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
• PathPing and TRACERT
• PC configuration and diagnostic utilities

What is the DoD 8570.1 directive?

In 2004, the United States Department of Defense established the 8570.1 Directive that requires all DoD Information Assurance personnel to meet training and certification objectives. It identified two career tracks (Management and Technical), dividing each into three distinct levels. Passing the CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam meets the requirements for Technical Level-I. Other civilian government groups at the state, county and municipal levels have followed the federal government's lead by also establishing these requirements.

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+ (N10-004) Exam Cram, to help you prepare. Further, this course is approved by CompTIA as CompTIA Authorised 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?

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 Wireshark
• Upgrading to a switched network
• Implementing VLANs and 802.1X
• Trouleshooting Virtual Machines
• Setting up a wireless network
• Allocating an IP address with DHCP
• 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, Modern Telecommunications: 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