An Overview of exam 640-802 CCNA

In a fast paced environment, being a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) will not only bring you great opportunities for entry level networking jobs in the IT field, but also give you the information that you need in order to do your job competently.

The exam 640-802 is conducted to award the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification to successful candidates. The syllabus for the exam includes a wide range of topics, such as WAN connections, network security implementation, types of network, details of network media, basics of routing and switching, understanding the TCP/IP and OSI models, IP addressing.

It is highly recommended that candidates should develop their skills and knowledge in the following areas prior to attempting 640-802 exam:

Thorough understanding of the purposes and functions of different network devices;

Practical knowledge of components required for specific networks;

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) and TCP/IP models along with their protocols in a network;

Understanding of networking and web applications;

Interpretation of network diagrams;

Identifying and troubleshooting common problems in networks;

Knowledge of network segmentation and traffic management;

Verification of network status and usage of basic utilities like ping, telnet, SSH, and ipconfig;

Routing concepts and operation of routers; CLI basics;

Good knowledge of VLANs, VTP, RSTP, VLSM, LAN, WAN to name a few.

It is recommended that candidate must have at least around one year experience, in the networking field before he attempt to take the CCNA certification test. This experience will not only allow you to learn more about the hardware involved, but it will also allow you to learn about the different information that you will need to know on the test.

The process of getting the CCNA Certification test is complex, but it is manageable and many people are doing it every year. However confident you may be, it is not possible for you to master the entire syllabus without proper guidance.

The following practice exam questions are for the Cisco CCNA 640-802 exam and will definitely help you towards your certification efforts.

Q1. Which statement about MAC addresses is correct?
a. The MAC address can never be changed.
b. A MAC address is represented by binary digits that are organized in pairs.
c. A MAC address is a number in hexadecimal format that is physically located on the NIC.
d. It is not necessary for a device to have a unique MAC address to participate in the network

Q2. Which of the following is an IOS command that can be used to increase the security of unused switch ports?
a. Port security
b. Mac-secure
c. Firewall
d. Shutdown

Q3. IP addresses are represented by ?
a. 16-bit decimal numbers
b. 32-bit binary numbers
c. 8 sets of 4-bit decimal numbers
d. 8-bit binary numbers

Q4. What does the command IP route 192.168.50.0, 255.255.255.0, 10.2.1.3 specify?
a. The router should use network 192.168.50.0 to get to address 10.2.1.3.
b. Both 192.168.50.0 and 10.2.1.3 use a mask of 255.255.255.0.
c. You want the router to trace a route to network 192.168.50.0 via 10.2.1.3.
d. The router should use address 10.2.1.3 to get to devices on network 192.168.50.0.

Q5. Which of the following protocols is an example of an exterior gateway protocol?
a. BGP
b. RIP
c. EIGRP
d. OSPF

Levels in IT Certification

If you are looking into IT Certifications, there are several levels of certification that you can prepare for yourself for. These will be divided according to the vendor and will also be different in relation to the type of IT Certification you are trying to go for.

IT Certification programs will be planned by levels of complexity, allowing you to first learn the basics of a technology, and then move into problems of higher complexity.

Entry Level Certification
The first set of IT Certification levels that you will have to go through are the entry level Certifications.
The first level that several certification programs offer is known as the specialist program. This allows you to study one of the programs and know the details about what this program is. It often times includes knowing how to maintain as well as troubleshoot with the program. You can also get training at an associate level. Depending on the types of programs you are using, entry level may also include the ability for you to become a developer on specific technologies.

Intermediate Level Certification

In the intermediate level IT Certification, there are more tools that you will be able to learn at the advanced level, which can help you in using effective tools and developing specific programs faster.
If a certain program isn’t working, then you will learn how to fix or develop the program. This can be done not only for things such as web development and software, but also for becoming a systems expert. People certified with intermediate level certifications, usually become administrator for databases, systems, or certification. With intermediate level training, an individual also has the possibility of becoming an advisor for security and technology based programs.

Advanced Level Certifications
Generally, these types of IT Certifications will include a variety of programs that are combined together. By doing this, one can become an expert in the particular information technology program that they were interested in. Developers, Administrators, Advisors, and Technical experts all become a part of this particular IT Certification area. At this point, one will also be able to advance into understanding the entire infrastructure of the system that they are working with. They will also be able to work with deployment, meaning that they can effectively use the security programs as well as the storage areas that are available in systems.

NIIT adjudged Finalist for the 2009 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Awards

NIIT, leading Global Talent Development Corporation and Asia’s largest IT Trainer, today announced that it has been selected as a 2009 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference Awards finalist in Learning Solutions, Innovative Partner of the Year.

NIIT’s ‘Integrated Program for Developing Skills and Certification on.NET – GNIIT’ has been selected by Microsoft as one of the two finalists for Partner of the Year, in the category, Learning Solutions Innovative Partner of the Year. The Learning Solutions, Innovative Partner of the Year award recognizes partners’ commitment and ability to deliver high-quality innovative learning services to meet customer needs. It also validates the effect of technical training, skills assessment, student mentoring, and Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) exam preparation on customer satisfaction, and the application of Microsoft technology to solve business problems.

Mr. G. Raghavan, President, Global Individual Learning Solutions, NIIT said, “We are pleased to have been selected as a 2009 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference Awards finalist in Learning Solutions, Innovative Partner of the Year. At NIIT, it has been our constant endeavor to address the skills gap in IT industry by enhancing employability of the workforce and making them Industry Ready. We hope to continue providing innovative range of programs as a solution to manpower needs in the industry.”

“Partners are the key to igniting business innovation through great technology as well as helping customers drive down costs. Congratulations to the 2009 WPC Award finalists who have demonstrated a superior level of expertise as well as a focus on delivering customer value. We look forward to seeing our partners fulfill their limitless potential as they continue to provide customers with world-class Microsoft solutions” said Allison L. Watson, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Partner Group, Microsoft Corp.

Source: NIIT

Know About the 70-290 Certification

Two important system administration certifications from Microsoft are Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA) and Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE). Each of these certifications can be achieved by passing certain exams associated with these.

The 70-290 exam is falls under the MCSE certification path, and certifies that the individual is skilled to manage and maintain Windows 2003. The important concepts covered in 70-290 are listed below;

Managing and Maintaining Physical and Logical Devices

• Manage basic and dynamic disks.
• Optimize server disk performance.
• Troubleshoot server hardware devices.
• Install and Configure server hardware devices.
• Monitor server hardware.
  

Managing Users, Computers and Groups

• Manage local, roaming and mandatory user profiles.
• Create and manage computer accounts in Active Directory environment.
• Create and manage groups.
• Create and manage user accounts.
• Troubleshoot user accounts.
• Troubleshoot user authentication issues.
  

Managing and Maintaining Access to Resources

• Configure access to shared folders.
• Troubleshoot terminal services.
• Configure file system permissions.
• Troubleshoot access to files and shared folders.

Managing and Maintaining a Server Environment

• Monitor and analyze events.
• Manage software update infrastructure.
• Manage software site licensing.
• Manage servers remotely.
• Troubleshoot print queues.
• Monitor system performance.
• Monitor file and print servers
• Manage a web server.
• Monitor and optimize a server environment for application performance.

Manage and Implement Disaster Recovery

• Perform system recovery for a server.
• Mange backup procedures.
• Recover from server hardware failures.
• Restore backup data.
• Schedule backup jobs.

The 70- 290 examination is a multiple choice questionnaire, and the candidate needs to select the 'best' answer, out of the options. The minimum passing score for this exam is 700 out of 1000. All Microsoft Certifications exams are administered by Prometric.

Here are some of typical questions asked by Microsoft in 70-290 exam:
Q 1. _________ is a command-line tool that enables you to manage objects, such as disks, partitions, and volumes from the command-line.
a.DiskMan, b. DiskPerf, c. DiskPart, d. DiskCom

Q 2. In Windows Server 2003, a group denotes a set of users, computers, contacts, and other groups that can be used as Security groups and _______________.
a. Fax Groups,
b. E-mail Distribution Groups,
c. Name Resolution Groups,
d. None of the Above

Q3. When you copy a shared folder, ____________________
a. The original shared folder is still shared, but the copy is not shared.
b. The original folder as well as the copy is shared.
c. The original folder is not shared anymore, but the copy is shared.
d. The original shared folder and the copy both are not shared anymore.

Q4. What should you do when you want to track disk space use on a per-user basis, but do not want to deny users access to a volume?
a. Enable disk quotas,
b. Enable disk quotas and set the disk quota warning level,
c. Enable the disk quota warning level only,
d. Disable disk quotas

Q5. What are the advantages of network backup?
a. Network backup can be used to back up the entire network and requires fewer tape drives, or disks.
b. Network backup decreases network traffic,
c. Network backup can be used to backup the Registry on remote computers.
d. All of the above

MCSE exams are quite challenging, and are not easy to clear. Therefore, it is recommended to practice well, both for theoretical as well as practical questions.

Upgrade to MCTS on Windows Server 2008

Microsoft continues to update its IT certifications, providing individuals an opportunity to earn certifications on its Windows Server 2003 and 2008 products. Since Microsoft runs on variety of server formats, it is important that you get an extensive set of certifications, and should always check with your current or prospective employer to ensure that you are studying for the proper exam. As many IT companies are planning to upgrade to the new Windows Server 2008 technology, developing a complete MCSE study plan is important.

With Windows Server 2008, Microsoft introduces a new set of certification options. In the prior versions of Windows server, the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certifications have been pretty standard. The certification path has changes for Windows Server 2008and following are the steps to upgrade.

Windows Server 2008 is a next-generation server operating system that helps IT maximize control over its infrastructure, while providing unprecedented availability and management that leads to a significantly more secure, reliable, and robust server environment.

People Certified with MCSA and MCSE on Windows Server 2003 should consider taking the appropriate upgrade test to make the immediate transition to Windows Server 2008.For the MCSA, the test is 70-648; for the MCSE, the test is 70-649.These tests will be used as a bridge form MCSE/MCSA 2003 to MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Certifications.

Exam 70-649 is for IT professionals who currently hold an MCSE on Windows Server 2003certification and work in medium to large companies. The MCSE on Windows Server 2003 is a prerequisite for this exam. Exam 70-648 is for IT professionals who currently hold an MCSA on Windows Server 2003 certification and work in medium to large companies. The MCSA on Windows Server 2003 is a prerequisite for this exam.

Source: Microsoft

Microsoft Certified System Administrator

MCSA certification helps IT professionals to advance their career by having much needed skills to manage and troubleshoot networks in Windows environment. MCSA professionals are hired as manager in organizations to configure, manage and troubleshoot the Windows Server. MCSA is considered a reliable credential for promotion and hiring. MCSA on Windows Server 2003 certification will not retire.

MCSA certifies a possessor’s ability to "implement, manage, and maintain the typically complex computing environment of medium and large-sized organizations”. This certification helps professionals advance your career by showing employers that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage and troubleshoot network environments running on Windows server systems. Like MCSE, MCSA is also available on Windows Server 2000.

It is recommended by Microsoft that a, MCSA candidate should have one to twelve months of experience in working with a desktop operating system, a network operating system, and an existing network infrastructure.

To earn MCSA certification for Windows Server 2003, candidate must pass four exams:

• Two Core Networking System
  
• One Core Client Operating System
• One Elective exam

Core Networking Exams (Compulsory)

1. 70-290 : Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment
2. 70-291 : Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure

Client operating systems (choose one)

1. 70-620 : Configuring Windows Vista
2. 70-270 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional

Elective Exam (Choose one)

1. 70-284:Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
2. 70-431:Microsoft SQL Server 2005 – Implementation and Maintenance

All MCSA exams are taken by Prometric, at various Prometric test Centers all over the globe. MCSA professional work in various job roles like; Network Administrator, System Administrator, Information Technology Engineer, Information Systems Administrator, Network Technician. An average salary of MCSA professional is Rs. 2.5LPA. As per the latest analysis, MCSA comes under Top 15 IT Certifications in demand.

An Overview of Red Hat Certifications

Red Hat is a company in the free and open source software sector, and a major Linux distribution vendor. It is not only appreciated for its technical proficiency, but also for the social initiatives taken by it. Red Hat certifications are among the most esteemed certifications in IT.

After the successful completion of Red Hat Certification training you will be skillful enough to be praised by the respectable organizations. Red Hat Certifications will separate you and your skills from the rest. In such a competitive industry, the fact that you have obtained a certification from Red Hat will give you that much desired recognition.

A full hierarchy of Red Hat certifications provides the comprehensive and flexible program required by the highly specialized enterprise IT organization of today. The most common and well-known Red Hat certification is the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE).

Red Hat Certification path:

1) Red Hat Certified Technician (RHCT) : Red Hat Certified Technician is the fastest-growing credential in all of Linux. RHCT is the best first step in establishing Linux credentials and is an ideal initial certification for those transitioning from non-UNIX®/ Linux environments. To achieve this certification, candidate must pass RH202 RHCT exam and for this candidate must complete two courses; Red Hat Linux Essential and System Administration of Red Hat Linux.

2) Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) : Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) is a performance-based test that measures actual competency on live systems. RHCE proves an individual's ability to configure networking services and security on servers running a Red Hat OS. RHCE Certificate is granted upon passing the RH302 RHCE Exam, a performance-based test on live equipment that measures actual competencies at server system administration, setup of networking services, and network security, and diagnostics and troubleshooting. RHCE comes under top 9 IT Certifications in Demand.

3) Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) : Red Hat's Enterprise Architect courses provide in-depth, hands-on training for senior Linux system administrators responsible for the deployment and management of many systems in large enterprise environments. To accomplish RHCA certification, candidate must have current RHCA certificate and must pass all five additional performance-based exams.

Software Testing Certification

Quality Assurance (QA) is a thriving area in Information Technology which is unfortunately, not known to many. QA provides a means of monitoring the software engineering processes and methods used to ensure quality.

QA includes the developer’s effort to test his own code, as well as the IT professionals who are involved in testing tools. Many organizations and vendors have acknowledged testing as an integral part of development and maintenance process. Below are some certifications in this domain, developed to standardize and validate knowledge of QA process and testing tools.

Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST)
As the IT industry becomes more competitive, the ability for management to distinguish professional and skilled individuals in the field becomes pertinent. CAST Certification verifies basic-level knowledge of quality testing principles and practices. Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST) signifies a professional level of expertise in the principles and practices of software testing in the IT profession

Prerequisites for CAST
To earn CAST, applicants must satisfy one of the three prerequisites:
1.Three year degree or 4 year degree from an accredited college-level institution
2.Two year degree from an accredited college-level institution and One year experience in the IT Field.
3.Three years experience in the information services field.

The applicant is required to provide detailed education or employment documentation, with selected prerequisite option on the application. If chosen for verification, applicant must provide all the documents for the program.

Certified Software Test Engineer (CSTE)
The Certified Software Test Engineer (CSTE) Program is intended to confirm standards for initial qualification and provide direction for the testing function through an educational program. Certified Software Tester (CSTE) indicates a professional level of proficiency in the principles and practices of quality control in the IT profession. CSTE’s become members of recognized professional groups and receive recognition by other professional associates. It provides rapid career advancement.

Prerequisites for CSTE
To earn CSTE applicant must satisfy one of the four prerequisites:
1.Four year degree from recognized university and 2 years of work experience in IT field.
2.Three year degree from recognized university and 3 years of work experience in IT field.
3.Two year degree from recognized university and 4 years of work experience in IT Field.
4.Six years experience in IT Field.

It is required to provide detailed education or employment documentation, with selected prerequisite option on the application. If chosen for verification, applicant must provide all the documents for the program.

Certified Manager of Software Testing (CMST)
The Certified Manager of Software Testing (CMST) certification confirm a worldwide standard for the assessment of the potential and competencies of software testing professionals that are working at, or will work at, the software testing management level. Certified Manager of Software Testing (CMST) indicates a level of professional proficiency in both the principles and practices of software testing, signifying the skills and capabilities necessary to manage the software test function. CMST certification provides the IT professional with an intention for assessment of their management skills.

Prerequisites for CMST
Each applicant must have:
1.CSTE Certified
2.Must be working in Software Testing
3.Have the experience (described under the Real World Experience section) to demonstrate mastery of the skills identified in the current Software Testing
4.Be prepared to submit documentation that supports your real-world experience in the software testing field under the Real World situation
5. Prepared to take the required manager’s level examination

To earn CMST applicant must satisfy one of the four prerequisites:
a. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college-level institution and minimum of four years of experience in the software testing field, or
b. An associate degree and a minimum of six years of experience in the software testing field, or
c. Eight years of experience in the software testing field.

MCSE 2003: A very popular and in-demand Microsoft Certification

Microsoft Certified System Engineer 2003 (MCSE 2003) is a well-known Microsoft Certification for Windows Server 2003. It verifies an individual’s proficiency in designing and execution of business solutions based on Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

There are specializations available for MCSE’s along different career path. For Windows Server 2003 these were MCSE Security and Messaging.

MCSE Certification is appropriate for IT professionals who have worked in complex computing environments in medium-to-large environments. It is recommended that the candidate appearing for MCSE exam must have at least one year of experience in implementation and administration of network and client server operating system. The candidate must have a good knowledge on planning, designing and execution of Microsoft Windows server solutions.

To become an MCSE on Windows Server 2003, the aspirant must pass seven exams, which includes six core exams and one elective exam.

Core Exams;

Networking Systems (All)

1. 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment
2. 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
3. 70-293: Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
4. 70-294: Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure

Client Operating Exams (choose 1)

1. 70-620^A: Windows Vista, Configuring
2. 70-270 : Installing, Configuring and Administering Windows XP Professional

Design Exams (Choose 1)

1. 70-297: Designing a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure
2. 70-298: Designing Security for a Windows Server 2003 Network

Elective Exams (choose 1)

1. 70-284: Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
2. 70-431: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 – Implementation and Maintenance

A - Exam 70-620 can count one time toward a core client exam or an elective exam, but not both.

The best way to exhibit your expertise on Windows Server 2003 and to encourage your team and yourself is by earning the Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) credentials. Although newer versions have come, yet Server 2003 is here to stay for a long time and hence the demand for MCSEs is going to stay!

The Marriage of IBM and Sun Microsystems

The hot news in the IT industry today that is, IBM looking to acquire Sun Microsystems. In that may be a huge collaboration between the two technology majors, this can potentially hit Microsoft’s market hard. According to the source, if this merger/acquisition does go through, the combined companies can take over 40 % of the total server market revenue & 60% of market for servers based on UNIX operating systems.

IBM manufactures & sells computer hardware & software, and offers infrastructure services, hosting & consulting services ranging from supercomputing to nanotechnology. IBM is the largest manufacturer of servers in IT market, followed by HP, Dell and Sun Microsystems. Sun Microsystems are currently running losses. Last year, the stocks & share prices of Sun Microsystems have plummeted and continue to do so this year.

Numerous analysts are speculating about the possible profits for IBM post the acquisition of Sun Microsystems, which owns the right to Java programming language & MySQL open source database. According to the Wall Street Journal IBM has dropped its offer to $9 & $10 a share from their previous demand of $10 to $11 per share. If this major takeover happens, this will be one of the biggest in IBM’s history.

The possibilities are myriad. We can possibly see IBM computers with Solaris & other Sun Microsystems products and hence can give Microsoft, UNIX a run for their money. It will increase the demand of IBM and Sun Certifications in the IT industry.