is soon catching up as the arrow in the quiver that all managers dream of.
Overview of PMP Certification
Protect Your Files in Windows 7 Using BitLocker – Part 1
BitLocker Drive Encryption was introduced in Windows Vista but is not as widely used as other security systems on the market. But don’t let that fool you — it is a powerful security system that should be given a second look.
You can use BitLocker Drive Encryption on not only the drive that Windows is installed on, but on other internal hard drives as well.
Why Use BitLocker?
BitLocker Drive Encryption helps protect your data by creating a small partition on the drive as well as encrypting the contents on the drive itself. If your hard drive or system is lost or falls into the wrong hands, your data will be protected.
Not only does BitLocker require a thumb drive or a smart card, but even if your laptop and thumb drive are both stolen, the individual would still need to know your password to unlock the drive. This adds an additional layer of security that is nearly unrivaled.
Not only that, but unlike the Encrypting File System which allows you to encrypt individual files, BitLocker Drive Encryption encrypts the entire drive. Meaning the second you move a file into the drive, it is automatically encrypted, and when you move a file off of the drive, it becomes unencrypted. This makes it much easier to manage your encrypted files so you never have to double check to make sure every important file is encrypted.
You can even access a drive locked with BitLocker Drive Encryption over a Windows network, as long as you have the encryption password. You can also set a drive to automatically unlock right when you log into your computer.
In both Vista and Windows 7 BitLocker is available in Ultimate and Enterprise editions.
How to Install Windows 7 in VMware Workstation
VMware is a virtualization platform where you can install multiple Operating Systems (OS) on your desktop or laptop computer.
For example, if your computer is running Windows Vista but you want to experiment with Windows 7 for development or certification, you can install a guest OS of Windows 7. In fact, you can install an entire virtual domain on a single computer.
With VMware Workstation, you no longer need to purchase multiple physical computers to meet your development or certification needs.
A desktop or laptop with good processing power and plenty of available memory is all that you will need to unlock your desktop from a single OS to multiple OS’s.
For example, my current configuration is a 64-Bit computer with a quad-processor and 8GB of RAM. It allows me to run up to 10 virtual machines simultaneously.
If your computer is 32-bit with 2-4 GB of RAM, you can run 1-4 virtual machines simultaneously. You can experiment with the memory settings depending on the specifications of the computer you own.
Note: Please review the specifications of VMware prior to downloading the software to assure that your computer meets the minimum requirements.
VMware Workstation System Requirements
The hardware requirements are as follows:
How to Create a Separate Home Partition in Ubuntu Linux
One of the joys of being a Linux user is the flexibility. Virtually every aspect of your system is customizable. Testing and tweaking desktop managers, compiling a new kernel, fearlessly contributing through trial and error, to the open source movement. Yet, all this flexibility is not without its perils.
It’s happened to us all at some point. We’ve tinkered ourselves into a technical abyss rife with grub errors, system freezes, or black screens of death-our systems fried. When all attempts at recovery fail, we sigh, break out our LiveCD and reinstall. While devastating, the pain can become compounded if you have not properly backed up the data residing in your /home directory.
Advantages of a Separate Home Partition
The general consensus among Linux enthusiasts is that the /home directory should be placed on its own partition. There have even been proposals that this be made a part of the default installation process.
The separation accomplishes two things: facilitates cleaner, simpler Linux upgrades and provides a safe haven for your data in the event of a problem with your primary Linux partition. As a side benefit, if you run multiple Linux flavors (i.e. Fedora, openSUSE, Mint, etc.), you’ll be able to use the same /home partition for each of these.
Ubuntu Linux operates on a 6 month release cycle. Clicking the upgrade button in the synaptic package manager will upgrade your distribution – albeit, with varied results. Some upgrades work flawlessly, while others are plagued with problems. Consequently, many agree that a clean install is the preferred option.
A clean install does exactly what the name implies, wiping the hard drive during the installation process. One can easily back up their data and then restore it, but this step can be eliminated if /home is on a separate partition.
Whatever Happened to MCSE? And What’s This MCITP?
What Did Happen to the MCSE Cert?
Today Ken Rosen held a Live Meeting on the topic and although the information wasn’t new, it was presented well and explained in detail.
We’ve attempted to provide some guidance for MCSE candidates and IT Pros ever since the Server 2008 certification changes were announced; here are some of the more popular articles posted:
- Windows Server 2008 Certifications — Death to the MCSE
- Why Getting Your MCSE Now Is Still A Good Idea
- What’s the Next Step for MCSEs?
We even have a video about the new Server 2008 MCITP Certifications.
But what our previous posts did not cover was how old Certifications map to the new MCITP certifications, and Ken was able to explain this with these helpful diagrams:
Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician (Exam 70-685)
Exam 70-685 is the last Windows 7 exam on our list. We have already covered:
• Exam 70-680: Windows 7, Configuring,
• Exam 70-683: Windows 7, Preinstalling for OEMs,
• Exam 70-686: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Administrator,
along with a general Windows 7 Certification Overview. Let’s get started on exam 70-685!
Windows 7 Exam 70-685: Overview
The Enterprise Desktop Support Technician exam was designed to assess an individual’s experience and ability to support and maintain computer systems on an enterprise level.
While the Enterprise Desktop Administrator exam is similar, it is based more on software, deployment, upgrading, and managing an enterprise sized network of computer systems, this exam is based on software and hardware troubleshooting and general technical support skills, much like the A+ exam, except on a much larger scale.
You should have at least 3 years experience supporting and troubleshooting computer systems on a medium to large scale as well as knowledge of good support practices in the field. After successfully completing the exam, you will have earned credit towards becoming a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician).
CompTIA Listens and Adjusts Certification Renewal Policy
Since the announcement of the new Certification Renewal Policy earlier this month, CompTIA has received some serious criticism from certification holders.
The new policy stated that the A+, Network+ and Security+ certifications will no longer be lifetime certifications. Instead, the certs would expire three years from the date they’re issued, at which point candidates would have to renew the certs in order to remain certified.
The kicker in the deal was that the new policy applied to everyone — individuals who obtained the certifications in the past along with those who were planing on completing them in the future.
This did not go over well. Take a look at some of the comments we’re received about the issue — people were honestly upset about this, especially those who have been certified for years.
And CompTIA listened.
Changes to CompTIA’s Certification Renewal Policy
Today, CompTIA released a statement clarifying the policy:
“Current certificate holders remain certified for life; renewal requirement applies only to certifications earned on or after January 1, 2011″
Which means that lifetime certifications for A+, Network+ and Security+ certs will remain valid, but only if you certify before the end of this year.
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