Showing posts with label networking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label networking. Show all posts

CCNA Exam Prep (Exam 640-802) (2nd Edition) Review

CCNA Exam Prep (Exam 640-802) (2nd Edition)
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I've been through ALL the CCNA books out there -- from Lammle's CCNA book to all the various CCNA study guides and so on -- and this one book by Jeremy Cioara is the absolute best available.
The cover of this book looks generic and nondescript, but Cioara has an ability to not only communicate in an amazingly down-to-earth, plain English way that is incredible. Also, he not only is easy and engaging to read, but -- *gasp* -- he actually gets his facts straight!
If you've been through the official CCNA books, you probably think that you have no choice but just to memorize a lot of things without hope of ever getting a simple, commonsense explanation for them, but you would be wrong in that assumption, because Cioara actually explains the things you assumed no one could ever explain.
Get this book -- you'll be glad you did.

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Practical Packet Analysis: Using Wireshark to Solve Real-World Network Problems Review

Practical Packet Analysis: Using Wireshark to Solve Real-World Network Problems
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To use "American Idol" lingo, you've already read reviews by Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul. It's time for the truth from Simon Cowell -- Practical Packet Analysis (PPA) is a disaster. I am not biased against books for beginners; see my five star review of Computer Networking by Jeanna Matthews. I am not biased against author Chris Sanders; he seems like a nice guy who is trying to write a helpful book. I am not a misguided newbie; I've written three books involving traffic analysis. I did not skim the book; I read all of it on a flight from San Jose to Washington Dulles. I do not dislike publisher No Starch; I just wrote a five star review for Designing BSD Rootkits by Joseph Kong.
PPA is written for beginners, or at least it should be intended for beginners givens its subject matter. It appears the author is also a beginner, or worse, someone who has not learned fundamental networking concepts. This situation results in a book that will mislead readers who are not equipped to recognize the numerous technical and conceptual problems in the text. This review will highlight several to make my point. These are not all of the problems in the book.
p 21: This is painfully wrong on multiple levels: "When one computer needs to send data to another, it sends an ARP request to the switch it is connected to. The switch then sends an ARP broadcast packet to all of the computers connected to it... The switch now has a route established to that destination computer... This newly obtained information is stored in the switch's ARP cache so that the switch does not have to send a new ARP broadcast every time it needs to send data to a computer." This misconception is aggravated on p 62 in the discussion of ARP.
p 65, Figure 6-5: The TCP three way handshake is not SYN - ACK - SYN.
p 78, Figure 7-3: The TCP three way handshake is not SYN - ACK - ACK.
p 79: Packet 5 is not "the packet that was lost and is now being retransmitted." Packet 2 is.
p 80: There is no "ICMP type 0, code 1 packet."
p 85: This boggles the mind: "Immediately after that ARP packet, we see a bunch of NetBIOS traffic... If that other IP address wasn't a sign that something is wrong, then all of this NetBIOS traffic definitely is. NetBIOS is an older protocol that is typically only used as a backup when TCP/IP isn't working. The appearance of NetBIOS traffic here means that since Beth's computer was unable to successfully connect to the Internet with TCP/IP, it reverted back to NetBIOS as an alternate means of communication -- but that also failed. (Anytime you see NetBIOS on your network, it is often a good sign that something is not quite right.)"
p 85: This "troubleshooting" example highlights the different default gateways for Barry and Beth as being the "biggest anomaly" causing Beth's computer to not work. The author ignores the fact that Barry and Beth have computers with the same MAC addresses.
p 89: Traces recorded at a client and server are compared. The author says "The two capture files look amazingly similar; in fact, the only difference between the two files is that the source and destination addresses on the SYN packets have been switched around." Good grief.
p 106: Another "troubleshooting" scenario wonders if a "slow network" problem is related to the fact that tracerouting out from a host fails to produce a response from the router. However, the traceroute continues past the router, so connectivity exists (missed by the author). He says "we know our problem lies with our network's internal router because we were never able to receive an ICMP response from it. Routers are very complicated devices, so we aren't going to delve into the semantics of exactly what is wrong with the router."
pp 107-8: Yet another "troubleshooting" issue wonders why seemingly "double packets" are seen while sniffing on a host. The author wonders if "misconfigured port mirroring" could be the problem, ignoring his statement that the trace was collected on the host in question. He doesn't notice that each "double packet" has a unique MAC address pairing, i.e., packet 1 involves 00:d0:59:aa:af:80 > 00:01:96:3c:3f:54 and packet 2 involves 00:01:96:3c:3f:a8 > 00:20:78:e1:5a:80. Assuming 00:d0:59:aa:af:80 is the only MAC address for the troubled host, there is no way this machine could see traffic "bouncing back" -- the destination MAC address for the dupe packet is 00:20:78:e1:5a:80.
p 110: Another "troubleshooting" example fails to recognize that packets 1-18 and 29 are part of one unique TCP session, and 19-28 are an entirely different session. Packet 29's RST ACK is not an "acknowledgement" of the RST in packet 28; besides not being an actual protocol mechanism, those packets are from different sessions anyway!
p 112: "More ominously, most of the traffic is being sent with the TCP PSH flag on, which forces a receiving computer to skip its buffer and push that traffic straight through, ahead of any other traffic. That is almost always a bad sign." It's a bad sign when you don't know what you're talking about, apparently.
p 129: "Display filters make it easy to search for traffic such as DCEPRC (sic), NetBIOS, or ICMP, which should not be seen under normal circumstances." I guess Windows networks never use at least DCERPC regularly?
This book should not have been published. The author should sit down with Interconnections, 2nd Ed by Radia Perlman, Troubleshooting Campus Networks by Priscilla Oppenheimer/Joseph Bardwell, and The Internet and its Protocols by Adrian Farrel, and learn how networks operate. Then he should have Gerald Combs REALLY provide a technical edit of PPA, since it's clear Mr Combs probably skimmed this book without catching the issues noted above.
The only positives I can say for PPA is that, like other No Starch books, it's form factor and readability is excellent. The diagrams are clear (albeit often misunderstood) and the obvious typos are few. As far as learning anything, the mention of "Expert Infos" on p 100 was nice.

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ScreenOS Cookbook Review

ScreenOS Cookbook
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Simply put, anyone who is currently evaluating or managing ScreenOS based Firewalls should own this book and have it close by.
The 1st chapter of the book alone shows the most useful commands that every administrator needs to know. It also details the architecture of ScreenOS which is the key to creating and implementing a relevant security policy in any network.
The book is well written and organized with CLI commands in bold and CLI responses in plain text which make it easy to differentiate what the user should be typing and what they should be seeing. (There are also some GUI screen shots in the book as well.) The book has excellent examples of packet walks, O.S. Architecture, and network diagrams.
A huge benefit of the book is that it doesn't bore the user with the history of the Internet or TCP/IP, etc. It jumps right in to specific examples and configuration guidelines relevant to what the chapter is trying to cover. The book is also very current and covers almost the latest version of ScreenOS. A great example is that there is an excellent chapter on configuring NSRP (HA) with Dynamic Routing Protocols (to sync routes from DRP's) and how that is configured in ScreenOS 6.0 which was the first release to support that feature. ScreenOS 6.0 is a very current release of ScreenOS.
As a user of ScreenOS for 5 years, I can absolutely say this book will be a welcome addition to my library!
Last note: Chapter 21 covers VSYS or Virtual Systems which is a major strength of ScreenOS and not well understood by many users. That chapter alone makes the book worth the cost.


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Written by key members of Juniper Network's ScreenOS development team, this one-of-a-kind Cookbook helps you troubleshoot secure networks that runScreenOS firewall appliances. Scores of recipes address a wide range of security issues, provide step-by-step solutions, and include discussions of why the recipes work, so you can easily set up and keep ScreenOS systems on track.ScreenOS Cookbook gives you real-world fixes, techniques, and configurations that save time -- not hypothetical situations out of a textbook. The book comes directly from the experience of engineers who have seen and fixed every conceivable ScreenOS network topology, from small branch office firewalls to appliances for large core enterprise and government, to the heavy duty protocol driven service provider network. Its easy-to-follow format enables you to find the topic and specific recipe you need right away and match it to your network and security issue. Topics include:

Configuring and managing ScreenOS firewalls
NTP (Network Time Protocol)
Interfaces, Zones, and Virtual Routers
Mitigating Denial of Service Attacks
DDNS, DNS, and DHCP
IP Routing
Policy-Based Routing
Elements of Policies
Authentication
Application Layer Gateway (SIP, H323, RPC, RTSP, etc.,)
Content Security
Managing Firewall Policies
IPSEC VPN
RIP, OSPF, BGP, and NSRP
Multicast -- IGPM, PIM, Static Mroutes
Wireless
Along with the usage and troubleshooting recipes, you will also find plenty of tricks, special considerations, ramifications, and general discussions of interesting tangents and network extrapolation. For the accurate, hard-nosed information you require to get yourScreenOS firewallnetwork secure andoperating smoothly , no book matches ScreenOS Cookbook.

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CompTIA A+ Complete Deluxe Study Guide: Exams 220-701 (Essentials) and 220-702 (Practical Application) Review

CompTIA A+ Complete Deluxe Study Guide: Exams 220-701 (Essentials) and 220-702 (Practical Application)
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This books is absolute. It comes everything in the A+ exam while also helping its readers understanding the concept behind the topics tested, not just making sure you pass.
CDs that come with the book a excellent including a PDF version of the book, which is handy for when I travel.

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An arsenal of study aids for anyone preparing to take the CompTIA A+ certification exams
Written by a team of industry experts, this unparalleled study guide offers you a systematic approach to preparing for the CompTIA A+ certification, and includes real-world scenarios, hands-on exercises, challenging chapter review questions, plus a CD with Sybex's custom test engine to reinforce all of the concepts you learn.

This Deluxe Edition of the bestselling CompTIA A+ Study Guide features bonus practice exams, flashcards, and a bonus CD with more than an hour of instructional video of key hands-on tasks.

Covering all exam objectives, study guide focuses on the new best practices and places a strong emphasis on current software including Windows 7. Inside this guide you'll learn how to:

Identify and understand PC system components, including motherboards, processors, memory, and cooling systems.
Identify and understand storage devices, power supplies, display devices, and adapters.
Install, configure, and troubleshoot desktops, laptops, and portable devices.
Install, configure, and troubleshoot printers.
Install and configure operating systems including Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and Windows 7.
General troubleshooting theory and preventive maintenance.
Troubleshooting operating systems, hardware, printers, and laptops.
Install, configure, and troubleshoot networks
Set up and maintain network security
Master essential operational procedures for PC technicians
Communicate professionally with co-workers and clients

Updated Coverage Includes Windows 7 Topics

Download Windows 7 supplements foryour exam prepincluding additional review questions, additional practice exam questions, and an updated objectives map from sybex.com.

Featured on the CDs

Over 600 Practice questions
Eight practice tests (4 for the 220-701, and 4 for 220-702)
Electronic flashcards
Entire book as a searchable PDF
More than 1 hour of instructional videos

Note:CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

For Instructors:Teaching supplements are available for this title.


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CCENT Exam Prep (Exam 640-822) Review

CCENT Exam Prep (Exam 640-822)
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I had a lot of preparation for the CCENT exam. I've been through the Cisco Academy (thoroughly reading the 4 excellent textbooks in the Exploration series), I've read Wendell Odom's ICND1 and ICND2 books, read Todd Lammle's CCENT and CCNA IOS Commands Survival Guide, as well as the Cisco Press Portable command guide, purchased Video Mentor products by Wendell Odom, Kevin Wallace and David Hucaby, and just before my CCENT exam, I purchased this booky as my last two weeks before the test preparation.
This book was just fun to read, not to brief in its overviews, yet not without enough substance to really reinforce the important stuff you need to know for the exam. I enjoy Jeremy's writing style; he makes things very clear and really has the gift of teaching. Its a fast read, with good end of chapter review tests and the measure up exam software which is included is great. Dont forget to explore the CD for the video extras and the full book on PDF! Also, as far as the typos and errata that we all love so much in technical books, this publisher does a good job of keeping that stuff to an almost non existent level(compared to even the Cisco Press books).
I dont know that differences between the Exam PREP books and the Exam Cram books, but I am currently reading the Exam PREP book for CCNA, also by Cioara, Minutella and Stevenson, to prepare for the ICND2 exam, and its as good and enjoyable as the CCENT book.
Its a couple of years old now, but ALL of the CCNA books are now pretty much. We probably wont see any new versions or titles until the release of the new CCNA exams. Jeremy Cioara's books are really great and I can't believe im the first reviewer.
I highly recommend adding this book to your arsenal of study weapons. Good job brother Jeremy, Dave and Heather.


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Your Complete Certification SolutionIn this book you'll learn how to:Understand the foundations of network communication as described in the OSI and TCP/IP modelsAccurately design and troubleshoot networks using IP subnetting skillsUnderstand the operational components and models of Cisco® routers and switchesPerform basic navigation and configurations using Cisco IOS® Software and Cisco Secure Device ManagerApply techniques to secure networksImplement and troubleshoot Distance Vector (RIPv2) routing protocolsImplement and troubleshoot NAT, DHCP, and DNS operation on a routerImplement and secure wireless LANs (WLANs)Implement and verify basic WAN linksCD Features New Simulation Questions!The CD features innovative testing software powered by MeasureUp, an electronic copy of the book, and 75 minutes of video instruction that highlight five scenarios to help prepare for simlet questions on the new exams. The MeasureUp testing software gives you an effective tool to assess your readiness for the ICND1 exam:Detailed explanations of correct and incorrect answersMultiple test modesRandom questions and order of answersCoverage of all CCENT™ ICND1 exam objectivesWRITTEN BY CCENT Experts!Jeremy Cioara (CCIE®, CCVP™, CCSP®) works in many facets of the Cisco networking realm. He is an accomplished instructor, author, and consultant. Jeremy is the CIO of AdTEC Networks and works as a network consultant focusing on Cisco network and voice-over-IP (VoIP) implementations.Dave Minutella (CCNP®, CCDP®, INFOSEC, CISSP, CTP, MCSA, MCDST, Security+, Network+, A+) has been working in the IT and telecom industry for over 14 years. He currently serves as Vice President of Educational Services for Training Camp.Heather Stevenson (CCNP) has more than 7 years of experience in the IT industry and is currently a Senior Network Engineer at a global manufacturing company.www.examcram.comISBN-13: 978-0-7897-3716-8ISBN-10: 0-7897-3716-7U.S. $39.99 / CAN. $43.99 / U.K. £28.99 (inc. of VAT)

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CompTIA Security+ Deluxe Study Guide: SY0-201 Review

CompTIA Security+ Deluxe Study Guide: SY0-201
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I purchased this book 3 weeks before I sat for the exam. The book content, flash cards and 4 practice exams were just the right balance to pass the exam. I would recommend this book to anyone needing/wanting to get the Security+ certification.

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CompTIA Security+ Deluxe Study Guide gives you complete coverage of the Security+ exam objectives with clear and concise information on crucial security topics. Learn from practical examples and insights drawn from real-world experience and review your newly acquired knowledge with cutting-edge exam preparation software, including a test engine and electronic flashcards. Find authoritative coverage of key topics like general security concepts, communication security, infrastructure security, the basics of cryptography and operational and organizational security. The Deluxe edition contains a bonus exam, special Security Administrators' Troubleshooting Guide appendix, and 100 pages of additional hands-on exercises.

For Instructors: Teaching supplements are available for this title.
Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

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CCNA Practice Questions (Exam 640-802) (3rd Edition) Review

CCNA Practice Questions (Exam 640-802) (3rd Edition)
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Reviews are always a bit subjective, but probably even more so with certification material like this book. I feel that this was a very effective book in my case so thats a 5 * to me.
First of all the CCNA Exam Cram assumes that you are involved in networking and your interest in obtaining certification, therefor the concentrate on giving you the Cisco specific information you need to pass. The biggest thing to recommend this series is what they are not.
The most popular book in the CCNA prep field seems to be the Lammle book which is 1000 pages and is really a time waster for someone who has been involved in networking for a few years. For instance Todd Lammle would say "Pay attention because this is very important" and then launch into 7 pages on how basic IP networking works. The experienced reader is then obligated to read through all of that looking for new information since Todd said pay attention, but then there is nothing new for someone who is in the field. Lammle's approach is valuable for someone with little experience or someone coming over from server admin, but the sheer bulk of Lammle (and the two Cisco press books at 700 pages each) make it difficult for the experienced student to just pick out the material that will be relevant to them.
In contrast Exam Cram CCNA (not this questions book) flags particular material as "Exam Tips" in a boxed sections and indicates that some material is "Highly Testable". In my experience with the exam they were exactly right- the type of material they flagged was exactly what was on the exam.
Here is the biggest reason for my recommendation of Exam Cram- the questions are hard enough to be useful to the student. The biggest problem in passing the CCNA Exam is know at what level you should be preparing. On a scale of difficult from 1-10 (devious) the questions in Exam Cram are pitched at 6-8 level. The Lammel book's questions are at a 4. The Actual Cisco exam is a 5-7.5. So even though Exam Cram is probably a bit more difficult than the actual exam it will prepare you for the multiple correct answer questions which can be tricky and for the indirect way Cisco tests your knowledge of some of the skills. For instance, Lammle might ask what a "desirable" mode is in trunking and give you 4 definitions to pick from, while the cisco exam will give you a interface config and will ask you how the switch port will behave based on some settings for a neighboring port.
Exam Cram also covers the following areas better than Lammle- STP designated port process, Wireless BSS/ISS and channel overlap, Security, IPv6. If you just followed Lammle there will probably be questions on your exam that you could not answer. In particular I had about 4 questions on STP designated ports that could not have been answered based on Lammle's treatment.
A word about the exam engine- I could suggest several improvements. It lets you test several different ways including a pop up display of the correct answer and a reasonably good discussion of the incorrect answers. This is very useful to the student. However the the exam scoring does not break down your score by book chapter, so you'll have to do that for yourself. The simulator engine is, as others have noted, atrocious as a simulator- there is no defending it as that. However- the fact that it sucks as a simulator doesnt mean that it isnt useful.
The exam engine will give you a scenario to configure, just like on the CCNA exam- for instance add ip's to a serial link, configure the link for rip v2 and advertise connected networks. The way the simulator engine works is it will prompt you for what subtask you are on and will only accept commands for that subtask before allowing you to go on. There is no auto complete and you can't use ? to see available commands at all. And there are no abbreviations allowed by the parsing engine. You must type "enable" and "configure terminal", no "en", "conf t". Ok this obviously sucks as a simulator- but as something that prepares you for the exam it works. If you can confidently configure things in the Exam Cram engine you will have no problem getting it done during the Cisco exam. Sometimes people get a little too comfortable hitting tab and ? and never really memorize the commands- that can cost you when you are in a timed test.
Another advantage of Exam Cram Questions is that it is a slim book that you can easily keep on you to peruse if you are at a sub shop and have some time. You cant really do that with a fat book like Lammle.
Summary- If you have been in networking for several years and are comfortable with subnetting and routing concepts go with Exam Cram book. You may want to do some additional reading in IPv6 as well. If you are coming to networking with little background or as a server admin use Lammel and at the very least buy Exam Cram Questions. You also should probably use the Cisco Press books for their chapters on VTP, STP, Wireless and IPv6.
Good luck!


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Network Security Bible Review

Network Security Bible
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This is a great book; it goes in great detail about security in all aspects of the computer industry. However it lacks one critical aspect, how do I do that? Like all network and computer professionals, I do not know everything, so when you tell me I should do something a certain way I'd hope that you will also tell me how to do it. With this book I found myself saying, maybe they will tell me what to do later, over and over, never happens. If you want to buy a book that's a reference manual, this is the one to get. If you are looking for a "how to" as well as a "what to look for" book, consider looking elsewhere.

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CISA Certified Information Systems Auditor Study Guide Review

CISA Certified Information Systems Auditor Study Guide
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First, this should not be your only reference. There: got that out of the way.
I recommend this book along with the official questions and answers book and the official questions and answers supplement.
This book does a very good job of covering every topic with which you need to be very familiar in order to pass the test. It covers the practice areas as updated for 2006, which haven't changed for 2007. However, the questions in this book are terrible and do not represent the questions you will be asked on the actual test. Also, there are many editing errors in this book so be on the lookout.
The official questions and answers book and its supplement are essential. The test questions are often misleadingly (or just poorly) worded and correctly answering the multiple choice questions often comes down to almost arbitrarily deciding which one is "most" correct. You will have a hard time on the exam if you haven't subjected yourself to this abuse before hand.
I do not recommend the official study guide. The official study guide is so terrible on so many levels I wished I could throw it at an ISACA official after wasting my time and money on it. The writing is terrible: redundant, dry, and often times of questionable use and technical accuracy. The book itself has terrible typography and pedagogy that make it painful to read. The softcover, oversized dimensions, and spiral binding make it very annoying to carry or store anywhere other than on a flat desktop since it flops around. That it was so obviously cheaply produced and yet costs more than $100 is insulting.
So, in summary: This book is worth your money despite its flaws and will help you pass the CISA exam. Make sure you also buy the official questions and answers book and its supplement. Avoid the official study guide.

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The industry-leading study guide for the CISA exam, fully updated
More than 27,000 IT professionals take the Certified Information Systems Auditor exam each year. SC Magazine lists the CISA as the top certification for security professionals. Compliances, regulations, and best practices for IS auditing are updated twice a year, and this is the most up-to-date book available to prepare aspiring CISAs for the next exam.
CISAs are among the five highest-paid IT security professionals; more than 27,000 take the exam each year and the numbers are growing
Standards are updated twice a year, and this book offers the most up-to-date coverage as well as the proven Sybex approach that breaks down the content, tasks, and knowledge areas of the exam to cover every detail
Covers the IS audit process, IT governance, systems and infrastructure lifecycle management, IT service delivery and support, protecting information assets, disaster recovery, and more

Anyone seeking Certified Information Systems Auditor status will be fully prepared for the exam with the detailed information and approach found in this book.

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IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide (3rd Edition) Review

IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide (3rd Edition)
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I purchased this book used. The seller said it had some damage to the cover. The book came in like new condition and even include the unopened supplemental student disk.

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The only Cisco authorized textbook that for the IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software course from the Cisco Networking Academy Program New Companion Guide format complements the online curriculum with insight and instruction from Academy instructors A portable reference that supports all the topics in the new course, aligning 1:1 with course modules Features improved readability, enhanced topic explanations, real-world examples, and all new graphical presentations Alignment to A+ objectivesThe IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide supplements and complements the IT Essentials I: PC Hardware and Software v4.0 online curriculum offered by the Cisco Networking Academy Program. The Companion Guide is designed as a supplemental textbook for the Networking Academy course, offering students a portable desk reference of the course content to use anytime anywhere as a study aid. The chapter content aligns 1:1 to the online course module topics, but does not merely mimic the content word-for-word. The authors present the course material in the Companion Guide in a comprehensive manner, providing their own examples where necessary to augment a student's understanding of the course material.Chapter Objectives as stated as questions at beginning of each chapter Key terms listed in the Chapter openers Enhanced readability for younger student comprehension How To Feature provides step-by-step tasks for common activities Key concept recaps, Check Your Understanding Questions, and next chapter previews are in a concise summary at the end of each chapterThe Companion Guide serves as an additional instructional tool for the instructor to assign take-home reading or give vocabulary quizzes to better prepare the students for in-class lab assignments.

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Digital Video Surveillance and Security Review

Digital Video Surveillance and Security
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I suspect that this is going to be a text book in some course. It is far beyond the scope of the average handy guy who just wants to put in his own security system. It is designed for huge office buildings and equipment that is too sophisticated and expensive for the layman.
In other words, don't get this if you are thinking of putting in your own computer camera surveillance for your home and property.
If you are in the business of installing for corporations, then it may be what you are looking for.

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Digital Video Surveillance & Security provides a blueprint for the IP-based electronic security system clients need, allowing security professionals to protect their client's place of business or home. The author gives detailed plans on the best camera position, areas of coverage, hardware and software to select in order to maximize the effectiveness of newer lower cost networked technologies. Clear, step-by-step descriptions and detailed illustrations describe the integration of such components as the current or new security system, door and window sensors, or other access controls, instantly launching a video of the area under the surveillance on a computer or HDTV.
*Vendor-neutral comparisons of camera equipment and recording options*Case studies and descriptions of best practices*Step-by-step guide to planning and installation*Easy-to-read diagrams and schematics

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Home Networking Simplified Review

Home Networking Simplified
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The firs thing that struck me as I picked up this book is that it was from Cisco Press but didn't have any Cisco equipment in it. Instead it is profusely illustrated with all kinds of rather simple but informative drawings. Then when I did see some photographs of equipment it was of Linksys gear. Only started to read the Foreward of the book did I read that Cisco purchased Linksys. Now it makes sense for them to do a book about Home Networking.
Cisco specialized in things like big heavy duty networks. I was concerned that they might write a book on home networking the same way. But they didn't. The authors are Cisco people (well, one of them recently left Cisco) but then they tied in with the Geek Squad a volunteer group that offers computer support on the web (www.geeksquad.com). It appears that these guys have seen every problem the end user is going to have. They probably read the book and made suggestions, and then once in a while they add a little comment to further clarify what the authors have said.
Everything you can ask for about home networking is covered. It's covered in an easy to understand manner. All in all, this is the best, most complete book on home networking I've ever seen.

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CompTIA Network+ Deluxe Study Guide: Exam N10-004 Review

CompTIA Network+ Deluxe Study Guide: Exam N10-004
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This book is very readable. The author's personal touch makes it more enjoyable. This makes going through a dry subject easier. A special strength for this book is when it deals with subnetting in much detail. There is one chapter and an appendix on this subject.
The annoying part is all the typos, misstatements, and wrong answers. The text has a few wrong answers, but the practice exams and flashcards on the CD have numerous wrong answers (about 13) along with all the typos. The book and accompanying materials should have been proof-read before being published. Because of this, I would rate this book below average. The cool thing about all this is that the majority of the text material taught me what was wrong in those conflicting areas. I'd prefer a guide book that's more reliable, though.

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More than 220,000 network professionals have achieved the Network+ certification since its inception, second only to the Cisco Certified Network Associate certification. This hardcover edition includes Sybex CompTIA Network+ Virtual Lab network simulator plus four additional bonus exams and 100 additional flashcards and is fully updated for the first revision of the exam since 2005. The guide contains concise information on security essentials and standards, using practical examples and insights drawn from real-world experience and covers key exam topics including network technologies, media and topologies, devices, management, tools, and security.
Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

For Instructors: Teaching supplements are available for this title.


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CompTIA Network+ (N10-004) Cert Guide Review

CompTIA Network+ (N10-004) Cert Guide
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Anytime a certification candidate decides that a book needs to be purchased, the candidate is usually overwhelmed by the number of titles available for studying for the exam. Choosing the right book can make the difference between passing and failing.
With that said, I have had a lot of experience in studying for certification exams, including exams from CompTIA, Microsoft, and Cisco. I have used many books over the past decade or so, and I can honestly say that I think Pearson got it right here.
This book does a good job of covering the content you need to understand to pass the exam. I know...because I have taken and passed the exam. I know how the questions are worded and understand the logic that CompTIA uses for their exam. It helps that I am also a practice test developer for Transcender.
With that said, I love the fact that Mike Harwood does not go into depth when it is not needed for the exam. I remember several years ago, I used a book to study for the old version of the Network+ exam, and I spent time learning about how the Internet was founded (and, no, the book did not mention Al Gore). When I finally took the exam, I realized that all that information was not needed to pass the exam. I was so frustrated!
But this book gets to the nuts and bolts of the Network+ exam. I particularly love a few things about this book:
1. When discussing similar technologies, the author provides comparison type material, such as advantages/disadvantages. Often understanding the subtle differences is the key to answering the questions on the live exam.
2. There are LOTS of pictures, screen shots, and diagrams. This will really help when you see similar pictures and diagrams on the live exam. (And make sure you can identify the different kind of cables, connectors, and so on. This is vital for the Network+ exam.)
3. I love the use of tables and bullet points for review purposes. These are easy to find and can be reviewed right before you walk into the test center.
4. The wireless networking chapter is particularly helpful. While this technology is not new, it is relatively new to the CompTIA certification world. The wireless obstruction table on page 265 was particularly helpful!
5. The Troubleshooting Procedures and Best Practices chapter was arranged in a manner that is easily understood. I have been involved in the development of study guides. Often, the troubleshooting section is the hardest to write because problems can be caused by so many factors.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone preparing for the Network+ exam. It is also a great general reference for those who are just starting in the computer networking industry.
Robin Abernathy
A+, Network+, Server+, Security+, Project+

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Learn, prepare, and practice for exam successMaster every topic on the newest 2010 Network+ exam.Assess your knowledge and focus your learning.Get the practical workplace knowledge you need!Start-to-finish Network+ preparation from top network administrator, consultant, and best-selling Network+ author Mike Harwood!Master every Network+ topic!Networking components, devices, media, and connectorsTCP/IP protocols, addressing, and routingEthernet networking standardsWireless networksWide area networksThe OSI ModelNetwork performance and optimizationTroubleshooting procedures and best practicesCommand-line networking toolsNetwork management tools Documentation proceduresNetwork access securitySecurity technologies and malicious softwareTest your knowledge, build your confidence, and succeed!Packed with visuals to help you learn fastDozens of troubleshooting scenariosReal-world Network+ prep advice from expertsEasy-to-use exam preparation task listsFrom Mike Harwood, professional network systems manager, consultant, and author of three best-selling books on the Network+ examCD Features 1 Complete Sample ExamDetailed explanations of correct and incorrect answersMultiple test modesRandom questions and order of answersShelving Category: Network Certification

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Network Warrior Review

Network Warrior
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Upshot: And you may find yourself...in a machine room or data center. You will need this book. Pros: If you just passed your CCNA exam, or have started working with enterprise level Cisco kit, there's a lot here for you. Cons: If you DON'T work with Cisco kit, why are you here?
For anyone not acquainted with data-centers & network operations, this book shows you how the other hardware half lives. When the author says `you should have passed the CCNA' he's very serious. There are NO EXPLANATIONS of basic Cisco terms. If you are not versed in TCP/IP and SOME Cisco kit, you will be spending a LOT of time in Google. And probably asking yourself why you bought this book.
Those cautions aside, there are gems of `best practices' for non Cisco or smaller network techs here: Amid the Cisco jargon you will find practical advice even for your small business or SOHO LAN, like in Ch. 27 `Basic Firewall Theory', or Chapter 29 on different flavors of 802.11x WiFi and how to secure it. The author even introduces IPv6, with one of the most straightforward explanations I've read yet.
But what really makes this book worth it are the backstories & practical advice from a veteran to new engineers on how to handle failure scenarios as well as the politics involved in maintaining large networks.
In fact, everything from Chapter 39 (`Failure'), Chapter 40 (`GAD's Maxims') to Chapter 41 (`Avoiding Frustration') would be welcome in any IT, infosec or dev reference.
In short, I would somewhat recommend this book for non-CCNA folks interested in Network Engineering or Infrastructure. But I would highly recommend Network Warrior for the audience for which it was intended.
Disclosure: I received the eBook download from O'Reilly for review purposes. I'm not a CCNA but have been around.

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Pick up where certification exams leave off. With this practical, in-depth guide to the entire network infrastructure, you'll learn how to deal with real Cisco networks, rather than the hypothetical situations presented on exams like the CCNA. Network Warrior takes you step by step through the world of routers, switches, firewalls, and other technologies based on the author's extensive field experience. You'll find new content for MPLS, IPv6, VoIP, and wireless in this completely revised second edition, along with examples of Cisco Nexus 5000 and 7000 switches throughout.

Topics include:

An in-depth view of routers and routing
Switching, using Cisco Catalyst and Nexus switches as examples
SOHO VoIP and SOHO wireless access point design and configuration
Introduction to IPv6 with configuration examples
Telecom technologies in the data-networking world, including T1, DS3, frame relay, and MPLS
Security, firewall theory, and configuration, as well as ACL and authentication
Quality of Service (QoS), with an emphasis on low-latency queuing (LLQ)
IP address allocation, Network Time Protocol (NTP), and device failures


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Networking Bible Review

Networking Bible
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Very Readable, Outstanding Book
This book was a very pleasant surprise, it is both easy to understand and contains a lot of in depth information on topics that interested me. Contained in this book are the introductory topics such as architecture and topologies that you need to understand modern networking, presented along with examples that extend the concepts to current networking designs.
Among the chapters I liked the most were the ones on network discovery and mapping, bandwidth and throughput, and particularly the one on modern routing. Each of these chapters not only explains the underlying theory involved, but shows how the industry applies the different technologies to make modern networking possible. Signaling theory, sampling, multiplexing, traffic engineering, and other complex topics were introduced in a way that made me feel that I finally understood them for the first time. The discussion wasn't dumbed down, but started at an introductory level and proceeded to very advanced treatments. I think it is a testament to the quality of the writing that the author's approach worked so well.
The first part of the book is on theory, the second on hardware, and the third part is on system types. Hardware is presented on a practical level with enough theory to be able to understand how the hardware is deployed. I like the discussion of what a network interface is quite a lot. It's nice to find topics such as home networking, peer-to-peer networks, personal LANs, LANs, WANs, WiFi, SANs, and high performance networking discussed and containing up-to-date information. There are presentations on topics such as The Onion Router (TOR) network, torrents, and many other topics that I haven't seen in any other networking book.
I wasn't as impressed with the TCP/IP protocol treatment, it was more general than I would have liked and not as detailed. However, all of the requisite topics are there and if you are new to the subject the information will get you up to speed. I've never really understood how storage networks relate to regular networks, this book clarified the relation between the two completely. I loved the chapters on streaming media, telephony and VoIP as they contained many examples of real world systems that I've worked with on my own networks. The network security chapters are also good, particularly the firewall chapter.
I would have preferred to have a larger section on network diagnostics and on network management. These are complex issues that are invaluable. Perhaps in upcoming editions the author will consider expanding these topics. As it stands this is a pretty long book, nearly 900 pages in length. I think that this is the best general networking book available, and that if you are going to buy one networking book and keep it on your shelf that this is the one to have. It is probably the best networking book of the current crop, and I'm glad I found it.


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Everything you need to set up and maintain large or small networks

Barrie Sosinsky
Networking Bible
Create a secure network for home or enterprise
Learn basic building blocks and standards
Set up for broadcasting, streaming, and more
The book you need to succeed!
Your A-Z guide to networking essentials
Whether you're setting up a global infrastructure or just networking two computers at home, understanding of every part of the process is crucial to the ultimate success of your system.This comprehensive book is your complete, step-by-step guide to networking-from different architectures and hardware to security, diagnostics, Web services, and much more. Packed with practical, professional techniques and the very latest information, this is the go-to resource you need to succeed.

Demystify the basics: network stacks, bus architectures, mapping, and bandwidth

Get up to speed on servers, interfaces, routers, and other necessary hardware

Explore LANs, WANs, Wi-Fi, TCP/IP, and other types of networks

Set up domains, directory services, file services, caching, and mail protocols

Enable broadcasting, multicasting, and streaming media

Deploy VPNs, firewalls, encryption, and other security methods

Perform diagnostics and troubleshoot your systems


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Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Part 1 (ICND1): CCNA Exam 640-802 and ICND1 Exam 640-822 (2nd Edition) Review

Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Part 1 (ICND1): CCNA Exam 640-802 and ICND1 Exam 640-822 (2nd Edition)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
My background so you have some idea that I know of the subject I speak on:
- MCSE 2003/2000/NT CNE 6/5/3 CNA 4 (obviously, I've studied for over 20 exams)
- My mother is a retired English professor with 30+ publications to her name (I've been shown manuscripts as well as the review and correction processes).
Current Status: I read this book, credited to Stephen McQuery, in the past four days. I have begun using the Boson NetSim and ExamSim software to prepare for the exam which I plan to take in 1-2 weeks.
Book:
The book repeats itself unnecessarily in several locations. It's almost as if there were different authors with no coordination between authors and no single reviewer to catch the needless redundancy of information.
On occasion (I counted 2-3 instances), the author references an acronym, protocol, or other such important information for the first time, but the writing clearly expects that the reader have prior knowledge of the material. In these cases, the "assumed knowledge" is above entry-level and should have been presented prior to beginning the topic at hand.
Acronyms: sadly, many, such as EIGRP, are missing from the Index. This means that, when you forget what it stands for and the author references it by acronym only, you're at a loss as you don't have an index to tell you where to find information on that acronym. No, the spelled-out version wasn't in the index either.
Glossary: missing; doesn't exist. Readers would have found having a glossary beneficial as a quick reference for terms and acronyms.
From what I've seen of the NetSim and ExamSim, the book itself is missing some of the information you'll want to know for the actual CCENT exam. It's probably best to have some hands-on experience (through Simulators if you don't have access to the real thing).
Review Questions:
I found five errors in the review questions. One such error is so astoundingly obvious, one has to wonder if anyone actually checked the answers. P 478, Chapter 6 Review, Question 6. The posted answer is C, but, per the text on page 429, the correct answer is B.
There are a total of 258 review questions. Perhaps 5 wrong answers out of 258 (2.1% of the total) doesn't seem *that* bad, however, I expect better.
Overall thoughts: this book is a good stepping stone to get you towards CCENT certification. You'll need a little hands-on exposure to shore up the holes in knowledge and working knowledge.
I'll have a better understanding of how much actual exam material was addressed by the book after I take the exam.


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Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Part 1 (ICND1), Second Edition, is a Cisco®-authorized, self-paced learning tool for CCENT™ and CCNA® foundation learning. This book provides you with the knowledge needed to configure Cisco switches and routers to operate in corporate internetworks. By reading this book, you will gain a thorough understanding of concepts and configuration procedures required to build a multiswitch, multirouter, and multigroup internetwork that uses LAN and WAN interfaces for the most commonly used routing and routed protocols.

In Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Part 1 (ICND1), you will study installation and configuration information that network administrators need to install and configure Cisco products. Specific topics include building a simple network, Ethernet LANs, wireless LANs (WLANs), LAN and WAN connections, and network management. Chapter-ending review questions illustrate and help solidify the concepts presented in the book.

Whether you are preparing for CCENT or CCNA certification or simply want to gain a better understanding of how to build small Cisco networks, you will benefit from the foundation information presented in this book.

Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Part 1 (ICND1), is part of a recommended learning path from Cisco that includes simulation and hands-on training from authorized Cisco Learning Partners and self-study products from Cisco Press. To find out more about instructor-led training, e-learning, and hands-on instruction offered by authorized Cisco Learning Partners worldwide, please visit www.cisco.com/go/authorizedtraining.

Steve McQuerry, CCIE® No. 6108, is a consulting systems engineer with Cisco. He focuses on data center architecture. Steve works with enterprise customers in the Midwestern United States to help them plan their data center architectures. Steve has been an active member of the internetworking community since 1991 and has held multiple certifications from Novell, Microsoft, and Cisco. Prior to joining Cisco, Steve worked as an independent contractor with Global Knowledge where he taught and developed coursework around Cisco technologies and certifications.


Understand the principles on which basic networks operate
Explore the operation and configuration of LANs

Extend the boundaries of the network by implementing and securing wireless connectivity
Configure routers to provide connectivity between different networks
Learn about IP addressing number conversion

Establish WAN interconnectivity using point-to-point links, DSL, and cable services
Configure Network Address Translation (NAT)

Use Cisco IOS® commands to determine the layout of a Cisco network topology
Manage the router startup and work with IOS configuration files and Cisco IOS images

This volume is in the Certification Self-Study Series offered by Cisco Press®. Books in this series provide officially developed self-study solutions to help networking professionals understand technology implementations and prepare for the Cisco Career Certifications examinations.

Category: Cisco Press–Cisco Certification
Covers: ICND1 Exam 640-822


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