Networking Essentials: MCSE Self-Paced Kit (Microsoft Training Product) [Paperback]

Microsoft Press (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1997 | ISBN-10: 157231527X | ISBN-13: 978-1572315273 | Edition: 2nd

Newly updated for Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, this kit is designed to provide a general understanding of the technical concepts and components of the network (LAN) environment. It also prepares readers to successfully complete the corresponding Microsoft Certified Professional exam on networking.

Product Details

• Paperback: 800 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press; 2nd edition (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157231527X
• ISBN-13: 978-1572315273
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.5 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #779,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good text but inadequate for test preparation, December 29, 1999

By 

Gary Wall - See all my reviews

This review is from: Networking Essentials: MCSE Self-Paced Kit (Microsoft Training Product) (Paperback)

I think this book was written by a committee.

First, though generally well written, the text has its share of typos and several badly edited paragraphs. I had to read some particularly confusing passages way too many times to understand what the writers were getting at.

Second, there are question and answer sections after each section - that's good - but they were apparently written by a technical writer with limited knowledge of the material - that's bad. Answering the fill-in-the-blank questions turns into little more than hunting for random sentences in the text.

Third, the book is really out of date; does anybody on the Internet still use "Gopher?"

Despite these problems, I do recommend this book as a brief introduction to network concepts. But I cannot recommend it as study material for Microsoft's Networking Essentials exam; it just isn't complete.

Going by memory here, one question on the exam asked for the definitions of NDIS and ODI. These are briefly mentioned in the glossary at the back of the book, but nowhere in the general text. Another rather lengthy scenario question dealt with broadcast storms on a network that contains brouters. The text devotes exactly 11 small sentences to brouters and, of course, no mention of how to solve the particular problem given on the exam (turn off bridging).

I feel sorry for those who would rely on this book to pass the exam.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Lame as lame can be, November 23, 1999

By 

Jim F "justplainjim" (Bethesda, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Networking Essentials: MCSE Self-Paced Kit (Microsoft Training Product) (Paperback)

This book is unbelievably poor. Even for complete newbies, it's ploddingly elementary, disorganized and repetitive. And if you're already in the biz and looking to brush up for the exam, it will make you nuts. The review questions are matching or fill-in-the-blank, whereas the MS questions are generally multiple choice. The so-called labs and demos on the CD-ROM are comically useless. If you're a newbie, try Sybex. If you already pretty much know the real stuff and just want to get ready for the exam, get O'Reilly's MCSE: The Core Exams in a Nutshell.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Passed with 1000, March 15, 2000

By 

JES (USA, Missouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Networking Essentials: MCSE Self-Paced Kit (Microsoft Training Product) (Paperback)

This book provides a good overview. I used this book and the MCSE Core Exams in a Nutshell and passed the test the first time. The book is easy to read and understand, with good chapter questions for review. The text provides the vast majority of the information to pass the test in a straight forward manner. I found the book to be quite accurate. The book could have used a few more Situation Scenarios. If you're looking for a highly in depth book about networking this is a good start. However, if you're looking to pass the EXAM, buy the book.