BrainDump Submission:

Test Name: Networking Essentials (Adaptive)

Test # 70-058

I just passed with about 667 on Networking Essentials (pass is 570). I received only 25 questions. I was worried that I did poorly, and I kept flinching after proceeded to the next question thinking "don't kick me out!!"

How I prepared:

I learned 3/4 of the Transcenders Exams by heart, with scores of close to 1000. I read the explanations as well.

I didn't have enough time to do the other test. I found that there were some questions that were exact duplicates from the Transcenders. Study them for those "giveaway" questions.

I used O'Reilly's MCSE Core Exams study guide. I read this over at least twice and made my own notes from the text.

I found that there was a lot of emphasis on choosing the right kind of cable, like a particular type of Ethernet cable. Know what lengths are ideal for each type, the type of connection devices (i.e., BNC T connector) that go with each type and where each type of cable is used most commonly -- like which network topology (i.e. star, bus etc.)

I only had time for Peter's (10.2.98) Networking Essentials Braindump questions. It is in this section. I found it long but really good. There were a few short questions that were not on the Transcenders (that I knew of) that appeared on the exam. His scenario questions were good too.

What I can remember from this exam...

The exam had a few tricky questions that asked me about things that I hadn't seen anywhere except in Windows NT books. Know the difference between the different tools for network, cable and protocol analysis. I suddenly got many questions on these (probably because I got the first one in a series wrong). Understand how data is collected, i.e. can you make reports or logs from that particular monitor?

The WAN questions I got were fairly straight-forward. One WAN scenario question that was unique asked me to connect 3 LANs to a head office LAN. For each location or LAN that I was to set up, I was told that there would be a requirement for 150 metres of cable on each floor of these two-story locations. Note that means 300 metres total at each LAN. But, in the solution I was offered I was told that each floor in each location had a hub. Despite having a hub, there was still 150 metres of cable needing to be connected. The proposed solution I was given was a type of cable that was insufficient for 150 metres. This isn't the entire question, there were more details to the solution.

Don't get fooled. Draw a quick diagram of everything, you have plenty of time.

I was asked really tricky questions (at least for me) on WINS servers and about computers not being able to connect to the network etc. Understand how WINS, TCIP/IP, DNS, NWLINK all relate to different computers like a UNIX server or NetWare server.

I got at least 2 questions asking me identify or know which network device was appropriate for specific OSI layers. I don't actually recall a straight-forward question asking me to match repeaters with the physical layer of OSI for instance BUT, in order to understand the question and elminate wrong answers I needed to know that a gateway, router, hub etc. was the reason for the situation the question described.

I had no questions specifically on MAC or LLC. But, you might. I was asked to identify why NDIS and ODI were good/advantageous to Network cards.

I had to identify whether a network card installation was having an I/O error or IRQ error based on some facts.

I was asked to identify a WAN connection that exceeded a certain Mps speed. Know these briefly so you don't get confused.

I was asked to "select as many as apply" when selecting SLIP and PPP as dial-up protocols. There were no other options.

I had one question on an IRQ conflict.

I had two questions (one really confusing one) that described network errors with NWLink protocol/NetWare. One of the choices for each question was something like 'this occurred because of an incorrect frame type'. Check on when incorrect frame types in really the cause. If the question asks, "what is most likely the reason this occurred" then it is probably the frame type, but know the variations.

Good Luck and thanks to all you other dumpers!

Mira

Go to Peter's Braindump for good information.  His dump is in the Networking Essentials section.