CompTIA A+ Exam Prep: Tools of the Trade

While every computer technician has his or her own methods and tools for working on computers systems, section 1.4 of theCompTIA A+ Exam (220-702) requires you to know the names and functions of certain tools that are most commonly used in computer repair and maintenance.

You may or may not use all of these tools in your particular methods, but it is important to know what they are and how to use them — and not just for the exam — you never know when you’ll come across an obscure problem that may require a certain tool to troubleshoot with.

So the more useful tools at your disposal, the more efficient and resourceful of a technician you can become.

Today we’ll take a look at multi-meters, power supply testers, cable testers, loopback plugs, extension magnets, anti-static mats and wrist straps.

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Multi-Meters

A multi-meter is an electronic ohm/voltage measuring tool most commonly used in testing computer power supplies.

Is the motherboard not powering on? You may want to use a multi-meter to test the power connector going to the motherboard. Are USB devices not powering up? Use a multi-meter to ensure that you’re getting a full 5v from each USB port.

Multi-meters come with either digital or analog displays. Be sure to get a multi-meter that can measure within the proper range, as some multi-meters are made specifically to handle much higher voltages (for example, to test power in houses or businesses) and won’t be as accurate as those made for lower voltages.

Power Supply Testers

Power supply testers are very similar to multi-meters, except instead of giving you an ohm/voltage reading from a positive and negative pin, it gives you a green or red LED or a specific message on a small screen, such as an error code. While this takes some of the guesswork out of figuring out voltages, it also gives much less of a detailed reading.

Rather than using positive and negative pins, power supply testers allow you to actually plug in PSU connections. This makes testing power supplies much faster, and easier than having to find the correct pins.

Cable Testers

Cable testers do just what the name suggests. The most common type of cable testers found in a technician’s toolkit is an Ethernet cable tester. These come particularly handy when making custom sized Ethernet cables. We all know how easily a twisted pair can become… twisted.

It is generally good practice, and can save some troubleshooting time in the future, to run newly crimped Ethernet cables through a cable tester before putting them to use. They are also great for testing cables in the field.

Damage to Ethernet cables is especially hard to spot, since they are housed in a protective sleeve. Without visible external markings, you can rarely tell if a cable has been pinched or otherwise damaged. Using a cable tester to find these faults can save you hours of troubleshooting time.

Loopback Plugs

Loopback plugs are small devices used to perform loopback tests. To put it simply, you can plug in a device that is meant to transmit and receive data on a network, and the loopback test will verify that the device can both send and receive data well enough to work on said network.

It does this by sending a signal (or packet) addressed back to the same device. The test will let you know if the packet was sent, and if it was also received. This can be extremely useful for testing and troubleshooting malfunctioning network hardware.

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Anti-Static Mats and Wrist Straps

Anti-static mats and wrist straps are used to ground yourself (usually to the computers case) so that static does not damage PC components while working inside of a computer system.

Many technicians that I know personally seem to argue the importance of using anti-static mats and wrist straps. Some technicians swear by them, others only use them to make their clients feel more comfortable and safe while the work is being done, and others never use them at all.

One thing is certain: static can harm electronics, including the many components within your computer system.

While I do own both anti-static mats and wrist straps, I too have been guilty of skipping this step on my personal machines. I have yet to damage a component, usually because I stay grounded by touching the computer’s case, but I do recognize that not using a form of anti-static grounding device can be dangerous to your (or your client’s) hardware.

In the end, it’s up to you to decide if you’ll use the mat (which is great for setting down loose components), the wrist strap (which is helpful so you can use both hands instead of using one to ground yourself to the case), or a different grounding method altogether.

I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that static does hurt electronics, and unless you practice some sort of grounding method, you run the risk of damaging a component or motherboard.

Extension Magnet

Originally, I had written about using low-powered extension magnets inside of computer system. IT Professional Dave Levinter brought up a concern that made me decide to rewrite this section.

While low-powered extension magnets are acceptable in most cases, and many computer technicians use extension magnets or magnetized screwdrivers inside computer systems, saying that they’re safe isn’t exactly a safe statement in of itself. Magnets vary in power and some parts of computer systems, like the hard drive, can become damaged by stronger magnets. Anything more powerful than a standard magnetized screwdriver should only be used outside of a computer system. In fact, the CompTIA A+ Exam recommends using a pair of plastic tweezers instead, whenever possible.

More powerful magnets are still quite useful for IT Professionals, but for other uses. Finding dropped screws for example, or reaching screws or even tools dropped behind desks and furniture.

How To Become A CCNA

The majority of people who are “thinking” about going after their CCNA, sadly, will never follow through. They might look through a book at the bookstore or visit a certification-based website on occasion, but that’s it. They have no plan for success, and therefore the success will not happen.

Those who do pursue the CCNA the right way, with the right plan, are creating the foundation for unlimited success in the IT field.

How do I know that? I’m living proof. I picked up my first Cisco book years ago. I had been doing some basic network installations and helpdesk work, but I didn’t really know a subnet from a hole in the ground. (And the explanations of subnetting that were around then didn’t exactly help.) I earned my CCNA, worked my way through the CCNP, and later made the decision to tackle the world’s most difficult IT certification, the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification.

On February 26, 2004, in Raleigh, North Carolina, I passed the CCIE R&S Lab. Since then, I’ve started a highly successful Cisco training company, The Bryant Advantage, and a successful consulting business as well.

I’m telling you this not to impress you, but to show you what is possible. Not easy, but possible. One reason I do so well with my books and classes is that I remember what it’s like to get started with your Cisco studies. I’m not one of these people who acts like they were born with all this knowledge. I know what it’s like to look at a chapter in a CCNA book and wonder if you can learn all this stuff and pass the exams.

I did it, and you can do it, too.

Just as important as you earning a passing grade on the CCNA exam is the fact that the work you do in studying for the CCNA is the most important study you’ll ever do.

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There's a good reason I use a pyramid in my company's logo. When viewing an ancient Egyptian pyramid, where do we tend to look? At the peak. That’s natural. But what is the most important part of the pyramid? The foundation.

Pyramids built thousands of years ago are still standing not because they have a great peak, but because they have a great foundation.

It’s this foundation of Cisco knowledge that you are building when you study for the CCNA. Perhaps you don’t want to go after the CCIE now, but the day may come that you do go after it. It’s also my experience that 90 – 95% of CCNAs pursue the CCNP. The CCNAs who have a solid foundation of networking knowledge are the ones who get it.

The CCNP exam that trips up most candidates is the troubleshooting exam. Look at it this way: How can you troubleshooting anything if you don’t know the basics of how it works?

You can’t. So keep in mind that while you’re going after the CCNA, you’re building your professional future.

To build this future, you need a plan. That’s what this article is all about. By following the steps I outline here, you will greatly maximize your chances not only of passing the CCNA, but excelling on exam day, on the job, and in your future certification endeavors.

Starting On Your CCNA Success Path

First, you need to decide to succeed.

Too many Cisco certification candidates take a hesitant, “maybe I’ll fail” approach to their study. You must eliminate this attitude and replace it with a “I have passed” approach. Act as though you have already passed, and your passing score on exam day is a foregone conclusion. When you show up on exam day, you're already a CCNA; you're just there to make it official.

I spend 15 – 45 minutes a day writing down my goals for the day, the month, and the year. I have found that writing down my goals cements them in my mind, and your mind is the world’s most powerful computer. By reminding yourself on a daily basis that you are going to pass the exam, you actually program your mind for success.
If you’re not writing your goals down on a daily basis, you’re missing a great method of accelerating your life and your career. It takes 15 minutes a day, and it’s the best investment you’ll ever make.

Decide On The Two-Exam Path Or The One-Exam Path

It’s early in the process, but you’ve got an important decision to make. Do you want to take the single CCNA composite exam, or take the two-exam path?

The two-exam path consists of the Introduction To Cisco Networking exam and the Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices exam. You can also take the single CCNA exam.

I tell my students that the path they choose should reflect their level of experience. There is a good amount of overlap between the Intro and ICND material; the real difference between the two exams is the depth to which you’ll be questioned on various topics.

The Intro exam material includes some Ethernet and TCP/IP basics, and cabling information. If you’re familiar with how Ethernet works, and you know your Ethernet cabling types and differences between them, you probably want to go straight for the CCNA composite exam. If you’re a newcomer to the field, or not familiar with TCP/IP and cable types, I recommend you take the Intro exam and then the ICND exam.

Developing Your Study Plan
Now that you’ve made your decision as to the two-exam vs. one-exam approach, you’re ready for the most important part of the entire CCNA process: Developing your study plan.

That’s right, this is the most important part of your CCNA chase. Without this study plan, your study will be unstructured, random, and most likely unsuccessful.

There are several steps involved in developing a successful study plan. Let’s examine them one at a time:

First, schedule your exam NOW.

I know what you're think. "Okay, Chris has lost his mind. Why should I schedule my exam now? I haven’t started studying yet!"

From experience, I can tell you that this technique works. People complain about timetables and deadlines, but the truth is that people do their best work with a deadline.

I wish I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard this:

“I’ll schedule my exam when I’m ready.”

You know when “ready” is? For many people, NEVER. I know someone who’s been preparing for their CCNA for years – literally! He’s going to schedule that exam when he’s ready. He’s been getting ready for years!

By scheduling your exam now, you give yourself a mental deadline. You’ll be surprised at how focused your mind becomes when you know the date of your exam before you start. I have used this technique for my CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE exams. It will work for you!


Both sites have test center locators, so no matter where you are in the world, you can find the testing center nearest you.

We all have times of the day that we’re mentally sharper than others. I personally am a “morning person”, so I always schedule my exams for first thing in the morning. If you’re stronger in the afternoon, schedule an afternoon exam.


Next: Schedule Your Study Time, And Track It.

Ever hear someone describe their study time like this?

“I don’t know why I haven’t passed the CCNA exam. I’ve been studying for four months!”

Do not make the mistake of measuring your study time in weeks and months.

What does it mean when someone says they’ve been studying for “months”, anyway? I hear that all the time, and it doesn’t mean anything. It’s a totally inaccurate way of measuring how much studying you’ve done, and it’s also a good way of fooling yourself as to how much work you’ve actually put in.

Consider this example: Sam studies 90 minutes a day, six days a week. His study time is uninterrupted and quiet. Sam does this for eight weeks.

Bill studies 45 minutes a day, six days a week. His study consists of opening his book in front of the TV, and taking phone calls while he thumbs through the pages. Bill does this for twelve weeks.

Over eight weeks, Sam will put in 72 hours of solid study.

Over twelve weeks, Bill will put in 54 hours of subpar study.

Yet Bill will say, “I’ve studied for three months!”

Instead of doing what Bill did, do what Sam did. Make a commitment to study “x” minutes a day, stick to it, make sure your study is uninterrupted, and track your study time. You’re much better off to get six hours of quality study time a week than to get 10 hours of constantly interrupted time.

You can track your time using Excel, or even Notepad. Every day, write down how much time you spent studying and the topic(s) you studied. You have to write this down. Not only will you have an accurate picture of how much study you’re actually putting in, you’ll be able to make sure that you’ve spent adequate time on every exam topic.

Would you make an appointment with a client, or another professional like a doctor, and then just not show up? Of course not. That would be incredibly unprofessional. 

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Consider your study time an appointment with yourself. Just as you would not be late or skip an appointment with someone else, do not skip this appointment with yourself.

Next: Keep Your Goals Away From The Trolls

If you let your friends and coworkers know you’re pursuing certification, hopefully they will be supportive. Sadly, though, some of them won’t be.

I’m reminded of a person I worked with years ago who walked by my cube one day and saw a Cisco certification book on my desk. She then spent ten minutes telling me why certifications stink, anybody can get them, there’s a nine-year-old in Missouri that has an MCSE, blah, blah, blah….

What was really interesting is that while she would tell anyone who would listen that anyone could get a certification, she herself did not have one. There were two reasons that she spent so much time badmouthing my certification pursuits.

First, she was threatened by my ambition. Second, she wasn’t doing anything with her career and her time, and therefore she didn’t want anyone else doing anything, either.

I’m telling you this because these people are everywhere. I don’t care what Internet forum you go to, or what certification you’re going after, when you declare your intentions, there will be some people who feel it’s their duty to tell you that you’re wasting your time.

Keep your goals away from these trolls. Do not spend time with these people, whether it’s in person or on the ‘Net. You’re not going to change their mind, and you must NOT let them change yours. Professional computer certifications, particularly Cisco certifications, are definitely worth pursuing. Again, I’m living proof. I now own my own training company, write my own Cisco certification books, and own a successful consulting business. If I had listened to that troll, I wouldn’t have accomplished any of this.

Carrying Out Your Study Plan

You’ve scheduled your exam; you’ve created a document to track your study time; you’ve planned exactly when you’re going to study. Now the plan must be carried out, without exception.

What exceptions do I mean? Cell phones. Televisions. IPods. Significant others. The list can go on and on.

It’s one thing to have a plan, and an important thing; now you’ve got to make sure you carry it out to its fullest potential. That’s easy to say until you’re studying and a friend calls, or you remember that TV show you wanted to watch is on tonight, or you start surfing the Web for Cisco information and end up playing a game.

You MUST make these small sacrifices in order to achieve your main goal, the CCNA. To paraphrase the Marine Corps slogan, the pain of missing a TV show is VERY temporary, but the pride of passing your CCNA with flying colors is forever.

TV will be there when you’re done studying. Your significant other will be there when you’re done studying. And believe it or not, people once existed without cell phones. Turn the phone off. Turn your instant messenger service off. Turn your text pager off. Despite what we think, the world can do without communicating with us for 90 minutes. It’s better to have 90 minutes of great study than 180 minutes of constantly interrupted study.

How To Spend Your Study Time

CCNA candidates generally spend their time split between book study, practice exams, and lab time on real Cisco equipment. The best study is done by a combination of these, not by overly relying on one. Let’s take a look at each method.

Book study – I’ve never understood why some people (usually the trolls we were talking about earlier) talk about book study like it’s a bad thing. “You can’t learn about technology from books.” What a load of manure. You have to learn the theory before you can understand how a router or switch operates. The best way to learn the theory is to read a good book.

At the CCNA level, you doubtless know that you have dozens of choices when it comes to books. Some books really do gloss over some important topics, such as binary math and subnetting. Make sure to pick a book or books that go beyond just explaining the theory and that give you a lot of explanation of router configs and real-world examples as well.

Practice Exams: Practice exams are good in moderation, but don’t use them as your main focus of study. Occasionally, I’m asked for study tips by candidates who have taken the exam a few times and not passed yet. I ask them what they’re doing to prepare, and they give a list of companies they bought practice exams from. (You see a lot of this on Internet forums as well.)

Don’t fall into this trap. Practice exams are fine if used as a readiness check, but some candidates just take them over and over again, which renders them basically useless.

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On top of that, some of them cost hundreds of dollars. That’s money you’d be much better off spending on Cisco equipment to practice on.

Again, I’m not against practice exams as a supplement to your studies. Just don’t make them the main focus of your study. Taking practice exams over and over and hoping the exam will be just like the practice exam is a recipe for disaster. As I tell my students, when you’re in front of a rack of routers and switches during a job interview (or at 2 AM when you’ve been called in to fix a problem), the correct answer is not “D”. You’ve got to know what to do.

And how do you learn these skills? Funny you should ask.

Lab Time On Real Cisco Equipment. Again, speaking from experience: This is the most important part of getting your CCNA, succeeding on the job, and going on to get your CCNP.

Getting hands-on experience is critical to developing your networking skills, especially your troubleshooting skills. Although simulators are better than they used to be, they’re still not Cisco routers, and they never will be.

You do your best learning not only when you’re configuring your routers, but when you screw something up.

That’s so important, I want to repeat it – loudly:

You do your best learning when you screw something up.

Why? Because then you have to fix it; that’s how you develop your troubleshooting skills. You can read about all the debug and show commands in the world, but you don’t really understand how they work until you’re figuring out why your Frame Relay connection isn’t working, or your RIP configuration isn’t working.

This is true at every level of the Cisco Learning Pyramid. I can show you the show ip protocols output or what you get when you run debug ip rip, and you might remember it for a little while. But when you use it to troubleshoot a lab configuration, you WILL remember it.

Putting your own practice lab together will also help get you over what I call “simulator question anxiety”. If you spend any time on CCNA Internet forums, you’ll see discussion after discussion about these exam questions.

There’s no reason to be anxious about them if you’re prepared. You don’t want to be the person who walks into the testing room that’s scared to have to create a VLAN or an access list; you want to be the person who walks into the testing room confident of their ability to perform any CCNA task. The best way to be that confident is to know you’ve done it – on real Cisco equipment.

There are several vendors that sell routers and switches on ebay; most of them sell CCNA and CCNP kits that include all the cables and transceivers that you’ll need as well. (And how is a simulator going to help you learn about cables and transceivers?) Keep in mind that you can always sell the equipment after you’re done with the CCNA, or you can add a little equipment to it to go after your CCNP.

Whichever of these methods you use (and I hope you’ll use all of them), make sure to keep them in balance with each other. Don’t depend too much on just one.


On the topic of learning how to troubleshoot… as you run labs on your Cisco equipment, you’ll run into questions or problems that you don’t know the answer to yet. Get used to using Google (or your favorite search engine) to find the answer to these problems.

There’s nothing wrong with asking questions of someone else if you’re not able to find the answer yourself. Trying to find the answer yourself is another important troubleshooting skill you need to start developing today. Don’t be one of these people who posts a simple question on a forum without trying to find the answer yourself. Besides, you get more satisfaction and build more confidence when you determine the answer yourself.

The Big Day Approaches….

As exam day nears, you know you are on your way to success because you have already completed these steps:
1. You decided to succeed.
2. You decided on your exam path.
3. You scheduled your exam.
4. You created your study plan.
5. You tracked your UNINTERRUPTED study time.
6. You kept your goals away from negative influences.
7. You balanced your study between books, practice exams, and lab time.

At this point, some CCNA candidates are panicking. They start “cramming”, hoping they can jam all that information into their heads in the last minute. This is a study technique that needs to be left behind when you leave high school. Cramming for exams is for junior high. You’re a professional, in a professional field. You do not cram, because you don’t have to. You made a plan and stuck to it. Now as we approach exam day, use these techniques to maximize your effort.

First, get lots of rest. LOTS of rest. A well-rested candidate is a successful candidate.

Second, if you are not familiar with the location of the testing center, drive to it several days before the exam. The last thing you want to do is drive around like a mad person the day of your exam, trying to find the testing center. (Or, as happened to a friend of mine that the testing center had moved to the other side of town!) If you have a morning appointment, make sure you allow for rush hour traffic patterns. There’s one testing center in my city that takes 15 minutes for me to get to, except for one hour in the morning – if I go then, it takes 40 minutes. Allow for rush hour ! Do NOT rely on MapQuest or any other “driving directions” website the morning of the exam. They’ve been known to be wrong. (Trust me on this.)

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Call the center and ask for directions. Many testing centers have directions to the center on their website, but it’s always best to call.

Mentally rehearse your success. See yourself passing the exam, because that is exactly what you are going to do. Finally, take a practice exam the same way you’ll take the real exam. Time yourself, use a pen and paper, and use only 40 – 50 questions. (By the way – there is no scientific calculator available to Cisco certification candidates in the exam room. You have to know how to perform conversions involving hexadecimal, decimal, and binary numbers. Get as much practice on this as you can.)

The Day Of The Exam

Today, all the planning and work you’ve done for your CCNA exam pays off. You wake up confident and ready to go, because you’ve followed these steps and you know passing the exam is a foregone conclusion. There are still things you can do to maximize your chances of success!
Show up on time. Yes, I know everyone says that. The testing center wants you there 30 minutes early. So why do so many candidates show up late, or in a rush? Again, if you have a morning exam appointment, make sure to allow for rush hour traffic.

Use the headphones. Most candidates in the room with you understand that they should be quiet. Sadly, not all of them do. Smacking gum, mumbling to themselves (loud enough for you to hear, though), and other little noises can really get on your nerves in what is already a pressure situation. In one particular testing center I use, the door to the testing room has one setting: "Slam". Luckily, that center also has a headset hanging at every testing station. Call ahead to see if yours does. Some centers have them but do not leave them at the stations. Wearing headphones during the exam is a great way to increase your powers of concentration. They allow you to block out all noise and annoyances, and to concentrate on your job -- passing the exam.

Prepare for the "WHAT??" question. No matter how well-prepared you are, there may be one question on any Cisco exam that just stuns you. It might be off-topic, in your opinion; it may be a question that would take 10 of your remaining 15 minutes to answer; it might be a question that you don't even know how to begin answering. I have talked with Cisco exam candidates who got to such a question and were obviously so thrown off that they didn't do well on any of the remaining questions, either.There is only one thing to do in this situation: shurg it off.

Compare yourself to a major-league pitcher. If he gives up a home run, he can't dwell on it; he's got to face another batter. Cornerbacks in football face the same problem. If they give up a long TD pass, they can't dwell on that. They have to shrug it off and be ready for the next play.Don't worry about getting a perfect score on the exam. Your concern is passing. If you get a question that seems ridiculous, unsolvable, or out of place, forget about it. It's done. Move on to the next question and nail it.

Finish with a flourish. Ten questions from the end of your exam, take a 15-to-30 second break. You can't walk around the testing room, but you can stand and stretch. By this point in the exam, candidates tend to be a little mentally tired. Maybe you're still thinking about the "WHAT??" question. Don't worry about the questions you've already answered -- they're done. Take a deep breath, remember why you're there -- to pass this exam -- and sit back down and nail the last ten questions to the wall. There is one final piece of advice I’d like to give you for exam day: BE AGGRESSIVE.

You’re in that testing room for one reason: to PASS. Occasionally I hear someone say that they’re taking an exam “just to see what it’s like”. That’s not a winning attitude. You’re not there to see what it’s like; you’re there to pass so you don’t have to see it again. Would you work on a router or switch with the attitude of “let’s just see what happens”? Not on my network. And not on anybody else’s, hopefully.

Go in the testing room with an aggressive attitude. You’ve planned; you’ve studied; you’ve sacrificed. You’re ready to seize your destiny and pass the exam. We play the game to win the game. We take the exam to pass the exam. And from someone who’s been there – there is no feeling in the world like seeing “PASS” on that computer screen!

Some Final Exam Tidbits

For many of you, this may be your first Cisco certification exam. Here are a few tips that all candidates should find helpful, especially first-timers.

Make sure to bring your wallet or purse. You cannot take the exam without proper identification. You're required to have two picture IDs.

Make sure the marker you are given had a fine point and is not dry.

When you go in, you’ll be asked to enter your testing ID. Once you do that, the exam engine starts running. However, this doesn’t mean the test starts.

When you take a Cisco exam, you’ll first be presented with a survey. The survey consists of 10 – 20 questions asking about your background, preparation methods, and comfort level with different technologies. This is a good time to catch your breath before starting the exam. The survey will only take about five minutes, and this time does not count against your exam time. Finally, the exam starts! Since you have prepared correctly and efficiently, this will be a pleasant experience for you. Speaking of that grade, you’ll be presented with it about five seconds after you answer the final question.

Cisco exams no longer allow CCNA and CCNP candidates to go back once a question is answered, so be prepared for that.

I hope you've enjoyed this look at how best to prepare for your CCNA success. The Cisco certification program has made tremendous professional success possible not only for me, but for CCNAs around the world.. That success is waiting for you. By following the plan I’ve laid out for you here, you can begin creating the foundation for an incredible future.

Avaya Is Said to Plan $1 Billion IPO for as Soon as April

Avaya Holdings Corp., the communications-gear maker owned by private-equity firms Silver Lake and TPG Capital, plans to hold its initial public offering as soon as April, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

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The company, based in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, filed in June to raise $1 billion in an IPO. It put off the sale amid stock-market swings that left some investors reluctant to buy shares in newly minted companies, said the people, who asked not to be identified. The timing could slip, the people said.

Cisco Systems Inc., the top manufacturer of networking equipment and a competitor to Avaya, slumped 11 percent last year, while rival Juniper Networks Inc. dropped 45 percent. The weakness reflected concerns that customers would delay upgrades amid economic turmoil. The outlook brightened in recent weeks after quarterly results from Cisco exceeded profit and sales estimates and analysts predicted that AT&T Inc., the largest U.S. telephone company, would step up capital spending.

Avaya Inc., which is owned by Avaya Holdings, reported on Feb. 13 that its fourth quarter net loss narrowed to $26 million from $180 million a year earlier while sales rose 1.5 percent to $1.39 billion. The company cut costs in fiscal 2011 by eliminating jobs and consolidating facilities.

Market Share

Synergy Research Group said in August that Avaya gained share in the global market for voice equipment for corporate customers. It ranks No. 2 in the market behind Cisco.

Telecommunications capital spending began increasing last year for the first time since 2009, according to Yankee Group. The research firm said last May that global expenditures will rise to $302.2 billion in 2014 from $275.7 billion in 2011.

Stacey Torman, a representative of Avaya, declined to comment.

AT&T, based in Dallas, is planning to make “reasonably healthy” orders from networking companies this year, Jefferies Group Inc. said in report yesterday.

Avaya was spun off from Lucent Technologies Inc. in 2000 and taken private in 2007 for $8.2 billion. Later, it acquired an equipment business from Nortel Networks Corp. for $943 million.

Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are leading the IPO, Avaya said in its June 9 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company didn’t disclose how many shares it will sell or give a price range in the filing.

Maintenance fee nerves jangling at Oracle?

Oracle bending to customer demand or playing a crafty hand?

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Chris Kanarakus reports that Oracle has waivered extended support fees. Given what we know about Oracle’s masterful account control in its customer base you might be forgiven for wondering why this is the case. Citing Forrester analyst Paul Hamerman, Kanaracus offers several possible explanations including:

Keep customers happy while not force marching to Fusion
Waiting for Fusion to reach feature/function parity with eBusiness Suite
Keep customers from straying into the arms of third party maintenance providers like Rimini Street

I sense the decision is much more pragmatic. As Kanaracus observes, maintenance fees are extraordinarily lucrative, generating gross margin north of 90%. Until recently, maintenance fees have been a small fraction of total IT spend. When weighed against for example the cost of upgrade, they often look like little more than a rounding error. So what has changed? I sense there are several factors in play:

Direct IT department spend has stagnated or is falling yet demands for IT to deliver value are rising.
Newer technologies and especially those that are sold on a consumption basis are coming in directly via line of business departments rather than IT.
While most commenters recognise that cloud based applications will remain a minor part of the overall landscape for the immediate future, the long term threat is real for incumbents like Oracle.
Oracle, like every other incumbent on-premise player is desperate to maintain margins while figuring out a way of getting on the cloud bus.

My guess is that Oracle is viewing this combination of factors as creating an environment where treading lightly keeps the cash register ticking over while giving the company breathing space. The question in my mind is just how long that breathing space will last.

In The New Technology Elite, Vinnie Mirchandani makes the bold statement:

For too long IT has been an expensive and low-payback back-office investment. Now technology in the companies’ products is allowing them to generate revenue and growth.

As I look back over time and think about the numerous ERP failures, the lack of genuine innovation, the stress that some companies have felt and yet balance that against the fat margins companies like Oracle, SAP, Infor, Microsoft and others make I wonder whether the maintenance chickens are finally coming home to roost.

In Oracle’s case, the problems are compounded by a less than stellar performance in its hardware story. As Larry Dignan observed:

The problem, however, is that Oracle saw new software license revenue gain only 2 percent in the second quarter from a year ago to $2 billion. Updates and support revenue was up 8 percent to $4 billion. Hardware systems revenue fell 14 percent from a year ago to $953 million in the second quarter. In addition, Oracle couldn’t blame currency fluctuations either—the growth rates in constant currencies mirrored the actual results.

As Oracle closes out its Q3, analysts will be watching all line items to better understand where the real weaknesses are in Oracle’s business model.

Intel sneaks out quad-core Core i7-3820 Sandy Bridge-E processor for under $300

If Intel’s six-core Sandy Bridge-E CPUs were too rich for your blood (and wallet), the chip giant is now giving you a more affordable option. The Core i7-3820 sports only four cores, but it also carries a much lighter price of $294. The new chip has a higher clock speed than its siblings at 3.6GHz, but [...]

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If Intel’s six-core Sandy Bridge-E CPUs were too rich for your blood (and wallet), the chip giant is now giving you a more affordable option. The Core i7-3820 sports only four cores, but it also carries a much lighter price of $294.

The new chip has a higher clock speed than its siblings at 3.6GHz, but its Turbo Boost maxes out at 3.9GHz like the Core i7-3960X. It also has only 10MB of cache, while the 3960X comes with 15MB and the i7-3930K includes 12MB.

The 3820 is priced lower than the Core i7-2600K, despite having some key advantages (support for quad-channel memory and PCIe 3.0), though it requires a new, pricey X79-based motherboard. Would you rather get the new CPU and motherboard, or go with the older processor and cheaper LGA 1155 motherboard? Let us know in the Talkback section.

Apple launches the iPad into the classroom

A home is where treasures are kept. Treasures in many California homes are in the form of furniture collections with a coffee table from a favorite antique store or a wing-back chair you inherited from a grandmother , or may be your electronics collection with flat screen high-definition television and surround sound equipment. Even your garage is full of things boxes of treasures of which you may only have of vague recollection.

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Your most important treasures are, of course, your wife and children. Naturally, you want all these to remain safe and a part of your life. Unfortunately, there are others who share your world who would like to relieve you of these treasures for their own gain. There may come a time when you feel the need to protect yourself and those you love with security. California security is available in many forms: by a guard with training in Los Angeles, by electronic alarm systems, or by camera surveillance.

Investing in an alarm system for your home can help you sleep better at night in your own bedroom, as well as help you play better when away from home on vacation or business trips. Representatives from alarm system companies may visit your home in person to help you design the perfect alarm system to protect your possessions and your family. Sophisticated electronic systems are disguised in a simple control panel that mounts on a convenient wall in your house, which can then be programmed to alert you and local law enforcement when a door or window of your home is opened, or when an intruder is seen on camera surveillance.


For example, one man was concerned about nightly robberies which were occurring in his small rural mining town. He traveled out of state often with his work. He decided to be proactive in protecting his possessions, and bought an electronic alarm system with a proven track record. One feature of this system included the capability to alert him by mobile phone text if his home alarm system were activated. One week after he bought and installed the system, he received a text that his alarm system had sounded. He immediately called the local police near his residence. Law enforcement was already en route; they caught the thief, who was still at the residence in the act of removing expensive electronic equipment.

There are ways to be sure your personal guard has training in Los Angeles and is completely trustworthy. One such service, called the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, accepts applications from would-be guards. The Bureau, and other companies like it, then checks criminal history and posts applicants who are ready for employment as guards on their web site. It is important to note, however, that some states may allow those applicants with a past history of felony or misdemeanor offenses to qualify for employment as a registered guard after careful review of circumstances and possible rehabilitation. Some applicants with a criminal history may become guards, but may be restricted from carrying a weapon.


Not everyone needs this type of personal security. However, a widow in a large city felt particularly vulnerable after her husband’s death. She even suspected she was being followed when she left her house to go shopping or to walk her dog. Her children, who lived out of state, contacted an agency that provided personal security guard protection at specified times of the day to help her feel more confident every time she went out of her home. The widow saw no more evidences that she was being followed by strangers, and she was comforted to know someone was nearby that she could trust to help her if needed. Her children were also comforted to know the one they treasured was protected.

Oracle seeks new trial in IP theft suit against SAP

Oracle's plan to drag its legal fight against rival SAP's defunct TomorrowNow subsidiary through a second trial is not surprising, analysts said Tuesday.

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The company clearly wants to distract SAP by forcing it to go through another bruising battle in court, they said.

"SAP wanted to get this whole messy affair behind it as quickly as possible," said Frank Scavo, president of Computer Economics, an IT research firm. "Right now, SAP has a lot of momentum, but if Oracle can keep the dispute alive it keeps SAP on the defensive."

Oracle on Monday rejected a federal judge's September ruling that had awarded it $272 million in damages in its IP infringement lawsuit against SAP.

Judge Phyllis Hamilton's decision cut about $1 billion from the $1.3 billion in damages awarded by a jury hearing the suit in late 2010.

Hamilton said Oracle could either accept the damages she awarded or seek a new trial.

Oracle has claimed--and SAP has subsequently admitted -- that the now-closed TomorrowNow subsidiary infringed on Oracle's intellectual property and IPs when it delivered third-party support and maintenance services to Oracle customers.

Oracle in September had vowed to seek the $1.3 billion awarded by the jury. In the motion filed Monday U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Oracle formally rejected the $272 million award and said it had "no choice but to elect a new trial."

Accepting Hamilton's ruling would "force Oracle to risk waiving its right to appeal the Court's decision on the motions for judgment as a matter of law and for a new trial," the company said.

Scavo said Oracle's motion for a new trail isn't surprising. "Oracle's continued pursuit of SAP is just one battle in the war against third-party support," he noted.

Oracle has filed a similar lawsuit against Rimini Street, a provider of low-cost support services for users of enterprise software products from vendors such as Oracle, Siebel, PeopleSoft and SAP.

Rimini Street has claimed its services cost just half of what enterprises would otherwise need to pay Oracle, SAP and others for maintenance and support,

Oracle, which derives substantial revenues from such services, has claimed that Rimini and TomorrowNow are able to deliver the services only by illegally using Oracle software.

Scavo said the Rimini Street battle is more critical for Oracle than the TomorrowNow fight. "If that decision goes against Oracle, it essentially validates the legal basis for third-party support," he said.

Paul Hamerman, an analyst at Forrester Research, said Oracle's request for a new trial should have been expected given the significant difference between the jury's damage award and the judge's decision.

Also, he said "Oracle can afford to drag this out. The rivalry motivates Oracle to keep SAP on the defensive, and prolongs the agony for SAP, which just wants to put this case behind it," he said.

IT executives should take note of Oracle's actions and be careful when entering into contracts with third-party software service providers, Scavo added.

"Organizations that are currently looking at third-party maintenance should have their legal counsel take a careful look at the proposed contracts to ensure that their interests are adequately protected," he said.

In a statement, SAP said it was "disappointed that Oracle has passed up yet another opportunity to resolve this case. We will continue to work to bring this case to a fair and reasonable end."

Preparing Open Source Software Compliance Guidelines

The purpose of these Open Source Software Compliance Guidelines (Guidelines) is to provide guidance in the development of procedures designed to verify compliance with the license requirements of various open source software applications and code (OSS) used internally or included in products for distribution. Technology lawyers, advisors and consultants need to be aware of issues surrounding open source software in order to properly advise their clients.

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The output of these Guidelines should be (1) an Open Source Software Compliance Policy (OSS Policy) that describes the policies and procedures applicable to the company's use of OSS, and (2) an inventory (OSS Inventory) of all OSS approved for use within the company.

The OSS Policy must be designed with the company's culture and specific way of operating in mind in order to be effective. The OSS Policy should also be reviewed and updated on a regular basis.

The OSS Inventory is the ultimate output of these Guidelines and the OSS Policy. However, it will also serve as a ready document, in modified form, that can be provided to customers that may request a listing of OSS contained in distributed products and to a potential partner or acquirer which is performing due diligence.


It is important to note that 3rd party proprietary software will often contain OSS components. Therefore, particularly when such software is being included in a distributed product, it is necessary to have the vendor identify all OSS components so that they can be considered along the lines as set forth below.

Designated Gatekeeper:

A person or committee should be designated for approval of all OSS proposed to be used internally or included in products for distribution. In order for this procedure to be effective, notice must be provided to relevant company personnel that the company requires prior approval of all OSS utilized in any manner within the company. Such notice must be conspicuous and repeated at regular intervals. In addition, supervisors must also be instructed to reinforce this requirement. Special attention must be paid to development teams which are accustomed to pulling OSS from various places, and usually operate subject to tight deadlines.

Request for Approval:


1. Requests for approval should be submitted within the amount of time prior to use/implementation as stated in the OSS Policy. The approval process should be initiated with the submission of a document that contains at least the following information:

2. Name/Version Number/Source of Open Source Software

3. Name of Applicable License (e.g., GNU General Public License v.2, zlib, BSD), and Source Address for the License

4. Name of Entity/Person Granting License

5. Source Address from which OSS will be Obtained

6. Description of How OSS will be Used (e.g., internally, as a development tool, embedded in distributed product, etc.)

7. If included in distributed product, description of the manner in which these OSS will interact with the company's proprietary source code (i.e., will the OSS be compiled and/or linked statically or dynamically with the company's proprietary source code?)

8. The manner in which the OSS will be implemented (e.g., modified vs. unmodified, standalone, statically linked, dynamically linked, etc.).

9. Description of whether the OSS will be modified

10. Statement as to whether the OSS is a key product component

11. Statement as to whether the OSS well-known and widely used

12. Target date for OSS use/implementation

Approval Process:

The approval process involves examining risk areas relating to using the particular OSS. Risk areas may include:

1. Does the OSS license require making modified source code publicly available?

2. Does the OSS license require that source code for company's proprietary software be made publicly available? (e.g., will there be static linking of GPL code with company's proprietary software?)

3. Has there been litigation or other issues relating to the subject OSS?

4. Does the OSS license contain ambiguous terms, thereby potentially placing a cloud on company's rights to use the OSS in a certain manner?

5. Will lack of warranties and intellectual property indemnification pose a risk to company vis-à-vis customer expectation and demands?

It is important that the approval process be conducted quickly, and the expected time period for approval should be set forth in the OSS Policy. Otherwise, users and developers are likely to get frustrated and find ways to get around the procedures as deadlines approach.

When new versions of approved OSS are used, an expedited approval process should take place. This allows the OSS Inventory to be kept up to date, and will prevent gaps forming in the inventory that could end up becoming large holes.

Compliance:

The goal of an OSS Policy is to achieve compliance with each OSS license. Depending upon the licenses involved, compliance may include any of the following:

1. Inclusion in appropriate documentation of warranty disclaimers, liability exclusions, author attribution, and proprietary rights notices.

2. Inclusion in appropriate documentation of the applicable OSS end user license agreement.

3. Public delivery or availability of source code for the unmodified version or the modified version.

4. Public delivery or availability of source code for company's proprietary software if linked to a "copyleft" open source software code in a manner that requires this result.

5. Marking of modifications made to the OSS source code.

Audits:

On a periodic basis, at least annually, an audit should take place to verify that the OSS Inventory is accurate and up to date. The audit process can be as simple as distributing the OSS Inventory to key personnel who will sign off on it, or as complex as installing monitoring software that will identify OSS on the company's computer system. The extent of the audit will depend upon company's needs and the volume of open source OSS in use.

OSS Training:

Current and new employees should participate in an OSS Policy training session to ensure that they are aware of the company's procedures and requirements in this area.

70-291 Q & A / Study Guide / Testing Engine

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QUESTION 1
You work as It Admin at Certkingdom.com. The Certkingdom.com network consists of a domain named Certkingdom.com.
The servers at the Certkingdom.com network run Windows Server 2003. The Certkingdom.com network has a file
server named Certkingdom-SR18. Certkingdom-SR18 hosts shared folders.
During your routine monitoring, you notice that Certkingdom-SR18 has a connectivity issue. To investigate
further you run Network Monitor, but notices that during capturing, network packets were dropped.
What actions must you take to minimize the dropping of packets while monitoring Certkingdom-SR18?

A. You should configure a persistent demand-dial connection.
B. You should configure a two-way initiated demand-dial connection.
C. You should use dedicated capture mode when utilizing the Network Monitor.
D. You should select the Do not overwrite events option in the Event Viewer.

Answer: C

Explanation: The CPU of Certkingdom-SR18 runs on 80%, which indicates that there are not enough
resources to the network Monitor. Running Network Monitor in dedicated capture mode frees
resources on the computer for capturing dat
A. This results in fewer frames being dropped. The
capture statistics are not displayed or refreshed because the frames are copied to the capture
buffer.
Reference:
Deborah Littlejohn Shinder, Dr. Thomas W. Shinder, Chad Todd and Laura Hunter, Implementing,
Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure Guide & DVD Training
System, Syngress Publishing Inc., Rockland, 2003, p. 841

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QUESTION 2
You work as the network administrator at Certkingdom.com. The Certkingdom.com network consists of a single
Active Directory domain named Certkingdom.com. The servers at the Certkingdom.com network run Windows
Server 2003 and the workstations, Windows XP Professional.
The Certkingdom.com network has a DNS server named Certkingdom-SR03 that does name resolution for host on
the Internet. Certkingdom.com users complain that they do not get the correct site when trying to access
Web site known to them.
What actions must you take to stop this from happening without disrupting production?

A. You should restart the DNS Server service.
B. You should select the Secure cache against pollution setting.
C. You should run the ipconfig/flushdns on Certkingdom-SR03.
D. You should run the ipconfig/registerdns on Certkingdom-SR03.

Answer: B

Explanation: When the Secure cache against pollution setting is disabled, all records received in
response to DNS queries are cached. This is true even when the records do not match to a
queried domain name. Enabling the Secure cache against pollution setting disables the ability to
pollute the DNS cache with incorrect information, and spoof DNS queries. With Windows Server
2003 the default setting is that caches are secured against pollution. This will then prevent users
that browse the Internet from being directed to the wrong websites.
Reference:
Deborah Littlejohn Shinder, Dr. Thomas W. Shinder, Chad Todd and Laura Hunter, MCSA/MCSE:
Exam 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network
Infrastructure Guide & DVD Training System, Syngress Publishing Inc., Rockland, 2003, pp. 496-
497
J. C. Mackin, Ian McLean, MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (exam 70-291): Implementing,
Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 network Infrastructure, Microsoft
Press, Redmond, 2003, Part 1, Chapter 3, pp. 285, 291

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QUESTION 3
You work as the network administrator at Certkingdom.com. The Certkingdom.com network has a domain named
Certkingdom.com. The servers at the Certkingdom.com network run Windows Server 2003 and the workstations,
Windows XP Professional.
The Certkingdom.com network has a server named Certkingdom-SR10 that runs Windows Server Update
Services (WSUS). During synchronization you notice that you cannot connect to the Windows
Update servers, however, you can access to other Web site not residing in the intranet.
What actions must you take to connect to the Windows Update servers?

A. You must run the ipconfig/registerdns.
B. You must configure the forwarders on Certkingdom-SR10.
C. You must set the authentication to the proxy server in the WSUS settings.
D. You must run the gpupdate /force command on Certkingdom-SR10.

Answer: C

Explanation: In the Software Update Services administration console, there is an option to
configure your internet connection settings. These settings include proxy server settings. If you
have a proxy server between the SUS server and the internet, you need to configure the proxy
server settings in the SUS options.

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QUESTION 4
You work as the network administrator at Certkingdom.com. The Certkingdom.com network has a domain named
Certkingdom.com. The servers at the Certkingdom.com network run Windows Server 2003. Certkingdom.com has a
subsidiary named Test Labs, Inc. that has a domain named testlabs.com.
The Certkingdom.com network has a DNS server named Certkingdom-SR05. Certkingdom-SR05 acts as a secondary
zone for testlabs.com
What actions must you take to track when the DNS server at Test Labs, Inc. sends notifications of
modifications in the zone of testlabs.com to Certkingdom-SR05?

A. You must run the gpresult command in verbose mode.
B. You must select debug logging and set the log to store Notification events on Certkingdom- SR05.
C. You must run the secedit command in analysis mode.
D. You must configure a two-way initiated demand-dial connection.

Answer: B

Explanation: Debug logging is disabled by default and has to be enabled on Certkingdom-SR05. Select
the Log packets for debugging check box to configure Debug Logging. To receive useful debug
logging information, you should select a Packet direction, a Transport protocol, and at least one
more option. You can also specify the file path and name, and the maximum size for the log file.
Enabling Debug Logging slows DNS server performance.
Reference:
Deborah Littlejohn Shinder, Dr. Thomas W. Shinder, Chad Todd and Laura Hunter, MCSA/MCSE:
Exam 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network
Infrastructure Guide & DVD Training System, Syngress Publishing Inc., Rockland, 2003, p. 551

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QUESTION 5
You work as the network administrator at Certkingdom.com. The Certkingdom.com network consists of a domain
named Certkingdom.com. The servers at the Certkingdom.com network run Windows Server 2003.
The Certkingdom.com network has a Web server named Certkingdom-SR11. During a routine monitoring you
notice an increase in network traffic. Due to this you need to find out the MAC address of the
workstation that initiated the transfers and the command that was used. However, you action must
not effect Certkingdom-SR11.
What actions must you take?

A. You must run the ipconfig/registerdns.
B. You must use the Netmon utility.
C. You must capture the IP traffic to Certkingdom-SR11.
D. You must Enable Server Message Block (SMB) signing on all the workstations.

Answer: C

Explanation: Network Monitor tool allows you to capture dat
A. The tool also allows you to identify
its source from where it came from. The Network Monitor tool also allows you to analyze the
content of the message. Use a Network Monitor capture filter to capture IP traffic from any
computer to Certkingdom-SR11, and apply the capture filter before capturing the data.
Reference:
Deborah Littlejohn Shinder, Dr. Thomas W. Shinder, Chad Todd and Laura Hunter, MCSA/MCSE:
Exam 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network
Infrastructure Guide & DVD Training System, Syngress Publishing Inc., Rockland, 2003, pp. 198,
543
J. C. Mackin, Ian McLean, MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (exam 70-291): Implementing,
Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 network Infrastructure, Microsoft
Press, Redmond, 2003, Part 1, Chapter 3, pp. 140, 144, 145.

---

QUESTION 6
You work as the network administrator at Certkingdom.com. The Certkingdom.com network has a domain named
Certkingdom.com. The servers at the Certkingdom.com network run Windows Server 2003.
The Certkingdom.com network has only one DNS server named Certkingdom-SR11 that only hosts the zone for
Certkingdom.com. During the course of the day you have received complaints that the response time of
the connections to other workstations is very poor.
What actions must you take to see if it is the DNS client traffic on Certkingdom-SR11?

A. You must set up a log of the Total queries/sec and the DNS counters Dynamic updates/sec.
B. You must configure a Network Monitor capture filter.
C. You must run the gpresult command.
D. You must set up the Performance Logs and Alerts to note down the Physical-Disk object.

Answer: A

Explanation: The System Monitor utility is used to collect and measure the real-time performance
data for a local or remote computer on the network. Through System Monitor, you can view
current data or data from a log file. When you view current data, you are monitoring real-time
activity. When you view data from a log file, you are importing a log file from a previous session.
Using the System Monitor, you can generate statistics on the following types of information
regarding DNS services:
AXFR requests (all-zone transfer requests), IXFR requests (incremental zone transfer requests),
DNS server memory usage, Dynamic updates, DNS Notify events, Recursive queries, TCP and
UDP statistics, WINS statistics and Zone transfer issues. Thus to find out where DNS client traffic
is responsible for the slow speed at which computers connect within the Certkingdom.com domain, then
you should create a log of the Dynamic Updated/sec and the Total queries/sec given the fact that
Certkingdom-SR05 is the only DNS server in the domain.
Reference:
James Chellis, Paul Robichaux and Matthew Sheltz, MCSA/MCSE: Windows Server 2003
Network Infrastructure Implementation, Management, and Maintenance Study Guide, Sybex Inc.
Alameda, 2003, pp. 70-73, 304

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QUESTION 7
You work as the network administrator at Certkingdom.com. The Certkingdom.com network has a domain named
Certkingdom.com. The servers at the Certkingdom.com network run Windows Server 2003 and the workstations,
Windows XP Professional.
The Certkingdom.com network has a Web server named Certkingdom-SR10 that has the Internet Information
Services (IIS) 6.0 installed. Certkingdom-SR10 hosts a Web site that can be reached from the internal
network and the Internet. The internal traffic at Certkingdom.com needs authentication without a secure
protocol to access the Web site; however Internet traffic needs to authenticate with a secure
protocol.
What actions must you take to ensure that the all accesses to Certkingdom-SR10 use a secure protocol?

A. You need to configure the log to capture Notification events.
B. You need to apply the hisecdc.inf predefined security template.
C. You need to monitor network traffic and IIS logs.
D. You need to apply a custom security template.

Answer: C

Explanation: To make sure that the users are using a secure protocol, you must use the Network
Monitor. The Network Monitor allows you to capture frames directly from the network. As soon as
the frames are captured it will display and filter captured frames. The Network Monitor also allows
you to edit captured frames and transmit them on the network.
Reference:
Diana Huggins, Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure Exam Cram 2 (Exam 70-291),
Chapter 4
J. C. Mackin, Ian McLean, MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (exam 70-291): Implementing,
Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 network Infrastructure, Microsoft
Press, Redmond, 2003, 1: 26, 3: 3.

---

QUESTION 8
You work as the network administrator at Certkingdom.com. The Certkingdom.com network has a domain named
Certkingdom.com. The servers at the Certkingdom.com network run Windows Server 2003 and the workstations,
Windows XP Professional.
The Certkingdom.com network has two servers, named Certkingdom-SR30 and Certkingdom-SR31, which contain file with
sensitive company information. You create a new OU named SenSrv and move Certkingdom-SR30 and
Certkingdom-SR31 to the new OU. You then create a new GPO that and configure it to encrypt all network
connections. You then link the GPO to the SenSrv OU.
How would you check to see if encrypted connections to Certkingdom-SR30 and Certkingdom-SR31 are taking
place?

A. By opening the Resultant Set of Policy console.
B. By running the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA).
C. By applying the hisecdc.inf predefined security template.
D. By opening the IP Security Monitor console.

Answer: D

Explanation: Administrators can use the IP Security Monitor tool to confirm whether IP Security
(IPSec) communications are successfully secured. The tool can display the number of packets
that have been sent over the Authentication Header (AH) or Encapsulating Security Payload
(ESP) security protocols, and how many security associations and keys have been generated
since the computer was last started. The IP Security Monitor is implemented as a Microsoft
Management Console (MMC) snap-in on the Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional
operating systems. It includes enhancements that allow you to view details about an active IPSec
policy, in addition to Quick Mode and Main Mode statistics, and active IPSec SAs. IP Security
Monitor also enables you to search for specific Main Mode or Quick Mode filters.
Reference:
Diana Huggins, Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure Exam Cram 2 (Exam 70-291),
Chapter 5
J. C. Mackin, Ian McLean, MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (exam 70-291): Implementing,
Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 network Infrastructure, Microsoft
Press, Redmond, 2003, p. 15: 20
Deborah Littlejohn Shinder, Dr. Thomas W. Shinder, Chad Todd and Laura Hunter, Implementing,
Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure Guide & DVD Training
System, Syngress Publishing Inc., Rockland, 2003, p.795

---

QUESTION 9
You work as the network administrator at Certkingdom.com. The Certkingdom.com network consists of a domain
named Certkingdom.com. The servers at the Certkingdom.com network run Windows Server 2003 and the
workstations, Windows XP Professional. The Certkingdom.com network has a DNS server named
Certkiller -SR03.
Certkingdom.com changes ISPs. Now you receive complaints that Certkingdom.com users cannot connect to Web
sites on the Internet by using the URL of the Web site.
You configure your workstation with the DNS server address of the new ISP. You can now
connect to Web sites by entering their URL in the browser.
How would you configure Certkingdom-SR03 to allow all users to connect to Internet Web sites without
causing connectivity problems on the internal network?

A. You need run the Oclist.exe command and the Security Configuration and Analysis console on
Certkingdom-SR03.
B. You need to utilize the default root hints of Certkingdom-SR03 and set up a forwarder to the new ISP.
C. You need run the Dcgpofix on Certkingdom-SR03 and set up forwarding to the new ISP.
D. You need to disable recursion and run the Security Configuration and Analysis console on
Certkingdom-SR03.

Answer: B

Explanation: Forwarders are used to inform DNS where to look for name resolution when not in
the local DNS database. With Windows Server 2003 conditional forwarding, recursive query
requests can be subject to different DNS forwarder servers based on the domain name queried.
The root hints file (cache hints file) contains host information needed to resolve names external of
the authoritative DNS domains. It holds names and addresses of root DNS servers which are
normally located on the Internet. In this situation where your network is connected to the Internet,
the root hints file should contain the addresses of the root DNS servers on the Internet. With the
default installation of Windows Server 2003, DNS uses the root hints file. It is not necessary to
configure forwarders to access the Internet. Even though it is recommended to configure
forwarders to point to your external domain, root hints will function quite fine.
Reference:
Diana Huggins, Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure Exam Cram 2 (Exam 70-291),
Chapter 3
J. C. Mackin, Ian McLean, MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (exam 70-291): Implementing,
Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 network Infrastructure, Microsoft
Press, Redmond, 2003, Part 1, Chapters 4 & 5, pp. 193, pp. 194; and pp. 247.

---

QUESTION 10
You work as the network administrator at Certkingdom.com. The Certkingdom.com network consists of a domain
named Certkingdom.com. The servers at the Certkingdom.com network run Windows Server 2003 and the
workstations, Windows XP Professional.
Certkingdom.com has a Web server named Certkingdom-SR10 which is connected to the Internet. During the
course of the day you have received instructions from the CIO to use System Monitor to determine
how much bandwidth is used on Certkingdom-SR10's Internet connection. You decide to use the Bytes
Total/sec counter with a sample rate of 10 seconds. You also plan to archive the logs once a day.
Due to limited hard drive space, you need to prevent the logs from getting too big.
What actions must you take to?

A. You should disable recursion.
B. You should create a one-way initiated demand-dial connection.
C. You should configure an alert trigger when the Datagrams/sec counter is high.
D. You should keep Certkingdom-SR10 on the existing counter and set the sample rate to 60 seconds.

Answer: D

Explanation: The function of the Network Interface Bytes Total/Sec counter is to measures the
total number of bytes that are sent/ received from the network interface. You use less processor
cycles when you reduce the sampling frequency.
Reference:
Dan Holme and Orin Thomas, MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-290): Managing
and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment, Microsoft Press, Redmond, 2003,
Chapter 12, p. 479

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Why you can't afford to resist the cloud

Large and small enterprises are creating new business opportunities through their use of the cloud, at the expense of those who are slower to adapt.

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While many are still digging in their heels against moving to the cloud, they’re finding it harder and harder to do so. Not only because the business case becomes stronger every day, but also because cloud platform providers are acting to address the objections that used to slow or stymie adoption. This week saw Amazon provide another hook between its AWS cloud and enterprise data centers with the launch of its Storage Gateway appliance, which makes S3 storage look like just another iSCSI interface in the data center. Yesterday VMWare announced multi-cloud capability for its Cloud Foundry platform, eliminating provider lock-in for organisations that run their apps on the platform. Of course there are bad ways as well as good ways to use these hybrid tools, but that’s a topic for another post. The key takeaway is that cloud providers are taking steps to allay many of the concerns that have been raised in the past by enterprise IT buyers.

Meanwhile, it’s the business case that provides the compelling argument for going cloud. Yesterday, I heard two fascinating accounts from opposite ends of the enterprise spectrum about the transformative effect of cloud in their businesses. Both were speakers at Cloud Expo Europe in London, providing more grist for the mill of my forthcoming book about the emergence of frictionless enterprise. I was attending as a speaker on behalf of cloud platform distributor Boston [see disclosure].

Banking multinational HSBC was at one end of the spectrum, demonstrating that transformation isn’t just for small, green-field enterprises. It was a delight to hear the enthusiasm and confidence of Barry Childe, head of research, innovation and delivery for the bank’s global banking and markets division. His presentation talked about how cloud allows an organisation to reduce complexity, dramatically lower costs, and provide the best IT solutions to its business units — not just in theory but based on the bank’s proven experience. “This is not vapourware, this is about delivery of end solutions,” he insisted.

While he’s not allowed to publicly cite metrics, Childe did say that the bank’s cloud projects had more than lived up to expectations, stating: “I would consider our performance as exceptional.” I wondered whether those cloud-powered IT solutions were simply a matter of helping the bank do better what it had always done, or were some of them going beyond the bank’s traditional activities? His reply to my question was emphatic: “We’re doing things we could never have dreamed about a few years ago.”

At the opposite end of the scale, startup CEO Geoff Newman described how the cloud has helped his company grow from an investment of less than £10k to become a multi-million-pound business in just two years. Recruitment Genius is what I would call a classic frictionless enterprise story, finding its niche by using the cloud to take friction out of the recruitment process — its service posts a company’s job ads to a tailored selection of online job boards, filters the responses and provides an online applicant tracking system where recruiters can sort the CVs and arrange interviews.

Behind the scenes, its use of the cloud to drive its infrastructure is equally game-changing. All staff work virtually, using Gmail, Basecamp, Dropbox and Voipfone to collaborate. The company stores its applicant CVs on AWS, saves its Java code libraries on Google Code and runs its SQL database on Azure, with all files backed up to JungleDisk. It hosts its other servers on UK cloud hoster ElasticHosts, its videos on Vimeo and achieves a distinctive web presence with online fonts from Monotype Imaging’s fonts.com. Even the programmers that develop the company’s online functionality are hired on-demand using the cloud and are paid by the hour. “We’re able to scale our workforce and our cloud computing as necessary,” said Newman.

With its lean infrastructure and operating costs, and its direct connection into online job boards and social media, Recruitment Genius is hollowing out the business model of traditional recruitment agencies — as the company says on its website, “In 2009 we realised we had smashed our own recruitment agency model, but in its place was something far more exciting and effective.”

There’s a warning there for everyone that attempts to dismiss the cloud as a fad or as just another means of delivering IT. Those who really seize its potential are creating entirely new business opportunities — not only start-ups like Recruitment Genius but also big established firms like HSBC. And those initiatives are stealing business away from others that are slower to react to what’s going on. As the cloud matures, resistance isn’t merely futile; ignore the cloud and you could find your business has bought a one-way ticket to the scrapheap.