Customer Reviews

Server+ Certification Training Guide

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Elton has put together an excellent study guide to prepare you for the Server+ exam. In addition to breaking down the exam objectives and thoroughly covering all of the topics, this is a good reference book to have even if you don't plan on taking the Server+ exam. A few of the things about this guide that I thought was especially good were:
-Excellent review of numerous concepts, such as: Intel processors, system buses, RAM types, SCSI, tape backup technologies, Ethernet, & RAID arrays.

-Exam Tips are listed throughout the text to show the items that you should focus on for the exam.
-Step-by-step procedures are provided for many hardware procedures.
-Many good references to online resources.
This study guide has two more things that are especially helpful in preparing for the Server+ exam; Fast Facts & a 150 question practice exam (on the included CD).
Well done Elton.

I was told at work that they wanted me to evaluate the Server+ cert. They want all of our techs to have server+, and Network plus. They already require us to be A+ prior to being hired. Well I studied for 6 weeks, I used this book and the Microsoft Server+ book, as my key manuals. I believe that this book is real good and worth the buy, BUT this should be teamed up with another book. The server+ test is not like the A+ test, Its all Troubleshooting and such, there are very few fact questions. I rely on my manuals for important info and This one has it (NOT ALL but 75%). What really made me UNhappy was the test banks BLOWS. New riders A+ book was awsome with the test Bank. I had to purchase 2 additional test banks that really helped me perpare for HOW the test was. Please dont rely on this book for everything, but I do love New riders. I used them for A+ and passed both OS and Core on first shot with only that book. Now Im useing thier Net+ book and will be using thier MCSE books. well writen and informative. To study for this test you will need this book, the microsoft book, alittle web searching and additional Test banks, transcenders and prometric. This is what I used and I passed first try. I have heard alot of others use alot of other books and have failed. You tell me??? (sorry too long 3 stars due to incomplete test bank, which is what we all need)

Too often an author writes to fill up space. This is not the case with the Server+ Certification Training Guide.

Each chapter explains in just enough detail to cover the subject. Elton has done a wonderful job in giving just enough information about the additional concepts mentioned in a chapter to help the reader understand how that information applies to the current subject without sidetracking the reader. References to other chapters are included which explain the additional concepts in their own chapter but doesn't require the reader to leapfrog about the text to get a full understanding of the current subject.

I appreciate the fact that Web based references are noted at the point at which they are most important instead of in an Appendix at the end of the book. I feel that this allows the reader to complete their knowledge of a given subject before moving to the next subject.

Important notes, informative addendums, and exam highlights are notated in sidebars to help the reader and refrains from becoming cluttered.

Hats off to the Editor as well. Virtually no spelling or grammatical errors which is very unusual for a book of this size and content. I only noticed 1 graphical error where the `Crossover cable pin-out wire color' (right graphic) is a copy of the `Straight-through cable pin-out wire color' (right graphic). But the correct graphic is easily determined by the reader from the rest of the information.

The book is broken into 3 sections; Exam Preparation, Final Review, and Appendices. The Final Review is in the form of an Outline based on the Test Objectives of the Exam and addresses each of the objectives with a one to three sentence answer.

The CD includes a sample Exam but is just icing on the cake. I would recommend this book to everyone who is interested in achieving his or her Server+ certification, or anyone currently interested in the industry.

William A. Kerr II
MCT, MCSE NT, MCSE+I, MCSE 2000, Network+, A+, and now Server+

I found the Server+ Certification Training Guide to be a good read. Mr. Jernigan's experience really shows covering more than just "how to pass the Server+ exam". I really like the supplemental coverage of hardware! In addition to addressing the Server+ exam objectives, this book is loaded with good practical information and is one I'll keep for reference. I found the numerous other resources (websites and books) throughout the book to be very helpful as well. All in all, I like the presentation of what can be (and frequently is in many other books) very dry reading. I give it a thumbs up!

I first met Elton just over 2 years ago. I had decided to change careers and pursue my MCSE. When researching who in the area might be the best teacher, Elton's name was at the top of the list. I was not disappointed. Elton brought to the classroom a great mix of real world experience, a commanding knowledge of the subject matter and solid teaching skills. A combination that is all too rare in the computer certification field.

Elton brings this same combination to the Server+ Certification Training Guide. The book is well organized and easy to read. Terminology is thoroughly explained without the tedium that most computer books employ. The concepts are all related back to Server+ exam goals and each is laced with real world insight. It covers the latest technology including NAS and SAN storage as well as all the common NOS from Microsoft to Linux.

Readers beware however. The Server+ exam targets network personnel with 18 to 24 months of experience. Given the breadth and scope of the exam requirements, much less and you will hard pressed to grasp it all. My only negative is with the exam itself. CompTIA continues to try to be too broad in their objectives. The exam covers every common NOS including Unix. It is unrealistic to expect anyone to gain that broad knowledge in the 24 months target audience.

***** 5 Stars to Elton
**** 4 Stars to CompTIA

Elton Jernigan's Server+ Certification guide was written with the intent to present the material needed to pass the CompTIA Server+ certification. Though the breadth of the material needed to be competent to pass the exam is quite large, my hope in purchasing this book was to at least cover the exam objectives enough to be able to have a fighting chance against the bank of questions presented. I'm A+, Net+, MCP and have over two years of server support experience in the Windows environment.

Though I should have known better than to base my studies on a single book, I felt that my experience plus a good overview of the technologies involved should allow me to pass this test.

I took the test today and failed it by one point. You will not, I repeat not, be able to pass this test with the knowledge presented in this book. Where this book presents beginner's level knowledge of the Server+ objectives, the actual test needs an intermediate or better understanding of hardware and multi-vendor network operating systems.

The exam was intermediate difficulty and you will not pass with this book alone. I'll retest and spend another $207 but with a more in-depth study of the material.

2-stars for at least covering the basics of the objectives.

Ready to take the server+ exam and want a book to go over the exam objectives to make sure you have the best chance of passing the exam first time? Then you might want to grab a copy of this book. It is also tailored made for the classroom training environment.

Jernigan had taken the book into 8 parts with part1 covering network types, server roles, buses, memory and hardware. Part 2 works on the installation and 3 is configuration including RADI 0, 1, & 5. Although RAID 4 should have been included as well.

Part 4 is the upgrading and parts 5 is proactive maintenance followed up with part 6 taking on the server environmental areas. Part 7 deals directly with troubleshooting and lastly part 8 covers the disaster recovery.

Each section has review questions and exercise, the cd included uses the ExamGear test software which can be setup in several testing formats. Overall this book seems to everything covered.

This book is better than some of the other offerings but still falls short in a number of areas namely accuracy and real-world relevance. For the test, you will need more than just this

Not bad but could be better. I found this book did
not provide me with any good tips on what to expect on the exam. I found the
practice questions in this book were not like the ones on the actual exam.
SO beware! A few technical errors need to be fixed as well. The book is not
bad but I would of expected better from Exam Gear!

I am was not to familiar with Exam Gear since they are not very popular with their certification books. I found this book very dry, and I had to force myself to read it. I think there should of been more Server+ exam info since this is a certification book. A few technical error were present that really threw me off.