Assurance Wireless Program

Windows® 7 Resource Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)For a first edition, this RSK shows great promise. Too much information for those who wish to only be power users of the OS, but for anyone who needs to master and administer Windows 7, you can't go wrong with this behemoth. You would be hard pressed to not find an answer to general question or administrative need therein.
Continuing the trend set forth in prior Windows RSKs, this RSK introduces a lot of topics, but requires you to purchase additional books or read additional (and most of the time lengthy) TechNet material to fully make use of the technology or to completely understand what information they did present. A good example of this is PowerShell. The RSK and CD make heavy use of PowerShell scripts to automate tasks, but you do need to follow their How-To link if you actually want to learn the language. Another good example is the section on automated deployment. Although an excellent overview, most of the information you will need to completely perform the task you must get from one of the 7 links they provide you for resource materials.
I have also been somewhat surprised at the amount of information which is just missing, items that any administrator opting to customize the environment might need. As an example, if you're looking to deploy Win7 using the WIM on the install DVD instead of capturing your own, you will probably want to configure the Default User profile - a topic you will find minimal information on beyond folder locations and establishing mandatory profiles. Something as simple as how to configure the default background image is nowhere to be found. There are also no references to OEM configurations, such as changing the stock background image displayed when at the logon screen. Countless web sites publicize the information, but not the RSK.
Yes, this RSK is well written and an invaluable addition to your administrative library, but it won't be the last book on Windows 7 you buy/read.

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CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate Deluxe Study Guide, (Includes 2 CD-ROMs) Review

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(More customer reviews)Don't buy the Kindle edition of the Deluxe Study Guide!! Amazon has no way to send you the bonus CD's. If you want the Virtual Lab like I did then buy the hardcover. If you don't need the bonus CD's and Virtual Lab then buy the 7th edition for $18 for Kindle.
Customer service was good and refunded my money right away but I am very disappointed in Amazon for the way they handled this product.

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Deluxe Edition of Best-Selling CCNA Study Guide
This comprehensive, enhanced version of the Sybex CCNA Study Guide provides certification candidates with the additional tools they need to prepare for this popular exam. With additional bonus exams and flashcards, as well as the exclusive CCNA Virtual Lab, Platinum Edition, this comprehensive guide has been completely updated to reflect the latest CCNA 640-802 exam. Written by Cisco Authority Todd Lammle, whose straightforward style provides lively examples, hands-on and written labs, easy-to-understand analogies, and real-world scenarios that will not only help you prepare for the exam, but also give you a solid foundation as a Cisco networking professional.
This Study Guide teaches you how to
Describe how a network works
Configure, verify and troubleshoot a switch with VLANs and interswitch communications

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Grid Networks: Enabling Grids with Advanced Communication Technology Review

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(More customer reviews)The book defines the state of the art of grid networks. It shows the progress made in recent years. No longer is a grid network mostly a conceptual idea or just an implementation that proves such a network is possible.
Instead, much of the book is devoted to showing how to design and manage in some optimal manner a grid network. Definite progress. Another plus is a section that discusses how to integrate such a network with the distributed Web Services. Something that plays naturally to the distributed nature of the grid. There are simple examples using Web Services Description Language and UDDI. Nothing too sophisticated yet, unfortunately. But maybe in later editions of this book, we'll see some nontrival Web Services explained.

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A book that bridges the gap between the communities of network and Grid experts.
Grid Networks describes the convergence of advanced networking technologies and Grid technologies, with special focus on their symbiotic relationship and the resulting new opportunities. Grid technology is applicable to many implementations, Computational Grids, Data Grids, Service Grids, and Instrumentation Grids.
The authors cover a breadth of topics including recent research, featuring both theoretical concepts and empirical results. Beginning with an overview of Grid technologies, an analysis of distinguishing use cases and architectural attributes, and emerging standards. Travostino et al. discuss new directions in multiple networking technologies that are enabling enhanced capabilities for Grids. An appendix also provides an overview of experimental research test-beds and prototype implementations.
These topics will enable network experts to design networks to best match Grid requirements, while Grid experts will learn how to effectively utilize network resources.
Grid Networks: Enabling Grids with Advanced Communication Technology:
Bridges the gap between the communities of network and Grid experts.
Covers new network requirements posed by the Grid, and the paradigm shifts prompted by Grid applications.
Discusses basic architectural concepts and directions related to the integration of Grid and networking technologies, especially those that elevate network resources to first class entities within Grid environments.
Details new directions in networking technologies for the Grid, including Network Infrastructure & Management, Service Provisioning, High Performance Data Transport, Performance Monitoring, Reliability, and Network-Assisted Service Frameworks.
Provides an overview of advanced research testbeds and innovative early implementations of emerging architecture and technology.

Many communities will find this book an invaluable resource, including engineers and product managers, research scientists within academia, industry, and government agencies, advanced students and faculty in distributed systems courses, network and systems architects, CIOs, administrators of advanced networks, application developers, and providers of next generation distributed services.

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Principles of Computer Security, CompTIA Security+ and Beyond, Second Edition (Mike Meyers' Computer Skills) Review

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(More customer reviews)We teach hundreds of students in Security+ every year and this is the book we use to teach our courses. Conklin and crew have vast experience yet approach the "light touch - not too deep" aspect of Security+ with a perfect blend of technical nerdiness countered with easy reading. While it might be a bit of a stretch to say they make Security+ fun, I can say that they make Security+ approachable, readable - and most importantly TEACHABLE. Something no one else has yet done in my opinion.

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Essential Skills for a Successful IT Security Career
Learn the fundamentals of computer and information security while getting complete coverage of all the objectives for the latest release of CompTIA's Security+ certification exam. This instructive, full-color guide discusses communication, infrastructure, operational security, and methods for preventing attacks. Written and edited by leaders in the field, Principles of Computer Security, Second Edition will help you pass the CompTIA Security+ exam and become an IT security expert.
Learn how to:
Ensure operational and organizational security
Use cryptography and public key infrastructures (PKIs)
Secure remote access, wireless, and virtual private networks (VPNs)
Harden network devices, operating systems, and applications
Defend against network attacks, such as denial of service, spoofing, hijacking, and password guessing
Understand legal, ethical, and privacy issues
Combat viruses, worms, Trojan horses, logic bombs, and time bombs
Understand secure software development requirements
Enable disaster recovery and business continuity
Implement risk, change, and privilege management measures
Handle computer forensics and incident response

The CD-ROM features:
One full practice exam
Complete electronic book

Each chapter includes:
Learning objectives
Photographs and illustrations
Real-world examples
Try This! and Cross Check exercises
Key terms highlighted
Tech Tips, Notes, and Warnings
Exam Tips
End-of-chapter quizzes and lab projects

Wm. Arthur Conklin, Ph.D., CompTIA Security+, CISSP, is an assistant professor in the Information and Logistics Technology Department at the University of Houston.
Greg White, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at The University of Texas at San Antonio.
Contributing authors: Dwayne Williams, Roger Davis, and Chuck Cothren.

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Wireshark Network Analysis: The Official Wireshark Certified Network Analyst Study Guide Review

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(More customer reviews)I was a little nervous when I started reading this book. Chapter 1 provided an overview of network analysis, but had a lot of "personality." When I read, "Wait...more data is coming in...and more...and...SCREECH!" I wasn't too sure if I was going to finish the book. At over 700 pages, I was hoping that each page contained only "meat and potatoes," without a lot of dry humor and meaningless analogies. Thankfully, a few pages later I began what turned into a great read -- full of solid content.
Wireshark Network Analysis goes well beyond Wireshark functionality. Although the first several chapters outline how to best use Wireshark -- examining the settings, filters, and other configurations -- I think the true value of the book is in the detailed explanations of network traffic analysis. For instance, pg. 304 delves into DNS. This section tells the reader exactly what DNS is used for and provides an analysis of normal and abnormal DNS traffic. It also shows screenshots of the packet, displays and describes its contents. This type of analysis is provided throughout the book and covers all forms of network traffic (including suspect traffic -- my personal favorite).
Page 563 resonated with me, as I'm a firm believer in baselining network traffic. In this section, Wireshark Network Analysis details the importance of baselining and the types of traffic to focus on. Like other sections, this section also provides screenshots and shows how to analyze traffic and packet statistics.
There were minimal grammar errors, and it does seem like the case studies were not tech edited by the book editor -- many of them contained several grammar mistakes. Although, it does appear that the case studies were all submitted by third parties and probably used as-is. Nevertheless, I can provide plenty of other examples as to why Wireshark Network Analysis is a great book. There are plenty of screenshots, review questions with answers on the next page (instead of making the reader turn to the back of the book), and links to tons of packet captures for analyzing on your own. Overall, the book is well-written and, in my opinion, the best network analysis book on the market today.

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Wireshark is rated #2 in the Top 100 Network Security Tools by sectools.org. Wireshark is the world's most popular network analyzer tool. This book is the ultimate resource on Wireshark which is a MUST HAVE tool used by network IT professionals to troubleshoot, secure and optimize networks. Readers learn to capture wired and wireless traffic, focus on the cause of slow web browsing, identify why applications don't run properly across the network, locate the cause of poor VoIP call quality, determine why WLANs are plagued with problems and more. The author, Laura Chappell is the founder of Wireshark University and Chappell University and has been analyzing networks for over 20 years - the book is written in a clear manner with hundreds of screenshots for the visual learner. The foreword was written by Gerald Combs, creator of Wireshark.Wireshark Network Analysis covers the test objectives for the Wireshark Certified Network Analyst Exam and includes test questions and answers for all topics covered. Filled with 45 real-life case studies, Wireshark Network Analysis takes you inside small, medium and large corporations to see how they solved network problems in a more efficient, accurate way using Wireshark. Book supplements are available online at www.wiresharkbook.com.

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Microwave Transmission Networks : Planning, Design and Deployment Review

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(More customer reviews)This book provides an excellent overview of microwave engineering within the industry. It is well written and laid out in an introduction to deployment fashion. Excellent discussion on link budget development and a thorough view of availability versus reliability within the microwave path. I like how the author introduces you to the basic fundamentals of microwave networks and then moves into planning, design, and deployment. If you design or work with microwave radios, this book should be on your shelf as a right hand tool. The book has been an excellent reference to me for developing software and microwave link budgets. Great job!

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Design and build - anywhere in the world. The only thoroughly modern reference on microwave transmission network engineering and management, expert Harvey Lehpamer's stellar "Microwave Transmission Networks" provides hands-on help that speeds every step of planning, designing, building, and testing systems built to both North American and ITU standards.Offering in-depth help you'll use every day, from feasibility studies to actual hardware rollouts, this valuable and easy-to-understand resource helps project managers, engineers, and planners to: understand, design, and build microwave point-to-point networks - long- or short-haul, North American or ITU standards; expedite the analysis and the design process using internationally accepted models; calculate loss/attenuation, fading and fade margins, quality, and availability and perform interference analysis; get need-to-know answers on microwave link engineering; perform expert testing from design stage through acceptance; handle hardware issues from housings to antenna mounts and beyond; understand and track microwave network rollouts; manage maintenance, regulatory issues, ethical dilemmas, and logistical and organizational challenges; understand other microwave systems like Point-to-Multipoint, WLANs, and Bluetooth as well as microwave systems for rapid deployment; and, more.

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Understanding Computers in a Changing Society (Sam 2010 Compatible Products) Review

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(More customer reviews)My son has used this book very well in class. He doesn't read it as much as he should, but it is a valuable resource. Too bad it won't do him any good next year.

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