1/26/2005 -- The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) announced yesterday that the new version of its Server+ certification exam will go live Feb. 14.

According to CompTIA, the vendor-neutral Server+ exam was updated to "incorporate the latest technologies in server architectures, hardware and peripherals and map as closely as possible to current job tasks."

Objectives for the new Server+ exam (2004-version) can be found here. Objectives for the current 2001-version exam, which will be retired March 31, are available through the same link.

As part of the release, CompTIA is selling a 32-page PDF called the Server+ Supplemental Guide, which "fills the gap in courseware and study material currently available," said Neill Hopkins, CompTIA vice president of skills development. The guide sells for $24.95 ($19.95 for members) and includes a detailed overview of the new technologies covered on the exam as well as sample questions.

Hopkins said the organization decided to offer this PDF -- the first time the organization has ever offered exam preparation content for sale -- to help spur immediate uptake of the new exam. "The decision to publish this guide came out of the need for information and preparation materials regarding new exams to be available at the exam launch. Currently, this is difficult using the printing schedules of our third-party publishers," he explained. "CompTIA will consider publishing preparation materials for future exams based on the popularity of the CompTIA Server+ Supplemental Exam Guide."

According to CompTIA, more than 10,000 people worldwide have earned its Server+ credential. The update does not affect those already Server+ certified, as CompTIA certifications never expire.

For more information on the new Server+ and the Supplemental Guide, go here. -Becky Nagel