Congratulations for all competitors and for all finalists. I’m sure that you all are made more than others to be in the Final round. This post can be a shot guide of how to prepare for Final Round.
Technical Staff
You must know to install, configure and use following technologies and products:1. Level one – Installing, configuring and securing infrastructure
- Windows Server 2008 – for servers or Virtual Machines
- Hyper-V
- Windows Vista or Windows 7– for desktop workstations or laptops
- DNS, DHCP, Print Server
- Active Directory
- Scripting or Power Shell
- ISA Server 2006
- L2TP Site-to-site VPN
- Remote VPN
- NAP
- DFS or File Server
- Antivirus Systems
- Virtual Services – Hyper-V
- Domain isolation
2. Level two – Installing, configuring and securing messaging system
- IIS 7
- Exchange Server 2007
- SQL Server 2008
- SharePoint Portal 2007
- Fore Front Antivirus for Exchange and SharePoint
- Windows Rights Management Services
3. Level three – Monitoring and managing network infrastructure
- SCOM
- SCCM or WSUS
4. Level four – Deploying web based reporting systems or customizing web applications
- Reporting Services
5. Level Five – How to resist on-line 24 hours
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Take regular breaks (5 minutes per hour)
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Drink water (minimum 0,5 liters at 2 hours)
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Eat food not junk food or only sweet thinks
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Do not smoke. If you are a regular smoker try to quit until the final round or reduce the number of cigarettes smoked per day.
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Other details about final round:
Sample milestones:
- Sending an e-mail or a signed or encrypted e-mail. You must have a CA Server or/and a certificate from one of the judges. You must have installed Outlook 2003/2007, Exchange, AD.
- Accessing your Mail via Web from a Public Internet Café. You must have configured OWA and HTTPS on Web Server, or OWA must be published in ISA as secured web server.
- Creating a VPN connection between your laptop from a Public Access Point and your internal Network, and sending some information, encrypted. (VPN L2TP)
- Protect a document using WRMS (Windows Rights Management Services)
- Protect an e-mail using WRMS- Protect your information from laptop in case that the laptop is stolen (3 levels of security: BIOS, OS, EFS or maybe bitlocker... )
- Identify and Report a hacking attack (ISA Alerts via e-mail or SCOM with ISA Reporting activated)
In final round you must expect to have:
Logical
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a printed document with general requirements
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a briefcase with many CD (like at MSDN AA) with all Microsoft Software including OS, Servers, Office, Management, Security, Development, etc.
Hardware
In printed requirements the judges wait from you to install, configure and secure everything: OS, Servers, etc. Each competitor haves the same requirements. Milestones are very motivating and you can anticipate where you are. If you do not pass a milestone you can continue to work but you lose 10 points.
If you ask me if it is possible to install all the requirements in 24 hours: My answer: Yes it is possible.
Home work
Made your laboratory and test everything. If you do not have many computers try to use virtual machines.
Final word
All of you are the winners. You are travelling for free to Egypt. Who will be the first place of IT Invitational… please, prepare your speech from home and when you will be on podium call al the competitors there, because they deserve that! Also it is an IT competition unwritten rule started by Stefan in 2005 continued by all first places year by year.Do not forget to share with us your experience from Egypt and made strong friendships with your competitors!If you do not have access to any Microsoft Software to prepare yourself for Final Round you can consult the Official Microsoft Virtual Lab Web page at:
Good luck to all of you and see you there!
[update]
Short technical video
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/training/format-learning-snacks.aspx
Enjoy!
[/update]