Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? The ability to provide users with constant access to critical data is essential for the success of today's rapidly evolving networks. In this course, you learn to configure and maintain networks, and identify and resolve problems related to cables, wireless connections, protocols and applications using a comprehensive set of tools and techniques. What background do I need? A solid networking foundation at the level of Course 450, A Comprehensive Introduction to Networking, or equivalent experience, is assumed prior to taking Course 451. Course 145, Hands-On PC Configuration and Troubleshooting, and Course 150, Advanced PC Configuration, Troubleshooting and Data Recovery: Hands-On, also provide an excellent background for Course 451. Who will benefit from this course? This course is valuable for anyone involved in designing, configuring, installing or maintaining a network. The concepts taught in this course benefit those from any size organisation, from LAN support staff in large organisations to end users in smaller organisations that do not support a LAN staff. How much of this course is devoted to network configuration and how much is devoted to troubleshooting? In this course, a majority of the content focuses on a step-by-step configuration methodology that uses best practice troubleshooting at every stage of the process. All of the troubleshooting covered in this course is applicable in any networking situation, be it during an initial configuration or on an already existing network. Which LAN troubleshooting tools are used in this course? A number of various tools are used in this course to provide you with troubleshooting experience at all levels of the network configuration and maintenance process. Those tools include: Cable scanning NIC diagnostic Protocol analyser ping SNMP manager PathPing and TRACERT PC configuration and diagnostic utilities Will this course help me prepare for the CompTIA Network+ Certification exam? Yes! This course prepares you for the CompTIA Network+ Certification exam. You also receive the book, Network+ Exam Cram 2, to help you prepare. Further, this course is approved by CompTIA as CompTIA Authorized Quality Curriculum (CAQC). This means that the content of this courses meets high quality standards and aligns to the CompTIA Network+ Certification exam topics. What LAN configurations will be done in this course? This course provides extensive coverage of cable configuration as well as covering router configuration from the client side. Throughout the configuration, you will be presented with a number of real-world issues to solve, including: Critical settings for wireless networks Identifying address problems caused by bad masks Resolving name resolution problems Targeting problem protocol patterns For more in-depth coverage of routers and router configuration on the server level, you may want to consider Course 364, Switches and Routers: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction. That course, along with our suite of Cisco courses, provides a thorough understanding of the complexities of network router configuration. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Networking overview 1.5 Connecting the physical layer 2.0 Building the data link layer 3.5 Switching at the data link layer 3.5 Wireless networking 2.5 Integrating the network and transport layers 4.5 Troubleshooting the application layer 1.5 Managing your network 1.5 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. What kinds of hands-on exercises does this course include? Approximately 40 percent of the course consists of hands-on exercises designed to reinforce the configuration and troubleshooting concepts taught in class. Exercises include: Testing cables and connections using a cable scanner Diagnosing cable and connection configuration to ensure operation Analysing traffic with Ethereal Upgrading to a switched network Implementing VLANs Setting up and securing a wireless network Configuring a wireless access point (WAP) Allocating an IP address with DHCP Building a DHCP scope Interpreting a routing table Troubleshooting name resolution How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? The following courses provide an essential background to Course 451: 450, A Comprehensive Introduction to Networking offers the knowledge to apply fundamental networking concepts, terminology and solutions and is a perquisite for Course 451 145, Hands-On PC Configuration and Troubleshooting provides the skills required to safely assemble and disassemble a complete PC system 150, Advanced PC Configuration, Troubleshooting and Data Recovery: Hands-On supplies the tools and techniques needed to maximise the performance of PC systems, troubleshoot problems, and recover lost data and files The following courses build upon the knowledge gained in Course 451: 949, Telecommunications Fundamentals: Hands-On Network Convergence  367, TCP/IP: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction  364, Switches and Routers: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction  466, Cisco® Networking: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction  481, Configuring Cisco® Routers: Advanced Hands-On Workshop  These courses also help you prepare for professional certifications: 445, 'Preparing for the CompTIA A+® Certification Exam: Hands-On  446, Preparing for the CompTIA Security+™ Certification Exam  958, The (ISC)2® CISSP® CBK® Review Seminar  959, The (ISC)2® SSCP® CBK® Review Seminar