Tuesday, August 18, 2009

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

    Monday, August 17, 2009

    Difference between Oracle 10g and Oracle 9i Databases

    Oracle Database 10g is the first database designed for grid computing, the most flexible and cost-effective way to manage enterprise information. It cuts costs of management while providing the highest possible quality of service.

    In addition to providing numerous quality and performance enhancements, Oracle Database 10g significantly reduces the costs of managing the IT environment, with a simplified install, greatly reduced configuration and management requirements, and automatic performance diagnosis and SQL tuning.

    Oracle 9i Database provides efficient, reliable, secure data management for high-end applications such as high-volume on-line transaction processing (OLTP) environments, query-intensive data warehouses, and demanding Internet applications. Oracle also offers several additional optional database products that enhance the capabilities of Oracle9i Database for specific application requirements.

    Additional features in 10g over the 9i:

  • Transparent Data Encryption
  • Grid computing - an extension of the clustering feature (Real Application Clusters)
  • Manageability improvements (self-tuning features)
  • Performance and scalability improvements
  • Automated Storage Management (ASM)
  • Automatic Workload Repository (AWR)
  • Automatic Database Diagnostic Monitor (ADDM)
  • Flashback operations available on row, transaction, table or database level
  • Ability to UNDROP a table from a recycle bin
  • Ability to rename table spaces
  • Ability to transport table spaces across machine types (E.g Windows to Unix)
  • Proactive Performance Monitoring
  • Improved Flashback Technology
  • Automatic Storage Management (ASM) and hence better RAC
  • Data Pumps
  • The Enterprise Manager (EM)

  • Clearly Oracle 10g is a positive change over its predecessor and therefore the OCA 10g Certification will draw more demand than Oracle 9i.

    What is PRINCE2 Project Management?

    PRINCE2 (Projects in Controlled Management) is a process-based certification for effective project management, providing an easily customized and scalable project management methodology for the management of all types of projects. The method is the de-facto standard for project management in the UK and is practiced worldwide.

    PRINCE2 is flexible, adaptable and as much as a Project method can be, friendly. PRINCE2 pull together common names and descriptions into a structure that anyone familiar with PRINCE2 can understand, regardless of background and industry. PRINCE2 is designed to be generic and can be used for projects of any nature.

    The major attribute of PRINCE2 are:
    • Its focus on business justification.
    • Its product-based planning approach.
    • Its emphasis on dividing the project into manageable and controllable stages.
    • Its flexibility to be applied at a level appropriate to the project.
    APM is the governing body for PRINCE2 worldwide; they look after the accreditation, exams and licensing of PRINCE2. Most organizations around the world recognize PRINCE2as a standard methodology. There are two qualification levels: PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner.

    PRINCE2 Foundation level is for those who wants to learn the basics and terminology of PRINCE2. The PRINCE2 Foundation examination is aiming to measure whether a candidate would be able to act as an informed member of a project management team using the PRINCE2 methodology within a project environment supporting PRINCE2. Currently, Prince2 2009 Foundation Examination format is available. Prince2 2005 Foundation Examination Format is also available till December 31st, 2009.

    PRINCE2 Practitioner is the highest level qualification and is appropriate for those with the need to manage projects within a PRINCE2 environment. This objective is to measure whether a candidate could apply PRINCE2 to the running and managing of a non-complex project within an environment supporting PRINCE2.

    Prince2 Exams can be taken at any accredited training company. These exams run only on certain days and places are pretty much booked in advance, sometimes there is a 4-6 weeks waiting list. If you are based outside the UK and wish to complete a PRINCE2 exam, it is usually possible to sit them in a British Council office. Please contact the APM Group directly for more information on public exams. Price list of Prince2 Exams:

    Foundation = £200 including VAT
    Practitioner = £370 including VAT
    Both = £540 including VAT

    Friday, July 31, 2009

    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.

    ADOBE Professional Certifications

    Adobe has been a ubiquitous name in the field of multimedia.

    From Photoshop to AIR, the company has products for every field of multimedia.

    Adobe provides certifications for multimedia professionals through the Pearson Vue channel in India.
    Certifications are at 2 levels with the lower being Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) and the ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) being the higher level of certification.

    Adobe certifications have been known to be a tough nut to crack and clearing them considered a significant achievement in the industry. At Par with other certifications like Microsoft, multiple papers will give you higher Levels.

    A examination is also available for faculties viz. Adobe Certified Instructor (ACI).

    For more details on the exams visit

    or contact your nearest Pearson Vue.

    Till next time,
    Ciao

    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

    Wednesday, July 29, 2009

    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.