Customer Reviews

CLP Fast Track: Lotus Notes/Domino 5 System Administration

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is a good, efficient, short book for CLP test prep IF you have 1) experience running Lotus Notes, and 2) exposure to a good comprehensive R5 reference materials (I like the IBM redbooks and Kirkland's Domino System Administration, also published by New Rider's, and easily related to this book).

The material in this book is organized according to the three tests needed to gain CLP certification, and reads like very good classroom notes. I used this book sitting in front of my Domino Administrator console (so that I could review the material outlined), and with more comprhensive books at hand (when I wanted discussion of a topic, which this book avoids). This combination helped me pass the tests, and also kept the handful problems in the book from causing much of a problem. (The problems were of normal test prep variety: a few typos, explanations so compressed as to be incorrect, and unintended echoing of material from another contributor's section.)

There are practice tests in the back.

(ASIDE: I am not 1 years old, but 25 instead!)

Since this was the only book I had found that was small enough and compact to read while travelling, I figured I'd buy it. After reading and studying all the chapters in the first part twice (for exam 520) and did the practice exam at the end of the book, I went and wrote the test.

I passed (barely) with a 72 (70 is the pass) and not because of the book, but because of using Domino for 7 months at work! To say it quite simply, the book is TERRIBLE for the actual content and test questions in the exam. Furthermore, the practice questions at the end of the book not only had some errors in the answers but they didn't even come close to the actual test questions. Also, the book seems to have been made directly from the Help files in Domino Administrator so I ended up reading the Help files more than the actual book! For the price you pay for this book, it's not worth it as a test prep. For the real world though, it's not bad as a quick reference book since it explains fairly well how to monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot the Domino system, but then again, you have the Help files for free!

I bought this book with the intention of getting a feel for what to study for the test, but I was wrong. The test has a lot of web questions involving users (anonymous users and users in the Directory) accessing Domino applications from the web, questions on users accessing databases and files, ACLs on running agents on databases and files. Also, there were some questions on replication and ACLs needed for various situations. The book doesn't focus very much on these topics. Instead it gives a broad approach on monitoring, maintaining, and troubleshooting Domino servers and users.

All-in-all, I don't recommend this book if you plan on preparing for the test. If you have three computers, setup two Domino servers (to practise replication) and one with Lotus Notes and Domino Administrator installed. Also, make sure you setup one of the servers with the HTTP task (web server) and practise accessing Domino applications via a browser using Anonymous and User access with different rights and roles assigned to the user on the application. Practise this in conjunction with using the Help files and you should pass the test.

I loved the format of the book and the way it integrated with the application. Even the way it integrates with the Lotus Exam Guide (WORD TO WORD!!). Bonus! you might think since everything that is in the book is clear and precise and right (except the answer to question 33 in the 520 test). BUT!!

The surprise comes with the real exam. Out of 40 questions, I can honestly say that for 10 of them I had NO Idea what they were talking about(they were NOT covered in the book) and 15 were WEB oriented (which is barely covered in the book). The format of the demo exam is NOT anywhere near what you will have to face at the real test.

My suggestion, Get 4 computers, this book and the whole bunch of Lotus Redbook, build your own network and make SURE you know what is the minimum permission for EVERYTHING!

I passed the first exam (520) with an 87, but the fact that this is the only cram book available for R5 CLS/CLP certification out there left me with little choice but to buy it. The price for the book is expensive for a cram book and the material is taken literally word-for-word from the official Lotus Notes R5 Doc Pack Yellow Books. It seems as though the same three authors of this book wrote the Yellow Books. If you have the Yellow books, don't bother buying this book. Instead go to the Lotus site, jot down the testing objectives, and read the parts of the books that map to the objectives. If you don't have the Yellow Books, then the book is acceptable in pointing out the main points but the material is not very well mapped to the actual test. You better have lots of practice with Domino and read the Notes Help files too(also very similar to the Yellow Books) before taking the test.

I agree with all the folks here, this book lacks in most areas covered by the test. I just finished the 520 (passed, but close) and very little of the test is covered in the book. I agree that the book does have error within itself and a few typos (DomLog.nsf). The test pounds ACL's and web access, where the book barely touches it. On a positive side the book does provide an individual a working vocabulary for basic Lotus principals and If you would like to talk the talk this book will do (there are no other books out there) but if you want to walk the walk you better dig in deep and get some yellow and red books (a number of them can be downloaded). I disagree with the other folks with the other folks when they say you need a bunch of computers to set up a test lab. One client and one "server" machine will do just set up a couple partitioned installs (that's on the test too). The BrainBuzz from Cramsession also fails to cover the web ACL's in any depth, so that isn't much help (it's like a mini copy of this book). If you are looking for an awesome admin book I would recommend Rob Kirkland's Domino System Administration. It's not a test guide but he knows Domino.

Best of luck

In all of the exams I have taken (520, 521, 522, the three R4 CLP exams and 6 MCSE exams, 522 is the only one I did not pass the first time out. It is also the only time I decided to use one study source -- this book. That's on me, but the fact is that this book doesn't come close to preparing you for the 522 exam. After reading this book thoroughly and only missing two question in the practice exam, I was asked questions on the real exam that I never imagined would be asked. Again, that's my fault, but don't rely on this book.

I've been working with Lotus Notes/Domino for 4 years. This book is definitely only for experienced admins. Beginners using this book will be frustrated and fail tests. IMO it's a good review of some of the topics, a "skimming over" the materials that you need to know. For more intensive study I recommend the red/yellow books and practice tests -- this book's practice tests are useless, and should be in application on a CD, not listed on paper in the book. Also, there were many errors in the book (you don't use HTTP on Domino to let a web browser serve POP mail, as is stated several times in the book, as an example).

You will probably get more confused after using this study guide. The sections are disorganized, and has tons of errors. The sample exams are too easy. I can't believe that this study guide was written by certified people. Some of the material are copied from notes help database.

Be very careful when using this book!

The book contains tons of typos that repeat over and over again (A spell/grammar check would have helped this book), some paragraphs don't make sense at all and others describe two contradictory ideas right it the same line.

Look out for the word DO where DON'T was intended to be (and the other way around) because they change completely the meaning of a sentence and there are at least 3 that I remember (looks like the paragraph was copy/pasted and just the title was changed... not a very good way of writing a serious book).

I would say that the book is helpful if you already have a good knowledge of Domino and are reading it just to fill out some voids, in this case you would be able to catch up the typos and most importantly the contradictions and learn from them. Do not use it if you don't have already a good basis because it will completely mislead and confuse you.

The only reason the book is not a complete waste of time/money is because it does provide some good information and tips that may help during the exam.

Good luck!

Poor execution of an excellent concept. This would be a most excellent book if someone took the time to carefully edit it. It starts out great/almost flawless, and then quickly fades. The typos are numerous. Many explanations are not clearly worded. I just took a practice test and, looking at the answer key, found three instances were the letter answer specified did not match the explanation given (yet more typos.)
Having said all that, this book is my constant companion. It is helping me focus on what I need to pass the test. It does take extra time to verify what is written in the book - and to look up key words left out here and there (like what database does one need "author" access in - is it the cert log or the Dom Dir? - or the title/file name of the database containing the documents they are talking about.) I do not know of any other books that focus on the test like this one, so just have patience and realize the book is sometimes wrong/contradictory.