Serverpronto Reviews - By: alex r.
In this ServerPronto Review I will show you totally around Server Pronto in details, come on.
ServerPronto.com proposes the lowest cost in the dedicated-server business sector. ServerPronto.com is breaking the cost barrier for dedicated web hosting not by providing a low-quality product at a little price, but by offering afirst- superb, feature valuable product at an unbelievable price. ServerPronto provides speedy, trusted servers with everything you need to work on the Net. Whether you are employing server for World Wide Web growth, tinkering, email, photos, gaming, reselling, or entirely of the above and more, ServerPronto hosting will present an great experience.
The Earth's Most Affordable Dedicated Server
Server Pronto is the most expert embrace on dedicated servers. Monthly and install costs of ServerPronto hosting are the optimum in the line, peculiarly with network up-time ensure. ServerPronto.com incessantly stress to deliver hard-hitting prices all the time. Nowadays ServerPronto hosting providing Non-paying Set-up if you choose Quarterly Charge and activating within 2 hours! You may also easily customise your dedicated servers. That means you own option to take Disk Drive, RAM, Operating System, Control Panel (Ubuntu, Ubuntu 64-Bit, Windows 2003, Windows 2003 64 Bit, Windows 2003 Enterprise, Windows 2003 Web, Windows 2008, Windows 2008 64-Bit, Windows 2008 Enterprise, Windows 2008 Web, CentOS, Debain, Fedora Core, FreeBSD, Gentoo, OpenBSD, OpenSUSE, RedHat Enterprise Linux RedHat Enterprise Linux 64 Bit, Suse), Microsoft SQL, Managed Firewall, Additional IP Addresses, Port, Bandwidth, 24/7 Uptime Support,FTP Backup Space and Voice Support option.
99.99% Uptime Guarantee:
ServerPronto hosting provides sure hosting answers at all times which I must indicate in my ServerPronto Review.
ServerPronto.com offers up 99.99% network uptime guarantee. Carrier Class information centers feature state-of-the-art hardware, network and fully redundant connectivity to allow clients with a high-performing, dependable server. All the servers have lot of power to fulfill customers' needs, and the connection is quick and dependable.
Excellent Multihomed Monthly Traffic
Server Pronto hosting uses the Infolink network which preserves numerous spare direct fiber-optic links to Level 1 Internet backbones. Each ServerPronto bandwidth is dynamically directed to the quickest ready carrier using the latest BGP4 technology. Your server will be straightaway connected via a 100Mbps Full Duplex switched Ethernet Port. Every of this signifies that you will receive an highly reliable, rapid (100Mbps) direct joining to multiple Grade 1 Internet backbones. That sort of Internet connection is applied by about of the globe's greatest sites including MSN, Yahoo and CNN.
ServerPronto Review: Premium Level New Servers
ServerPronto dedicated-server are seen with superior parts that can hold demanding data center surroundings. Dissimilar some other dedicated-server providers, you will be given up a new dedicated-server that has never been in use by another customer.
ServerPronto Review: 24/7 Customer Support
Server Pronto hosting provides answering and knowledgeable 24/7 customer support by emails and ticketing system. User support is systematically very nice, helpful, and rapid. Their seasoned technicians are as well ready if you want them.
ServerPronto Review Reveal Awards:
I practiced my best in this ServerPronto Review ..
Server Pronto hosting has been presented different Top 10 Dedicated Servers Awards. This honour is given to service providers that provide important operation and value for dedicated server.
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The Google Jagger Algo Update: - Part Two - By: kamanalia
This is the second part of the Google Jagger update discussion. The first part of this article discussed the overview of how and why Google needs to update its website ranking algorithms periodically. This article shall discuss the specific areas the Jagger update has altered in the Google algorithm.
Sources at Google claim that the changes we see are part of 3-phase update (Jagger1, Jagger2 & Jagger3). At the time of writing this article, we are in the completion stage of Jagger2 update. The Jagger3 update is expected to be rolled out over the next few weeks.
Jagger Update 1
The Jagger 1 update pre-shocks actually started with a string of back-link updates that began in September 2005 and continued into middle of October 2005. In mid October, Google updated its PageRank database for public view. Usually updated once a quarter, the PR update always creates a stir. While most SEO professionals heavily play-down the importance of PR in ranking, the legacy of its importance is so deep-rooted in the minds of most webmasters, that it is difficult to shake it off as an insignificant ranking parameter.
Jagger Update 2
It is believed that the Jagger 2 update is now complete and replicated to all the data centers of Google. However, you may still notice some fluctuations in the rankings as things stabilize for each update. We are now at the threshold of the 3rd phase of the Jagger update, which is expected to initiate sometime in the second week of November 2005.
From what we have studied so far, Google has re-engineered several aspects of its algorithm. Amongst other aspects we will know as things roll out, we believe it has altered the impact of the following:-
1. Value of incoming links
2. Value of anchor text in incoming links
3. Content on page of incoming links
4. Keyword repetitions in anchor text
5. Age of the incoming links
6. Nature of sites linking to you
7. Directory links
8. Speed and volume of incoming links created
9. Value of reciprocal links
10. Impact of outbound links / links page on your website
11. Sandbox effect / age of your site, domain registration date
12. Size of your site's content
13. Addition and frequency of fresh content update
14. Canonical / sub domains, sub-sub domains
15. Multiple domains on same IP numbers
16. Duplicate content on same site or on multiple domains
17. Over-optimization, excessive text markup
18. Irrational use of CSS
We are studying various aspects of the Jagger algo update and are closely monitoring the impact of changes in each of the above mentioned parameters and many more not mentioned here. We shall be discussing the impact of each of these aspects in the next parts of this article, which are likely to be written once the Jagger3 update and our study of it is complete.
In the meanwhile, we'd like to give out a word of caution - if you have suffered drop in your website rankings, do not do any drastic changes on your website until the Jagger3 update is fully implemented and stabilized. There is a delicate balance and inter-dependence of all these parameters that can bring back your ranks once the Jagger3 update is completed.
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Developing a Profitable Web Business Concept - By: shaikh Asif
The first step to starting a profitable online business of your own is developing a topic for your website.
You want to select from a list of topics that interest you since you are going to have to write original content for your website.
Too many "green" webmasters make the mistake of choosing a website topic that they think will make them a lot of money instead of one that interests them.
They spend their time thinking about how to monetize their site before they actually have any visitors.
What is the end result?
A website that feels like a commercial. You have to remember that people are not using the internet to find your sales pitch they are using it to find information.
What does this tell you?
If you want to be a successful web business owner then your website should provide your users with valuable information resources related to your target keywords.
Ask yourself, am I more likely to buy a product from a trusted information source whose website I find useful and visit frequently or a website loaded up with banners and links to every way man has invented to make money?
Build your user's trust by providing valuable original content on your website. If you choose a topic that interest's you and that you are passionate about, the content will be much easier to develop.
When developing your site concept choose 4-5 broad topics at first until you identify which one has the most profit potential through keyword analysis techniques.
The top benefit of writing your own website content is that the search engines love it! If you want to get free targeted traffic to your website (of course you do, right?) having original, information filled website content makes the search engines very happy.
As you continue to add valuable original content to your website you will start to notice other websites linking back to you. This will bring both free targeted traffic and higher link popularity with the search engines depending on the quality of the sites that are linking to your site.
Search engine's see backlinks to a site as an indicator of how "popular" a site is. If you have a large number of websites linking back to your content you must be important, right? There is a lot to learn on this subject that goes beyond the scope of this article.
Visitors to your website will already be pre-sold since the backlinks you will receive should be from "related websites”, or from “internet searches” performed on keywords related to your website content.
Incorporate links to the products and services you are promoting within your website content and you have a powerful sales tool.
This strategy will not "explode" your income overnight but will provide you a steady stream of pre-sold, targeted visitors from the search engines within 3-6 months.
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Want to get professional IT certificates without undertaking any tests. - By: Zheing Liu
Those who are interested in getting their MCSE, CCNA, MCITP, CCNP, MCTS, MCSE Certification can now easily get their certificates without sweat and toil. We do not have to travel to other places or take online tests to get our IT exam certifications. We can get our certifications from where we are. With the help of Certxpert.com, we can get our IT certification that will take our career to the next level or get our dream jobs faster. We can now start enjoying success in our career with additional qualifying certifications.
Normally people spend several hours taking special lessons and preparing for MCSE, CCNA, MCITP, CCNP, MCTS, MCSE Certification tests. Some of us get even so stressed out to take these tests because we fear exams. While others may not have the time required to prepare for the exams or appear for the exams. This can become a stumbling block for their growth and to their success in their career. Sometimes when we take these professional exams without proper preparation, we will end up failing dismally in these exams and making multiple attempts. This can waste our time further and frustrate us. We can also get discouraged when we fail in these exams.
We can avoid all these hassles completely by making use of the services of Certxpert.com. They are one of the best IT exam agencies and offer unique exam assistance service for people who are in need of MCSE, CCNA, MCITP, CCNP, MCTS, MCSE Certification. Imagine getting our IT certificates fast and quick without having to appear for the exams several times. They offer complete assistance in getting our IT certifications. They provide exam assistance for all top IT certification examinations. No more frustrations and no more delay in getting our certificates. We need to choose the service we need at Certxpert.com, send our personal information and send the payment. Certxpert.com will help us get our IT certifications. Getting our IT certifications cannot get any easier. Certxpert.com is the first IT exam assistance company ever. People from all over the world can make use of these services. They offer these services by making use of the several test centers across the globe. They have 100% pass rate in all the exams. Their services are totally risk free with their money back guarantee. We can get assistance on all the most famous IT exams in their list. We will get our MCSE, CCNA, MCITP, CCNP, MCTS, MCSE Certification within 2 to 6 weeks after the exams are completed. They have a very straightforward fee structure and the fee varies with the nature of the exams taken. There are no hidden fees what so ever. The fee includes the guarantee as well as the exam fees. For more information, visit Certxpert.com.
About the Company: Certxpert.com is an online training provider that is very obliging in getting the certifications for their clients. They offer the certification without any training, tests or even travel. You can get certified at home without any effort. They also give full guarantee that each individual will pass in the Certification process. It is a partner with several authorized testing centers all over the world. So, where ever you are located in, we can help you pass all the tests. You are able to receive your certifications at home itself without spending your time and effort! We provide services for different IT certifications, including Microsoft MCSE, MCITP, MCTS, Cisco CCNA, and CCNP. The certifications we obtain for you are coming directly from respective certification issuers, like Microsoft, Cisco, and you or your employers can verify test records and certification status on the official sites.
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How Adwords Software Like Keyword Elite 2.0 Can Help You - By: Mad Marketer
While it could be simple to enroll for Adwords, using it effectively isn't as straightforward. It can be complex to get the results you would like for the price you are able to afford. Once you have set up your basic account, you may wish to download some Adwords software like Keyword Elite 2 to help achieve success.
There are dozens of different Adwords software programs to do all sorts of tasks and analyses that may help you make a great Adwords campaign.
If you are new to Adwords, you may not know which software will work the best, so you will try two different programs before you land on the ones that truly help. If you have been working with Adwords for a while, you'll know just what you want a program to do for you.
Either way, you can look for free or paid Adwords Software like Keyword Elite 2. Just being a paid program doesn't make it better than a free one - many of the free programs are very efficient and will do just what you want them to.
One Adwords software program helps you create net pages that may get a high score on the Google quality rating, meaning you will get high rankings on the Google SERPS ( Search Engine Return Pages ) for your keywords.
These programs also help you create the quality Google adverts to go on those pages!
Another cheap Adwords softward download helps you find highly popular keywords that still only attract a few advertisers who are bidding on the word. The more advertisers that are bidding, the higher the price per click goes for that keyword.
So you would like to find keywords that are well-liked key terms, but are not popular with advertisers. You want to pay merely a penny or so for each click, not $.05 or $.10 per click.
Another program detects click fraud and empty clicks. These can be dear during an Adwords campaign, and its worthwhile to do anything you can to avoid them.
Detecting lots of applicable keywords is the job another software program like Keyword Elite 2.0 takes over for you. Its blue-skying on autopilot as it searches your website and comes up with a variety of words that may work for you.
In addition, a number of these Adwords downloads investigates your complete niche, watching for keywords utilised by the contest, analyzing potential markets, and simply customizing just about each side of the application.
Another useful Adwords software download allows you to monitor your account without the necessity to open a browser. You can click through pages, enter logins and passwords, and perform routine operations quickly and easily, as well as schedule tasks.
Some of the hottest as well as the commonest Adwords software programmes such as Keyword Elite 2 develop tallies of keywords that might be relevant to your product. Rather than taking weeks or months to think about and enter a variety of related keywords, these programs can look after that task for you.
Using an Adwords software program or two may assist you in getting the most out of your Adwords campaign.
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The world today has gone literally gone acronym crazy - By: jagdeep580
The world today has gone literally gone acronym crazy. Every industry has its own plethora of acronyms to bamboozle the uninitiated. Acronyms are also often a source of great pain for those people who have to create procedure documents for their industry. There is a way to survive this turmoil through the power of Autocorrect and it will definitely save you time.
Autocorrect was originally developed by Microsoft to help those people using Microsoft Office and in particular Microsoft Word overcome typing issues but it has also become the saviour to those working in an acronym world.
I hear you saying it, HOW!
An acronym in essence is short couple of characters that have a special meaning for example in Australia we have a term called the Australian Business Number which has an acronym abn. If you were producing a lot of documents that refer to the term Australian Business Number you would find it takes a little time to right that whole name. In many cases it would be inappropriate to actually use the acronym. What Autocorrect allows you to do is to program into the application the term abn and associate it with the full name Australian Business Number.
What this means is that when you are typing your documents and you need to refer to the term Australian Business Number, you simply type in abn and as you press the space bar Microsoft Word will then convert the acronym abn to Australian Business Number.
So why does it do this?
Like I mentioned before, Autocorrect was really developed to overcome the issue of people mistyping words. Essentially as you type Autocorrect checks to see if what you are typing is correct and if its not it will correct it with the options in the Autocorrect list. Some of the common typing mistakes you might incur would cna instead of can. If you open Microsoft Word and type in cna it will automatically correct it to can.
Autocorrect is actually available in all Microsoft Office Applications which include Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher, Outlook and FrontPage. Now the really cool part about this is that if you setup an Autocorrect entry in say Microsoft PowerPoint, it will also be available in all of the other applications. This means that you are going to save time both in the initial setup but also whilst you are creating these documents.
If you find that when you tried the example I gave to you before that it did not convert the misspelt word to the correct word then most likely the AutoCorrect function has been turned off. To turn it on in Microsoft Word 2003 simply choose the Tools menu and then choose AutoCorrect Options. You will see a checkbox next to the words "Replace Text as you type". If the checkbox does not have a tick next to it then you need to click once on the check box to activate it. Then finish off the process by pressing the OK button.
There are three autocorrect entries which I think are absolutely essential to know and that is how you can insert the Trade Mark Symbol, Registered Symbol and Copyright Symbol without using the symbol command. All you do is type the following -
(tm) - Creates the Trade Mark Symbol
(c) - Creates the Copyright Symbol
(r) - Creates the Registered Symbol
Autocorrect is certainly one of the tools that I think is really cool but is often misunderstood and not used to its full potential. Using AutoCorrect in this way will save you hours of time when dealing with acronyms. It might take a little time setting up your acronyms but once its completed it will save you countless hours and make you far more efficient and effective in using the Microsoft Office Suite
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Spam Wars This Summer - By: Jeff Gasner
The bad geeks couldn’t even spare the already tarnished memory of pop superstar Michael Jackson within days of his tragic demise. They had to create a worm piggybacking in an email that lured the unsuspecting into a treacherous Moonwalk when opened. The bad geeks have no shame.
The e-mail in question with the innocuous-sounding subject line “Remembering Michael Jackson” contained a corrupted zip file spread by USB memory sticks. Claiming to originate from sarah@michaeljackson.com, its wormy zip was supposed to contain secret songs and photos of the dead but bigger-than-life legend, but instead it was primed to infect your hard drive, and any others that you contacted with the efficiency of a Ponzi scheme.
Michael Jackson is just the tip of the gravestone. While spyware is on the wane, the new computer mal-boy of choice for evil geeks is the deceptive Trojans, no nicer now than they were in the time of Troy when Helen was still around. A Trojan used to be something else, an article worn that offered protection. Those safeguards are gone, only to be replaced by fake antivirus protections, counterfeit creations like MDW.
What to do? Where do you go to eradicate the lying software once it’s mistakenly loaded onto your ‘puter? An unlikely destination is the independent repair shop, the same place where you went to fix your iPod, Blackberry so cheaply and quickly you can take your notebook or your laptop. Increasingly as a sign of the times, these convenient places are becoming the ‘in’ place to find out what condition your condition is in – at least when it comes to infiltrators messing up your hard drive because some bad geek wants to have a little malicious fun at your expense. Don’t get mad, get even. Get rid of that MDW before it has a chance to cause too much hullaballoo.
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Top common mistakes that web designers do: - By: Pratibha
As I feel that web designing is one of the best career option for all who want to be a web designer with a dedication. Uncountable web designers one can find around the universe, from east to west and north to south. But the question is who is the best, and the answer is the person who < href="http://www.admecindia.co.in/template-design.html">creates good web sites, now again a question arise in the mind that how can one decide that a web site is qualifying good or bad merits. When it comes to your website, extra attention should be paid to every minute detail to make sure it performs optimally to serve its purpose.
Here are some important rules of thumb to observe to make sure your website performs well. Please read all carefully to avoid all the followings in your site:
1. Never use splash pages
Splash pages are the first pages you see when you arrive at a website. They normally have a very beautiful image with words like "welcome" or "click here to enter". Do not let your visitors have a reason to click on the "back" button! Give them the value of your site up front without the splash page.
2. Do not use excessive banner advertisements
Even the least net savvy people have trained themselves to ignore banner advertisements so you will be wasting valuable website real estate. Instead, provide more valuable content and weave relevant affiliate links into your content, and let your visitors feel that they want to buy instead of being pushed to buy.
3. Must have a simple and clear navigation
You have to provide a simple and very straightforward navigation menu so that even a young child will know how to use it. Stay away from complicated Flash based menus or multi-tiered dropdown menus. If your visitors don't know how to navigate, they will leave your site.
4. Must have a clear indication of where the user is
When visitors are deeply engrossed in browsing your site, you will want to make sure they know which part of the site they are in at that moment. That way, they will be able to browse relevant information or navigate to any section of the site easily. Don't confuse your visitors because confusion means "abandon ship"!
5. Do not use uncontrolled audio on your site
If your visitor is going to stay a long time at your site, reading your content, you will want to make sure they're not annoyed by some audio looping on and on your website. If you insist on adding audio, make sure they have some control over it volume or muting controls would work fine.
6. Do not make your web pages bulky
Every website owner does not only want to get his website ready but also expect a big benefit by the website in terms of business and branding. So are you taking care about all these things also when you work on a website? If yes, then OK, and if no then read all it very carefully. First of all, avoid using heavy jpg files, optimizing all the images, avoiding excessive use of table, you can replace now table with div tag. Always use external css, provide alt tag to all the images, put separate title name to all the pages, and most important is don’t forget to use proper meta tags also.
7. Test your website’s compatibility with all browsers
Your website isn't just compatible with a lot of Website browsers. One of the foremost reasons why your website design doesn't click at all is because it won't show up with majority of Internet browsers. Keep in mind that there are many types that can be utilized by Internet users. Classic examples include Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, and Crazy Browser. Thus, it only means that if you want to make sure that you can reach out to as many potential customers as possible, your website should show up in all of them. Before you upload your website, do some testing first so you can already correct possible problems.
8. Is your website is readable by all the visitors
Fonts are not friendly to Internet users. Besides the overall layout of your web pages, you also have to take into consideration the font that you are going to use. The usual mistake in website design is using very small fonts, which makes content very inconvenient for Internet users to read. Sometimes they are frozen, which means you cannot adjust their sizes. You should ensure that your font is readable by complementing them with the background.
9. Is your website is Search Engine Friendly
Web pages are not search-engine friendly. If you're not taking care of your headline tags, not adding Meta tags in each of your web pages, or if you've been stuffing a lot of keywords in your websites, then you will surely not gain the favor of search engines.
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Get certified To SURVIVE! - By: Radu Jack
Just wind back the world where all and sundry longed to get a degree. Imagine wanting an education so badly that one would walk for miles to get it. This seems to be a never ending scenario, crave for education. An anthem is in the making, Microsoft and Cisco call it the certification!
The world is banging with the echo ‘hire only certified people’. SO, out of the 100%, only 10% of the people are equipped with certifications and rest of them is forced into it! And now it is like a battle having populace trying to get hold of most of the certification they can! No one is seen with a different eye, unless a professional degree is wrapped under the arms of the certified courses. Keeping in mind the strategies, the demands, the competition, the professionals, MICROSOFT and CISCO have framed a number of certification courses, right from system administrator to the IT professional.
The procedure involved is quite simple and lucid. The certificate is awarded to any person who completes and clears the test carried out by the organization in the stipulated time. The certification is based on different areas of scientific proficiency. The certifications offered by MICROSOFT are MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCP, and MCSE.
MCSA is an acronym for Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator; it is an official recognition for a person’s knowledge in system administration of Microsoft Windows operating systems. This certificate is attained by clearing two networking system exams, a client operating system and an elective paper.
A person having MCSA is more valued when he owns a MCSE certificate. It stands for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and is one of the superlative certification for Windows Server 2003. It shapes a person into a tycoon who can handle any crisis and take care of the requirements, plan and the execution involved for the same. The next one to follow is the MCTS; it is a technological specialist certification. There are more than twenty MCTS certifications based on the requirements and specifications.
This decade has proved that certifications hold a much higher value than any other degree under the sun.
Apart from Microsoft, CISCO also provides various certifications for the same. Now, it has become a trend and outstandingly necessity to have certification spaced out from standard degree. CISCO provides courses and certification for network managers and professionals. The most popular one is called the ‘CCNA’ which has taken an immense silhouette throughout the country. It stands for Cisco Certified Network Associate. A person who claims to have a CCNA certificate is very well equipped in the areas involving WAN and remote servers. To go hand in hand with it, CISCO has also introduced certification course named CCNP, CCIE.
With recession ruling the world, it is important for an individual to show his potential and uniqueness, which can be easily accomplished by getting hold of the above mentioned certificates.
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CERTIFICATION: Marking the exemplary from the ordinary! - By: Radu Jack
The ‘recession’ being the watch-word these days the upcoming IT professionals are finding it highly difficult to place them in the industry. Just like the saying ‘every dark cloud has a silver lining’ the MNC’s have come up with a solution to help out the beginners and the late bloomers the resultant being the introduction of the certification courses. The certification courses not only provide validation but also authentication along with it. It is like a direct pass into the IT industry.
So what are these certification courses? It is nothing but the mark of refinement that the particular person is more equipped and is capable than the rest of the lot. They are trained in a particular area and are put in an interrogatory situation where in they are tested under various circumstances and when the mark of adequacy is reached the person is held in esteem. The certification courses inculcate professionalism in an ordinary person as it provides an upper hand.
The MNC’s that offer the certification courses are the Microsoft and Cisco. With perfection being the main aim aggressiveness foisted upon competition. The core area of the certification course is the networking and it is being followed up by internet work and system administration and technology specialization. The certification for ‘Networking’ in different aspects is provided by Cisco. The facets being CCNA, CCNP, CCIE which is noting but the Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) this marks the basic stage in the ocean of networking. As the certification says the person makes up a logical connection with the networking industry. The CCNA has made its mark in the networking industry.
Following it is the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) which is the highest degree provided for the networking professional involving all of the network concepts including the ones like handling routers and satellites which is now an important facet in the banking industry these days especially in areas like Core banking services (CBS) thus playing an important role in all the industries. The other certification provided by CISCO is the Cisco Certified Internet work Expert (CCIE).
The MICROSOFT being the most reputed MNC is the IT galaxy provides certification courses to create a ripple among the ordinary people who achieve the degree of uniqueness after attaining the certification. The Microsoft trademark is the most sought after in the four corners of the world.
The certifications’ provided are MCSE, MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCP.
A system engineer is the one who has mastered the art of handling the equipment. A higher grade is obtained by the system engineer when the certification Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) is obtained. Microsoft Certification for Information Technology Professional (MCITP) is a division of the IT field which throws light upon the important perceptions. The certification provided for a PRO to become in system administration is Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) and Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) is provided for the technology specialist like separating the executives and the amateur. The other course provided is the
Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP).
Thus the certification courses provide a direct solution for the beginners.With recession in the air and the cats and rats following up the same track the certification course are marker for distinguishing them.
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NP9280 released! World's First Core i7 Gaming Laptop! - By: checkmate
Are you looking for a top of the range gaming laptop? The Sager NP9280 is exactly what you are searching for. NP9280 from Factor Gaming is one of the latest gaming laptops that comes with the newest and most exciting graphics card – the GTX 280m. It also features the best processors in the world, Intel Core i7 quad core CPU’s with Hyperthreading technology. The graphics and processing horsepower on this machine is unimaginably high and its gaming-grade memory takes the system to the next level. This gaming laptop affords you the freedom of open architecture. This means that you can upgrade the system whenever new hardware is released.
The Factor Gaming Sager NP9280 has a 12-cell battery power lasts up to 2.5 hours. Nothing to frown about for a gaming laptop, but still paling in comparison to some 8” netbooks on the market. And when you order from Facto Gaming, this gaming laptop also comes with a 3-year platinum warranty and lifetime technical support. The NP9280 gaming laptop also has other mind boggling features such as HDMI, e-SATA, a built-in 2MP camera, and the fastest in WiFi and Bluetooth wireless technologies.
You also get to choose what software you want in your system after buying the NP9280. This would be a great reprieve for you if you are used to worrisome third parties installing software you do not want on your system. Factor Gaming never installs bloatware in, so your Sager NP9280 will arrive clean and ready-to-go. You also do get a state of the art and absolutely free gaming notebook with every NP9280 purchase that you make. The notebook is shipped together with your laptop upon purchase.
NP9280 also comes with a customized DVD for all your gaming needs, which include an optimizer, over clocking tools and special software. All these are offered for free, so you do not have to worry about extra costs after making your laptop purchase. With Sager NP9280 gaming laptop, your gaming will never be the same again. You will absolutely love the experience that this gaming laptop has to offer. If you get yourself one of these gaming laptops, you will get an upper hand over your competitors. Not only are the laptops good for gaming, but you can also multi task, get good entertainment and edit your videos from the NP9280 gaming machines.
The NP9280 gaming laptop from Factor Gaming is quite affordable. And you can get an additional discount if you pay by eCheck or wire transfer. Factor Gaming will ship your Sager NP9280 laptop to you in the most secure manner and it will reach you in no time at all. And to make sure you’re protected, Factor Gaming will also give you a 100% refund should you find something wrong with your laptop and wish to return it.
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Microsoft Certification - Add One To Your Resume - By: James Copper
Add Microsoft Certification to your resume and see how it helps your career path. Microsoft has created numerous targeted certification programs. These certification programs do not just offer a new career option to those who are looking for a career, but also offer skills enhancement knowledge to those who are employed in various career fields.
So let us start our discussion with how different Microsoft Certification programs can help you in your job.
Software Application Developer
If you are a Software Application Developer, then you should think about adding MCAD (Microsoft Certified Application Developed) and MCPD (Microsoft Certified Professional Developer) certifications to your resume. MCPD will familiarize you with skills relating to software development on a variety of platforms using Microsoft NET Framework 2.0. MCAD will make you an expert in application lifecycle from development to maintenance.
Those who want to enhance their analyzing and designing skills should definitely opt for MCSD (Microsoft Certified Solution Developer). This will give you complete knowledge of the application lifecycle from analysis through design, testing, development and maintenance.
Systems Engineer
For Systems Engineer professionals, there are several Microsoft Certification courses. A MCSE or MCSA would always be an added advantage in your career path. MCSE will provide you with skills relating to analysis of business requirements and design and implementation of infrastructures.
IT Business Analysts
IT Business Analysts benefit greatly from MCP or MCSD certifications. You can start with an Office Specialist Certification, which will make you an expert in using Microsoft Office products. You can then go on to add MCP. MCSD would be the ultimate certification in your field, as it would cover the entire application lifecycle from analysis through design, testing, development and maintenance.
System Analysts
As a System Analyst, you would benefit from MCAD or MCSD certifications. MCAD will familiarize you with the application lifecycle from development to maintenance. However, if you really want to improve your career path, you should go for MCSD, which will teach you everything about the application lifecycle.
Software Engineers
There are MCSD and MCSE Microsoft Certification courses designed for Software Engineers. MCSD certification will equip you with skills relating to designing and developing using Microsoft development tools, technologies and platforms. MCSE with provide you with the skills to analyze, design and implement infrastructures.
Technical Writer, Office Manager, Executive Assistant
If you are employed as Office Manager, Technical Writer or Executive Assistant, Microsoft Office Specialist certification is the right one for you. This certification is ideal for those who use Microsoft Office products on a daily basis. Specialist, Expert and Master are the three levels of Microsoft Office certification. You can start at the Specialist level. As you become more and more proficient, you can take exams to reach the Master level.
Network Administrators
Microsoft also offers MSCE certifications specifically designed for Network Administrators. Those who use Microsoft Windows and backoffice applications on a daily basis will now have the added knowledge to do the analysis, design and implementation of infrastructures, thanks to MSCE.
So irrespective of the field you are in, you can greatly benefit from all Microsoft certifications. First decide which certification will work the best for you and then proceed from there. These certifications will give you added skills to perform your job better. And this means a more productive career path. So find
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Gain MCSE Certified Quickly in Days - By: jackjay
MCSE 2003 Certification
Get Certified in Days
According to our survey, over 85% of the candidates acknowledge that they have spent needless time and money before finding the most suitable solution to pass the exams. It doesn’t matter if you are just starting out and looking for the most suitable way to get certified, or a skilled technician looking for the most efficient way to get certified, we have the right solution for you.
We provide the following to help you get certified in the most convenient way
24/7, around the clock, consulting service that will assist you, guide you and help you, until you get certified. This price also includes; exam vouchers and all other related expenses. There is no further cost to attain your certification.
Our Guarantee
We will refund any payment that you make, should you for any reason fail to get certified. The refund is an unconditional total refund of any moneys paid.
Why MCSE 2003
MCSE 2003 Certifications are among the most specialized certifications available today. The MCSE 2003 Certification give you industry recognition for your expertise for business solutions based on the Microsoft Windows? 2003 platform and Microsoft 2003 server software. Implementation responsibilities include installing, configuring, and troubleshooting network systems. The MCSE 2003 credential is one of the most widely recognized technical certifications in the industry, a credential in high demand. By earning the premier MCSE credential, individuals are demonstrating that they have the skills necessary to lead organizations in the successful design, implementation, and administration of the most advanced Microsoft Windows platform and Microsoft server products.
MCSE 2003 Certification Requirement:
1. Core exams (six exams required)
• Four networking system exams: (four exams required)
Exam 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment.
Exam 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure.
Exam 70-293: Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure.
Exam 70-294: Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure.
• One client operating system exam: (one exam required)
Exam 70-620: TS: Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuring.
Exam 70-270: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional.
Exam 70-210: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional.
• One design exam:
Exam 70-297: Designing a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure.
Exam 70-298: Designing Security for a Windows Server 2003 Network.
2. Elective exams (one exam required)
Exam 70-089: Designing, Implementing, and Managing a Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 Infrastructure.
Exam 70-227: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition.
Exam 70-228: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition.
Exam 70-229: Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition.
Exam 70-235: TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using BizTalk Server.
Exam 70-236: TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Configuring.
Exam 70-262: TS: Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 - Implementing, Managing, and Troubleshooting.
Exam 70-281: Planning, Deploying, and Managing an Enterprise Project Management Solution.
Exam 70-282: Designing, Deploying, and Managing a Network Solution for a Small- and Medium-Sized Business.
Exam 70-284: Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003.
Exam 70-285: Designing a Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Organization.
Exam 70-297: Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure.
Exam 70-298: Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network.
Exam 70-299: Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network.
Exam 70–301: Managing, Organizing, and Delivering IT Projects by Using Microsoft Solutions Framework 3.0.
Exam 70–350: Implementing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004.
Exam 70–431: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - Implementation and Maintenance.
Exam 70-445: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence - Implementation and Maintenance.
Exam 70-500: TS: Microsoft Windows Mobile Designing, Implementing, and Managing.
Exam 70-501: TS: Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Hosted Environments, Configuring, and Managing.
Exam 70-620: TS: Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuring.
Exam 70-624: TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops.
Exam 70-630: TS: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring.
Exam 70-631: TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.
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Obatian MCSA Certified Easily - By: jackjay
Get MCSA 2003 Certification in Days
According to our survey, over 85% of the candidates acknowledge that they have spent needless time and money before finding the most suitable solution to pass the exams. It doesn’t matter if you are just starting out and looking for the most suitable way to get certified, or a skilled technician looking for the most efficient way to get certified, we have the right solution for you.
We provide the following to help you get certified in the most convenient way
24/7, around the clock, consulting service that will assist you, guide you and help you, until you get certified. This price also includes; exam vouchers and all other related expenses. There is no further cost to attain your certification.
Our Guarantee
We will refund any payment that you make, should you for any reason fail to get certified. The refund is an unconditional total refund of any moneys paid.
Why MCSA 2003
The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification will advance your career by ensuring that you have the skills to successfully manage and troubleshoot system environments running on the Microsoft Windows operating system.
This internationally recognized (MCSA) Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator training provides expert instruction on the Microsoft? Windows Server 2003 family, making it easier to deploy, manage, and use. Achieving the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) on Microsoft Windows 2003 credential provides a valid and reliable measure of technical proficiency and expertise to successfully manage and maintain the typically complex computing environment of medium to large-sized companies operating on the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 System.
MCSA 2003 Certification Requirement:
1. Core exams (three exams required):
•Networking systems (two exams required):
Exam 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment.
Exam 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure.
• Client operating system (one exam required)
Exam 70-620: TS: Microsoft Windows Vista Client, Configuring.
Exam 70-270: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional.
Exam 70-210: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional.
2. Elective exams (one exam required):
Exam 70-089: Designing, Implementing, and Managing a Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 Infrastructure.
Exam 70-227: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition.
Exam 70-228: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition.
Exam 70-235: TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using BizTalk Server 2006.
Exam 70-236: TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Configuring.
Exam 70-262: TS: Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 - Implementing, Managing, and Troubleshooting.
Exam 70-284: Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003.
Exam 70-299: Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network.
Exam 70-350: Implementing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004.
Exam 70-431: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 – Implementation and Maintenance.
Exam 70-445: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence – Implementation and Maintenance.
Exam 70-500: TS: Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0, Implementing and Managing.
Exam 70-501: TS: Windows Server 2003 Hosted Environments, Configuring, and Managing.
Exam 70-620: TS: Microsoft Windows Vista Client, Configuring.
Exam 70-624: TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops.
Exam 70-630: TS: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring.
Exam 70-631: TS: Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Configuring.
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Technology online - By: vishal verma
The dramatic rise in demand for technology has seen a rise in the demand for professionals within this field. Anyone wishing to enter a career in computer and information technology will find a variety of suitable degrees and courses that can help with their career. Those already working in a computer and IT related field can also gain from these courses, as they can aid career advancement.
Online technology degrees are popular because
Technology specializations and career opportunities are continuously expanding
Online learning with rich, interactive media is the ideal “classroom” for all aspects of IT.
Technology platforms, standards and best-practices change quickly, and online course materials are continuously updated
Courses available in technology and information technology
Computer information systems degree: A CIS degree prepares you for entry positions within the IT field. Those already working in a junior position can also benefit from a Computer Information Systems degree, as this can lead to an increased chance of promotion.
Computer networking degree: A computer networking degree helps you to learn and develop the skills and knowledge required for work, as well as enabling those already working with computers in advancing their careers. Qualified and capable computer networking professionals are always in demand.
Computer programming degree: For those already working a computer programming degree is an effective tool and valuable asset in career advancement. It will help you secure a more competitive salary. This is a specialist role that requires special knowledge and skills, and the computer programming degree program is the perfect way to learn and develop these skills.
Computer science degree: If you are want to get an entry level position in computer technology and science, this degree will prove invaluable. Computer related positions are very well paid and trained, able professionals are always in demand. If you already work in the area of computer technology, a computer science degree is the ideal way to pursue career advancement.
Engineering degree: An engineering job in the computer industry can be a wide-ranging and interesting one, and you could be working for all sorts of companies, from banks and pharmaceutical companies to governments and law enforcement agencies. All businesses need access to competent engineers should the need arise.
Information technology degree: An IT degree is valuable for those wanting to begin in the IT field as well as for those already working in IT. This degree will prove to possible employers that you have the specialist skills and knowledge required to work in this particular field. you may cover a variety of IT areas, such as networking, database administration, and programming etc.
Management information technology Master degree: With a this degree under your belt, you could find yourself working for high profile companies as well as smaller ones. Your management information technology Master degree will be looked upon positively by potential employers, and will show that you have mastered the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a higher level IT role.
MCSE training/degree: The MSCE training/degree qualification is highly valued by employers and can lead to a very satisfying, well paid position. When you undertake MSCE training/degree courses you will be trained in the latest methods and technologies, and you will develop the skills and knowledge required to work with proficiency and confidence in the area of Microsoft solutions and infrastructures.
Network security certification: Network security certification is a necessity for those wanting to work in the area of network security, enabling them to provide an important service that protects computer users from the risks of data theft and security breaches. With network security certification, you can develop the skills and knowledge required to build and implement defensive security strategies.
Web development training: On completion of your web development training, you will have specialist skills and knowledge in the use of a variety of popular applications, ranging from JavaScript and Flash to Dreamweaver and FrontPage. Your web development training will provide you with an important base that will enable you to enjoy career and advance in it.
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Get MCSA Certification In 7 Days - By: 7daystraining
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Our MCSA exam advisors are ready to assist in various ways. Their expert assistance will dramatically reduce the time and effort that you need to invest to achieve your MCSA certification. Allowing you the opportunity to get the MCSA certification you want with the least hassle! If what we have promised isn¡¯t realized after trialing our MCSA service, then we guarantee a 200% refund!
In the past few years, many people have reaped the rewards of our reputable consultation service, 95% of them coming from the USA, Canada, the UK and Australia.
Our service will help you get MCSA certified in just 7 days. They include:
1. Unlimited consultation with a personal advisor until you receive certification;
2. The examination fee (unlimited retakes if required);
3. Other administration costs;
4. All expenses regarding the service offered by our company and all expenses involved in any customer attaining and receiving their desired certification.
* No other expense shall be added or incurred other than the figure quoted herein.
* As compared to the highly expensive alternatives, such as; other available training and materials¡ you can really save so much of your time, effort and money with our proven service.
Don't forget that you are eligible to 200% refund in compensation should our 7 day promise fail.
MCSA Benefit
1 Microsoft Certifications give you industry recognition for your expertise in Microsoft products and technologies.
2 With each certification, industry trend shows increase in the salary of certificate holders. Additionally, multiple certifications directly correlate to further increases.
3 MCSA distinctively strengthens a professional's career in network and system administration.
4 MCSA is an obvious choice if you are planning your career as a systems administrator, network administrator, information systems administrator, network operations analyst, network technician, or technical support specialist.
5 MCSA can earn you MCSE by qualifying four additional exams.
MCSA Overview
The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) on Microsoft Windows 2000 certification is designed for professionals who implement, manage, and troubleshoot existing network and system environments based on the Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows .NET Server platforms.
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MCSE 100% Pass In Days - By: ready4exam
Microsoft Certified System Engineer
How can we help:
We offer pass guaranteed MCSE solutions, to assist you in passing the MCSE exam at first attempt. Our MCSE solutions are provided by our MCSE experts, who have over 20 years of MCSE instructional education experience. All our resources and efforts have pooled together to produce you a shortcut that will save you an incredible amount of time and effort. Complete the contact form below and receive free information on how your choice of MCSE certification is easily achieved.
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Price includes one-on-one consultation charge until you get MCSE certified , unlimited exam retakes until you pass and any other expense until all the exams are passed. Additional, you are guaranteed a total reimbursement PLUS $500 if any exam is failed at first attempt.
Duration: 7 Days
From the very first beginning till the exam pass, you will not spend more time than the one given above. This is applicable to everyone, including those who are not good at taking exams and those who can not afford too much time per day.
Microsoft MCSE Certification Outline
Networking Systems
(1)Exam 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment - 5 Interactive CD-ROMs, Microsoft Authorized MeasureUp ExamSim, Printable Courseware & more.
(2)Exam 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure - 5 Interactive CD-ROMs, Microsoft Authorized MeasureUp ExamSim, Printable Courseware & more.
(3) Exam 70-293: Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure - 5 Interactive CD-ROMs, Microsoft Authorized MeasureUp ExamSim, Printable Courseware & more.
(4) Exam 70-294: Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure - 5 Interactive CD-ROMs, Microsoft Authorized MeasureUp ExamSim, Printable Courseware & more.
MCSE Client Operating System
Exam 70-270: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional - 5 Interactive CD-ROMs, Microsoft Authorized MeasureUp ExamSim, Printable Courseware & more.
MCSE Design
Exam 70-297: Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure - 3 Interactive CD-ROMs, Microsoft Authorized MeasureUp ExamSim, Printable Courseware & more
MCSE Elective
Exam 70-298: Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network - 3 Interactive CD-ROMs, Microsoft Authorized MeasureUp ExamSim, Printable Courseware & more.
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Buy second-hand Cisco equipments to prepare for CCNA exam - By: 7daystraining
A Cisco lab of your own is the best way to prepare for CCNA certification. Whether you're in the planning stages of your Cisco lab or ready to purchase some routers or switches, eBay is a great place to get started. (By the way, those of you preparing for CCNP certification can use these same tips!)
Naturally, you have to exercise caution when purchasing anything on eBay. I've had only successful experiences buying used Cisco routers and switches there, and this CCNA certification exam tutorial will focus on tips to make building your Cisco lab a pleasurable experience.
Many used Cisco router vendor sell home lab kits, which include various routers and switches, cables, and perhaps some other connection devices and study guides. This seems like a good idea, and many of the Cisco lab kits on eBay are good deals.
There are a few things to look out for when buying such a kit. Watch for equipment that is no longer tested on the CCNA exam or the particular CCNP exam you have in mind. There's nothing wrong with 2500 routers for CCNA certification practice, but if you're buying switches, make sure they have an IOS. Many older Cisco switches use "set" commands for configuration, and while these switches are certainly functional, your CCNA training demands switches that you can practice IOS-based commands on.
Some eBay Cisco lab kits come with CCNA certification materials such as study guides or practice exams. On occasion, I'll see these kits include outdated study materials. If you don't want the study guides, just ask the vendor how much the kit is without the books. The same goes for the cables, but generally you'll need the cables and transceivers included with the lab kit.
Most importantly, do some research on the vendor. What's their eBay feedback rating? Have they had a lot of returned merchandise? Visit their website - I don't know of any used Cisco router resellers that don't have their own website - and take a look around. The vendor should offer some kind of limited warranty, so make sure you find it and read it carefully before purchasing.
I know from experience that building your own Cisco lab can be a little scary when you're getting started. I also know from experience, and the experience of thousands of my students worldwide, that there is no better practice for the CCNA certification exams than working with the real deal. I guarantee you that this small financial investment will be a great investment in your networking career. Now get out there and get started!
Some helpful services we provide for CCNA certification exam:
We provide certification consultation service which can help us get certified more conveniently. They offer online consultation and solution for I.T certifications such as MCSE certification, Cisco certification, CompTIA A+ and many more!
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No matter how busy you are or how competent you are at this moment ¨C they will get you certified in 7 days or you can receive a 200% refund, which it is the highest in the industry.
Our Cisco exam advisors are ready to assist in various ways. Their expert assistance will dramatically reduce the time and effort that you need to invest to achieve your certification goal. Allowing you the opportunity to get the certification you want with the least hassle! If what we have promised isn¡¯t realized after trialing our service, then we guarantee a 200% refund!
In the past few years, many people have reaped the rewards of our reputable consultation service, 95% of them coming from the USA, Canada, the UK and Australia.
Our service will help you get certified in just 7 days. They include:
1. Unlimited consultation with a personal advisor until you receive certification;
2. The examination fee (unlimited retakes if required);
3. Other administration costs;
4. All expenses regarding the service offered by our company and all expenses involved in any customer attaining and receiving their desired certification.
* No other expense shall be added or incurred other than the figure quoted herein.
* As compared to the highly expensive alternatives, such as; other available training and materials¡ you can really save so much of your time, effort and money with our proven service.
Don't forget that you are eligible to 200% refund in compensation should our 7 day promise fail.
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3 Useful Things You'll Learn in Microsoft Access Training Courses - By: Rich Talbot
Most people say that they feel intimidated by Microsoft Access. Training courses designed for rapid learning however, can get you feeling confident in just a matter of days. There are any number of reasons why you or your employees could benefit from taking Microsoft Access training courses; from improving efficiency, to seeing data in new ways, to building better relationships with your customers through superior tracking of customer inquiries and orders.
Most people know that Access is a database program, but since many people haven't explored it in detail, they aren't sure what they might learn in Microsoft Access training. Here are 3 interesting and useful things you'll learn after just two or three days of Microsoft Access courses that could drastically change the way your business operates.
Keeping information accurate
As you'll learn in Microsoft Access courses, a database is only as accurate as the information that is inside of it. For example, if you were to enter customer address information using the term "Slough" for one customer, "SL" for another, and "Slou" for another, this would create a royal mess in your database.
If you were to run a query to locate all of your customers in "SL" you would miss important data that should have been included because the information entered was not consistent. In Microsoft Access training courses, you'll learn how to create a system of checks and balances to ensure that no matter how many people are using your database that the information entered will be accurate.
Making it simple for others to use your database
Many, many times, when one person sets up a database or a spreadsheet, the system they design becomes so complicated that they are the only ones who can use it. In a company where productivity and teamwork is essential, it doesn't make sense to design systems that can only be used by one or two people.
With Access training, you and your employees will learn how to organize data logically so that others can easily input and extract information. You will also learn how to create switchboards, splash screens, startup options, and most importantly, how to keep your database healthy when there are more hands touching it than just your own.
Splitting a database
Though it's good to have more than one person work on a database, it can be disastrous if too many people with too many different interests are adding data. Once people in other departments see how well an Access database is working for you, they may want to access some of the information for their own needs.
Instead of giving everyone access to your database, you can split the database so that each group has access to important data, but can work with it in a way that makes sense for them and that won't compromise the integrity of your data.
These are just three of the many things you'll learn over a few days in Microsoft Access Training Courses. Companies that offer Microsoft Access training courses in London can get you or your staff up to speed on just about everything you need to know about Microsoft Access in just a few days of hands on training.
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Your Business can suffer due to absence of Digital certificate on your website. SSL (Secure Socke - By: MindGenies
It is very important to take the protection against online information larceny, because it's getting very easy for people to share digital products. Information theft is a type of computer safety and security risk and it's defined as thieving someone’s private or confidential information. It’s very dangerous to get the information stolen as this can cause as much damage, or possibly more then hardware or software theft.
Most of the systems on the way of your data can see what you send. A lot of companies try to stop information from being stolen by applying some user identification and authentication controls.
These constrictions are most promising for protecting computers along a company's premise. However, to protect information on the Internet and on networks, companies use a handful of encryption methods like digital certificates and SSL security. SSL is an industry standard and is used by millions of websites in the protection of their online transactions with their customers. Encryption refers to the process of converting data into an unreadable form. Encrypted data is like any other data because you can send it through a lot of options, but to read it you must decrypt or decipher it into a more readable form with the help of public and private keys provided. Throughout the encryption process, the unencrypted data or input is known as plaintext and the encrypted data, or output is known as cipher text. To be able to create an SSL connection a web server requires an SSL Certificate. When you choose to activate SSL on your web server you will be prompted to complete a number of questions about the identity of your website and your company. Your web server then creates two cryptographic keys - a Private Key and a Public Key. To encrypt information, the programmer converts the plaintext into cipher text using some type of encryption key. An encryption key is the programmed formula that the person who receives the data uses to decrypt the cipher text. There are varieties of encryption or algorithm methods. However, with an encryption key formula, you will be using more then one of these techniques.
Most common example is a nasty individual stealing credit cards so they can make illegal purchases on another person's account. If information is transmitted over a network then it has a very high chance for nasty users to capture the information.
A digital signature is a type of encrypted code that an individual, website, or company pastes to an electronic document to make sure that the individual is who they claim to be. The code will most likely consist of the user name and a hash of usually part of the message. The complexities of the SSL protocol remain invisible to your customers. Instead, their browsers provide them with a key indicator to let them know they are currently protected by an SSL encrypted session - the lock icon in the lower right-hand corner, clicking on the lock icon displays your SSL Certificate and the details about it. All SSL Certificates are issued to either companies or legally accountable individuals. The main purpose behind using digital signatures is to make sure that it's not a swindler participating in the transaction. So, digital signatures help narrow down e-mail frauds. A digital signature can also make sure that contents of a message have not been changed.
Typically, an SSL Certificate will contain your domain name, your company name, your address, your city, your state and your country. It will also contain the expiration date of the Certificate and details of the Certification Authority responsible for the issuance of the Certificate. When a browser connects to a secure site it will retrieve the site's SSL Certificate and check that it has not expired, it has been issued by a Certification Authority the browser trusts, and that it is being used by the website for which it has been issued.
Many ecommerce websites will usually have digital certificates. A certificate authority (CA) is an authorized company or individual for that matter that has the ability to issue and verify digital certificates. There are several of websites that offer a digital certificate. One of the popular Global Certification authorities is MindGenies (www.sslgenie.com).
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Cisco CCNA Certification Exam Tutorial: Configuring Dialer Profiles - By: Chris Bryant
The most common method of configuring ISDN is with dialer maps, but dial information can also be configured on a logical interface. To pass the CCNA exam, you must know how to configure and troubleshoot both dialer maps and dialer profiles.
Dialer Profiles allow different dialing information to be configured onto logical interfaces. The logical interfaces may have different dialing destinations, different remote router names, etc., but they’ll be using the same physical interface.
Dialer strings are used on dialer profiles. Note that each logical interface has a different IP address, a different remote router to dial, and a different dialer string, but they will be using the same physical interface to dial out. The commands dialer pool and dialer pool-member are used to link the logical and physical interfaces. The number following each command must match for the logical interface to correctly bind to the physical interface.
R1(config)#interface dialer0
R1(config-if)#ip address 172.16.1.1 255.255.255.0
R1(config-if)#encapsulation ppp
<. The encapsulation type is placed on both the logical and physical interfaces. >
R1(config-if)#dialer remote-name Remote0
R1(config-if)#dialer pool 1
< places logical interface into dialer pool >
R1(config-if)#dialer string 5551212
< number dialed to contact router Remote0 >
R1(config-if)#dialer-group 1
< links logical interface to dialer-list 1 >
R1(config)#interface dialer1
R1(config-if)#ip address 172.16.1.2 255.255.255.0
R1(config-if)#encapsulation ppp
R1(config-if)#dialer remote-name Remote1
R1(config-if)#dialer pool 1
R1(config-if)#dialer string 5551234
R1(config-if)#dialer-group 1
R1(config)#interface bri0
R1(config-if)#no ip address
< With dialer profiles, IP addresses are assigned to logical interfaces. >
R1(config-if)#encapsulation ppp
< The encapsulation type is place on both the logical and physical interfaces.>
R1(config-if)#dialer pool-member 1
< The number associated with this command should match the number configured with the dialer pool number on the logical dialer interfaces. >
R1(config-if)#isdn spid1 0835866101
R1(config-if)#isdn spid2 0835866301
When configuring dialer profiles, the encapsulation type should be placed on both the physical BRI interface and the logical dialer interfaces. The SPIDs are configured on the physical interface as well.
Configuring dialer profiles can be a little tricky at first, and the best way to master this skill is to get real hands-on practice in your own CCNA / CCNP home lab or a rack rental service. Either way, hands-on is the best practice. Best of luck in your CCNA studies!
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Cisco CCNP Certification / BSCI Exam Tutorial: Comparing IRDP And HSRP - By: Chris Bryant
To pass the BSCI exam, you need to know the difference between IRDP and HSRP. While they have the same basic function, the operation and configuration of each are totally different.
The aim of both is to allow hosts to quickly discover a standby router when the primary router fails. IRDP is commonly used by Windows DHCP clients and several Unix variations, but you do see it in Cisco routers as well. IRDP is defined in RFC 1256.
IRDP routers will multicast Hello messages that host devices hear. If a host hears from more than one IRDP router, it will choose one as its primary and will start using the other router if the primary it's chosen goes down.
HSRP is a Cisco-proprietary protocol that is designed for quick cutover to a secondary router if the primary fails, but the host devices don't "see" either the primary or secondary router. The hosts use a virtual router as their default gateway. This virtual router has its own IP and MAC address! All the while, the router chosen as the primary is actually the one doing the routing. If the primary router goes down, the secondary router quickly takes over with no major interruption to network services.
The HSRP routers communicate by multicasting updates to 224.0.0.2, and its through these hellos that the HSRP routers decide which router is primary and which is secondary. HSRP is defined in RFC 2281.
The configuration of each of these will be covered in a future tutorial. In the meantime, I urge you to read the RFCs mentioned in this article, and visit www.cisco.com/univercd to read about the configurations and options available for both of these vital protocols.
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Cisco CCNP Certification / BSCI Exam Tutorial: Comparing IRDP And HSRP - By: Chris Bryant
To pass the BSCI exam, you need to know the difference between IRDP and HSRP. While they have the same basic function, the operation and configuration of each are totally different.
The aim of both is to allow hosts to quickly discover a standby router when the primary router fails. IRDP is commonly used by Windows DHCP clients and several Unix variations, but you do see it in Cisco routers as well. IRDP is defined in RFC 1256.
IRDP routers will multicast Hello messages that host devices hear. If a host hears from more than one IRDP router, it will choose one as its primary and will start using the other router if the primary it's chosen goes down.
HSRP is a Cisco-proprietary protocol that is designed for quick cutover to a secondary router if the primary fails, but the host devices don't "see" either the primary or secondary router. The hosts use a virtual router as their default gateway. This virtual router has its own IP and MAC address! All the while, the router chosen as the primary is actually the one doing the routing. If the primary router goes down, the secondary router quickly takes over with no major interruption to network services.
The HSRP routers communicate by multicasting updates to 224.0.0.2, and its through these hellos that the HSRP routers decide which router is primary and which is secondary. HSRP is defined in RFC 2281.
The configuration of each of these will be covered in a future tutorial. In the meantime, I urge you to read the RFCs mentioned in this article, and visit www.cisco.com/univercd to read about the configurations and options available for both of these vital protocols.
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Cisco CCNA / CCNP Home Lab Tutorial: The 2503 Router - By: Chris Bryant
I know from experience that part of the excitement and anxiety of putting together your own CCNA / CCNP home lab is deciding what to buy! While you can make a workable home lab out of almost any combination of Cisco routers and switches, some routers are better suited for home lab work than others because they can fill multiple roles.
When you buy CCNA or CCNP "lab kits" - bundles of routers and switches - you can get a little confused about whether you're getting a good deal. One router I get asked about quite a bit is the 2503.
2503 routers are fantastic for CCNA and CCNP home labs. They come with two serial interfaces, allowing you to connect one interface directly to another router (you'll need a DTE/DCE cable for that, too) while connecting another to a frame relay switch if you like. If you don't have a frame relay switch, you can connect a 2503 directly to two other routers via the serial interfaces.
You also have an AUI port, which requires a transceiver to operate as your Ethernet interface. Transceivers are pretty cheap and readily available from Cisco resellers and ebay vendors, so pick one up for each 2503 you decide to buy.
2503 routers also come with a BRI interface. Even though you may not have an ISDN simulator right now, you may choose to add one later. That makes a 2503 a great bet for future lab expansion.
All in all, 2503 routers are great for your CCNA / CCNP home lab. They run about $125 each on ebay, or less, so they're also very affordable. There's no better training than training on your own CCNA or CCNP home lab, and you can always sell the equipment later if you like. Basically, you're renting the routers and switches, and the experience you get by working with the real deal is invaluable.
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Cisco CCNP / BCMSN Exam Tutorial: Multicasting And The RPF Check - By: Chris Bryant
Multicasting is a vital topic on your BCMSN, CCNP, and CCIE exams, and it can also be very confusing when you first start studying it. Multicasting uses concepts that are unlike anything you've run into in your routing protocol studies, and that can throw you at first. I speak from experience that multicasting is like any other Cisco technology - learn the basics, master the fundamentals, and then build your skills on that foundation.
One such fundamental is the RPF Check, or Reverse Path Forwarding Check.
A fundamental difference between unicasting and multicasting is that a unicast is routed by sending it toward the destination, while a multicast is routed by sending it away from its source.
"toward the destination" and "away from its source" sound like the same thing, but they're not. A unicast is going to follow a single path from source to destination. The only factor the routers care about is the destination IP address - the source IP address isn't a factor.
With multicast routing, the destination is a multicast IP group address. It's the multicast router's job to decide which paths will lead back to the source (upstream) and which paths are downstream from the source. Reverse Path Forwarding refers to the router's behavior of sending multicast packets away from the source rather than toward a specific destination.
The RPF Check is run against any incoming multicast packet. The multicast router examines the interface that the packet arrived on. If the packet comes in on an upstream interface - that is, an interface found on the reverse path that leads back to the source - the packet passes the check and will be forwarded. If the packet comes in on any other interface, the packet is dropped.
The RPF Check serves to verify the integrity of your multicasting network, and also serves as a reminder that the basic operation of multicasting .
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Cisco CCNP / BCMSN Exam Tutorial: Multicasting And Reserved Addresses - By: Chris Bryant
Ever since you picked up your first CCNA book, you've heard about multicasting, gotten a fair idea of what it is, and you've memorized a couple of reserved multicasting addresses. Now as you prepare to pass the BCMSN exam and become a CCNP, you've got to take that knowledge to the next level and gain a true understanding of multicasting. Those of you with an eye on the CCIE will truly have to become multicasting experts!
Having said that, we're going to briefly review the basics of multicasting first, and then future tutorials will look at the different ways in which multicasting can be configured on Cisco routers and switches.
What Is Multicasting?
A unicast is data that is sent from one host to another, while a broadcast is data sent from a host that is destined for "all" host addresses. By "all", we can mean all hosts on a subnet, or truly all hosts on a network.
There's a quite a bit of a middle ground there! A multicast is that middle ground, as a multicast is data that is sent to a logical group of hosts, called a multicast group. Hosts that are not part of the multicast group will not receive the data.
Some other basic multicasting facts:
There's no limit on how many multicast groups a single host can belong to.
The sender is usually unaware of what host devices belong to the multicast group.
Multicast traffic is unidirectional. If the members of the multicast group need to respond, that reply will generally be a unicast.
The range of IP addresses reserved for multicasting is the Class D range, 224.0.0.0 - 239.255.255.255.
That range contains a couple of other reserved address ranges.
224.0.0.0 - 224.0.0.255 is reserved for network protocols only on a local network segment. Packets in this range will not be forwarded by routers, so these packets cannot leave the segment.
Just as Class A, Class B, and Class C networks have private address ranges, so does Class D. The Class D private address range is 239.0.0.0 - 239.255.255.255. Like the other private ranges, these addresses can't be routed, so they can be reused from one network to another.
The remaining addresses fall between 224.0.1.0 and 238.255.255.255. That's the "normal" range of multicast addresses. These addresses can be routed, so they must be unique and should not be duplicated from one network to the next.
In my next BCMSN / CCNP multicasting tutorial, we'll take a look at the different ways in which Cisco routers and switches interact to forward multicast traffic.
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Ready For A Career Change? Travel The Microsoft Certification Route - By: James Croydon
Are you dissatisfied with your job? Do you want to find a new one or at least make a move to another department within your company? Do you need certifications in MCSE, MCP and any of those other abbreviations? You need to sit down and decide what career path you wish to take if you want to go the Microsoft Certification route.
First of all, do you have any prior experience in the business world? If so, no matter what you decide to do, whether it is MCSE training or MCP training or anything else, you will be ahead of others with no prior professional expertise. However, if you choose to make a career change that is a complete 180 degrees from what you are doing now, you will have some trouble finding gainful employment without some concrete experience.
For instance, if you are an Administrative Assistant and decide to go for a Microsoft Certified System Engineer, better known as an MCSE, you need to have some practical experience (the basic requirement is about a year of previous experience) under your belt before even starting your MCSE training. How could you go about doing that? You have several options. Find a mentor. Maybe another person within your company who has an MCSE could give you pointers and some on-site knowledge into his job. Volunteering through a nonprofit or some other community organization could net you some valuable experience. Serving as an intern, whether paid or unpaid, is another option.
A volunteer position or an internship also is beneficial for those people with a fresh Microsoft certification but no practical, hands-on experience. Practically every nonprofit organization or community group has computers. Some of them are small groups and others have computer labs (perhaps state-run job placement places) with no budget to hire full-time staff. You have got to think outside the box for ways to gain that practical experience.
Networking mixers or social time is another great idea. You can mingle with professionals in the field you are trying to break into and find out about their internship opportunities. It is the perfect venue in which to sell or market yourself. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce for any local trade organizations in the prospective field as a starting point in this networking endeavor. Many times, you can find out some priceless information about the ins and outs of your potential area of certification. Learning from the experts could be an eye opening experience for you. Heck, you could even change your mind from braving those MCSE boot camps and the seven tests for MCSE exams. Isn’t it better to gain that insight before you spend the time and money?
Once you have completed your certification, whether it is navigating through MCP courses or any other Microsoft certification, be prepared to start from scratch in your new endeavor. Just remember, anything having to do with technology will change again in a year or two, so you have to keep up with new trends and that means continued instruction. As long as you travel the Microsoft route, you’ll be successful.
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Cisco CCNP / BSCI Exam Tutorial: The BGP Attribute MED - By: Chris Bryant
Your BSCI exam and CCNP certification success depend on mastering BGP, and a big part of that is knowing how and when to use the many BGP attributes. And for those of you with an eye on the CCIE, believe me - you've got to know BGP attributes like the back of your hand. One such BGP attribute is the Multi-Exit Discriminator, or MED.
The MED attribute is sent from a router or routers in one AS to another AS to indicate what path the remote AS should use to send data to the local AS.
That sounds a little confusing on paper, so let's walk through an example. R1 is in AS 1, and R2, R3, and R4 are in AS 234. R4 is advertising a loopback into BGP, and R1 has two possible next-hops to get to that loopback - R2 (172.12.123.2) and R3 (172.12.123.3). Let's see which of the two paths R1 is using.
R1#show ip bgp 4.4.4.4
BGP routing table entry for 4.4.4.4/32, version 8
Paths: (2 available, best #2, table Default-IP-Routing-Table)
Flag: 0x208
Advertised to non peer-group peers:
172.12.123.3
234
172.12.123.3 from 172.12.123.3 (3.3.3.3)
Origin IGP, localpref 100, valid, external
234
172.12.123.2 from 172.12.123.2 (2.2.2.2)
Origin IGP, localpref 100, valid, external, best
R1 is using 172.12.123.2 as the next-hop to enter AS 234. If all values are left at their default, we could have 100 routes being advertised from AS 234 to AS 1 and the next-hop would remain the same.
We can configure R2 and R3 to send different MED values to R1, and the router sending the lowest MED would be the preferred next-hop. (The MED is a metric, and the lowest metric is always preferred.) We'll configure the MED attribute on both R2 and R3, sending a MED of 200 from R2 and 100 from R3.
R2(config)#route-map SET_MED_200 permit 10
R2(config-route-map)#set metric 200
R2(config-route-map)#router bgp 234
R2(config-router)#neighbor 172.12.123.1 route-map SET_MED_200 out
R3(config)#route-map SET_MED_100 permit 10
R3(config-route-map)#set metric 100
R3(config-route-map)#router bgp 234
R3(config-router)#neighbor 172.12.123.1 route-map SET_MED_100 out
After clearing the BGP table on R1, R1 will still see both next-hop addresses and will still consider both to be valid, but the path through R3 will be selected due to its lower metric.
Just keep in mind that the MED is actually a metric, and lower metrics are more desirable in path selection. That will put you one step closer to passing the BSCI and earning your CCNP Certification!
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Cisco CCNA Exam Tutorial And Case Study: VLANs and IP Connectivity - By: Chris Bryant
In this CCNA case study, we'll take some basic switching and trunking theory and put it into action. We have two routers (R2 and R3) along with two switches (SW1 and SW2). R2 is connected to SW1 at fast 0/2, and R3 is connected to SW2 at fast 0/3. Both routers have IP addresses on the 172.12.23.0 /24 network.
For these routers to be able to ping each other, the switches must be able to communicate. These are two 2950 switches, and they're connected via two crossover cables. Before we worry about the router connectivity, let's make sure the trunk link is up between the switches with the "show interface trunk" command.
SW2#show interface trunk
Port Mode Encapsulation Status Native vlan
Fa0/11 desirable 802.1q trunking 1
Fa0/12 desirable 802.1q trunking 1
< output truncated for clarity >
The default mode of these switches is for the ports to run in dynamic desirable trunking mode, so we didn't even need to write a configuration to have the trunk form - it's already there!
R2 and R3’s Ethernet addresses have already been configured, the trunk line is operational, and both ports are in VLAN 1. We'll ping R2’s Ethernet interface from R3, and then R3’s Ethernet interface from R2 to verify IP connectivity.
R2#ping 172.23.23.3
Type escape sequence to abort.
Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 172.23.23.3, timeout is 2 seconds:
!!!!!
Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 4/4/8 ms
R3#ping 172.23.23.2
Type escape sequence to abort.
Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 172.23.23.2, timeout is 2 seconds:
!!!!!
Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 4/4/8 ms
With pings, exclamation points indicate IP connectivity, and periods indicate no connectivity.
So we've got connectivity! Now let's see if we still have that connectivity when the ports are placed into different VLANs. Cisco CCNA theory states that devices in different VLANs can't communicate without the intervention of a Layer 3 device, but let's see if that's true by placing R2 into VLAN 23. (VTP is already running on these switches.)
SW1#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
SW1(config)#int fast 0/2
SW1(config-if)#switchport mode access
SW1(config-if)#switchport access vlan 23
SW1(config-if)#^Z
Now that R2 and R3 are in separate VLANs, can they still send pings back and forth?
R2#ping 172.23.23.3
Type escape sequence to abort.
Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 172.23.23.3, timeout is 2 seconds:
.....
Success rate is 0 percent (0/5)
R3#ping 172.23.23.2
Type escape sequence to abort.
Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 172.23.23.2, timeout is 2 seconds:
.....
No, they can’t. The difference is that they’re now in separate VLANs, and devices in different VLANs can’t communicate unless routing is taking place somewhere. Here, no routing is taking place, so the pings don’t go through.
Put R3’s switch port into VLAN 23, and try the ping again.
SW2#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
SW2(config)#interface fast0/3
SW2(config-if)#switchport mode access
SW2(config-if)#switchport access vlan 23
R3#ping 172.23.23.2
Type escape sequence to abort.
Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 172.23.23.2, timeout is 2 seconds:
!!!!!
Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 4/4/8 ms
R2#ping 172.23.23.3
Type escape sequence to abort.
Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 172.23.23.3, timeout is 2 seconds:
!!!!!
Now that R2 and R3 are in the same VLAN, pings can go through. This just proves the theory - that inter-VLAN communicate requires a Layer 3 device. Layer 3 switches are becoming more and more popular, but router-on-a-stick is still around - and we'll see how to configure that in our next tutorial!
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Cisco CCNP / BSCI Exam Tutorial: Not All Static Routes Are Created Equal - By: Chris Bryant
As a CCNP candidate, as a CCNA, and in getting ready to pass the BSCI exam, you may be tempted to breeze through your static route studies, or even skip them! That's because static routes are easy enough to configure, and as long as you remember the syntax of the ip route command, you're in good shape.
But there's one vital detail regarding static routes that many exam candidates miss. That's because many CCNA and CCNP books say "the administrative distance of a static route is 1", but that is not quite accurate.
You know from your CCNA studies that the ip route command is used to create a static route, and that you have the option of configuring a local exit interface or a next-hop IP address at the end of the command. However, the administrative distances are not the same. The AD of a static route that uses a local exit interface is zero! (That's because the router considers a static route with a local exit interface to actually be a directly connected network.) The AD of a static route with a next-hop IP address is 1.
Therefore, if the router has the following two ip route statements to consider...
Router(config)#ip route 172.1.1.1 255.255.255.255 fast0
Router(config)#ip route 172.1.1.1 255.255.255.255 210.1.1.1
... the prefix lengths are the same, so the static route using the local exit interface fastethernet0 will be preferred due to its lower AD, and will be installed into the routing table.
Keep the details in mind on the job and in the exam room, and you’re on your way to CCNP exam success!
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Cisco CCNA Exam Tutorial: Loopback Interfaces - By: Chris Bryant
As a CCNA candidate, you most likely have some background in PC hardware and workstation support. If so, you're already familiar with loopback interfaces, particularly 127.0.0.1, the loopback address assigned to a PC.
When you're learning all about the different physical interfaces for your CCNA exam - serial, ethernet, and BRI, among others - there's one logical interface you need to know about, and that is - you guessed it! - the loopback interface.
What isn't as immediately apparent is why we use loopback interfaces on routers and switches to begin with. Many of the Cisco router features that can use loopbacks are intermediate and advanced features that you'll learn about in your CCNP and CCIE studies, but these features all come back to one basic concept: If the loopback interface on a router is down, that means the router is unavailable as a whole.
In contrast, a physical interface being down does not mean the router itself is out of commission. A router's ethernet port can go down, but the other physical interfaces on that router are still operational. Since a loopback interface is logical, there's nothing physical that can go wrong with it.
As I mentioned, you'll learn different Cisco router and switch features that utilize loopback interfaces as you climb the Cisco certification ladder. There's one misconception about Cisco loopback interfaces that you want to get clear on now, though. You’re probably familiar with loopback interfaces on a PC, and may even know that the address range 127.0.0.0 is reserved for loopback addressing.
Note that this reserved address range does not apply to loopbacks on Cisco devices, however. If you attempt to assign an address from this range to a Cisco loopback interface, you get this result:
R1#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
R1(config)#interface loopback0
R1(config-if)#ip address 127.0.0.2 255.255.255.0
Not a valid host address - 127.0.0.2
R1(config-if)#ip address 127.1.1.1 255.255.255.0
Not a valid host address - 127.1.1.1
The range 127.0.0.0 is reserved for host loopbacks (such as PCs), not routers or switches. The most commonly used address from this range is 127.0.0.1 – if you can’t ping that on a workstation, that means you can’t ping yourself, which means there’s a problem with the TCP/IP install itself.
Keep these details in mind on the exam and in the workplace, and you’re on your way to CCNA exam success!
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Cisco CCNA Certification Exam Tutorial: DNS And The IP Name-Server Command - By: Chris Bryant
DNS behaviors of a Cisco router are important topics for both the CCNA exam and real-world production networks, and you probably didn't know there were so many DNS details before you began studying for the exam! In this tutorial, we'll look at the ip name-server command and its proper usage.
When a command is mistyped on a Cisco router, the default behavior of the router is to attempt to resolve it via DNS. First, the router looks for an IP Host table on the local router to perform this resolution – that’s what the “translating” word in the output is referring to. If there’s no IP Host table or the IP Host table doesn’t contain an entry for what you typed, the router will send a broadcast in an attempt to resolve this name through a remote DNS server. To prevent this broadcast, enter the global command no ip domain-lookup. Of course, to use DNS to resolve hostnames, ip domain-lookup would have to be reenabled if it’s been turned off.
R2#contin
Translating "contin"...domain server (255.255.255.255)
% Unknown command or computer name, or unable to find computer address
A command is mistyped as “contin”. The Cisco router’s default behavior is to resolve this entry locally via an IP Host table, which isn't present on the router. A broadcast is then sent out to find a DNS server to perform the name resolution. The DNS lookup attempt must time out before the configuration can continue.
R2#conf t
R2(config)#no ip domain-lookup
R2#contin
Translating "contin"
% Unknown command or computer name, or unable to find computer address
With “no ip domain-lookup” configured, the router doesn’t attempt to find a remote DNS server. It sees there is no local resolution configured and almost immediately sends a message to the console that the name can’t be resolved.
R2#conf t
R2(config)#ip domain-lookup
R2(config)#ip name-server 10.1.1.1
R2#contin
Translating "contin"...domain server (10.1.1.1)
A DNS server is installed on the network with the IP address 10.1.1.1. DNS lookup is reenabled with the command ip domain-lookup, and the IP address of the DNS server is specified with the ip name-server command.
It's just that easy to tell a Cisco router exactly where the DNS server is!
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Junior's Cheesecakes, From Brooklyn to San Francisco Through Cyberspace - By: Wayne Messick
When I interviewed Kevin Rosen of Junior's Cheesecake here in NYC it was to ask him what he and his family want the Internet to do for them and their business.
I met Kevin when he appeared on a panel of business owners taking their companies online, sponsored by Crains Publishing Company at its annual Expo.
In fact I interviewed over 50 successful long established Main Street companies, asking many of the same questions that I asked Kevin. I was looking for the common denominator, the two or three reasons that all mentioned for taking their otherwise successful traditional company online.
And I got them!
Each of them told me that in one way or another in order to increase their market share. Junior's, located since 1950 in Brooklyn had just opened a Manhattan outlet in Grand Central Terminal. While he was already reaching out into their existing geographical market Kevin had much bigger plans to extend their market reach nationally if not international.
Kevin, President of Junior's, and grandson of Harry Rosen, is the third generation of the family to be involved in the business. When ex-Brooklynites, some living as far away as California, started calling Kevin and asking him to mail them cheescakes, he knew Junior’s was ready for national exposure.
And they want to use technology to help them grow their bottom line by enhancing the customer Service, increasing productivity, reducing costs, and having at least a part of their business operating 24 hours a day seven days a week. He began by computerizing back office operations, and continues to champion state-of-the-art solutions for the family business, ultimately putting Junior’s in cyberspace.
Kevin believes that the two most important functions of the web site are to generate sales growth and to increase brand awareness. In that spirit, the new site focuses primarily on e-commerce.
Twelve different specialty cheescakes are offered, as well as gift certificates and collectibles. Users have the capability of creating their own personal address book on the site, so repeat orders and gift-giving can be handled in a mouse-click, and orders can be easily tracked from the site.
Placing an order on their web site is as easy and perhaps more convenient than walking into the store or using the 800-number. This ease of entry is crucial to bringing customers back to the site again and again.
With approximately 5000 cheescakes selling every week, it is clear that Junior’s Cheescakes has the recipe for success.
We published their profile just over two years, they were early adopters in their industry. Now there are many people who have jumped on this bandwagon - yet Junior's maintains its advantage by continuing to evolve its strategy.
In addition to having their story published on our web site, where it receives consistent daily traffic from Internet searchers, they were used as an example of "Best Practices" in the book, "Doing It Right, Realizing Your Company's Potential" that we published in 2003 and have recently made available on our web site at no charge.
Now, we're looking for another batch of business owners whose story to tell.
Were going to be asking some of the same questions, two years later, in order to complete our research on the adaptation of the Internet by traditional mainstream businesses. And there will be other questions designed to help us tell the stories of Main Street companies developing strategies for continued success in the 21st Century.
The new profiles will also be posted on our web site and some of them will be selected as part of the content in one of the two books we have in process.
Based on our experience doing these interviews we've dramatically streamlined the process for this next round. The process is straightforward and will require very little of the person being interviewed, beyond the time were on the phone together.
There is a page entitled Submit a Profile linked to every pay each of our web site (top right). If you or someone you know is interested in exploring the idea of telling their story, I believe you will find the information you need there.
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Cisco CCNP / BSCI Exam Tutorial: Introduction To Policy Routing - By: Chris Bryant
Policy routing is a major topic on your BSCI exam, and you'll find quite a bit of policy routing going on in today's production networks. But what exactly is policy routing?
Policy-based routing, generally referred to as "policy routing", is the use of route maps to determine the path a packet will take to get to its final destination. As you progress through your CCNP studies and go on to the CCIE (or to a Cisco Quality Of Service certification), you'll find that traffic can be "marked" by policy routing in order to give different levels of service to various classes of traffic. (This is done by marking the traffic and placing the different classes of traffic in different queues in the router, allowing the administrator to give some traffic higher priority for transmission.)
There are some basic policy routing rules you should know:
Policy routing doesn't affect the destination of the packet, but does affect the path that is taken to get there.
Policy routing can forward traffic based on the source IP address or the destination IP address (with the use of an extended ACL).
Policy routing can be configured at the interface level, or globally.
Applying policy routing on an interface affects only packets arriving on that interface:
R2(config)#int s0
R2(config-if)#ip policy route-map CHANGE_NEXT_HOP
Applying the policy globally applies the route map to packets generated on the router, not on all packets received on all interfaces.
Whether you're running policy routing at the interface level, on packets created locally, or both, always run the command show ip policy to make sure you've got the right route maps on the proper interfaces.
R2#show ip policy
Interface Route map
local CHANGE_NEXT_HOP
Serial0 CHANGE_NEXT_HOP
And here's the big rule to remember....
If a packet doesn't match any of the specific criteria in a route map, or does match a line that has an explicit deny statement, the data is sent to the routing process and will be processed normally. If you don't want to route packets that do not meet any route map criteria, the set command must be used to send those packets to the null0 interface. This set command should be the final set command in the route map.
There are four possibilities for an incoming packet when route maps are in use. The following example illustrates all of them.
R2(config)#access-list 29 permit host 20.1.1.1
R2(config)#access-list 30 permit host 20.2.2.2
R2(config)#access-list 31 permit host 20.3.3.3
R2(config)#access-list 32 permit host 20.4.4.4
R2(config)#route-map EXAMPLE permit 10
R2(config-route-map)#match ip address 29
R2(config-route-map)#set ip next-hop 40.1.1.1
R2(config-route-map)#route-map EXAMPLE permit 20
R2(config-route-map)#match ip address 30
Assuming the route map has been applied to the router's ethernet0 interface, a packet sourced from 20.1.1.1 would meet the first line of the route map and have its next-hop IP address set to 40.1.1.1.
A packet sourced from 20.2.2.2 would match the next permit statement (sequence number 20). Since there is no action listed, this packet would return to the routing engine to undergo the normal routing procedure. All traffic that did not match these two addresses would also be routed normally - there would be no action taken by the route map.
Perhaps we want to specifically block traffic sourced from 20.3.3.3 or 20.4.4.4. We can use multiple match statements in one single route map, and have packets matching those two addresses sent to the bit bucket - the interface null0.
R2(config)#route-map EXAMPLE permit 30
R2(config-route-map)#match ip address 31
R2(config-route-map)#match ip address 32
R2(config-route-map)#set ?
as-path Prepend string for a BGP AS-path attribute
automatic-tag Automatically compute TAG value
comm-list set BGP community list (for deletion)
community BGP community attribute
dampening Set BGP route flap dampening parameters
default Set default information
extcommunity BGP extended community attribute
interface Output interface
ip IP specific information
level Where to import route
local-preference BGP local preference path attribute
metric Metric value for destination routing protocol
metric-type Type of metric for destination routing protocol
origin BGP origin code
tag Tag value for destination routing protocol
weight BGP weight for routing table
R2(config-route-map)#set interface null0
Any traffic matching ACLs 31 or 32 will be sent to null0, resulting in its being discarded by the router. Any traffic that didn't match any of the route map statements will be returned to the routing engine for normal processing.
Knowing policy routing and how to apply it are essential skills for passing the BSCI exam, earning your CCNP, and becoming more valuable in today's job market. Get some hands-on practice in a CCNA / CCNP home lab or rack rental to go along with learning the theory, and you'll be writing and applying policy routing in no time at all.
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Cisco CCNP / BCMSN Exam Tutorial: Changing Root Bridge Election Results - By: Chris Bryant
Your BCMSN and CCNP studies will include mastering the details of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP). While you learned some of these details in your CCNA studies, quite a bit of it may be new to you. Before going on to the intermediate and advanced STP features, let's review the root bridge election process and learn how to change these results.
Each switch will have a Bridge ID Priority value, more commonly referred to as a BID. This BID is a combination of a default priority value and the switch's MAC address, with the priority value listed first. For example, if a Cisco switch has the default priority value of 32,768 and a MAC address of 11-22-33-44-55-66, the BID would be 32768:11-22-33-44-55-66. Therefore, if the switch priority is left at the default, the MAC address is the deciding factor.
Switches are a lot like people - when they first arrive, they announce that they are the center of the universe! Unlike some people, the switches will soon get over it. BPDUs will be exchanged until one switch is elected Root Bridge, and it's the switch with the lowest BPDU that will end up being the Root Bridge.
If STP is left totally alone, a single switch is going to be the root bridge for every single VLAN in your network. Worse, that single switch is going to be selected because it has a lower MAC address than every other switch, which isn't exactly the criteria you want to use to select a single root bridge.
The time will definitely come when you want to determine a particular switch to be the root bridge for your VLANs, or when you will want to spread the root bridge workload. For instance, if you have 50 VLANs and five switches, you may want each switch to act as the root bridge for 10 VLANs each. You can make this happen with the spanning-tree vlan root command.
SW1(config)#spanning-tree vlan 1 ?
forward-time Set the forward delay for the spanning tree
hello-time Set the hello interval for the spanning tree
max-age Set the max age interval for the spanning tree
priority Set the bridge priority for the spanning tree
root Configure switch as root
In this example, we've got two switches, and SW1 has been elected the root bridge for VLANs 10, 20, and 30. We'll use the spanning-tree vlan root command on SW2 to make it the root bridge for VLANs 20 and 30.
SW2(config)#spanning-tree vlan 20 root primary
SW2(config)#spanning-tree vlan 30 root primary
SW2#show spanning vlan 20
VLAN0020
Spanning tree enabled protocol ieee
Root ID Priority 24596
Address 000f.90e2.1300
This bridge is the root
SW2#show spanning vlan 30
VLAN0030
Spanning tree enabled protocol ieee
Root ID Priority 24606
Address 000f.90e2.1300
This bridge is the root
SW 2 is now the root bridge for both VLAN 20 and 30. Notice that the priority value has changed from the default of 32768.
In the next CCNP / BCMSN tutorial, we'll take a look at more STP features.
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Cisco CCNA Exam Tutorial: Five OSPF Hub-And-Spoke Details You Must Know! - By: Chris Bryant
CCNA exam success depends greatly on knowing the details, and if there's one protocol that has a lot of details, it's OSPF! This is true particularly of hub-and-spoke networks, so in this CCNA OSPF tutorial we'll take a look at some of the more important hub-and-spoke OSPF details. This will help you in working with real-world networks as well, since this OSPF network type is one of the more typical network topologies.
In OSPF, the hub must become the designated router (DR). The DR election's deciding value is the OSPF interface priority, and the default value is 1. It's not enough to set the hub's OSPF interface to 2, however, since the spoke routers must not become the DR or BDR. You must set the spoke interfaces to an OSPF priority of zero.
R2(config)#int s0
R2(config-if)#ip ospf priority 0
This ensures that the spokes will not become the DR or BDR if the hub goes down.
The hub does require a bit more configuration, though. The neighbor command must be used on the hub to indicate the IP address of the potential neighbors.
R1(config)#router ospf 1
R1(config-router)#neighbor 172.12.123.2
R1(config-router)#neighbor 172.12.123.3
It's common to have an ISDN link as a backup in an OSPF network, and when that ISDN link comes up the hello packets must be able to cross the link. What you don't want is to have the hellos keep the link up! By configuring the ISDN link as an OSPF demand circuit, the link will drop in the absence of interesting traffic, but the OSPF adjacency that formed across the ISDN link will be assumed by the router to still be up. (You usually see this command configured on both sides of the ISDN link, but it's only needed on one side. It doesn't hurt anything to put it on both sides, though.)
R2(config)#int bri0
R2(config-if)#ip ospf demand-circuit
A final detail of OSPF hub-and-spoke and demand circuits actually takes place at Layer 2. For the OSPF hello packets to successfully be transmitted across an ISDN link or a frame relay network, the broadcast option must be enabled in the appropriate frame and dialer map statements. Failure to enable this option can lead to a situation where pings will be successful, but OSPF adjacencies will not form.
R2(config-if)#dialer map ip 172.12.21.1 name R1 broadcast 5551111
R2(config-if)#frame map ip 172.12.123.1 221 broadcast
When you're troubleshooting OSPF in a production network or your CCNA / CCNP home lab, don't just look at Layer 3 - because everything's got to be right at the physical and data link layers in order for the network layer to function correctly!
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Cisco CCNP / BSCI Exam Tutorial: IP Version 6 Zero Compression - By: Chris Bryant
BSCI exam success is all part of becoming a CCNP, and part of that success is now learning the basics of IP Version 6, or IPv6. One of the most difficult parts of learning IPv6 concepts is the radically different addressing scheme that IPv6 uses as compared to IPv4. Just look at these sample addresses:
Typical IPv4 address: 129.14.12.200
Typical IPv6 address: 1029:9183:81AE:0000:0000:0AC1:2143:019B
As you can see, IPv6 isn't exactly just tacking two more octets onto an IPv4 address!
I haven't met too many networkers who really like typing, particularly numbers. You'll be happy to know there are some rules that will shorten those addresses a bit, and it's a very good idea to be fluent with these rules for your exam.
You remember from your CCNA studies that there's no difference between an upper-case letter and lower-case letter in hexadecimal. That's one of three basic rules you need to know when working with IPv6 addressing. The other factors deal with all the zeroes you'll run into in IPv6 addresses! One of these rules is the rule of zero compression.
The rule of zero compression states that if an address contains consecutive fields of zeroes, they can be expressed with two colons. It doesn't matter if you have two fields or eight, you can simply type two colons and that will represent all of them. The key here is that you can only do this once in an IPv6 address. This is referred to as zero compression. Here's an example:
Original format: 1234:1234:0000:0000:0000:0000:3456:3434
Using zero compression: 1234:1234::3456:3434
Again, you must remember that you can only do this once in an IPv6 address expression.
What if there are zeroes in the address that don't quite fit this rule? The next part of our IPv6 tutorial will deal with leading zero compression, another tool you can use to shorten these long, long addresses!
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Cisco CCNA Exam Tutorial: CCNA Recertification Requirements - By: Chris Bryant
Passing the CCNA exam and earning this coveted Cisco certification is an important step in your career, but it's not the end of your responsibilities as a CCNA! When you work with computer networks, you've got to be continually learning and staying up on the latest technologies and changes in the field. Part of this responsibility is keeping your CCNA current by meeting Cisco's recertification requirements.
Cisco requires CCNAs to recertify once every three years. While most CCNAs will move on to the CCNP in that time, if you choose not to you must meet certain requirements in order to keep your CCNA valid. Cisco does this to ensure that CCNAs keep their networking knowledge current, which in turn helps the CCNA certification valuable. And that's exactly what you want, since you worked so hard to earn your certification in the first place!
As of March 2006, there are five different options for recertifying as a CCNA. You can take and pass any of the following exams to renew your CCNA - the CCNA exam itself, the ICND exam, any 642 series exam, any Cisco Qualiied Specialist exam (except the Sales Specialist exams - those don't count!), or any CCIE Written Qualification exam.
With all these options, there's an option that's just right for you. Whether you just want to renew your CCNA or pursue a Specialist, CCNP, or CCIE certification, you can easily renew your CCNA along the way. Just don't forget that keeping up with Cisco's latest recertification requirements is your responsibility, and that's easy to do - just visit Cisco's "Learning And Events" section on their website. Cisco will tell you what you need to do to keep your certification, but it's up to you to keep up with certification program changes! Once your certification expires, it’s gone, so get in the habit of visiting Cisco’s website to make sure you’re up to date on important recertification requirements.
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Be Certifiable! The Basics Of MCSE And MCP - By: James Croydon
It is not always who you know, but what you know. That is why obtaining Microsoft certification can be a valuable asset to your career. Of course, it does depend on what career path you want to take as to whether you want to get either MCSE training or MCP training or anything else for that matter. So what do those abbreviations MCSE and MCP stand for anyway?
MCP stands for Microsoft Certified Professional and MCSE is an abbreviation for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. What exactly does having a Microsoft certification mean anyway? We know that it looks good on a resume and opens new doors in your career. Did you know that being certifiable - in Microsoft anyway - sometimes will also boost your pay? Experience counts for a lot, but having a Microsoft certification or two does not hurt either!
So what does it take to be and MCP or MCSE? Lots of studying! The MCP courses and MCP exams are geared toward a more rounded technical professional. Candidates for MCP must pass one current certification test from Microsoft. Passing one of the exams demonstrates that the candidate has a consistent level of technical expertise.
With the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer path, there are MCSE boot camps that help prepare candidates for the MCSE exams. These MCSE boot camps are intense classes often packed into a full two week period instead of the traditional weekly MCSE training classes in preparation for the MCSE exams. This path is more involved. MCSE certification is standard in the IT field and prepares you for anything from the design of a system’s infrastructure to analyzing the company’s needs before implementing a design.
Unlike those individuals who take the MCP training to prepare for MCP exams, students of MCSE have a course of study that is more intense. Instead of one test to prepare for, they have seven tests that they are required to pass to get their Microsoft certification. Yikes! Seven! They have five main exams to take as well as two electives. The five required MCSE exams are broken down into four operating system exams and one design exam. The two electives typically deal with other issues in design and implementation not covered in the five core tests.
After learning a few basics, it is easy to see that the MCP or Microsoft Certified Professional is really just a stepping stone to bigger and greater things in the world of Microsoft certification. The individuals who go for the MCP have a leg up on those peers who have no technical experience. They will have a better grasp on technical issues and usually stay a step ahead of trends. The MCSE is more specialized and appeals to the techno geek with a penchant for design and implementation. They like knowing how stuff works. So market yourself and become certifiable!
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Microsoft Certification: Farewell To The MCSE - By: Chris Bryant
Microsoft is in the middle of a major push to overhaul its certification program. Last year, they announced the new Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) certification, which is not a written exam but rather a practical exam that will be graded by a board of examiners. Just applying for the certification will require 10 years' experience in IT as well as three years of practical experience as a network architect.
For those of us not quite ready for that, Microsoft has announced that it's also going to revise other certifications. The MCSE that we've all come to know and love is going to be a thing of the past. In its place will be a series of specialization exams and IP Professional certification tracks.
If you're currently an MCSE or working it, don't worry, you have plenty of time to adapt to the new tracks. Microsoft's official word is that the new certification structure will be implemented when the next Windows server/client version is released. For those holding MCDBAs, your current certification will remain valid and you'll have a chance to upgrade to the new certification with SQL Server 2005.
Those of us who have been on the certification track for a while remember the outcry when Microsoft planned to phase out the much-maligned NT 4.0 certification in the move to Windows 2000. There was quite an outcry from many certified individuals who felt MS was being unreasonable in their timetable and planned lack of support for the 4.0 certification. Whether you agree with Microsoft's planned changes, I urge you to visit Microsoft's certification site regularly to keep up with these changes.
Whether you choose to pursue any of these new tracks is your decision, but you owe it to yourself and your career to know about the new tracks. Change is inevitable in IT and the IT certification world, and you must be aware of these changes!
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Cisco CCNA Certification Exam Tutorial: The OSI Model’s Physical Layer - By: Chris Bryant
To pass your CCNA exam and earn this coveted certification, you've got to master the seven layers of the OSI model and what each layer does. For those of you taking the two-exam path, you can expect quite a few OSI model questions on the Intro exam. In this seven-part series, we'll spend some time taking a look at each of the OSI model layers, starting with the Physical layer.
Often, CCNA candidates ask if the OSI model has any practical uses for network administrators. I used to wonder the same thing, and I can now tell you that the answer is definitely yes!
The OSI model isn't something you want to memorize and then forget about, as using the OSI model gives you a structured approach for troubleshooting. Whenever a network device isn't working properly, I always say to "start at the physical layer". The Physical layer is Layer One of the OSI model, and this is where troubleshooting should always start. Is the device on? Is it properly connected? If everything is fine at Layer One, you just move up to Layer Two, and continue in this structured fashion until the problem is identified.
The Physical layer is the layer at which bits are transmitted over the physical media. There is no routing or switching going on at this layer. The data has been broken down into more manageable pieces until the data takes the form of ones and zeroes at the Physical layer.
Even though there's no routing or switching at the Physical layer, CCNA candidates should be familiar with a couple of network devices that work at Layer One. A repeater is a device that regenerates an electrical signal, allowing the signal to travel longer distances without fading. (The process of an electrical signal gradually fading in strength over distance is "attenuation".) A hub is basically a multiport repeater, and both of these devices are considered Physical layer devices. Ethernet and Token Ring both operate at the Physical layer as well.
Learning the OSI model's Physical layer isn't just important in your CCNA exam studies, it's the first step in any network troubleshooting. After all, your network's end users are going to have a tough time sending print jobs to a printer that's turned off!
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Cisco CCNA / CCNP Exam Tutorial: Five Debugs You Must Know - By: Chris Bryant
To pass the BSCI exam and move one step closer to CCNP certification success, you've got to know how and when to use debug commands to troubleshoot and verify network operations. While you should never practice debug commands on a production network, it's important to get some hands-on experience with them and not rely on "router simulators" and books to learn about them.
When it comes to RIP, "debug ip rip" is the primary debug to use. This debug will show you the contents of the routing update packets, and is vital in diagnosing RIP version mismatches and routing update authentication issues.
You know how to use the variance command to configure unequal-cost load-sharing with IGRP, but IGRP has no topology table that will give you the feasible successor metrics you need. With IGRP, you need to use the "debug ip igrp transactions" command to get these vital metrics.
Several factors are considered by OSPF-enabled routers when it comes to forming adjacencies, including hello and dead timer settings. If an adjacency doesn't form when you think it should, run "debug ip ospf adj". The reason the adjacency isn't forming is usually seen quickly with this command's output.
Let's not ignore Layer Two! If frame relay mappings are not forming according to your configuration, run "debug frame lmi". This debug will allow you to quickly diagnose and correct any LMI mismatches.
When it comes to PPP, it can be very frustrating to try to spot a problem with a password or username. Instead of staring at the configuration for 10 minutes, run "debug ppp negotiation" and send a ping over the link. This command will help you spot the router with the misconfigured username or password, not to mention saving you a lot of time!
Effectively using debugs during your CCNA and CCNP exam study will help you truly understand what's going on "behind the command" - and it will really come in handy on that day when your production network just isn't doing what you (think) you told it to do!
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Cisco CCNP / BSCI Certification: BGP Route Reflector Tutorial - By: Chris Bryant
When you're studying for your BSCI exam and CCNP certification, you quickly realize that BGP is a whole new world from anything you've previously studies. One topic that sometimes confuses CCNP candidates is when a BGP route reflector needs to be configured.
In the following example, the routers R1, R2, and R3 are all in BGP AS 100. This is not a full mesh, however. There are peer relationships between R1-R2 and R1-R3, but not between R2 and R3. R3 is advertising network 3.3.3.0/24 via BGP, and the route is seen on R1. R1's iBGP neighbor, R2 does not see the route.
A basic rule of BGP is that a BGP speaker cannot advertise a route to an iBGP neighbor if that route was learned from another iBGP neighbor. Configuring R1 as a route reflector will allow us to circumvent this rule. The entire route reflector process is transparent to the clients, and no configuration is necessary on those clients. We'll configure R1 as a route reflector for both R2 and R3.
R1(config)#router bgp 100
R1(config-router)#neighbor 172.12.123.2 route-reflector-client
3d18h: %BGP-5-ADJCHANGE: neighbor 172.12.123.2 Down RR client config change
R1(config-router)#neighbor 172.12.123.3 route-reflector-client
3d18h: %BGP-5-ADJCHANGE: neighbor 172.12.123.3 Down RR client config change
The BGP adjacencies do come down when this configuration is added, so this isn't something you want to do during a peak traffic time.
Once the adjacencies come back up, R2 will have the route to 3.3.3.0/24.
There are other possible solutions to this iBGP limitation, such as configuring BGP confederations. Those solutions are generally used on larger BGP deployments and with other concerns in mind, though, and configuring route reflectors serves this purpose just as well.
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Cisco CCNP Certification FAQ - By: Chris Bryant
To earn your CCNP, you've got to pass some very rigorous Cisco exams, and you also need to know the rules regarding this important certification. In this article, I'll answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the CCNP.
Q: What exams do I need to pass to get my CCNP?
A: You have two options, a three-exam path and a four-exam path. Currently, the four-exam path consists of rigorous exams on advanced routing techniques (BSCI), advanced switching (BCMSN), remote access methods (BCRAN), and advanced troubleshooting techniques (CIT). The three-exam path combines the BCMSN and BSCI exams into a single exam, the Composite exam.
Q: Do I have to take them in any order?
A: No, the order is up to the candidate. Most CCNP candidates take the BSCI exam first and the CIT exam last, but again this is up to the candidate.
Q: What else do I have to do to get the CCNP?
A: You must earn your CCNA before you can be CCNP certified (as well as passing the exams, of course).
Q: Is there a recertification requirement?
A: Cisco CCNP certifications are valid for three years. During that time, you must either pass the Composite exam, the BSCI and BCMSN exams, or pass any CCIE written exam.
Q: What if I don't recertify within the three-year period?
A: You must then meet whatever CCNP requirements there are at that time, from the beginning. It's easier to make sure you recertify!
Becoming CCNP certified is a great boost to your career and your confidence, and as with any Cisco certification, it's up to you to stay current with the CCNA and CCNP requirements. Visit the Career Certification section of Cisco's website regularly to learn about the program's requirements and changes. It’s not up to them to keep you notified of changes – it’s up to you!
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How To Become a Cisco CCNP - By: Chris Bryant
Congratulations on your decision to earn your CCNP certification! As a CCIE, I can tell you that Cisco certifications are both financially and personally rewarding.
To earn your CCNP, you first have to earn your CCNA certification. Then you're faced with a decision - take the three-exam CCNP path, or the four-exam path? They're both quite demanding, so let's take a look at each path.
The four-exam CCNP path includes the Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks exam (BSCI), Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks exam (BCMSN), Building Cisco Remote Access Networks (BCRAN), and Cisco Internetwork Troubleshooting (CIT) exam.
The three-exam path combines the BSCI and BCMSN exams into a single exam, called the Composite exam.
I'm often asked what order I recommend taking the exams in. After earning your CCNA, I recommend you begin studying for the BSCI exam immediately. You will find the fundamentals you learned in your CCNA studies will help you a great deal with this exam. You're going to add to your CCNA knowledgebase quite a bit when it comes to OSPF and EIGRP, as well as being introduced to BGP.
I don't have a preference between the BCMSN and BCRAN exams, but I do recommend you take the CIT exam last. You'll be using all the skills you learned in the first three exams to pass the CIT. It's a very demanding exam, and it's a little hard to troubleshoot technologies that you haven't learned yet!
The CCNP is both financially and personally fulfilling. Once you complete your CCNA studies, take a little breather and then get started on your CCNP studies. The more you know, the more valuable you are in today's ever-changing IT job market.
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Cisco CCNP / BSCI Certification: The BGP Attribute “MED†- By: Chris Bryant
When you're preparing to pass the BSCI exam and earn your CCNP certification, one of the biggest challenges is learning BGP. BGP is totally different from any protocol you learned to earn your CCNA certification, and one of the differences is that BGP uses path attributes to favor one path over another when multiple paths to or from a destination exist.
Notice I said "to or from". In earlier free BGP tutorials, I discussed the BGP attributes "weight" and "local preference". These attributes are used to favor one path to a destination over another; for example, if BGP AS 100 has two paths to a destination in AS 200, these two attributes can be set in AS 100 to favor one path over another. But what if AS 100 wants to inform the routers in AS 200 as to which path it should use to reach a given destination in AS 100?
That's where the BGP attribute "Multi-Exit Discriminator", or MED, comes in. The MED value can be set in AS 100 to tell AS 200 which path it should use to reach a given network in AS 100.
As with many BGP attributes, the MED can be set with a route-map. What you need to watch is that there is no "set med" value in route maps. To change the MED of a path, you need to change the metric of that path. Let's say that there are two entry paths for AS 200 to use to reach destinations in AS 100. You want AS 200 to use the 100.1.1.0/24 path over the 100.2.2.0/24 path. First, identify the two paths with two separate ACLs.
R1(config)#access-list 22 permit 100.1.1.0 0.0.0.255
R1(config)#access-list 23 permit 100.2.2.0 0.0.0.255
Next, write a route-map that assigns a lower metric to the more-desirable path.
R1(config)#route-map PREFER_PATH permit 10
R1(config-route-map)#match ip address 22
R1(config-route-map)#set metric 100
R1(config-route-map)#route-map PREFER_PATH permit 20
R1(config-route-map)#match ip address 23
R1(config-route-map)#set metric 250
Finally, apply the route-map to the neighbor or neighbors.
R1(config-route-map)#router bgp 100
R1(config-router)#neighbor 22.2.2.2 route-map PREFER_PATH out
The key points to keep in mind is that while many BGP attributes prefer a higher value, the MED is basically an external metric - and a lower metric is preferred, just as with the protocols you've already studied to earn your CCNA certification.
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Cisco CCNA Certification: Error Detection vs. Error Recovery - By: Chris Bryant
Passing the CCNA, Intro, and ICND exam is all about knowing and noticing the details. (Which makes perfect sense, since becoming a master networking administrator or engineer is also about noticing the details!) One such detail knows the difference between error detection and error recovery. While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not the same thing.
Error detection is just that - error detection only. Two common error detection methods are found at the Data Link layer of the OSI model, the FCS (Frame Check Sequence) and CRC (Cyclical Redundancy Check). A mathematical equation is run against the data in the frame, and the result is sent along with the data. The receiver runs the equation again, but this time. If the result is the same, the frame is considered valid; if the result is different, the frame is considered corrupt and is discarded.
Note that the FCS and CRC do nothing in regards to retransmission. They are strictly error detection schemes.
For an example of error recovery, we look to the Transport layer, where TCP runs. TCP performs reliable delivery, and the reason we call it "reliable" is that TCP uses sequence numbers to detect missing segments. If the sender determines from the sequence numbers that the remote host did not receive transmitted segments, the sender will retransmit the missing segments.
The key to keeping the terms straight in your head is to remember that while both error detection and error recovery both detect problems, only error recovery does anything about it. It's also worth reading an exam question twice when you see either term!
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Why Should I Train For A Microsoft Certification? - By: James Croydon
Microsoft certification is a vast combination of rich and varied spectrum of job and responsibilities. To successfully perform the critical IT function we should earn a specific credential providing objective validity of the ability. One of the most effective ways to reach a long-term career goal, which is even embraced by industry professionals worldwide, is Microsoft certification.
Advancing with long-term career goals Microsoft certification has helped countless IT professionals work more effectively. Individuals have started quoting their valuable experiences during the Microsoft certification course on the websites available. The professionals of Microsoft certification course are very different from the IT counterparts. They not only keep on fighting the challenges of IT field but also have keep themselves a step ahead from them by developing and improving their skills. These certification processes gives one a kind of knowledge to know how to get recognized in any field.
The professionals of Microsoft certification are called at the Microsoft certified professionals or MCP. For the this Microsoft certification they have to pass current Microsoft certification exam which will proved a reliable and valid measure of professional and technical expertise. The validity of a current exam is only considered and not which is retired. Microsoft certification exams reflect how Microsoft products are used in the organization.
Microsoft certification exams are developed from the inputs received from the IT industry professionals. The independent testing organizations administer these exams. There is one very big reason why IT professionals and developers become Microsoft certified professionals is that they all know that their clients, peers, employees and the IT industry shall acknowledge their expertise in working with the Microsoft products and technologies.
There are various steps towards obtaining Microsoft certification. Firstly, one should decide which Microsoft certification is correct for the person. As Microsoft offers a vast variety of professions within the IT industry one should understand which course would be the best for him. One should also get handy with the Microsoft products, which can be done only after working in the IT industry. Experience should be expanded with training by taking advantage of the training resources.
For obtaining Microsoft certification, it is also better to know what to expect in the exam. Previous question papers or taking consultation from those who have appeared or cleared the test is always a good choice. Taking helps from the help guides for Microsoft certification exams is also an added advantage. These help provide guidelines and suggestions to the person appearing for the exam. It is also suggested to take trial tests before appearing for the final exam. The test center should be selected from the worldwide locations. Also certain details like area of study, testing program and region etc should be mentioned.
Even after polishing our skills set Microsoft certification provides other specific advantages. They are like the recognition of our knowledge and proficiency in the industry. One can also be accessed as MCP member on the websites and can obtain various offers and discounts on products and services. One can also get career information and simultaneously get invitations to conferences, special events and training sessions.
A Microsoft certification shows technical leadership over other peers as well as ability to successfully implement Microsoft business solutions for any organizations or clients.
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Taking Your Microsoft Skills To The MCSE Level - By: James Croydon
Microsoft certified systems engineer (MCSE) is the designing and implementation of the infrastructure based for business solutions. They schedule their instructors led classroom MCSE training at your complete control. They invite the best Microsoft and CISCO certified trainers in the industry to help us for the development of the ultimate training and certification program. Te MCSE training program includes everything one needs to fully prepare for and pass the MCSE exams.
There are some coach and career advisors are also available in the MCSE training camp for providing a toll free advisor hotline. During the MCSE training, and certification program, you will be provided some materials and resources that access to a MCSE training coordinators who will advise the examinee how to best utilize the MCSE training material to complete the certification goals successfully and also teach how to apply new skills towards the career advancement.
Career academies virtual boot camp is a cost effective method that meets the critical demand of the computer users. Experienced users have been arranged here to lead courses in a comfortable and convenient environment. Environment of these camps makes one feel like a classroom delivered through flexible and familiar technology. The MCSE training provided for MCSE assessment and real world insight from the experts with vast experience in the subject matter. It is engaged in a dynamic learning method where multiple Microsoft operating systems were derived simultaneously and multiple senses help reinforce learning concepts. The videos help in clarifying the neutral steps and uplifting of the skills in right direction. They have proven methodology that provides as unequalled training experience with exceptional skills.
Career academies learning system include several unique features. Video lectures given by instructors during the MCSE training show one on one experience with the experts. The full motion video allows the examinee to see the steps, listen to the explanations and perform the Microsoft’s operating system practically. MCSE training is one of the most flexible and comfortable training programs. The users are able to work according to their own convenience in any MCSE training program. They can opt to take the training at home or choose any convenient location for onsite training.
The MCSE training provided during the training sessions is quite rich, interactive and engaging. They incorporate all the live videos, screenshots, power point presentations, white board and lab simulations. All these give the examinee an engaging learning experience.
Lab simulations are the best components in MCSE training, which help in studying a lot. During any MCSE training program practice is provided with production level hardware and software along with step-by step detailed descriptions and instructions. Valuable hands-on experience can be easily experienced with real world scenarios such as installing windows 2003 server operating system as well as experience in adding WNS, WHCP, Domains, etc. can be easily received. Intelligent lab simulations during MCSE training programs allow the examinees to reinforce the concepts that have been learnt during the event and they can also perform various tasks.
The references are given so that the users can easily accrue the MCSE training PowerPoint slides, the printable study guide to help them to focus on areas of need and chart the programs. The practice exams of MCSE training program ensure your eligibility status and help in identifying areas that need more practice. Since various companies offer MCSE training, their task helps the IT candidates selected for the highest quality products and services.
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