I passed the Networking Essential test yesterday with 896, it was my first MCSE test. I used the Exam Cram, Microsoft Sybex Study Guide, Transcender tests and the Brain Dump sites. It's very important to go through the Brain Dump sites as the last study resource. Approximately 10 of my exam questions were exactly like those I had seen in these sites.

Good test-specific hints and notes from: http://home.att.net/~tpgugliotta/netessentials.htm

Followings are some of the questions I got......

• one question on NDIS/ODI

make sure you know that NDIS/ODI compliant cards are protocol   independent

• one question on IRQ incorrect settings
• one question on incorrect frame type setting
• one question on incorrect transceiver settings

choose transceiver incorrect setting when the network card passes the  initialization but cannot access the network, IPX is not specified

• resistance reading using VOM, correct readings should be:

resistance reading on terminator = 50ohms

resistance reading on T-connector = infinity (open circuit)

resistance reading between core and cable = infinity (open circuit)

• implement disk striping with parity if disk access is high (eg 25%)
• RG58/U and RG58/AU are not compatible
• Which of the following servers has enough processing power to be the server in the client/server environment?

(there are only 2 choices, choose all answers which apply)

a. File and Print Server

b. Application Server

• know functions of routers, bridges, brouters and repeaters

repeaters work on digital signal

amplifiers work on analog signal

• Whch WAN technology supports 100Mbps?

a. ISDN

b. switch 56

c. ATM

d. T1

• There are 200 computers in a network, wants to segment the network  into 3 subnets, currently using TCPIP and NETBEIU, wants to keep  using the above protocol, what device should be used?

a. routers

b. brouters

c. gateways

d. repeaters

• Similar question as the one above except TCPIP is the only protocol,  what device should be used?

a. routers

b. brouters

c. gateways

d. repeaters

• A network with Windows95, NT and UNIX servers and workstations, network performance degrades when more and more machines are added.

Protocol used: AppleTalk, NetBEUI, IPX, TCPIP

Device used: brouters

Required: reduce utilization by 50%

Optional: minimal change to the functionality of the machines, minimal cost

Prosposed: Use only IPX, turn bridging function off

• ISDN is to replace analog phone lines
• Network a WAN for 3 locations

Required 1Mbps, able to access if one link fails.

Propose: 2T1

• Dial-up protocols: SLIP, PPP
• only PPP can automatically register IP assignments
• RIP is a protocol go from routers to routers
• two questions on NETBIOS name scheme
• two identical machines (including NIC settings) failed to access the network,

change MAC address to factory default

• four questions (including scenario questions) on user-level and share-level security
• no questions on wireless, WINS/DNS/LMHOSTS/HOSTS

The rest of the questions are pretty much similar to the Transcender's. Good luck to all of you and thank you for everyone who contributed tothis site. :-)

Clara