Linux the focus of new Australian Masters degree

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has partnered with Linux vendor Novell to offer a two-year postgraduate Masters degree which includes formal Linux certification.

Novell said in a statement the course would be the only postgraduate-level qualification which would include the achievement of Novell Certified Linux Engineer (Novell CLE) status as a key requirement.

"Students will study for their Masters degree via a mixture of distance education coupled with hands-on practical training courses with Novell's leading IT training provider Excom Education," Novell added.

The degree will formally be a stream of CSU's Master of Networking and System Administration, which currently allows students to choose streams from Microsoft and Cisco as well as pathways not specific to a vendor.

Students in the other vendors' streams complete popular certifications such as the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) or Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP).

The Masters degree in general is made up of primarily technical subjects, with applicants needing an undergraduate degree and at least two years experience in the IT industry, but students will also need to demonstrate other skills: all streams list a "Topics in IT Ethics" subject.

In Novell's statement, Excom's managing director Paul Koukounaras said there was a strong local demand for Linux certification.

"In the past 12 months, we have experienced unprecedented demand for Novell's Suse Linux training courses and certifications, from both Linux and traditional Novell IT professional," he said.

Novell said it would offer scholarships to help launch the new degree, which will be first offered in CSU's Trimester 2 -- starting in mid-2006.

CCNA: Cisco Switching Modes Tutorial

To pass the CCNA exam and earn that coveted certification, you've got to know Cisco switches inside and out.

Among the many important details you've got to know are the three methods that Cisco switches use to forward frames, and the differences between the three.

The first switching method is Store-and-Forward. The name is the recipe, because that's just what the switch does - it stores the entire frame before beginning to forward it. This method allows for the greatest amount of error checking, since the Frame Check Sequence (FCS) can be run before the frame is forwarded. As always, there is a tradeoff, since this error checking process makes this the slowest of the three frame forwarding methods.

The quickest method is Cut-Through, where only the destination MAC address of the frame is examined before the forwarding process begins. This means that the part of the frame is actually being forwarded as it is still being received! The tradeoff here is that the FCS does not run, so there is absolutely no error checking with Cut-Through switching.

The middle ground between these two extremes is Fragment-Free, so named since fragmented frames will not be forwarded. The switch examines only the first 64 bytes of the frame for errors, since that is the part of the frame that will be damaged in case of a collision. There is error checking, but it is not as thorough as Store-and-Forward.

Keeping these three switching schemes straight is vital to your CCNA exam efforts, and it will help you in working with Cisco switches in the real world as well. Keep studying!

Why Should I Train For A Microsoft Certification?

Microsoft certification is a vast combination of rich and varied jobs and responsibilities.

To successfully perform the critical IT function we should earn a specific credential providing objective validity of the ability. One of the most effective ways to reach a long-term career goal, which is even embraced by industry professionals worldwide, is Microsoft certification.

Why Should I Train For A Microsoft Certification?

642-551 Exam Review

Cisco’s newest version of this exam for aspiring CCSPs requires a foundation of security knowledge with some hands-on experience.

A Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) requires knowledge and hands-on experience with many Cisco network security technologies. Unlike most of the other exams required for CCSP certification, which are focused more on particular areas of security, the SND exam covers these from a high-level identification, implementation and configuration point-of-view. I’ll address some of the main areas to study for this new exam by mapping to the official exam objectives.

Securing Cisco Network Devices (642-551)

CCNA: Five Keystroke Combinations You Should Know

When you start studying for your CCNA and CCNP exams, many books will present you with a huge list of keystroke shortcuts for use on Cisco routers.

While the 640-801, 640-811, and 640-821 exams may ask you about one or two of these, you really have to get hands-on experience with these commands to master them. Even better, there are some key combinations that Cisco routers mention, but then don’t tell you what they are! Let’s take a look at a few of the more helpful key combinations, and conclude with the “secret” way to stop a ping or traceroute.

Full article here.

Linux Certs Gaining Popularity Among IT Pros

The value and popularity of IT certifications are tied to supply and demand, said John Challenger, CEO of IT outsourcing and jobs analysis firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. There is no question that after Microsoft and Cisco certifications, the next most important certs are for Linux, he told LinuxInsider.

IT certifications evoke expectations of both software and systems administration skillsets, but jokes abound about how little knowledge so-and-so with such-and-such a certificate has.

One thing is clear: Although Microsoft Windows and Cisco certifications continue to be the biggest, the importance of Linux certifications is on the rise. Linux occupies prominent positions in CertCities "10 Hottest Certifications of 2006" list, for example. For the first time, the list was led by Linux, with the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) credential on top.

"If you're looking for yet another sign that Linux is becoming a real player, then you've got it," wrote CertCities' Becky Nagel. "Quite a feat -- especially when you consider that the vast majority of CertCities.com's readers are Windows professionals."

Hot Certs

The list does not comprise the most popular certifications, but rather includes those that are likely to be most influential in the coming year -- "the ones that will grow the fastest, the ones that we think will show the true future of IT certification," as Nagel put it.

RHCE topped the list of ten hottest certs, with Microsoft maintaining its presence with the No. 2 and No. 3 spots for SQL and .Net certified specialists and Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA).

Other certifications on the list included the fourth, fifth and sixth hottest certs from Cisco; with a tie at fourth for the Project Management Professional (PMP) cert; MCSE and SSCP security Free Trial: Eliminate IM compliance and security threats with policy and enforcement. certs at eight and nine; and Linux again in the tenth spot with Linux Professional Institute Certification, Level 2 (LPIC 2) -- described by CertCities as "the only major offering for mid-level Linux administrators looking to earn a truly vendor-neutral title."

Looking for Linux Specifics

Nonetheless, Linux certifications have not risen to the mainstream acceptance level of Microsoft certifications, such as the MCA, Illuminata senior analyst Gordon Haff told LinuxInsider.

Still, the importance of Linux certifications will rise as the open-source operating system sees more use by enterprise organizations, he predicts, and Linux certifications make more sense.
Beyond the Guru

Some certifications, including Microsoft's, are met with criticism or ridicule by some engineers, Haff said. However, certifications do typically represent a fairly in-depth familiarity with IT skill sets or tasks.

Although there is often confusion as to what type of certifications companies want, there is a realization that organizations cannot rely on "the Unix guru with a big beard who knows everything about Unix and Linux and everything," Haff remarked. "Certifications are a reflection of mainstream and wide deployment and the realization you can't always have the guru."

Supply and Demand

The value and popularity of IT certifications are tied to supply and demand, said John Challenger, CEO of IT outsourcing and jobs analysis firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

There is no question that after Microsoft and Cisco certifications, the next most important certs are for Linux, he told LinuxInsider, describing RHCE as "a valuable experience and acknowledgment of the person's skills."

"There's no question that as more and more open source Latest News about open source gets utilized, becomes standardized, and more organizations are using it, the demand for people to operate, maintain, build and develop it increases," he said. "It's only going to grow."

Linux certifications will become increasingly significant as they become a way to evaluate skills for companies needing people who know Linux but do not have the means to verify candidates' abilities, Challenger added.

Cisco Launches Rich Media Communications Specialist Certification

Cisco Systems today announced the addition of the Rich Media Communications Specialist certification to its Career Certifications program. The Rich Media Communications Specialist certification validates the skills and knowledge required to successfully plan, install and manage rich media communications in an IP network.

Certified Cisco Rich Media Communications Specialists will have the training to develop the expertise required to design, install and manage rich media applications to address new market demands, including integrating video conferencing applications into a voice and data network while delivering the same quality, switching, speed and clarity as is expected of the traditional telephone network. The Rich Media Communications Specialist certification prepares professionals to integrate video conferencing in an IP network independently, or with other deployments such as Cisco CallManager for IP telephony, Cisco Unity voice messaging or Cisco IP Contact Centers.

Read more >

MCSE vs MCSA

Technology is advancing rapidly with each passing day. The world of Information Technology today is a forever growing vast expanse. Infact, the IT Certification industry has witnessed a significant turn in the past few years. In today’s arena, certified professionals are considered a step higher compared to others. Certification in the relevant IT technology has become an effective way to augment your career in that domain.

Certifications, offered by various vendors are a good way for IT professionals to seek validation of their skills. In today’s arena, there are lots of vendors offering specialization in particular domains. Professionals often get confused about which certification to go for as some of them have as little as hair thin difference between them. It is best to first identify your job roles, the knowledge and skills required and accordingly select to take a particular certification to ensure career success.

Let us in this article try and get some clarity between two Microsoft major certifications MCSE and MCSA which are often confused upon.

Why MCSE?

For a MCSE candidate, it is preferable that he should have at least two years of experience in implementing and administering desktop and network operating systems, and designing a network infrastructure in the typically complex computing environment of medium-to-large organizations. The candidate should also have at least one year of experience administering Exchange Server environments involving multiple physical locations, mixed connection protocols, and Internet messaging.

MCSE has two tracks Microsoft Windows 2000 track and Microsoft Windows 2003. The 2003 track requires 6 Core Exams, 1 Elective Exam and 2 Upgrade Exams to be cleared.

Core Exam includes:

• Group I: 70-290, 70-291, 70-293, 70-294;
• Group II: 70-270, 70-210;
• Group III: 70-297, 70-298.

Elective Exams include:

• 70-086
• 70-227
• 70-228
• 70-229
• 70-232
• 70-281
• 70-282
• 70-284
• 70-285
• 70-297
• 70-298
• 70-299
• 70-301.

Upgrade Exams include:

• 70-292 or 70-296.

Either CompTIA Security+ or Unisys UNO-101 can be substituted in place of the elective exams.

Why MCSA?

The need for qualified system administrators is very real in today's business market and the excitement for MCSA is growing daily. A candidate for MCSA should have at least one year of experience working with a desktop operating system, a network operating system, and an existing network infrastructure. As soon as candidates pass their first qualifying exam for the MCSA program, they achieve a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification.

MCSA also has two tracks Microsoft Windows 2000 track and Microsoft Windows 2003 track. MCSA 2003 requires 3 Core Exams, 1 Elective exam and 1 Upgrade exam to be cleared.

Core Exams include:
Group I: 70-290, 70-291
Group II: 70-270, 70-210

Elective Exams include:

• 70-086
• 70-227
• 70-228
• 70-284
• 70-299

Upgrade Exams include:

• 70-292

What’s the difference between MCSE & MCSA?

Let us take a look at a few major differences between the two certifications which will help you get a clearer idea about the two certifications:

MCSA when compared to MCSE is a basic level certification. As an MCSA you must know every thing about implementing, managing, and troubleshooting the existing network and system environments based on the Microsoft Windows Operating Systems. However, you will not be responsible to set up new networks and systems as a part of your job function. But as a MCSE knowledge about designing and deploying new networks and systems is necessary.

Being an MCSA professional means that you will be able to implement, manage, and maintain the typically complex computing environment of medium- to large-sized companies. On the other hand, being an MCSE professional you will be able to plan, design, and implement Microsoft Windows server solutions and architectures in medium- to large-sized companies.

The experience that is required for both these certifications is also different. MCSA requires 6–12 months of experience of administering client and network operating systems while MCSE requires at least one year of experience in implementing and administering network operating systems and desktop operating systems.

Jobs for an MCSA include systems administrator, network administrator, information systems administrator, network operations analyst, network technician, or technical support specialist. For an MCSE jobs include systems engineer, network engineer, systems analyst, network analyst, or technical consultant.

MCSA provides you with a credential that represents a set of skills which will be advantageous if you plan to pursue MCSE Certification. Therefore, earning an MCSA will qualify you with the option to use these credentials and acquire MCSE through Upgrade path to MCSE.

If you look carefully, both these exams although similar to each other specialize in different domains. A clear understanding of both the certifications is necessary before you decide which one to opt for. So make the right choice and get going!!

MCSE 70-290 Certification Primer

Microsoft Certifications are one of the most widely acclaimed, pursued, and achieved technical certifications in the IT industry. The demand for Microsoft Certified Professionals in the job market is increasing every year.

Microsoft offers a number of certification levels depending on specific areas of proficiency and nature of job. Some of the certifications pertaining to networking are

1. Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP)
2. Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA)
3. Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE)

Each certification level has certain exams associated with it. You can decide the appropriate certification exam based on your experience, skills, and interests.

Benefits of Microsoft Certifications

1. Microsoft Certifications provide a standard method for testing employee skills. The certifications provide employers a valid benchmark for evaluating the employee's abilities. This will provide you the recognition and reward as per your expertise.
2. Microsoft Certifications offer prospective employers a baseline to judge your knowledge, skill, and expertise in the field. Certifications can provide added advantage if you are at the same level of experience as another person without certifications.
3. Certifications are a valuable tool if you have no or very little experience. The certifications that you hold can prove and reassure your employers and consultants about your knowledge in the field. This will help you secure good job as well as negotiate a good salary.

Pre-Requisite Experience (Recommended) for Microsoft Certifications

To pursue this certification you should have at least 1 year of experience in:

1. Implementing and administering a network operating system in environments with 50 to 26,000 supported users, in approximately 3 to 150 physical locations.
2. Implementing network services and applications such as file and print services, database services, messaging services, proxy server or firewall services, dial-in server services, and Web hosting.
3. Implementing and administering a desktop operating system.
4. Designing a network infrastructure with 3 or more domain controllers.

Significance of Microsoft Certifications for Microsoft Windows Server 2003

Microsoft has developed independent certification requirements for Microsoft Windows Server 2003. An aspirant can certify directly for MCSE/MCSA in Windows 2003 if they are new to certification process. If the aspirant is already a certified MCSE /MCSA in Windows 2000, then they can follow the upgrade path for MCSEs in Windows 2000 to secure Windows 2003 Certifications. If the aspirant certifies in MCSE for Windows NT4.0, they can earn MCSE in Windows 2003 by following the upgrade path for MCSEs in Windows NT4.0.

The exams are slightly more challenging than their Windows 2000 counterparts, but they will actually test your hands-on knowledge since that is the most important part of ensuring that a certification is credible.

Exam 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment

Exam 70-290 is the first in the series of the core exams for MCSE certifications.

When you pass the Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment (MCSE 70-290) exam, you achieve Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) status. You also earn credit toward the following certifications:

• Core credit towards Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 certification
• Core credit towards Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 certification

MCSE 70-290 exam objectives are

Objective 1: Managing and Maintaining Physical and Logical Devices

In this objective you will need to demonstrate expertise in managing and maintaining physical and logical devices. As an administrator, you should understand Basic and Dynamic disks, RAID configuration and troubleshooting, driver signing, and the use of tools, such as Device Manager and Hardware Troubleshooting Wizard. Familiarize yourself with Device Manager and the warning and disabled icons found when problems are present on installed devices.

Objective 2: Managing Users, Computers, and Groups

This objective includes many topics, so you should be prepared to face many questions that fall into this category. Have a healthy introduction to profile management, user and group accounts, permissions, and troubleshooting. Practice a lot on GPOs and perform a variety of administrative tasks, including configuration of desktop settings, control of security settings, assignment of scripts, redirection of folders, and software distribution. Also, get a clear understanding on inheritance and filtering.

Objective 3: Managing and Maintaining Access to Resources

Knowing how to configure, monitor, audit and troubleshoot NTFS permissions based issues are one of those most important areas that you need to know this concept thoroughly and also be sure to brush up on your share permissions and share/NTFS permissions interaction. Do not forget to brush up on how folder and file permissions can change or stay the same when copying or moving within a drive or between drives.

Objective 4: Managing and Maintaining a Server Environment

In this objective you'll find questions from topics, such as Event Viewer, System Monitor, software updates (including the functionality of Microsoft's Software Update Service or SUS), Remote Assistance, disk quotas, print queues, performance objects and IIS 6.0. Spend time understanding IIS topics around Web sites, Virtual and physical directories, files and host and cname records in DNS. New to Windows Server 2003 is SUS. Understand clearly how SUS is used for deploying and managing client and server critical updates.

Objective 5: Managing and Implementing Disaster Recovery

In this objective you'll find questions on ASR, VSS, backing up files and system state data, configuring security for backup operators, verifying backup jobs, managing media, restoring and scheduling backups and recovering from server hardware failures. You should take some extra time to get familiar with the various types of backups that Windows Server 2003 supports, as well as the various configuration options that are available to you. Practice making backups of different types and then practice restoring them.

MCSE 70-290 Exam Model

Most of the questions in the MCSE 70-290 exam are multiple choice type. The questions require the "best" answer from several close responses. Other questions may present an implementation scenario, requirements, and a proposed solution and then ask if the solution meets all of the requirements or combinations of the primary and secondary requirements. Microsoft has introduced some testing innovations for the certification exams. These question types present a more realistic visual representation of the tasks a MCSE would do in future. These are

• Hot Area Questions -This type of question requires indicating the correct answer by selecting one or more elements within a graphic.
• Active Screen Questions - This type of question asks you to configure a dialog box by changing one or more elements.
• Drag and Drop Questions - This type of question asks you to drag source objects to appropriate targets within a work area.
• Build List and Reorder Questions - This type of question asks you to indicate the correct answer by building an answer list. In a Build List and Reorder question, you need to build a list by dragging the appropriate source objects to the answer list and then placing them in the correct order based on criteria defined in the question.
• Create a Tree Questions - This type of question asks you to create a tree structure. You indicate the correct answer by dragging source nodes to the correct locations in the answer tree. Nodes consist of text and a small icon.
• Windows Simulation Questions - This type of question asks you to indicate the correct answer by performing specific tasks such as configuring and installing network adapters or drivers, configuring and controlling access to files, and managing hardware devices. Many of the tasks that systems administrators and systems engineers perform can be presented more accurately in simulations than in most traditional exam question types.

You can get hands-on experience on new set of questions that are available in EasyCert 70-290 Exam Simulator. This will help you plan your study regime to ensure success.

Passing Score

Microsoft has normalized scoring for all MCP exams, so the same passing score applies to all exams. 700 is now the minimum passing score for all MCP exams. However, the maximum score (which used to top out at 1000) varies per exam, depending on the complexity of the skills measured.

Time Limit

The exam duration is 175 minutes with 45 questions. You will have plenty of time to answer the exam questions, so there is no need to rush. If you have spare time available, you can double check the questions and ensure that you have read them correctly and actually answered the question as intended.

Exam Result

Instead of reporting results based on major categories for exam objectives as it used to, Microsoft is now providing numerical scores and bar graphs for "skills clusters". Visually, the bars in the exam report show you how well you fare in each skills cluster. If bars that represent cluster scores are close to one end of the graph, they indicate stronger skills; bars near the other end indicate weaker skills. Please store your exam results in both paper and electronic format for later reference.

Microsoft Brings Back Second Shot Promo

Microsoft recently announced that they are bringing back the "2nd Shot" promotion, which runs from March 1st through May 31. What the heck is that you might ask?

Straight from the horses mouth, or in this case Microsoft's special Offers link, "If you register for this offer prior to taking any IT Pro or Developer exam you will get a free exam if you fail on your first try. This offer is available worldwide. As a participant, you will receive one free retake per exam you purchase and fail."

You have to register first, then take and fail any qualifying exam between the promotional dates

According to the published offer you MUST register before taking the first exam. IF you recently failed a Microsoft exam, you won't automatically be qualified for a free re-take. You'll have to register for the 2nd Shot promo, use the promo code when you sign up.

This offer is good at any exam delivery provider, such as Pearson VUE testing centers (www.vue.com) or Prometric, but be sure to tell them you are taking part in the Second Shot Promotion

70-290 Exam Review

Windows Server 2003 offers many new features and services beyond those found in Windows 2000 and the 70-290 exam reflects some of those differences. You'll find it similar to 70-218, Managing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Environment, where you were expected to prove your knowledge of AD, EFS, IIS, DNS and DCHP to name a few.

This new exam is similar in many respects as far as content, but includes additional topics such as the new DNS zone types offered in Windows Server 2003 and IAS and RRAS, which weren't as heavily tested in the Windows 2000 exam. 70-290 exam concentrates on using Windows Server 2003 and network management. You'll need to demonstrate expertise in the areas of permissions, profiles, system backup, disk management and a familiarity with new product features such as Automated System Recovery (ASR) and Volume Shadow Copy. You'll also need to dive into security from a Microsoft perspective to prepare for this exam, since it's become more of a focus for the product.

Read the full article: 70-290 Exam Review

30 free exam questions with EasyCert 70-290

JRK Software, a premier provider of certification Exam preparations solutions, today announced the launch of the full version of the Exam Simulation for Microsoft Exam 70-290, intended for MCSE, MCSA and MCDBA certifications.

The new full functioned practice exam provides a complete preparation package for a professional pursuing the prestigious Microsoft certification on the Windows Server 2003 track. The Exam 70-290 validates a professional’s ability to manage and maintain a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 environment.

EasyCert 70-290 supports all question item types - Drag and Drop, Hot Spot, Active Screen, Simulations, etc.

JRK Software provides an unconditional guarantee on all EasyCert products. A user can get his money back, if he does not pass the exam in a single attempt.

To discover the complete features of EasyCert 70-290, visit the product home page at http://www.jrksoftware.com/70-290.html.

JRK Software Releases New 70-270 Practice Exams

JRK Software has released MCSE 70-270 practice exam with its award winning EasyCert exam simulator.

http://www.sbwire.com/news/view.php?sid=4823

JRK Software, a leading IT certification exams preparation and training solutions provider, has released a new exam simulation, EasyCert 70-270, for the Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) 70-270 exam.

"The content of EasyCert 70-270 coincides with the changes that Microsoft has integrated into the new 70-270 exam," says Brian Vai, product marketing manager. "By utilizing EasyCert 70-270, MCSE candidates can measure their knowledge of current Windows XP trends to gauge their level of expertise before taking the actual exam."

The 70-270 exam is a core exam for MCSE 2003 certification. It tests a professional’s aptitude to install, configure, and maintain a Microsoft Windows XP Professional and is designed for candidates who operate in medium to very large computing environments that use Microsoft Windows XP Professional as a desktop operating in a network environment.

EasyCert 70-270 features four exams with 49 questions per exam. Each exam enables individuals to choose customized or randomized questions and provides detailed answer explanations with references to Microsoft study materials. EasyCert 70-270 also features a score report history that helps individuals pinpoint areas where improvement is needed, and like all EasyCert products, is backed by JRK Software's "Pass-the-Exam-the-First-Time Guarantee".

More realted links:
70-270 info at Setup32.com
Windows XP Pro exam at Cramsession.com
A good 70-270 study guide at Examblasters.com