* There were many questions that listed the specifications of a network in a hard to read, distratcting table. I think I could have got some of the questions right without bothering with the table, but I could be wrong.

* There were many questions dealing with why something on the network did not work. I. If it was a local problem it was either
1) the card on the client computer,
2) conflicting IRQ settings (KNOW: COM1 AND COM3=IRQ4, COM2 AND COM4=IRQ3, LPT1=IRQ7, LPT2=IRQ5, IRQ'S 2 AND 9 NOT TO BE USED).

II. If it was not local (you can tell by checking to see if the other computers on the network work), then it could be
1) incorrect frame size if it used NWLink IPX, Or SPX/IPX,
2) incapidable cable types, i.e, 58 A/U and 58 U will not work together. (That is important. Archnet uses62 A/U.), and

I can't remember the other choices.

* To save yourself a lot of misery: pray to God and then purchase the TRANSCENDER practice tests, pray again after you fail the tests the first time, read over every question and answer (even the ones you got right the first go around), pray again, take the tests the second time around, pray again, and if you fail any of the test go over them one more time. Before the test pray, and pass.

* There were a good amount of "Suppose the following situation exist"s. They usually came in pairs. They would have the same situation and then have different "proposed solutions". Unfortunately, the only way to get these right is to study and truly understand the concepts of networking. The Transcender practice tests helped tons on these!!! There were not any exact questions but if you understood the reasoning behind the transenders, you could apply them to the actual test.

* Know what protocols work at what levels (specifically: transport protocols, network protocols, and application protocols.) And while I am talking about protocols, know the routable verses non routable protocols. CRUCIAL!!!! There are many direct and indirect questions that require you to know them.

* Know the following (again CRUCIAL, CRUCIAL info):

• Repeaters work at the physical layer.
• Bridges work at the DataLink Layer.
• Routers work at the Network Layer.
• Brouters work at the DataLink and Network Layer depending on what it is doing at the time (bridge or routing).
• Gateways usual work at the Application layer but can go through all layers.

* Know the difference between Routers and Bridges. Crucial.

How do routers lessen broadcast storms? By blocking all broadcasts. Bridges on the other hand create broadcast storms because it sends everything that does not have its segment address.

* There were some questions that kind of threw me off because it said the the Network software correctly initialized. I did not know if that meant it correctly initialized with the adapter card, or if it was just referring to the software. I think what is meant was that the software was not the problem. Not that the cofiguration of the software was correct, but that the software worked.

* Know ODI and NDIS. They are used to :

1) allow properietory manufactures to not have to worry about how the protocols work with the ADAPTER CARD. Crucial!! Nothing to do with the protocol working with the DLL, but how it worked with the MAC.

2) allow multiple protocols to bind with a single network card.

* Know your cable types. CRUCIAL!!:

• 10 base T - RJ-45 - 100 meters maximum -
• 10 base 2 - BNC - 185 meters maximum -
• 10 base 5 - AU - 500 meters maximum -
• Etc, etc. etc.

* NetBios = LMHosts = Wins = / = Host = DNS = .

I used that to help with some of the questions, you figure it out!

* Know how to make Novel and Microsoft computers play nice. When you have:

1) NT server and Novel clients,
2) Novel server and NT or 95 clients, etc....

* Pray some more!!

Thats all for now folks, good luck.

I studied a lot and was very prepared for the test but after I took it I thought I failed (until I saw my score). What's my point, study your brains out.

Chad