TEST: Networking Essentials 70-058

What I used:

*Microsoft Self-Study Kit

*Every single practice test I could find

*Brain dumps!

Passed last night with a ~950. Quite a bit relieved since this is the area where I have the least experience.

I'm not going to repeat all the stuff that's been posted here already, but here's some good study tips.

1. Do *NOT* try to memorize your way through this test. It won't happen. If you have a decent understanding of the material, though, the test will be easy.

2. Know repeaters, bridges, routers, brouters, gateways. Really well.

3. Know that NetBEUI isn't routable.

4. Know that 802.3 is token ring and 802.5 is ethernet.

5. Know the basic IRQ settings for COM: and LPT: ports.

6. Know what NDIS and ODI do. I actually got this question twice, with different wording. This is a good reason to KNOW the material instead of memorizing it.

7. Know GENERALLY what the OSI model is and what does what.

8. Know where repeaters, bridges, routers, gateways sit in the OSI model.

9. Know transmission speeds of various mediums. Specifically, 10-Base whatever, 100-base TX, Fiber, ATM, modems.

10. Know what cables go with what standard.

11. Know that frame types can mess up IPX/SPX.

12. Know that NT uses NWLink and 95 uses IPX/SPX.

13. Know GENERALLY what a protocol analyzer does. It is *not* the right answer everywhere it's mentioned, BUT where it isn't the right answer, it's very obvious if you know what it does vs., say, SNMP.

14. When reading the BSOL questions, do a quick read-through of the Q, then read through again and look for specifics. In most of the cases, there's 2-4 key things you need to look at in each question. Example - reduce traffic, NetBEUI, router. Won't w

15. Use the braindumps to GUIDE your studying, not to replace it. If you don't understand WHY a certain question has a particular answer, study up on it until you do. Knowing the rote answer may or may not help you with the test, but it definitely won't

16. Know what SNMP and TDRs.

17. Know the difference between user- and share-level security.

18. Know the difference between client/server systems and centralized computing.

19. Know what OS's support what levels of security.

20. Know the following protocols, what they're for, and when to use them: TCP/IP, IPX/SPX (or NWLink), NetBEUI, AppleTalk.

21. When you think you're ABSOLUTELY READY, take the MS Assessment test. Don't take it before. It's the BEST practice test out there, so save it for the final acid test. I aced it, so I figured that I was okay to take the real thing ;)

22. Don't stress it. This test is NOT that hard if you have a good knowledge of computers and understand what's going on, even if you don't have a lot of network field experience.

Good luck!

Rob