Obtaining Your PMP Certification: A PMP 4th Edition Study Plan – Part III

November 9, 2009 at 4:52 pm | In PMI | Leave a Comment
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Let’s review what we’ve covered so far. (Here are links to Part 1 and Part 2.)

There are six objectives covered in the PMP exam:

  • Initiating
  • Planning
  • Executing
  • Monitoring and Controlling
  • Closing
  • Professional and Social Responsibility

I covered the Initiating process group in Part I and the Planning process group in Part II. But remember, I am just highlighting the changes in the PMBOK 4th Edition as compared to the PMBOK 3rd Edition.

And now on to the Executing process group.

Process Group Three: Executing

In the PMBOK Third Edition, the Executing phase had six processes, but there are eight processes in the PMBOK Fourth Edition. The Manage Project Team process moved from the Monitoring and Controlling phase. The Manage Stakeholders process moved from the Monitoring and Controlling phase and was renamed the Manage Stakeholder Expectations process. The Request Seller Responses and Select Sellers processes were consolidated into a new process called Conduct Procurements.

The changes to the Direct and Manage Project Execution process are in Table 7. Continue reading Obtaining Your PMP Certification: A PMP 4th Edition Study Plan – Part III…

Obtaining Your PMP Certification: A PMP 4th Edition Study Plan – Part II

October 28, 2009 at 8:54 am | In PMI, Study hints | Leave a Comment
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As I stated in Part 1 of my PMP study plan, there are six objectives covered in the PMP exam:

  • Initiating
  • Planning
  • Executing
  • Monitoring and Controlling
  • Closing
  • Professional and Social Responsibility

In this installment, I’ll cover the Planning process group. (But remember: this overview only highlights the changes from 3rd Edition PMBOK to 4th Edition.)

Process Group Two: Planning

In the PMBOK 3rd Edition, the Planning phase had 21 processes. In the PMBOK 4th Edition, it has 20 processes. Process names were changed, processes were consolidated, and one process was replaced completely. The Planning phase processes in the PMBOK 4th Edition are shown in Table 1. Continue reading Obtaining Your PMP Certification: A PMP 4th Edition Study Plan – Part II…

CompTIA’s N10-004 Network+ 2009 – References Abound

October 13, 2009 at 9:58 am | In CompTIA | Leave a Comment
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Several months ago, I blogged about CompTIA’s new Network+ test, N10-004. At that time, I was lamenting the fact that there were no published references for the Network+ test. I was literally spending hours searching the Internet for help. I included links to some of the more helpful sites in my post, but hoped that a more comprehensive reference would be released soon.

Well, here it is October already, so I thought I’d do a little informative update about the references now available.  I performed a search at Amazon.com for Network+ 2009 books. I received 26 results. Included in this list were several Sybex books, a few Todd Lammle books, a couple of Mike Myers books, and other authors. If you are looking for a good study reference, I would suggest paying attention to the length of the book and to the reviews. As for the length, I hate to say “the longer the better.” But I definitely wouldn’t purchase a book that was considerably shorter than the others. The reviews can be very insightful, particularly if there are a few bad reviews.

Now, what would I choose? Well, I personally would probably purchase a Mike Myers or Todd Lammle book. I have experience with their material and have found that they are fairly thorough. One of Mike Myers’ books is over 700 pages, and one of Todd Lammle’s books is over 800 pages. That should keep you busy for quite a while.

And don’t forget to purchase Transcender’s Cert-N10-004 practice test. The questions are great, and the tutorials/explanations are out of this world! Take it from me, the always objective and über-talented author of said practice test.

Also, if you have been previously certified in Network+, there is a Bridge exam that only covers the new topics. The Bridge exam is ONLY available to Network+ certified professionals. And you guessed it, the aforementioned über-talented author of the Network+ practice exam has also put together a practice test for the Bridge (Cert-BR0-002) — you know, in my spare time.

Look for an upcoming post where I discuss answers to the Network+ topics that seem to be tripping our customers up (based on their comments to us).

-Robin

Putting CatOS commands on our Cisco practice tests: the method to our madness

October 8, 2009 at 10:48 am | In Cisco | Leave a Comment
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CatOS commands on the CCNA – Tell me it ain’t so!!

Several of the Transcender Cisco practice tests, including 640-802 and 642-812, include some Catalyst OS command questions as well as the standard Cisco IOS. At least once a week I get emails from customers taking me to task over this issue and asking why we have “deprecated commands” on our current tests. Many customers have the impression that because Cisco is phasing out the Catalyst operating system on its switches, there is no need to study CatOS commands for the exams. Adding fuel to this fire, many popular Cisco study guides omit any information on CatOS commands.

So I’d like to address this issue and explain the reasons why we have deliberately chosen to leave a small percentage of CatOS commands in our practice tests; yes, even the most recent practice tests:

  1. Out there in the real world, there are a lot of older switches still in production environments running the Catalyst OS, and you may well encounter them in your job.
  2. Cisco still supports the Catalyst OS, and will continue to support it until January 2013 (see this End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Catalyst OS Release 8.x).
  3. If you look at the stated objectives for the CCNA and CCNP exams,  you will notice that it does not say “IOS only” anywhere. In fact, at the top of each list of exam objectives, you’ll see this disclaimer:

The following information provides general guidelines for the content likely to be included on the exam. However, other related topics may also appear on any specific delivery of the exam. In order to better reflect the contents of the exam and for clarity purposes the guidelines below may change at any time without notice.

Given that Cisco exams have a huge question pool, we think it may be possible to encounter a Catalyst OS-related question, or a question that includes a CatOS command as a distractor (wrong answer), on a current exam. Therefore we will continue to include some CatOS commands on the practice test until Cisco definitively says “No more.”

CatOS commands – all the info that you’re likely to need.

I’ll start with some information about the two OS systems.

CatOS

Configuration changes in the CatOS software are written to NVRAM immediately after a change is made. No intervention by the user is required.

All configurations in CatOS are done via a set command sequence executed from the enabled-mode prompt. Issuing the clear command from the same prompt will erase a particular command.

IOS

In contrast, IOS does not save configuration changes to NVRAM unless the copy run start (or write memory) command is executed. If the configuration is not explicitly saved, any changes to the configuration will be lost should the system be reloaded.

All command-line configuration in IOS (whether on the Supervisor or the MSFC) is done from the configuration mode, commonly known as “config-t”.

Commands can be removed with the no or default form of the original command.

Below is a comparison of the common commands on user ports.

OS Command Comparison Chart

This list is provided just to give you a flavor for the differences in the two command sets. For more information use the links below:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps700/products_tech_note09186a008010e9d5.shtml
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst4000/6.3and6.4/command/reference/cr_toc.html

Happy CATting,

Troy McMillan

Don’t Fear The Certification, Part I

July 9, 2009 at 4:08 pm | In Certification Paths, Microsoft, Study hints | Leave a Comment
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…or, How I learned to stop worrying about certification and break down the test.

Whether you have been a network administrator or a developer for many years, or you’re a newbie just recently turned to the dark side, certification is a vital addition to your professional portfolio. Whether you are currently employed or seeking new opportunities, being certified is better than not being certified. (After all, what developer would turn down an excuse to gloat over his fellow coders in the corporate trenches?)

You’ve heard this argument before, so I won’t go into all of the details here. Let’s assume, for a moment, that certification is your goal. In my next few posts, I’m going to go over how to get certified. Since I’m a Microsoft test prep developer, some of my examples are going to be more code-specific. However, these tips can apply to anyone who plans to take any Microsoft certification test.

There is certainly no single technique that works for everyone. Some developers I know prefer taking exams cold turkey, just to prove how much of a guru they are. Sure, they strain their eyes, trying to mentally compile each line of code and shift uncomfortably in their seats, making more contortions than a Cirque Du Soleil act, but for them, it works.

I know other developers who grab the exam objectives and study everything that vaguely relates to those topics. Sure, they run the risk of learning too much about something not covered by the exam (not to mention a possible cerebral hemorrhage) , but for them, it works.

Let me be clear: I am not one of these developers, and there is no reason for me to suggest either technique. To me, ultimately, studying for a certification exam is no different than deciphering someone else’s code. First, you need to get a bird’s eye view of what it does, understand how its inner components interact, and finally, drill down into the implementation details function by function. 

The mistake most test-takers make is to assume that an exam looms above them in some monolithic scale that cannot be understood by mortal men. Although the question content and grading mechanisms can be convoluted, the exam itself must conform to a specific format, and can only evaluate a certain level of skills.

Any good study plan should include the following steps:

  • Use Microsoft Learning’s Web site to plot your path. For example,
    http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-vstudio.aspx
  • View the exam’s Web page. For example, the exam Web page for the 70-536 exam is http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-536. 
  • Pay attention first to the Skills Measured tab. In this section, the objectives are broken down by topic and the percentages (how many questions relate to a given topic) are available for most exams.
  • Next, view the content of the Preparation Materials tab. Here you’ll find available training and other online resources.  If any topic feels unfamiliar to you here, you should definitely bulk up on it now before you see it on the exam.
  • Schedule the exam. I cannot emphasize this enough as part of your study procedure, and NOT the end result. If you don’t schedule an exam before you begin your studying, you may never take it. Having a fixed date in mind helps give your studying a timeline. You can always reschedule with Prometric the day before you take it if something comes up at the last minute. But having a set deadline will provide more motivation than not having one.
  • Create a practice test (or use an existing one). The only way to do something is to practice. You can read about riding a bike, but you will never know whether you can ride it until you try. That means you need to take the test multiple times, until you feel confident with both the content and style of the exam. Even if you have a Transcender practice test, you might find it helpful to try to create a few questions on your own. Try to think like the exam developer(s) and match their style. Not only will this help get your head around the exam content, but also determine which study areas you need to revisit.
  • Create flash cards (or use ours). Many concepts and code techniques just need to be in your head, so that you can reserve your thinking for advanced concepts, not trying to unearth some forgotten terminology. Flash cards are perfect for memorization. As far as code is concerned, remember although there is more than technique, usually there is one technique that is the most efficient. Focus on common practice, not nuance.

Now that the preparation is complete, you need to get that certification. In my next post, I’ll go over some techniques to use while taking the exam, so that you won’t just pass the exam, but enjoy it! Well, at least make it less painful than it usually is.

Troy’s Survival Guide for the CCNA Exam

May 22, 2009 at 12:59 pm | In Cisco | Leave a Comment
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Often, in the process of addressing customer issues with the CCNA exams, I’ll have customers ask me, “What is the best way to study for the CCNA exam?” When I was a full-time trainer I also heard that question many times. It takes me back to when I was certification newbie (when dinosaurs roamed the earth) and I tackled this beast called the CCNA. I took myself from absolute Cisco knucklehead to certified Cisco knucklehead. I’d like to share some of the things I learned the hard way, some of my own best advice, and some really sound advice I have gathered from others.

First: Know what you’re getting into.

The exam can be digested in two different ways:

  • Single exam, the 640-802
  • Two exams, the 640-816 and 640-822

If you are a newbie to Cisco, I highly recommend the two-exam attack. It will cost more ($250.00 for both 640-816 and 640-822 at $125.00 each, versus $150.00 for 640-802) but the material is broken into two parts and much easier to digest. I would only advise an experienced Cisco technician who is uncertified to take the 640-802.

The material is not rocket science, but you do need some kind of IT background before you start this. I would suggest getting something like CompTIA’s Network + certification under my belt first. That exam covers networking, IP addressing, subnetting, and the OSI model. These topics are about half the battle for the CCNA, so if you have that background covered, you’re ahead of the game.

Second: Mr. Natural says, Use the right tool for the job.

Collect the right resources. You don’t want to be wasting time with books and study materials that cause you to

  • Not learn the right stuff, or
  • Learn a bunch of stuff you don’t need for the exam (or in real life).

I have two suggestions for books. The first is an easier read than the Cisco Press book and I think if you are new that’s what you need.

CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide: Exam 640-802, 6th Edition by Todd Lammle. (Mr. Lammle didn’t pay me for this endorsement, and I don’t get a kickback on his book sales.) It’s available in paperback from Sybex and clocks in at 1008 pages.

Pros: This book covers all the material for both exams, and is easy to read and understand.

Cons: I do have one complaint with this book. The quizzes and assessments that come with the book are NOT HARD ENOUGH. There’s nothing worse than feeling prepared for an exam and finding out the hard way that you aren’t.

So, after you read this book and can answer all the questions and assessments you need to move up one level to the Cisco Press books. These books are not as easy to read, but after going through Todd’s book you should be ready for it. There are two books, one for each exam, and the book information is shown below:

Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Part 1 (ICND1): ICND Exam 640-822, 2nd Edition

Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Part 2 (ICND2): ICND Exam 640-816, 3rd Edition

When you read these books, pay special attention to the quizzes and assessments. Make sure that you can answer them all and, more importantly, understand the answers.

Third: Get your hands dirty!

Get some hands-on! This used to be the hard part. Back when I was studying, I went on Bbay and spent about $1500.00 to buy some old routers and switches (the ones they told me to buy in the Cisco book) so I could do the labs in the book. Then I set them up and practiced and practiced. There are other options now. Allow me to blow our horn, please. We have a new product that would have really saved me some money: The KaplanIT Cisco CCNA simulator (see the blog entitled Finally! A product to help me practice for the Cisco CCNA without buying routers and switches!). With this product that installs on your PC you can practice anything in the books. EVEN BETTER, it comes with a PDF that holds a set of exercises that test the exact skills you need for the exam. But as they say in the 12-step ads, “If you don’t get help from us, get help somewhere.” In other words, get some routers and switches or another simulator before tackling the exams. You will definitely be required to perform some configurations and do some troubleshooting on routers and switches on the exam, so be ready!

Fourth: Don’t make rookie mistakes.

Be organized. Create a study plan that has time limits and target finish date (and I don’t mean “when I get to it” – I mean specific days and weeks).

This study plan must have a target test date. Even if you don’t make the target, you’ll do better than if you don’t have one. There should be daily, weekly and monthly goals describing where you want to be. You should be constantly monitoring your progress so you know when you are behind.

Know your study style. Some people need to be somewhere totally quiet to study. Others (like me) can study in a rock concert. If you need quiet, go to a library or something. Also pick the time of day that is best for you. I do better in the morning when I’m all jacked up on coffee. Do what works for you, not me.

While self study can work for some, if you need it, take a class. Nothing beats having a real human being to ask when something doesn’t make sense. There are both technical colleges and Cisco academies that teach this will real equipment. If you are a “learn by doing” type of person this may be the best for you.

Cisco Academy information is here.

Fifth: Get a good practice test!

The purpose of an exam-focused practice test, rather than a general knowledge-based test, is that it focuses your learning on the topics most likely to appear on the exam. If the practice test is done well, it will also present the questions to you in the same way they will be presented on the exam. I cannot emphasize how important that is! Half of the battle is knowing how Cisco is going test you on a concept. The practice test should also contain detailed explanations that describe why the incorrect answers are incorrect and in what situations those answers would be correct.

Under NO circumstances should your practice exam contain the same questions you will see on the exam (brain dumps, cheat sheets). Not only are these in violation of the Geek honor code, but they can get you booted from the IT world if you get caught. And after all, if you use those and don’t actually learn the material, how satisfying can that be? (Not to mention you’ll probably get fired on your first job for not knowing what you’re doing.)

Can I make a crass and self-promoting suggestion? Get Transcender tests. It covers all the bases. And while you’re at it, get the CCNA simulator as well. Arm yourself with books, practice test and simulator, and go forth and conquer your certification!

–Troy McMillan

A nifty study aid for the 77-602 MCAS: Using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 exam

September 16, 2008 at 10:40 am | In Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
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I’ve registered for the Microsoft at Work RSS feeds. I’ve learned a few useful tricks and have gotten product updates, so I actually find them to be beneficial. I look at the RSS feed headers every few weeks and if something looks interesting, I’ll click and read.

I recently saw a tip that I thought would benefit anyone preparing for the MCAS: Using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 exam. This article is from 2007, but its usefulness hasn’t expired. It highlights three Excel features and provides clear and concise steps to use them. If you’re studying for the 77-602 exam (or if you just want to see three cool Excel tricks), click this link and check them out.

EDIT: So I asked Josh (codeguru) to read this post. I was expecting him to be wowed, but instead he taught me an important blog priniciple. He said that I needed to bring something personal to the post, and not just repost a link; this separates the content bloggers from the repost monkeys. (The give and take of constructive feedback is one of my favorite things about this team. I may have given a snarky reply because we have that kind of spirit too, but I did ultimately take his advice.)

So, personal confession time. One of these three tips has to do with Pivot Tables. I think PivotTables separate the casual users from the Power Users. This was the most difficult objective for me when I took the MCAS, and on my score report, this was my lowest score. If I had to study all over again, I would focus more time on this objective so I could reduce the amount of time I spent on the questions regarding PivotTables.

I looked for some resources that I thought would answer both the most basic and difficult questions about PivotTables. This is what I found:

Heck, I might just surprise my boss with a shiny new PivotTable in our next meeting.

The secret path to knowledge (and a better exam experience)

July 30, 2008 at 5:42 pm | In Study hints | 1 Comment
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When you click the “About This Exam” button in the Transcender test engine, you get a little boilerplate popup window. I think we’ve all grown blind spots to “About this…” buttons (they just say you’re using software version 6.07.2x or that your shareware license expired 111,035 days ago, you cheapskate) so I’ll reproduce it here click-free:

To use this practice test effectively, you must read and understand the explanations for all the practice test questions. Simply answering the practice test questions and/or memorizing the questions and answers does not give you the full benefit of the product.

In other words, if you bought a Transcender practice test and you’re going through simply answering the questions, you’re having an exam experience like this:

You are the network administrator of a company that wants to destroy
the world for some unknown reason. All servers run Windows Server
2008 and all client computers use Windows Vista. You have changed the
IP address range on the DHCP server in a branch office in order to
advance your company’s evil agenda. You need to change the reverse
lookup zone on the branch DNS server role to reflect the IP address
change and enable secure dynamic updates. What should you do?
A. Install Remote Server Administration Tools on a Vista workstation
B. Some wrong answer Netsh blah blah blah
C. Some wrong answer ServerCMD blah blah
D. Some command line command blah blah
Answer: A

… which is well and good if you get a question on RSAT, but Keep reading…

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