Network+ Guide to Networks

by Tamara Dean

Knowing how to install, configure, and troubleshoot a computer network is a highly marketable and exciting skill. This book first introduces the fundamental building blocks that form a modern network, such as protocols, topologies, hardware, and network operating systems. It then provides in-depth coverage of the most important concepts in contemporary networking, such as TCP/IP, Ethernet, wireless transmission, and security. After reading the book and completing the end-of-chapter exercises, you will be prepared to select the best network design, hardware, and software for your environment. You will also have the skills to build a network from scratch and maintain, upgrade, and troubleshoot an existing network. Finally, you will be well prepared to pass CompTIA�s (the Computing Technology Industry Association�s) Network+ certification exam. This book explains concepts logically and in a clear, approachable style. In addition, concepts are reinforced by real-world examples of networking issues from a professional�s standpoint. Each chapter opens with an On the Job story from a network engineer. These real-world examples, along with Hands-on Projects and Case Projects in each chapter, make this book a practical learning tool. The numerous tables and illustrations, along with the glossaries, appendices, and study questions make the book a valuable reference for any networking professional

Genres: Reference, Computers, Nonfiction, Technology, Textbooks

1024 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1999

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt constant information overload from this book. I may have some residual negative feelings towards it because I had a horrible, rambling, out-of-date professor and I soon discovered I was really not into networking, BUT I do remember this book having tooonnsss of information on every minuscule aspect of networking. I'm not sure all of it was necessary, but I'll let the networking enthusiasts decide.

[Summer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I HATED this class. It may not have been so bad if I had taken it in person, but all I.T. classes at my school are either at night or online. So I opted for online, and discovered that reading about I.T. without any hands-on is my kryptonite. I have since changed majors, all due this class! I still managed to get an A in it though, thankfully.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is officially approved courseware for the CompTIA Network+ exam. It has been approved also by the CSSIA (Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance). The book is very comprehensive. But as all textbooks go it has both strengths and weaknesses. In this review I will try to highlight some of both.

Like most computer industry books, this one comes with a supplemental CD. That CD includes the Certblaster and MeasureUP self-test software and other files the student will find useful.

Each chapter begins with a highlight box that will outline what will be covered in the chapters. Then it includes a letter or story from someone working in the industry. At first these seemed a little cheesy, but as I moved further and further into the book I realized that they were a great source for a feel for the material in the real world, and not just in the classroom or self-study. On the side of the pages are some green bars; these bars highlight specific information you are required to know for the CompTIA exam, and which exam objective they are part of.

One of the greatest strengths is that each chapter ends with a mini glossary of key terms or new terms from that chapter. There is also a complete glossary of all of these terms at the back of the book. Then at each chapter's end there is a series of review questions - multiple choice questions much like those found in self-test software and on the actual exam. Finally, each chapter has a series of hands-on projects. Each project gets progressively more difficult.

The greatest strength of this book is that it has all-encompassing hardware, software, different OS's. The weakness is that it is a lot of material packed very densely into nearly a thousand pages. When I did the school program, we did this book in 3 weeks. For most it was a little overwhelming.

If you want to write the CompTIA Network+ exam, this is a great book to help get you there. Pay special attention to the Novell Netware sections. There were a lot of questions on the exam about those. And Good Luck!

[Randy Daugherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book of course is a text book and as some have pointed out full of a lot of information and in depth data on networks. Dean lays it out in a nice and well ordered fashion, using real world situations when it comes to hands on and case study projects.
It does well on helping prepare you for the Network + certification exam and I would say gives you about 70% on the information needed in some objectives and close to 90% in others, I judge this based on the practice exams and other study material I used in preparing of the certification exam while taking this course.
It helped that I had an instructor that at least tried to make it interesting though she came up short on the amount of information we would need to retain to do well on the exam, all the little things like the different wireless acronyms and such but the book does lay it all out and gives suggestions on taking the Certification exam if that is the path your on.
This version of the book is slightly out dated but was still worth the effort and one I will use for reference going forward.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The material was well organized and presented. It does an adequate job preparing you for the Network+ test. I'd say it gets you about 80% of the way to being completely test ready. My biggest distraction was how every personal pronoun was in the female gender. The only exception I remember was when talking about an intruder on your network, then the pronoun "he" was used. Very odd.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

It does it's job, but the information isn't presented in a fashion that helps you retain the information. It's dense text, little white space, and a bunch of terms and facts you have to memorize. They are organized and presented in a good order.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

School text

[Dae · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh hell no. This class was torture and this book is best used to kill bugs or to throw at people.