I’m often asked which is the best way to learn Exchange Server 2010. People are interested in either learning about Exchange Server 2010 for their job, or they want to learn about it so that they can pass the Microsoft certification exams.
The best Exchange Server 2010 training option for you will really depend on how you prefer to learn new skills. Some people like books, some like videos, and some just like to get hands on. So here are my recommendations for the different ways for you to do Exchange Server 2010 training.
How to Learn Exchange Server 2010 for Free
The cheapest way to do Exchange Server 2010 training is, obviously, to do it for free.
You can get free access to a series of video training modules in the Exchange 2010 Boot Camp.
Or if you’d prefer to use different training materials, then all it takes is a little bit of effort to seek out the resources that you will need.
First of all there is the software. The basic components you will need are:
- Windows Server 2008 64-bit – you can download the 180-day evaluation version here.
- Exchange Server 2010 – you can download the SP2 build here, and it will run for 120 days in trial mode. The certification exams are mostly aligned with RTM, and SP1 did change a few things so make sure you learn the differences if you plan to sit the exams.
If you’d rather get a pre-configured Exchange 2010 lab environment you could also download the Exchange Server 2010 VHD packages.
The next thing you need if you plan to sit the certification exams is the exam preparation guides.
- For exam 70-662 (MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuring) the preparation guide is here
- For exam 70-663 (MCITP: Designing and Deploying Messaging Solutions with Microsoft Exchange Server 2010) the preparation guide is here
Work through the list of skills measured for each, and seek out the documentation that explains each of those items.
You’ll find all of it documented in the Exchange Server TechCenter on TechNet. The TechNet information for Exchange Server 2010 is actually very good, though sometimes it would benefit from more diagrams. The biggest downsides to using TechNet is that the content is not always structured in a way that makes sense for training.
Exchange Server 2010 Training Books
If you’re looking for more of an structured, instructional approach to learning Exchange 2010 then the official training kits from Microsoft Press are a good option. These training kits align with the skills measured in the exam preparation guides. They are written as a learning tool, with good explanations and step by step demonstrations, rather than being a reference like TechNet.
I used to avoid getting training books because their size and weight made it impractical to carry them with me each day, but these days with ebooks and the Kindle for PC software it is a lot more convenient to have a library of these types of technical books on hand for training and reference.
Each exam has it’s own training kit. The books for exam 70-662 and exam 70-663 are both available from good book sellers. If you’re shopping for books I also recommend you pick up a copy of Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Best Practices which is an invaluable reference.
Exchange Server 2010 Training Programs
For the last few years my personal favourite learning method has been video training. For some reason I just enjoy the format more and tend to learn faster. I can sit through a few hours of video in one session, whereas with books I tend to last only an hour or so without taking lots of breaks.
I also like that video lets me see Exchange Server 2010 in action even at times when I am away from any Exchange servers to work with. And most video training also comes with audio versions as well. I’ve spent a lot of time in my car driving long distances for work while listening to Exchange 2010 training MP3s on my iPod.
For Exchange Server 2010 certification I used the video training from Train Signal. I wrote reviews of the two courses they sell – for exam 70-662 here, and exam 70-663 here.
The video training costs more than books, but if you prefer video and audio like I do then they are worth paying the extra for. I scored 978 and 962 when I sat the two exams and I think the Train Signal courses had a lot to do with that.
Which Exchange Server 2010 Training is Best for You?
So with all of these options available which one should you choose? My recommendations are:
- If you’re on a tight budget and have no money to spend, start with the Exchange 2010 Boot Camp, or download the trial software or the VHD images and use TechNet to get started
- If you’ve got a little money to spend then go for the Microsoft Press training books
- If you can afford the video training courses and like me you learn faster from video, then order those
- If you can afford a TechNet subscription to go along with any of the above training options, I highly recommend you get one
I hope you found that useful in answering some of your Exchange Server 2010 training questions. If you have any further questions please feel free to ask them in the comments below or get in touch with me using the contact form on this site.
hi everyone
when try to move mailbox users form database to another one in the same exchange server
and same domain i get this message(Warning: Failed to clean up the source mailbox after the move.
Error details: MapiExceptionUnexpectedMailboxState: Unable to delete mailbox. (hr=0x80004005, ec=2634)
please i need your help
hi puall
we are facing problem , when try to connect out look form out side I get alert security message
the name on the security certificate invalid or deos not match the name of the site
but when access my account from owa working fine .
this problem happen suddenly the certificate working one year and 6 month without error.
note: when to view certificate button in alert message I got another certificate not my certificate
that installed in my exchange
Technet is no more
Hi Paul,
Can you please help me to provide quick idea, If one node of DAG will fail then what are all action need to be taken to up the business.
Thanks.
HI Paul you are doing really a great job i am having a problem in hosted Exchange 2010 Sp1 . also new to exchange (PS,Hosting) . i recently created new organization Unit in exchange and also some mailboxes so I can login to these Mailboxes through OWA and send and receive also but when i try to connect through Outlook i get the error of name or object not found …
Note: i created Mailboxes through PS command also didnt give any permissions is it coz of permissions or something else … Please help me
My account is domain Admin account (domain administrator) , but not forest administrator .
The list below is the only test cmdlets available or showing by runing get-command on my exchange .
Cmdlet Test-ComputerSecureChannel
Cmdlet Test-Connection
Function Test-MAPIConnectivity
Cmdlet Test-ModuleManifest
Cmdlet Test-Path
Cmdlet Test-WSMan
note that the test-servicehealth is not listed .
It really looks to me like your Exchange permissions are the issue. Note that being a Domain Admin doesn’t necessarily mean you are also an Exchange admin. Exchange has its own security groups.
Moreover , i tried to to show all exchange cmdlets , but i didi not get test-servcehealth within the list .
Are you seeing any of the Test-* cmdlets? Perhaps there is a permissions issue with your account stopping those cmdlets from loading in your EMS session.
Hi Paul,
i am trying to run Test-servicehealth on my exchange server 2010 , but i am getting an error as below mentioned :
The term ‘Test-servicehealth’ is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Ch
eck the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:19
+ Test-servicehealth <<<<
+ CategoryInfo : ObjectNotFound: (Test-servicehealth:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException
could you help me please
Are you running it in the Exchange Management Shell?
Yes of course , i run it using ems.
I have a valid SSL Certificate and my seetings seems OK but my clients still cant access SMTP on TLS.
Does anyone know the right settings for Exchange 2010 i may refer to make it work.
Thanks
Pingback: Exchange 2010 Training – Module 01 Lesson 03 Part 1 Installing Windows Server 2008 R2 : helpvideos.tv
Hi Paul,
I will be able to do 70-662 after Exchange 2010 Boot Camp PLUS?
Regards
The focus of the Boot Camp is to provide affordable training that will get you started with Exchange 2010 and teach you some practical, real world skills. Along the way you’ll also build up your own test lab that you can use for further studies.
If you’re planning to sit 70-662 you should review the exam preparation guide that Microsoft publishes and either find training that covers all the exam objectives or work through them yourself using TechNet resources and your own test lab. There’s some good books for the exams that cover most of the exam objectives.
Just passing by. Great training advise! I’m a fan of Train Signal videos myself. They’re great and the do a very good job of keeping them updated – most others don’t. BTW what do you recommend for practice exams? Transcender was very disappointing (rife with errors- just not what they use to be) for the 70-662 exam.
MM
Pingback: Exchange 2010 Training Module 01 Lesson 04 Installing Exchange Server 2010
Pingback: Exchange 2010 Training – Module 01 Lesson 03 Part 1 Installing Windows Server 2008 R2
Pingback: Exchange 2010 Training – Module 02 Lesson 01 Part 1 Exchange Server 2010 Server Roles
Pingback: Exchange 2010 Training – Module 02 Lesson 02 Part 2 Mounting and Dismounting Mailbox Databases
Pingback: Exchange 2010 Training – Module 02 Lesson 02 Part 3 Moving Mailbox Databases
Pingback: Exchange 2010 Training – Module 02 Lesson 04 Part 4 Configuring Incoming Email
Pingback: Exchange 2010 Training – Module 03 Lesson 04 Disabling vs Removing an Exchange 2010 Mailbox User
Pingback: Exchange 2010 Training – Module 04 Lesson 01 Preparing the Exchange Server for Backups
Pingback: Exchange 2010 Training – Module 04 Lesson 04 Restoring Individual Mailbox Items in Exchange 2010
Pingback: Windows Server 2008 R2 Secrets Book Review