I took the test yesterday and got an 896. I only felt 100% confident on about 50% of the questions. The other 49.6%, I used educated guesses. I have virtually no hands-on experience with networking so this is what I did to pass: Transcenders, CBT courses, Net Essentials class at the community college, BrainCram Exams, PEP Tests, and, of course, brain dumps. I studied the brain dumps and researched the answers. Brain dump advice isn't the gospel but its an awesome guide. I took the prep tests and researched my wrong answers. I compiled all of my research findings into a type-written study guide which I reviewed regularly for two weeks straight.

Here's a couple of topics that I can specifically remember from the test:

 Know your NDIS and ODI.

Know your IRQ's. Exam IRQ questions were very similar to transcender

IRQ questions.

Know the proper devices to link various architectures and protocols.

NetBEUI is non-routable. You can only use bridges. When used with TCP/IP on a network, use a brouter.

Know the distance maximums on coaxial (10BASE5 is 500 meters/1480 feet,

10BASE2 is 185 meters/607 feet), UTP( 100 meters/328 feet), and fiber (2 km).

Know the advantages of ATM, X.25, and Frame relay. ATM supports voice, data, and video and is a WAN connection that offers over 100 Mbps connectivity. X.25 is more reliable but not as fast as ATM.

UNC - computer name\\share name

Know the advantages of user-level security (NT server) vs. share-level security (Win95).

Always use fiber-optic cable for a 100MB backbone.

Know RIP - uses distance-vector algorithms.

ISDN was intended to replace analog phones.

Know that Ethernet coaxial requires two terminators (50 ohm) and one ground per segment.

Fiber is always recommended for MAN type links.

Know that protocol analyzers look inside packets to trouble shoot problem. All the questions that I encountered on the exam regarding system monitoring were answered with "protocol analyzer."

Know that connectionless is quicker but less reliable.

Connection-oriented is slower but more reliable.

Use a gateway and a router to connect a Token Ring network with an Ethernet router using IPX.

Use only a gateway to connect a Token Ring network with an Ethernet network using NetBEUI.

Gateways - protocol conversion.

Routers cure broadcast storm. Bridges make it worse. Its all in how they handle the broadcast.

Know that T-1 lines operate at 1.544 Mbps.

Know that PPP supports data compression and dynamic addressing and supports multiple protocols. SLIP only supports TCP/IP.

 Good luck!