Computers and Technology Articles

When you’re studying for the BSCI exam on the way to earning your CCNP certification, it’s safe to say that BGP is like nothing you’ve studied to this point. BGP is an external routing protocol used primarily by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Unless you work for an ISP today or in the future, you may have little or no prior exposure to BGP. Understanding BGP is a great addition to your skill set - and you have to know the basics well to pass the BSCI exam.

Note that I said “the basics”. BGP is a very complex protocol, and when you pursue your CCIE, you’ll see what I’m talking about. As with all things Cisco, though, when broken down into smaller pieces, BGP becomes quite understandable. You will need to know the basics of BGP as presented in this chapter to pass your BSCI exam - so let’s get started.

BGP defined:

An Internet protocol that enables groups of routers (called autonomous systems) to share routing information so that efficient, loop-free routes can be established. BGP is commonly used within and between Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

There are a couple of terms in there that apply to the protocols you’ve mastered so far in your studies. The term “autonomous system” applies to IGRP and EIGRP as well as BGP; you’ll be indicating a BGP AS in your configurations just as you did with IGRP and EIGRP. And we’re always looking for efficient, loop-free routes, right? As it did with IGRP and EIGRP, “autonomous system” simply refers to a group of routers that is managed by a single administrative body. An autonomous system will use an Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) such as OSPF or EIGRP to route packets inside the AS; outside the AS, an Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP) such as BGP will be used.

BGP shares some characteristics with some routing protocols you’ve already studied. BGP supports VLSM, summarization, and CIDR. Like EIGRP, BGP will send full updates when two routers initially become neighbors and will send only partial updates after that. BGP does create and maintain neighbor relationships before exchanging routes, and keepalives are sent to keep this relationship alive.

BGP has some major differences from the IGPs we’ve studied to this point. You’ll hear BGP referred to as a path-vector protocol. As opposed to distance-vector protocols that exchange relatively simple information about available routes, BGP routers will exchange extensive information about networks to allow the routers to make more intelligent routing decisions. This additional BGP path information comes in the form of attributes, and these path attributes are contained in the updates sent by BGP routers. Attributes themselves are broken up into two classes, well-known and optional.

BGP also keeps a routing table separate from the IP routing table.

Courses in Microsoft Access are available throughout the UK. When choosing the right training program for your organization, it’s important to search for a training program whose instructors are certified in Microsoft training. Access courses are not all created equal and certified instructors ensure the highest level of quality.

Instructors Certified in Microsoft Training

Access course instructors who have been certified by Microsoft have demonstrated a high level of competence with the software on an exam. This proficiency doesn’t come from just studying a book. All of Microsoft Certified instructors have extensive experience with the software they train on. Microsoft Certified instructors don’t just teach out of a manual; they teach from experience.

Access courses cover all ranges of talent, from our Introductory class designed for people who’ve never even seen Access, to Intermediate and Advanced courses, and finishing with a VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) class that shows even expert users how to take their data to a new level of analysis and accessibility.

Get Your Own Microsoft Certification

If you are preparing for the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exams you get even more benefit from using certified Microsoft training. Access course instructors have passed their own tests and know which material to emphasize to give you the best chance of passing when you take the examinations.

As an employee, an MOS certification gives you a qualification that separates you from the pack and can lead to better jobs and better salaries. For businesses, a staff of MOS certified employees sends a message of proficiency and professionalism that clients expect.

Cost and Logistics

Some ways to save money on Microsoft training are by planning ahead and asking about specials for new organizations. Some instructor-led Microsoft training Access courses in the London area start at just 110 per person.

You’ll also want to seek out training facilities that offer state of the art training centers around London with all the equipment and software you’ll need to get the most out of your course. If you’re an employer looking to train many employees, you can also opt for training at your business location or a third-party venue such as a hotel conference room.

Consultancy Services

In addition to Microsoft training in Access courses, some training facilities also offer expert consultant services. Consultants can provide any level of service you need from optimizing an existing database and making it more efficient to creating an entire application from scratch. If you’re a business owner contemplating training your staff with Access courses, an initial consultation can get your project launched in the most efficient manner, allowing easy maintenance once your employees are properly trained.

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

After you study your text books it is important to test your newly acquired knowledge and see just how well you have absorbed the material. Practice exams….

- Reinforce what you learnt - fill in the gaps of what you missed

- Get you used to answering questions to build confidence and familiarity

Here are 10 Multiple Choice exams questions for you to practice on:

Question 1# - Which of the following are ways to provide login access to a router? (choose all that apply)

A. HTTP

B. Aux Port

C. Console

D. LLC

E. Telnet

F. SNMP

Question 2# - Which statement is true regarding the user exec and privileged exec mode?

A. They both require the enable password

B. User exec is a subset of the privileged exec

C. The ‘?’ only works in Privileged exec

D. They are identical

Question 3# - This modem standard has a speed of 28.8k and has error-correction features.

A. V.42

B. V.32bis

C. V.90

D. V.34

Questions 4# - What would be the proper command to set a DCE clock rate of 56k for a serial interface?

A. Router (config) # clockrate 56000

B. Router# clockrate 56000.

C. Router (config-if) #clock rate 56000

D. Router (config-if) # clockrate 56k

Question 5# - What is an example of a MAC address?

A. Az32:6362:2434

B. BA:281x:8288

C. 101:354:665:8734:ffd6:8023

D. A625:cbdf:6525

Question 6# - Which command does not show that two devices are failing to route packets between them successfully?

A. show interface

B. trace

C. telnet

D. ping

Question 7# - You are designing a network which needs to support 200 users. You don’t plan to extend the segment beyond the current number of users. Which subnet mask would best meet your needs? Select the best answer.

A. 255.255.0.0

B. 255.255.255.0

C. 255.0.0.0

D. 255.224.0.0

E. 255.255.255.200

Question 8# - MAC is to Ethernet what ________ is to Frame Relay.

A. DLCI

B. LCI

C. PVC

D. None of the above

Question 9# - The 802.2 frame specifies a type whereas 802.3 frame specifies a length:

A. True

B. False

Question 10# - What is used to see if a client is still connected to a NetWare server?

A. Spoofing TCP/SAP

B. Watchdog packet

C. GNS Round Robin

D. DNS Round Robin

ANSWERS

Question 1 - Correct Answers: B,C,E

Question 2 - Correct Answers: B

Question 3 - Correct Answers: A

Question 4 - Correct Answers: C

Question 5 - Correct Answers: D

Question 6 - Correct Answers: A

Question 7 - Correct Answers: B

Question 8 - Correct Answers: A

Question 9 - Correct Answers: A

Question 10 - Correct Answers: B

Both companies and individuals need a refresher course to learn new changes in information technology. But with so many places to get certified, how do you know you’re getting the most for your money? Let’s go over some tips on how to find the top IT training institute.

Money Isn’t Everything

The first thing most business or people think about when considering IT training is how much it will cost. On the one hand, just because an IT training institute costs more does not mean that they’re superior, but it’s also true you get what you pay for in terms of quality. Obviously, cost is important. But the most important thing is the training itself. Rather than contemplating the money, consider if the money is well spent.

Are They Accredited?

Accreditation is important. Let’s say I was a college graduate from the University of Chuck. That’s not too impressive. But what if I graduated from the University of Cambridge? Now that sounds a lot better. Why? Cambridge is a respected and accredited university. Likewise, when seeking a training centre, you’ll want to make sure they have been accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. The UKAS is the single authority in the country for assessing the credentials of a training institute. Basically, they ensure that the institute knows what its doing and has the skills needed to successfully train others.

Are They Up to Date?

Because IT is such a fast-moving industry, it’s critical that the organization providing the training use the latest tools and the most up to date information. For example, programming skills you learned seven or eight years ago are likely somewhat obsolete. Your management training professionals should understand this and stay informed.

With these tips, you’re well on your way to a successful experience with a well-priced, accredited, and up-to-date IT training institute.

Whether you’re just getting ideas for your Cisco home lab or adding to your existing lab, ebay is a great place to get ideas for your lab as well as pick up some great bargains.

Of course, the internet being what it is, there are always going to be a few people looking to take your money while shipping you inferior merchandise, or worse, no merchandise at all. While these “dealers” are in the minority, you still need to be careful when purchasing Cisco equipment on ebay. In this article, I’ll give you several tips on browsing ebay ads for home lab ideas, and a few things to look out for when purchasing equipment on ebay.

For those of you just starting your Cisco certification pursuit, the idea of purchasing a home lab kit — a set of routers, switches, and perhaps some cables and study guides — seems like a good idea. Instead of putting your lab together one piece at a time, these kits allow you to get a head start on your studies.

One thing to watch out for in these kits is outdated equipment, or the inclusion of outdated study guides. Often, vendors will use these kits as a way to get rid of unwanted inventory.

The Cisco 1900 family of switches falls into this category. A recent search on ebay for “ccna lab” showed seven different CCNA lab kits that contained 1900 switches. The problem here is that the current CCNA exams do not test on the 1900 switches, which are menu-driven and do not have an IOS. You’ll need to be well-versed with switches that do have an IOS, such as the 2950s.

The plus side here is that you will probably save money by using 1900 switches. If you’re on a tight budget, having a 1900 switch is better than no switch at all. If at all possible, though, get a Cisco switch with an IOS.

The cables and transceivers included with these kits are generally exactly what you need to set up that particular kit, and this can be very helpful to those CCNA candidates who are new to the various cables needed to physically configure a home lab. Just make sure you’re not buying a kit with 10 transceivers (used on AUI ports) when you’ve only got two routers with Ethernet ports.

Watch out for kits that include outdated study guides. I’ve seen four-year-old CCNA books included with some kits. If you already have your study guides, feel free to ask the vendor how much the kit costs without the books.

That leads me to the most important point. Get to know the vendor before buying anything. Visit their website and check their ebay feedback. If buying from an individual as opposed to a reseller, find out what conditions the router or switch has been kept in, and make sure to define the terms under which they will accept returns. There’s nothing wrong with buying equipment from someone who’s selling their CCNA/CCNP/CCIE home lab, but just make sure you ask the right questions first. Professional resellers generally have their return policy right in their ebay ad; if they don’t, ask for a copy.

Building your own CCNA and/or CCNP home lab is a little intimidating at first, but speaking as someone who has climbed the Cisco certification ladder from the CCNA to the CCIE, I can tell you that it is the best investment you can make in your career. Use a little caution, ask the right question, and soon you’ll be leaving the world of “router simulators” behind - and you’ll be developing your skills as a true professional should: On real Cisco routers and switches!

Frame Relay is a major topic on both your CCENT and CCNA 640-802 exams, and it’s a major topic in today’s production networks as well! Today, we’ll take a look at three different Frame Relay values that help to indicate network congestion as well as decide what frames to drop due to that congestion - FECN, BECN, and DE.

Frame Relay uses two different values to indicate that the WAN is becoming congested:

FECN - Forward Explicit Congestion Notification

BECN - Backward Explicit Congestion Notification

As I’m sure you can guess by the names, the main difference between the two is the direction! But what direction? Glad you asked!

Let’s assume Router A is sending frames to Router B. If that switch encounters transmission delays due to network congestion, the switch will set the FECN bit on the frames heading for Router B, since that’s the direction in which the frames are traveling. The BECN bit will be set on frames being sent back to Router A.

When a frame arrives at a router with the FECN bit set, that means congestion was encountered in the direction in which the frame was traveling.

When a frame arrives at a router with the BECN bit set, congestion was encountered in the opposite direction in which the frame was traveling.

The Discard Eligible bit is considered a Frame Relay congestion notification bit, but the purpose is a bit different from the BECN and FECN. Frames are sometimes dropped as a result of congestion, and frames with the DE bit set will be dropped before frames without that bit set. Basically, setting the DE bit on a frame indicates data that’s considered less important than data without the DE bit set.

The FECN, BECN, and DE values can be seen via show frame pvc.

We’ll take a look at more important Frame Relay details in the next installment of my exclusive Cisco CCENT / CCNA certification exam tutorial series!

In this article we’re going to take a shot at the entire MCSE certification process to determine if there is really a purpose to the procedure other than for Microsoft to make a profit.

When networking was in its infancy certifications were a luxury to say the least. Only a very few were certified, with Novell being the leader in the field. In the early days the Novell system was very stable and didn’t change much from year to year. The reason this is brought up is because when Microsoft worked its way into the networking arena, stability was the last thing that the Microsoft systems had. From year to year their systems would change so drastically that within a very short period of time, an MCSE certification was close to worthless.

Some would argue that the constant change, or as they would like to call it, improvement, in systems was simply to provide purchasers with the best possible solutions for their businesses. While there may be some truth to that, one can’t deny a very simple fact. Microsoft is in the business of making money. By constantly improving their systems, they not only require businesses to purchase new equipment but in turn, they also require the technical people who work on this equipment to get re-educated. All of this translates into more money in Microsoft’s pockets.

But there is more to this than just making money, though ultimately that is the bottom line. Beyond that there is control and Microsoft has it. Because of the hype surrounding the MCSE certification and Microsoft’s products in general, the companies who hire the technical people to work on their systems have latched onto the MCSE certification as an easy, no brains, way to accumulate as many resumés as possible. As a result of this, an MCSE certification has become sort of a guild license. This in many cases is simply a false measure of competence, especially for someone with no experience, that ends up denying a qualified person with no certificate a job. While many MCSEs are competent there are many people out there who don’t have that piece of paper but who are more than qualified to do the job. Ironically, many of the people who contribute to Microsoft’s own Windows 2000 magazine do not own certifications.

Another thing you have to ask yourself about these certifications. If they are indeed so important, is why are so many courses and exams offered for huge discounts and in time frames where you can’t possibly learn everything there is to know to do the job correctly? The answer can only be that Microsoft is simply concerned with making a profit. Otherwise they would not allow people to complete courses and exams in time periods that in no way would leave them qualified for employment.

No doubt the arguments will go on and Microsoft will flatly deny that this is the case. As to whether we will ever really know if this is purpose or profit, it is impossible to say. But the evidence does point to Microsoft simply trying to line their already bulging pockets.

The prestigious Cisco CCNA certification is going to become even more prestigious later this year - and from all accounts, even more difficult! The current 640-801 exam will be phased out on November 6, giving candidates plenty of time to prepare for that exam. The new 640-802 exam is actually being introduced August 1, giving CCNA candidates an option as to which exam to take.

Naturally, CCNA candidates have a lot of questions regarding these changes. I’ve prepared this FAQ to answer the most common questions arriving in my email inbox. If your question isn’t answered here, send it to me and your question just might be in the next FAQ!

Q: Should I stop studying for the 640-801 exam?

A: Absolutely not. Actually, this should help you accelerate your efforts! Cisco has been kind enough to keep the current exam around through November 6, so you have more than enough time to pass the current version. Also, while I’m sure there will be some 640-802 study tools available soon, you won’t have a wide selection until later this year. Never delay your career progress or your studies - hit those books and pass the 640-801!

On a personal note, I’ve taken Cisco certification exams for almost a decade as well as taking exams from other vendors for about 14 years, and I’ve never been big on taking a brand-new exam. Some people like to do so, though- it’s all a matter of personal preference.

Q. What’s this I hear about another Cisco certification being offered?

A. Cisco no longer views the CCNA as an entry-level exam, and I think that’s a fantastic change. I have personally taught and written CCNA materials for several years, and I have never considered the CCNA to be entry-level. When you’re troubleshooting OSPF virtual links, you are not working at entry level!

Cisco does recognize the need for an entry-level certification, and that’s why they’ve developed the CCENT (Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician) certification. I’ll have more details on that in a future article, but earning the CCENT is not required to become a CCNA.

Q. Is there still going to be a one-exam path and a two-exam path to the CCNA?

A. Yes, and again, I expect it to be more difficult to earn either way. If you choose the two-exam path, you’re actually going to take two ICND exams - ICND 1 (640-822) and ICND 2 (640-816). The INTRO exam for the current CCNA path will be phased out on November 6, along with the current ICND and CCNA exams. If you choose the two-exam path, passing the ICND 1 exam will make you a CCENT.

Q. Which topics will be dropped when the 640-801 exam is dropped?

A. Following the trend of other Cisco exams, the 640-802 exams will not test on ISDN. That’s the only major topic I see so far that will be dropped.

Q. Which topics will be added?

A. A *lot* of them. According to Cisco’s CCNA exam blueprint, you can expect to see questions on Voice over IP, wireless, Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), SSH, and wireless security. This is an educated guess, but I’d expect to see even more on router and switch security as well.

Judging from that list, I expect the 640-802 CCNA exam to be even more challenging than the current version. Like I said, you have plenty of time to pass the current version!

Don’t see your question answered here? Send your CCNA question to chris@thebryantadvantage.com, and you just may see it answered in the next CCNA certification FAQ!

1. Why should you even consider doing the Network plus certification?

The Network plus certification is a natural continuation from the A+ certification. A+ teaches you about computers (hardware and software), the net+ teaches you about networking. This is another entry certification a lot of people take to broaden their knowledge base before tackling the more advance certifications.

2. CCNA vs Network+ confusion

As both these certifications are about networking, new people in the industry feel confused on which will give them more value for money. The truth is, you can’t compare them. The only thing they have in common is that they deal with networking. The Network+ is an entry certification which broadens your foundation. It is vendor neutral. The CCNA is not. It concentrates on Cisco Routers.

Network+ although an entry cert has a lot of information - and I mean ALOT. By the time you finish studying for it, you will be sick of network terminology. The CCNA is even more difficult. After studying for this one, you will be subnetting in your head - even when you don’t realize it. Know how you hear a song and it sticks in your mind and you can’t get it out? Same thing with subnetting.

If you are new to the industry, go for the network+ first.

3. Best way to study

Most IT professionals choose the self study method. If this will be your choice as well, what I recommend is that you buy a good book from amazon but more importantly also try to get hands on experience. Get a couple of computers and network them. Get CBT (computer based training) videos so you can also visually study. The reason I recommend hand-on and visual training is because this certification has a lot of terminology to study and remember and it can become exceedingly boring if you don’t keep your hands occupied as well.

4. Where can you book the exam?

All comptia exams are booked through Prometric or Vue. Once you finished studying, go to either website and choose your nearest testing center. Pay the fee and book the exam on your choice of date. Now you are all set. When you go to the training center, arrive 30 minutes beforehand and don’t forget to bring 2 forms of ID with you.

5. How long does it take for the certification to arrive?

When you complete your exam at the training center and you pass, they will give you a piece of paper stating you have passed the exam. You can use that on your resume for the moment to show employers you are now Network+ certified. The actual certification will be posted to you from Comptia and this take around 2 to 6 weeks.

Good luck!

When it comes to your Cisco CCNP certification exams, success is in the details, and that’s particularly true of your ISCW exam.

You’re going to need to know all the vital details of configuring and troubleshooting Cisco’s Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), both from the command line and via Security Device Manager (SDM).

We first need to draw a clear line between the operation of the Intrusion Prevention System and the Intrusion Detection System (IDS). Those terms sound similar, but they’re quite different in operation.

An IDS does just what its name tells us - it detects network intrusion. Simple enough! However, the IDS is basically a “town crier” in that it will notify other network devices about the attack, but does not directly defend against the attack itself.

The IDS does not receive traffic flows directly. Instead, the traffic flows are mirrored to the IDS.

When infected traffic does hit the network, the IDS will see this and take appropriate action. The problem is that this appropriate action is not direct action; since the IDS is not in the traffic flow, it has to inform a network device that is in that flow that action must be taken.

By the time the IDS detects an issue and notifies the appropriate network devices, the beginning of the infected traffic flow is already in the network.

In contrast, our Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) does sit in the middle of the traffic flow - in this case, the IPS will actually be our Cisco router. When the IPS detects a problem, the IPS itself can prevent the traffic from entering the network.

Cisco’s website describes the IPS as a “restructuring” of the IDS. While you’ll see more of IPS than IDS in today’s real-world networks, we have to be crystal clear on the differences between the two for the ISCW exam. Make sure you’re comfortable with configuring IPS from the command line and by using SDM as well!