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

LPI Certification – Give Your Career A Winning Edge

Linux Professional Institute Inc. (LPI) is a non-profit organization that provides non vendor-centric professional certification for Linux system administrators and programmers. LPI is recognized worldwide as the premier organization advocating and assisting in the professional use of Linux, Open Source, and Free Software.

Linux Professional Institute Certification (LPIC) program is planned to certify the expertise of IT professionals using the Linux operating system and its associated tools. LPIC program consists of three levels of certification: LPIC-1, LPIC-2 and LPIC-3. Linux Professional Institute Certifications are offered through the testing centers of both Pearson VUE and Prometric.

1. Junior Level Linux Professional (LPIC-1): LPIC-1 is an entry level certification in Linux Professional Certification hierarchy. This certification is designed for individuals who has been performing basic system administration tasks and who needs to install, configure, and manage a Linux-based system. To earn LPIC-1 certification, candidate must pass two exams; 101 and 102.

2. Advanced Level Linux Professional (LPIC-2): LPIC-2 is an advanced level professional certification, covers implementing and managing web, file and security features on the Linux server. The objective of this certification to administer a small to medium-sized site containing Microsoft and Linux server and plan, implement, maintain and troubleshoot a small mixed network including LAN server, Internet Gateway and Internet Server. There are 2 exams; 201 and 202 that candidate must pass to earn LPIC-2 certification. Pre-requisites: Candidate must have an active LPIC-1 Certification.

3. Senior Level Linux Professional (LPIC-3): LPIC-3 is planned for enterprise-level Linux Professionals. LPIC-3 has been developed with the effort of many Linux professionals around the globe and contribution from some of the world's leading technology companies. LPIC-3 is the supreme level of professional, distribution-neutral Linux certification in IT industry. LPIC-3 consists of one exam: 301 for LPIC-3 Core. There are various specialties on which LPIC-3 is available; Mixed Environment, Security, High Availability and Virtualization, Web and Intranet. Pre-Requisites: you must have an active LPIC-2 certification to receive LPIC-3 certification.

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.

IT Certifications in Demand

We had earlier posted an article on what are the most in-demand IT Certifications
A simple analysis of IT Jobs posted on two of the biggest job portals in India has led to the following insight: According to our analysis, 90% of all Certification requiring IT jobs demand either of the following 9 certifications: MCSE, CCNA, ITIL, OCA, OCP, CCNP, CISSP, RHCE and PMP Certifications.
This analysis might help you decide which IT Certification to go for!

HP Certifications - A Reliable Choice

The HP Certified Professional program is a top-grade certification program. This aims to certify the technical and sales proficiency as well as expertise needed to plan deploy, support and service HP technology and solutions. The technical credibility you gain from your certification and experience will drive you to further in your career.

There are various benefits of HP Certifications; HP Software Certified Professional Program prepares you to meet today's challenges with the business and technical skills you need.
• Gain the skills you need for handling HP technologies
• Get connected to the latest HP technology, experts and continuing education opportunities
• Earn cool rewards - discounts to HP Software events, HP Software Certified Professional merchandise, networking events and more
• Prove your value - demonstrate a higher level of performance, knowledge and expertise
• Join a global network - more than 130,000 HP Certified Professionals worldwide

The scope will become wider and there'll be utility available for you to ponder over and make it fit according to your needs. The tools and methods you use will come straight out of your certifications and may build up as you grow in your career. There are several tracks available including HP Operations, HP Quality Center, HP NonStop Systems, HP Blade and ProCurve Networking, among others. The average salary of HP Certified Professional having an experience of less than 1 year is around Rs. 3 Lacs per annum.

HP Software Certification

Accredited Integration Specialist (AIS)
The AIS (Accredited Integration Specialist) is designed for individuals working in Enterprise Network environments and serves to prove their competencies in planning and the integration and support of technical solutions in business class, networked environments.

Accredited Systems Engineer (ASE)
ASE (Accredited System Engineer) is a medium grade certification is designed for individuals working in Enterprise Network environments and serves to prove their competencies in design support and integrate platform, operating system, storage, network and option components to solve business needs. It is required to have HP's AIS certification for the ASE track you wish to pursue. The additional requirements vary widely depending on your choice of track.

Master Accredited Systems Engineer (MASE)
Master ASE requires an individual to gather customer business requirements, and design, integrate and support a full solution including application, middleware, platform, operating system, storage, and network and option components. There are several tracks to choose from including ProLiant, SAN, ProCurve and NonStop. It is required to have HP ASE certification. Additional requirements vary widely depending on your choice of track.

Cisco Learning Partner Award Winners

Cisco has recently announced the Fiscal Year 2009 Learning Partner Award Recipients. These were revealed on June 10th, 2009 during the Cisco Partner Summit in Boston . Cisco Learning Partner Award is an initiative to highlight the remarkable efforts in the areas of Excellence in Acceleratrion, Collaboration and Innovation.

Winners in the Excellence in Acceleration Category:
APAC – NIIT, Ltd.
Emerging Markets – Global Knowledge-Synergy
European Markets – ExperTeach GmbH
United States & Canada – World Wide Technology
Worldwide – NIIT, Ltd.

Winners in the Excellence in Collaboration Category:
APAC – Global Knowledge ASIA PTE LTD
Emerging Markets – CTT Corporation
European Markets – Global Knowledge
United States & Canada – Global Knowledge
Worldwide – Global Knowledge

Winners in the Excellence in Innovation Category:
APAC – Dimension Data Learning Solutions
Emerging Markets – NIL Data Communications
European Markets – Fast Lane Institute for Knowledge Transfer
Japan – Fast Lane Institute for Knowledge Transfer
United States & Canada – Sunset Learning Institute
Worldwide – Fast Lane

Winners of Learning Partner of the Year by Theater:
APAC – Training Partners Ltd.
Emerging Markets – Fast Lane Dubai
European Markets – Fast Lane
Japan – Global Knowledge
United States & Canada – New Horizons

And the Worldwide Learning Partner of the Year:
Global Knowledge Training LLC

Congratulations to all winners!

Online learning in bad times

Earlier, Mohit had written on the need for training in these times of economic distress. Recently, we had an opportunity to capture him on video while he was talking on this subject. Have a look, his enthusiasm to learn is contagious :)

Microsoft's New Generation of Certifications

Microsoft introduced a new generation of IT Certifications to make certification path more straightforward and specialization focused. By focusing on fundamental technical or professional skills, an aspirant can choose certifications that meet his/her needs.

The new certification program introduces three series of certifications:

1). Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)

This series certify principal technology and product skills, for instance implementation skills. MCTS is reliably qualified of implementing, building, troubleshooting, and debugging a specific technology. MCTS exams are targeted to specific technology, so that an individual can prove his proficiency in specific area. MCTS is available in different domains of IT; Developer Applications (.Net), Database Administration (Microsoft SQL Server), Server technology (Windows Server, Exchange Server), Windows (Windows Vista, Windows XP), Microsoft Office and Security.

2) Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional (MCITP) and Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD)

This series confirms job-role skills outside the main technology, such as, analyzing business problems amongst others. MCITP or MCPD are fully capable of deploying, building, designing and operating technologies for a particular job role.

3) Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA)

This series certify the skills required to affect IT business successfully. MCA requires advanced and certifiable experience in IT (at least 10 years). MCA certification does not depend on traditional exams or curriculum. In fact, candidates have to prove their skills by creating architectures that solve complicated business problems.

Q. Why did Microsoft introduce the new certifications?

Ans. Microsoft is changing the certification program to better meet the needs of our customers. We heard from IT managers that the proliferation of credentials is making it more difficult to understand which credentials best meet the needs of their businesses. Individuals told us that they wanted to be able to distinguish themselves from other IT professionals. In response, we created a framework that keeps the number of credentials to a minimum while still allowing individuals to highlight specialization.

Oracle wins over Sun Microsystems

I had earlier written about the possibility of IBM taking over Sun Microsystems, but that was not to be! Finally Sun Microsystems has been taken over by Oracle Corporation on April 20th, 2009. Oracle Corporation has bought Sun Microsystems for a whopping $7.4 billion after an alternative buyout bid by IBM did not come to fruition.

Oracle now will be able to incorporate Oracle databases into the Solaris operating system. The acquisition of Sun Microsystems will transform the IT industry; it combines the best enterprise software and essential computing systems. Sun Chairman Scott McNealy said: “Oracle and Sun have been industry pioneers and close partners for more than 20 years. This combination is a natural evolution of our relationship and will be an industry-defining event.”

What will be the effect on Sun and Oracle certification tracks? Nothing will change anytime soon. Sun’s Java Certifications track and Oracle Database Administration Certifications are well-respected certification programs in IT industry and the change in ownership won’t change that. If at all demand for both these certifications will increase in the long term as synergies between these will create more applications and increase the user base.

ITIL - Gaining popularity by the day!

Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is the most widely accepted certification for IT Service Management in the world. ITIL is a set of theories and strategies for managing information technology infrastructure, development and operations. ITIL is considered as the best practice in IT Service Management, developed by OGC and supported by publications, qualifications and an international user group.

ITIL has been developed by Central Computer and Telecommunication Agency (CCTA), as a framework for efficient and financially reliable use of IT resources. ITIL provides best practices supported by quality services from a wide range of service providers, training agencies and professional qualifications.

ITIL consists of a series of modules giving guidance on the provision of quality IT services, and on the accommodation and environmental services needed to support IT. ITIL has been developed in recognition of organizations growing dependence on IT and represent best practices for IT Service Management.

There are five ITIL Service Modules: Service Strategy (SS), Service Design (SD), Service Transition (ST), Service Operation (SO) and Continual Service Improvement (CSI)

ITIL Certifications are managed by ITIL Certification Management Board (ICMB). There are three main levels on the ITIL Certification Path; Foundation, Practitioner and Manager Level. To pass exams on each level it is necessary to prepare through specialized ITIL courseware which are provided by a variety of vendors, both through instructors and online. For Practitioner and Master Level Certification, it is preferred that one possesses some work experience in the ITIL environment. Else it might be difficult to understand how ITIL processes work and succeeding in the final exams will be very hectic and difficult.

ITIL Foundation Certification is an entry level certification in ITIL.ITIL Foundation course is for those who want to gain basic understanding of the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL). It focuses on aligning IT Service, improving service quality and implementation of service level agreements. It is a prerequisite for Practitioner and Manager Certifications in IT Service Management. It combines a few lectures with individual and group assignments. ITIL Foundation prepares participants to sit for the 1 hour ITIL Foundations exam, which is independently assessed by EXIN, an accredited ITIL examination body. ITIL Foundation target audience consists of employees and managers at all levels who wants to enhance their skills in IT Service Management.

ITIL Practitioner Certification is an intermediate level certification presented by OGC and the exam is conducted by EXIN. The ITIL Practitioner Certification focuses on the candidate’s capability in understanding and applying of the definite processes within the IT Service Management. ITIL Foundation Certification in Service management is a must for ITIL Practitioner Certification alongside three to four years of experience in ITIL. Practitioner Certification is all about practice and specialty. There are three areas covered in Practitioner Certification which are:

a) Release and Control

b) Support and Restore

c) Agree and Define

It is necessary to deeply understand all aspects of the ITIL process before going for Manager Certification. Practitioner Certification focused on team leaders and specialists who want to enhance their knowledge into new specialty.

ITIL Manager Certification is the top level of certification in ITIL Certification path. ITIL Manager Certification is also called as Master’s Certification due to amount of practical experience required and the extensive range of material and difficulty which categorize the assessment. Rigorous courseware and extensive training is extremely recommended before appearing for this exam. It is also recommended that to attain Manager Certification, you must have several years of experience in the ITIL atmosphere. ITIL Manager Certification is for Managers, Project Leaders in IT Companies.

Say No to Brain Dumps

In common parlance, transfer of important information from one person to another on a piece of paper is called a “brain dump”. In IT terminology, copying material from any set of data is referred as “brain dump”.

This is a well renowned term in IT certification industry today. Exactly copied exams or questions in certification exams is called brain dump. There are people who deliberately memorize all the questions which appear in the exams. After they are through with exam, they transfer the questions to other aspirants for a token amount.

Why brain dumps?
IT certification exams are very costly and are high stake exams, most often leading to coveted jobs in the industry. These exams are relatively difficult to crack as well. Approximately 60% of people who are preparing for certification exams, go for brain dumps, because they are relatively cheaper and sometime you can get them completely free on the Internet. These come significantly cheaper than the authorized study material in the form of books and online training courses.

In my opinion, brain dumps are very bad, both for the candidate as well as the industry. They are not useful, if you are aspiring to carve out a real career in IT. Using these dumps shows that you are not being honest towards your career. The questions given in brain dumps are not very helpful, because the pattern of certification exams keep on changing. Also the learning is practically zero. One must understand that only what we have really learnt well will help succeed in our career.

Say no to brain dumps!
Brain dumps devalue the certification itself and even the genuine certification holders loose out because of a few who clear exams just based on their rote learning from dumps.

From my personal experience, I have seen people who used brain dumps for preparation for certification exam and then were eventually stripped off their certification credentials. Oftentimes, the material specified in dumps is obsolete, inadequate & you can’t trust those questions.

People, who are selling brain dumps, don’t care about a student’s future and their career. Their only aim to make money. Students who are not serious about certification and don’t want to work hard, go for brain dumps. Only when they fail do they realize their folly!

Non-Disclosure Agreement

Brain dumps are a clear violation of the certification Non-Disclosure Agreement. Many certification vendors are using Non- disclosure Agreement (NDA) to prevent examinees to go for cheated material. It’s necessary for participant’s to sign the agreement before going for the exam.

Microsoft’s Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and General Terms of Use (the "Exam Agreement") is made and entered into as of the electronic signature date below by and between Microsoft Corporation, ("Microsoft") and the examinee (the "Examinee").

Cisco also maintains a record of participants who sign the Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA). If you are found searching for brain dumps or going for them, you are committing a legal offence.

Bottom Line
The bottom line is that brain dumps hurt everyone, whether you are going for it or not. I suggest that you should not go for brain dumps, rather start studying as we all do in our schools. They are strictly illegal & waste.

There are certain other ways to prepare for certification. There are affordable alternatives such as e-learning, where an aspirant can get all necessary material for preparation. Try out websites such as HyperLessons.com for a very holistic way to prepare for IT Certification exams.

SCJD as a follow up to SCJP

Sun Certified Java Developer (SCJD) is a specialty level certification for java programmers. SCJD is not as easy as SCJP. SCJD checks the individual’s skill to perform in the practical world. The applicant should be able to work on commercial web applications. An applicant should be proficient in Java programming language using Java Standard Edition (J2SE). This is the qualification that Sun requires in a programmer who is appearing for SCJD.

As a prerequisite, the applicant must be a Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP) in any edition. In SCJD, you learn how to apply skills and language that you have learn while doing SCJP to solve practical problems.

There are two exams or assignments that are required for SCJD certification. First, CX-310-252A is a programming assignment type of exam. It takes a lot of time (at least several weeks) for completing this program. Second the CX-310-027 exam is an essay type. SCJD applicant must use custom file formats in his program for a detailed program. The program should be detailed in every aspect. Also, there is no strict limit for both these exam.

SCJD certification has become a global standard for many IT companies and the SCJD certified people are in good demand in the IT industry. The reason for this demand is that SCJD’s are assumed to be more competitive, confident & they have ultimate evidence to show that they can perform complex task or projects very well than a non-certified developer. The graph shown below provides an indicative measure of salaries which a SCJD certification leads to, although this is only valid for the US.

Median Salary by Job - Certification: Sun Certified Java Developer (SCJD) (United States)

CAREER TOOLS: Salary Calculator, Career Path Tool, Cost of Living Calculator, Meeting Miser

Source:Payscale

Related to: SCJA and SCJP

Entry Level Java Certifications - SCJA and SCJP

There are four levels in Java certification. The first is the associate level, which affirms that you have a basic knowledge which enables you to get an entry into a career in Java application development. On the next level, the associates need to be trained on foundation set of Java skills, which confirms by becoming a Sun Certified Java Programmer. Thirdly, you have advanced or specialty training & certifications that helps in your career growth into more specific job roles that make you a very value asset for your organization.

Source: Java Certification Path

SCJA
Sun Certified Java Associate (SCJA) is the newest of Sun's Java Certifications. It tests your basic knowledge of Object oriented programming, UML (universal markup language) concepts, the Java programming language & general knowledge of Java platforms & technologies. By becoming a sun certified associate, sun confirms that you have a basic set of knowledge that helps you get an entry into a career in application development or software project management using Java technology. It is targeted at new-comers to Java who are not necessarily working in technical positions, such as project managers, students, or developers for whom Java is not a primary requirement. SCJA certified associates are great in demand by employers & clients.

Demand trend
Salary trend

Let's talk about certification: SCJA

View more presentations from José maria Silveira neto.

Source: Slideshare

SCJP
Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP) is an entry level Java exam and is a prerequisite for other Java related certifications. There have been a number of previous versions of SCJP. The current version, SCJP 6.0 is aimed at JDK 6.0 release of Java. It is basically for programmers interested in showing their skills in the fundamentals of the Java Programming language. It’s not necessary to be Sun Certified Java Associate prior to taking this exam. This exam tests looping constructs and variables, and does not cover specific technologies such as GUI creation, Web or network programming. It is designed as a fairly detailed test of basic knowledge of the essentials of the Java programming language. It tests looping constructs and variables, and does not cover specific technologies such as GUI creation, Web or network programming. In recent years, the SCJP certification has become a global standard for many successful IT companies.

Demand trend

Salary

How much are certifications worth?

Median Salary by Certification - Country: India (India)

CAREER TOOLS: Salary Calculator, Career Path Tool, Cost of Living Calculator, Meeting Miser

Use this handy tool from Payscale to understand how certifications can really boost your confidence as well as your wallet :) In fact, if your salaries are not close to these benchmarks, you better get certified!

All about Database Certifications

A collection of grouped information organized in such a way that a simple computer program can select the desired data according to the requirement, in IT terminology it is called database. It is an application that manages the data & allows fast storage & retrieval of data. There are different types of databases, but the most popular among all is relational database. It stores data in tables where each row holds the same sort of information. Relational databases are currently the predominant choice in storing financial records, manufacturing and logistical information, personnel data and much more. Oracle and SQL Server are popular commercial relational databases.

A database management system (DBMS) is software that has been created to allow the efficient use and management of databases, including ensuring that data is consistent and correct and facilitating it’s updating. For small, single user databases, all functions are often managed by a single program; for larger and multi-user databases, multiple programs are usually involved and client-server architecture is generally employed. Software database drivers are available for most database platforms so that application software can use a common Application Programming Interface (API) to retrieve the information stored in a database. Two commonly used database APIs are JDBC and ODBC.

Why every small, large multinational company need database administrator?

If you are a database administrator professional and you need to improve your skills or want to upgrade your resume, then you should go for certification in database administration. Perhaps you had just started your career in database administration & you like to make a mark in your field. Thereare various database administration certification provided by some popular database vendors.

Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) - It’s a certification designed for professional who implement, design & administer SQL databases. It’s appropriate for those individual who handles all the database related work starting from creating the database till managing the database. The job roles for Microsoft certified database administrator professionals include: database administrator, analyst, & developers. MCDBA is a part of previous MCP certifications.

Oracle

Oracle has introduced a wide range of certification programs for entry level to experienced professionals and for domains ranging from database administration, database management to programming, web development and other advanced technologies. For Database Administration related certifications are discussed in two parts.

Entry Level
Oracle’s OCA DBA 9i & 10g - They are designed to certify foundation skills in an individual for database administration. If you want to go OCP 9i or 10g exams, then you should be an OCA DBA 9i or 10g. There are no prerequisites for OCA DBA 9i & 10g certification; it would be helpful if you have experience working with SQL and Oracle database or other databases. OCA 9i & 10g certified professionals find appropriate job easily & get paid more.

Professional Level
Oracle’s OCP DBA 9i - OCP status prove that you have achieved a high level of oracle database design & implementation skills. As an OCP certified professional, your employers & customers will be confident in your knowledge, skills to design, develop & implement solutions. The prerequisite for OCP DBA 9i certification is the OCA certification. You have to take two tests to achieve this certification.

Oracle’s OCP DBA 10g - It requires skills that include implementing & managing complex Oracle Database 10g functions, recovering and tuning the database using advanced tools and technologies. The OCP DBA 10g is an advanced certification targeted towards DBAs having full experience on Oracle databases. The prerequisite for OCP DBA 10g certification is the OCA 10g certification. The OCP certification is highly demanded. Employers prefer professionals holding the OCP DBA 10g certification, as they can be sure that he has a solid foundation of skills needed for effective performance in the workplace.