Description:
Though intimidating at first glance, all misgivings fall away once you begin traversing the pages of the Network+ Certification Study Guide. This book is laid out exceptionally well, with each chapter divided into certification objectives such as network operating systems, network protocols, and password practices and procedures. Within those objectives sections are clear, concisely written explanations of the relevant technologies and practices. In certain cases, such as network topologies and ISDN, the authors have even enumerated advantages and disadvantages. For example, in the network topologies discussion, four are discussed--bus, star, mesh, and ring. The most popular approach nowadays, thanks largely to the massive penetration of Ethernet, is the star topology. The authors say that the advantages here are centralized cabling and centralized administration and management. The primary disadvantage, however, is that if a hub fails, the entire network or a significant chunk of it can go down. Always with an eye toward passing the exam, each chapter ends with a series of questions, the answers to which are provided in appendix A. However, almost as useful are the Two-Minute Drill sections placed just before each of the self-tests. In the chapter on remote access, the Two-Minute Drill contains definitions of the Point-to-Point and Password Authentication protocols as well as brief descriptions of the virtual private networks (VPNs) and the public switched telephone network. Overall, the breadth of this book and the approachable manner in which it was constructed are impressive. --Sarah L. Roberts-Witt
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