Linda Chapman - Senior Enterprise Architect and Certified Cloud Architect

Microsoft added new Azure certification exams

Linda Lee Chapman — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 17:08:47 GMT

If you didn't see already Microsoft added new Azure certification exams. View it here for the limited time discount codes: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/community-blog-post.aspx?BlogId=8&Id=375147 This was as a result of student feedback that the main Azure exams (70-532, 70-533, 70-535) covered too much material that their job roles did not require them to know. So Microsoft listened and heard you. As a Microsoft Certified Trainer I think this is great, as many Azure Administrators struggled with these exams. For those that are beta exams, if you have never taken a beta exam, make sure and read the prep guide on those links on how they are different. They are much longer tests but that is so Microsoft can weed out the bad questions that the majority of the exam takers failed. But they also grade them differently since they know there will be questions that the majority fail, so they account for that. I personally prefer taking the beta exams. So I encourage you to go register with the discount code. If you don't register in time for the discount code then make sure and get one of the Take Twice offers so if you fail the first time you can re-take for free.

AZ-100: Microsoft Azure Infrastructure and Deployment
To receive the 80% discount, use code: AZ100TRAVELING when prompted for payment.
To prepare for the exam, review our prep guide and practice the skills listed.
AZ-101: Microsoft Azure Integration and Security
To receive the 80% discount, use code: AZ101HIKING
To prepare for the exam, review our prep guide and practice the skills listed.
This code is only valid for exam dates on or before August 9, 2018. If you have taken exam 533, you should take the beta transition exam. Much like our historical upgrade exams, this exam covers the skills that are part of the new certification but that were not covered by exam 533. It’s assessing the delta between what was covered by 533 and what is required for the Azure Administrator certification. AZ-102: Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification Transition
To receive the 80% discount, use code: AZ102PLANS when prompted for payment.
To prepare for the exam, review our prep guide and practice the skills listed.

Microsoft Official Certification Site and Azure Exams and Free Training

Linda Lee Chapman — Fri, 25 May 2018 20:06:32 GMT

My customers are always asking me who do you recommend we buy Azure training from. I am a Microsoft Certified Trainer and I specialize in Office 365, Azure and exam preps. I still recommend that you do not pay for a training class or online subscription models until you have gone through all the free training Microsoft has published. Microsoft provides more and better training then any training provider out there. The problem is it is not all in one location so hard to find. Here are some links to Microsoft's free training:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/azure-training.aspx
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning
https://channel9.msdn.com/Tags/azure
https://mva.microsoft.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/microsoft-azure-core-functionalities-2
https://www.microsoft.com/handsonlabs
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mcsa-cloud-platform-certification.aspx
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-532.aspx
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-533.aspx
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-535.aspx
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-538.aspx
https://mva.microsoft.com/training-topics/devops
https://aka.ms/edx-dev223x-about
https://www.edx.org/course/building-your-azure-skills-toolkit

Then anyone with an MSDN Visual Studio Subscription also has more free training for them on that site. Microsoft's official certification site https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/certification-overview.aspx this is where they also have free online training videos and links to prepare for an exam. Yes some of the links go to articles, but that is because it is easier and faster to update an article then update a training video or series of videos. Then after viewing all the free training Microsoft has, yes, many times it is worth it for an organization to pay for a full MOC or custom training course for an entire team. In my opinion only custom is really worth it. All of the above free videos and links cover what is in the MOC course anyways. I do not recommend the subscription services myself as all I have seen are hit and miss, they don't cover any Microsoft topics from start to finish in depth, only portions.

Microsoft retires exam 70-534 and replaces with a new exam 70-535 (tentative name)

Linda Lee Chapman — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 17:40:34 GMT

Microsoft Certified Professional program continually reviews their current and planned certifications to ensure that certifications reflect the latest Microsoft technologies. If you have been following all the Azure Updates https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates that are released daily, you know a lot has changed in Azure since the 70-534 exam was released. At Ignite we heard that because of Azure updates releasing so often, Microsoft is going to start updating their Azure exams every three months. This started with 70-532 and 70-533 being updated currently. Continuing that pattern Microsoft has just updated the 70-534 learning page https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-534.aspx stating they are retiring this exam and replacing it with a new exam with new objectives. Microsoft has tentatively named this new exam 70-535. You can find those objectives in this PDF https://download.microsoft.com/download/B/9/1/B91A0CE0-9786-4B81-8937-315F63E13910/Architecting_Microsoft_Azure_Solutions_11302017.pdf. I do not recommend downloading the PDF as Microsoft already stated they will be updating the Azure objectives every 3 months or as needed. Rather, bookmark the Microsoft Learning link above, as that is where they announce these changes. What does this mean for those of us that have passed the 70-534 exam? Microsoft does not clearly state how long they will grandfather that exam to count towards the MCSA or MCSE. In previous changes such as this Microsoft has given us a significant amount of time to take the new test. However, I have reviewed the new objectives, and I would recommend you plan on preparing for and taking this new test when it releases. What does this mean for those of you that were studying for 70-534 and have not taken the exam? The objectives are listed, so you can start studying for this now. This new exam is focusing more on what customer's need and are doing with Azure, like cloud migrations and hybrid cloud solutions that include knowledge on operational knowledge, like Azure Log Analytics, Azure Monitor, and alerting through Application Insights. This change is for the better, helping to ensure you know how to monitor and support it after the design and solution is deployed.

How to add a web part to DispForm.aspx

Linda Lee Chapman — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:31:50 GMT

OOTB TIP

For those of you that don't use SharePoint Designer, or can't...if you need to add a web part to a List Form such as DispForm.aspx, just add &toolpaneview=2%20&PageView=Shared to the end of of your URL in the browser.

Example: https://webapplicationurl/sites/LLC/Lists/Bookmarks/dispform.aspx?id=1&toolpaneview=2%20&PageView=Shared

Appended Column not showing all entries

Linda Lee Chapman — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 07:51:49 GMT

When using the Appended Column setting, remember that the appended column setting only stores as many Versions as you have set in your List Version Control settings. So if you are using it as a Log column like many do...it will eventually not show all the entries once you reach your Version Control thresholds set.

Can not delete a master page "This item cannot be deleted because it is still referenced by other pages"

Linda Lee Chapman — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 07:48:13 GMT

I came across this issue the other day. When creating a custom master page, I then wanted to delete it. When trying to delete the page I got the following error

"This item cannot be deleted because it is still referenced by other pages. This item cannot be deleted because it is still referenced by other pages "

but I knew my page was not attached to any other pages. I finally found this KB from Microsoft https://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=926812 stating this is a known issue.

Rather than "hiding" the page as they suggest, I chose to create a Folder called "DeleteMe" in the MasterPage Gallery, then I had to turn my Version Control off completely and Content Approval off too. Then I opened the gallery using SPD and was able to drag the master pages into the DeleteMe Folder, then I went back to the Master Gallery web page and deleted the Folder

About Me

Linda Lee Chapman — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 06:53:00 GMT

I am an Enterprise Architect for Microsoft. I have been in technology for 30 years.

My background is in designing large enterprise solutions and business strategy. My technical background is as an infrastructure architect designing, and deploying large complex infrastructure solutions for large companies. Product expertise; Office 365, Azure, Active Directory, Exchange, SharePoint, SCOM, and Hyper-V. For over 10 years I specialized in migrating large companies from Novell, Notes, and other platforms to Microsoft's newest technologies.

I have lived in; Utah, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, Oregon, California, Arkansas and Georgia! So if you think you know me...you probably do :)