Product Description

This exceptional review tool prepares students and service/installation technicians to pass the HVAC/R NATE and ICE certification examinations. Divided into two distinct sections, the first part provides a study guide review of essential concepts and procedures. The second part features more than 2,400 self-study questions that cover essential subjects such as system components and tools, electrical theory and application, air flow components and duct fabrication, indoor air quality and safety, hydronic heating, EPA certification, system troubleshooting, and more! Each topic includes a practice test and answer key so readers can assess their understanding of the material.

Customer Reviews (4)

Worked for my husband
I bought this book for my husband taking the Nate Core Certification test. He's an apprentice with a few years of experience, but this book helped him pass the exam. While the book has some practice questions, he said that the concepts and knowing how to apply them were what helped him get through the exam. Highly recommend this book.

Decent book.Some confusing errors.
The book has many questions, which are useful, but also quite a few mistakes and contradictions throughout.I am new to HVAC, and I find this book sometimes very confusing, because I read the information and remember it, then I go through the practice tests and answer them the way I remember them, then check my answers in the back and they are wrong.When I go back to read the material, my answer is right according to the study guide section but wrong according to the answers section.

For example, In the study guide, it says that an increased TXV bulb temperature & pressure at the evaporator outlet will open the TXV bulb.The Q&A section says that an increase in low-side pressure will close the TXV valve.I could be wrong but this seems like a total contradiction to me.

Also some discrepancies between the drawings and the text in the study guide make following along and learning the information confusing and difficult.

Overall, it is a decent book and I am learning from it, but I am not confident that what I am learning is correct.I really like the layout of the book I just wish it was more accurate & consistent.

It has everything you need to know
I love this book. It really helped me alot at college to get my certifications. You won't be disappointed.

Great NATE study guide
This reference is a MUST for those studying for the NATE. It has clearly defined sections and lots of practice test questions. ... Read more

Product Description

CCNP SWITCH 642-813

Official Certification Guide

David Hucaby, CCIE® No. 4594

CCNP SWITCH Exam Preparation

• Master the CCNP® SWITCH 642-813 exam with this official study guide
• Assess your knowledge with chapter-opening quizzes
• Review key concepts with Exam Preparation Tasks
• Practice with realistic exam questions on the CD-ROM

CCNP SWITCH 642-813 Official Certification Guide is a best-of-breed Cisco® exam study guide that focuses specifically on the objectives for the CCNP® SWITCH exam. Network architect and best-selling author Dave Hucaby shares preparation hints and test-taking tips, helping you identify areas of weakness and improve both your conceptual knowledge and hands-on skills. Material is presented in a concise manner, focusing on increasing your understanding and retention of exam topics.

CCNP SWITCH 642-813 Official Certification Guide presents you with an organized test preparation routine through the use of proven series elements and techniques. “Do I Know This Already?” quizzes open each chapter and allow you to decide how much time you need to spend on each section. The complete exam topic list makes referencing easy. Chapter-ending Exam Preparation Tasks sections help drill you on key concepts and commands you must know thoroughly. 

The companion CD-ROM contains a powerful testing engine that enables you to focus on individual topic areas or take complete, timed exams. The assessment engine also tracks your performance and provides feedback on a topic-by-topic basis, laying out a complete study plan for review.

Well regarded for its level of detail, assessment features, and challenging review questions and exercises, this official study guide helps you master the concepts and techniques that will enable you to succeed on the exam the first time.

CCNP SWITCH 642-813 Official Certification Guide is part of a recommended learning path from Cisco that includes simulation and hands-on training from authorized Cisco Learning Partners and self-study products from Cisco Press. To find out more about instructor-led training, e-learning, and hands-on instruction offered by authorized Cisco Learning Partners worldwide, please visit www.cisco.com/go/authorizedtraining.

This official study guide helps you master all the topics on the CCNP SWITCH exam, including

• Network design, implementation, and verification plans
• Switch operation and port configuration
• VLANs, trunks, and VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP)
• Aggregating switch links
• Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
• Multilayer switching
• Enterprise campus network design
• Router and supervisor redundancy
• IP telephony
• Wireless LANs
• Switched network security

This volume is part of the Official Certification Guide Series from Cisco Press. Books in this series provide officially developed exam preparation materials that offer assessment, review, and practice to help Cisco Career Certification candidates identify weaknesses, concentrate their study efforts, and enhance their confidence as exam day nears.

Category: Cisco Press—Cisco Certification

Covers: CCNP SWITCH exam 642-813

Customer Reviews (7)

Very good however not completely comprehensive
After reading the earlier cert guide's for the v5 CCNP (we are now on v6) I can say that both the course material and the books themselves have come on in leaps and bounds.

Hucaby is a very clear and concise technical writer and where he went into a lot of detail in the areas that you needed to know which is good he also lightly skimmed over the areas that you didn't really NEED to know but it is good to know anyway.

If you are hoping that by reading this book alone you will pass the exam you are wrong, however using this along with some real/sim lab practice and some reading more in depth on some subjects you should pass no problem.

Not ideal for the exam preparation ...
On the positive side this book is nicely written, the ideas are clear and concise. On the downside however, as a study guide for the certification exam it lacks several topics that are included in the test which was an unpleasant surprise. The simulated exam engine from BOSON that is included with the CD that comes with the book is also not appropriate for the test preparation, in fact BOSON offers an additional exam simulator that better resembles the actual test.

If you plan to use this book to certify for the CCNP SWITCH, then beware that additional preparation material will be needed.

Good book, but shouldn't be an Official Certification Guide
I just took and failed the new 642-813 exam primarily based on study with this book, a lot of lab work with actual Cisco equipment and practice exams, including the exam on the CD in the book and the Ex-Sim Max exams (which "guarantee" you'll pass the test if you can pass them). In the past, for other Cisco tests, I've found the Official Certification Guides to be very comprehensive and provide almost more material than you need to past the tests. However this guide is not a good representation of what's on the test (or practice exams) and vice versa. I went into the test feeling extremely confident and ended up guessing on many questions and the simulation questions where much more difficult than those found on the BCMSN test. I'm an MCSE, CCNA and ITIL certified IT professional who has been working in this field for over 15 years, and I've never felt so prepared for a test and then performed so poorly on the actual exam. I'm not saying don't buy this book, I'm just saying do NOT depend on it to give you the material you need to pass the exam. This should NOT be the Cisco Official Exam Certification Guide.

Dan Allen, MCSE, CCNA, IPPI

Good material, however,Book will not prepare you for the exam
As others have stated, there were topics missing from this book that were covered on the exam. I read this book page to page and did the practice exams in the back of the book and read outside resources. Yet, there were questions on the exam that just weren't touched on in the book at all. Also a few topics the book covered just werent covered in the exam at all. As it has been deemed the Official Exam/Cerification Guide by Cisco, I expected better alignment with the exam...guess not. However, the book does have good material if you need a resource for understanding some switching aspects better and definitely AP's and Voip.

READ THIS BEFORE BUYING
Dave Hucaby is a great writer and has done a tremendous job explaining the material in the book, however, this book alone will not prepare you for the exam.There are topics missing from the book, which you can find at Dave's blog at [...] or at the cisco press website here [...] located under the download link.

You can check out the blog posts at the url below for more information
[...]

The bottom line is Cisco did a lousy job writing the Switch exam and didn't match the exam to the topics or verbiage covered in the book.I have been told that if you study for the ROUTE exam first you have a better chance of passing the switch exam since some of the material is redundant.Many of these issues are being reported to Cisco so it's only a matter of time before they change some of the exam questions to better match the book. ... Read more

Product Description
massage study guide ... Read more

Customer Reviews (44)

Great Help
Recently took the MBLEX exam and found to my surprise the book actually helped me pass the exam. The questions in the book have the same topics as the exam. I'm so glad I spent the money to review with this material it made a difference.

Review for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
Review for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork is an excellent book to study for the NCBTMB!

I Passed!
I was looking for a book to supplement my text books and notes that I had taken for 7 months and I came across this book.After seeing all the great reviews I purchased it, and I would tell anyone who is getting ready to take the Nationals, BUY THIS BOOK!It gives you everything you need in concise style.I honestly think this book is the reason I passed the Nationals.

Good book!
It is a good book, with organized information. This book could be used not only as a review for therapeutic massage certification but as a part of your study guide during the program.

Excellent Review
This is a really good review.However, the new test have changed a bit so be aware of these changes and make sure you get an updated review book.
Thank you (and my instructors) for helping me pass this hard exam. ... Read more

Product Description
To become an Oracle Certified Professional (OCP), one must be proficient in the latest update to Oracle’s industry-leading database product: Oracle 11g—this guide prepares you for all three exams that comprise the Oracle 11g OCP certification. Each level of certification is broken down, beginning with the prerequisite Oracle Certified Administrator certification, and concluding with the OCP certification. You’ll get helpful insight for fulfilling the requirement of taking one of the approved courses offered by Oracle University. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Good Books
Good books, well written and organized. I am preparing for my certification and hopefully will get it done soon.

excellent books. very good for oracle dba's as well as for developers.
the book is in very nice condition and very carefully delivered.

Thank you.

Average book for DBA certification
OCP certification from sybex book is good but it lacks the capability of highlighting important exam points. For DBA certification i would prefer oracle certification book by John Watson.
In the Sybex book all the topics are covered and the concepts are clearly explained. Since it lacks important tips and point, i am giving it 3 star rating. Oracle books by John watson has clear concepts and all the topcis are coverted with important tips and points highlighted.

Simplemente perfecto
Quizá uno de los mejores libros técnicos que he visto. Es muy completo, pero ello no impide que sea dificil de entender, incluso para gente con un bajo nivel de inglés, porque esta bien redactado. Muchos ejemplos y ejercicios disponibles, y corregidos con explicación.

El software que lo acompaña, tampoco desmerece, y además se incluye el libro en formato PDF, para consultas rápidas.

Great Book
This book is much better than the Oracle press book. Nothing more to say, and if you are already an oracle DBA, you know what I am talking. This book covers SQL in depth, and some of the commands that I wasn't even aware of. ... Read more

Product Description

Master the CCNP® ROUTE 642-902 exam with this official study guide

• Assess your knowledge with chapter-opening quizzes
• Review key concepts with Exam Preparation Tasks
• Practice with realistic exam questions on the CD-ROM

CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Official Certification Guide is a best of breed Cisco® exam study guide that focuses specifically on the objectives for the CCNP® ROUTE exam. Senior instructor and best-selling author Wendell Odom shares preparation hints and test-taking tips, helping you identify areas of weakness and improve both your conceptual knowledge and hands-on skills. Material is presented in a concise manner, focusing on increasing your understanding and retention of exam topics.

CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Official Certification Guide presents you with an organized test preparation routine through the use of proven series elements and techniques. “Do I Know This Already?” quizzes open each chapter and allow you to decide how much time you need to spend on each section. Exam topic lists make referencing easy. Chapter-ending Exam Preparation Tasks sections help drill you on key concepts you must know thoroughly.

The companion CD-ROM contains a powerful testing engine that allows you to focus on individual topic areas or take complete, timed exams. The assessment engine also tracks your performance and provides feedback on a module-by-module basis, laying out a complete study plan for review.

Well-regarded for its level of detail, assessment features, and challenging review questions and exercises, this official study guide helps you master the concepts and techniques that will enable you to succeed on the exam the first time.

CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Official Certification Guide is part of a recommended learning path from Cisco that includes simulation and hands-on training from authorized Cisco Learning Partners and self-study products from Cisco Press. To find out more about instructor-led training, e-learning, and hands-on instruction offered by authorized Cisco Learning Partners worldwide, please visit www.cisco.com/go/authorizedtraining

Wendell Odom, CCIE® No. 1624, is a 28-year veteran of the networking industry. He currently works as an independent author of Cisco certification resources and occasional instructor of Cisco authorized training for Skyline ATS. He has worked as a network engineer, consultant, systems engineer, instructor, and course developer. He is the author of several best-selling Cisco certification titles. He maintains lists of current titles, links to Wendell’s blogs, and other certification resources at www.TheCertZone.com.

This official study guide helps you master all the topics on the CCNP ROUTE exam, including:

• Network design, implementation, and verification plans
• EIGRP
• OSPF
• IGP Redistribution
• Policy-based routing and IP service-level agreement (IP SLA)
• BGP
• IPv6
• IPv4 and IPv6 coexistence
• Routing over branch Internet connections

This volume is part of the Official Certification Guide Series from Cisco Press. Books in this series provide officially developed exam preparation materials that offer assessment, review, and practice to help Cisco Career Certification candidates identify weaknesses, concentrate their study efforts, and enhance their confidence as exam day nears.

Customer Reviews (8)

Errors?
I am wondering why it is that so very many of the books in this series (Cisco) have so many errors. Is it that they are in a rush to push the product, or is it just too expensive to fix them? I have spent hours now in triple checking my work because the results don't agree with what a given book says. I really don't think there is an excuse for this, particularly and especially for technical books that demand extraordinary accuracy. Would you tell your manager that "Oh, that's not my answer - I must have made a typo in my report" and not expect some consequences?

Good content, but littered with errors.
There is a lot of great info in this book. However, so far I've only seriously studied up to Ch 5 and I've seen a lot of typos, many of which affect the understanding you might gain from reading that certain section. Myself and a co-worker have come across multiple mislabeled diagrams and examples, and contradicting statements. It can be quite frustrating to study with this book. The last thing I came across that prompted me to finally write this review was a "Do I know this already?" quiz question that blatantly tells you to choose two answers on a multiple choice, only to flip to the back of the book to the answers section and find only one option as the answer! I actually think its not referring to the same question! These are small things, but they add up, and are very annoying. I have found many more errors in this book, but I won't go into them all. The errors I have found so far only make me wonder how many I didn't notice, or didn't know enough about to know that they were wrong, which could potentially be a lot since I'm trying to learn a good portion of this material for the first time! I am convinced that this book might have been briefly reviewed, but not very well, technically speaking, and not to the detail level I would expect from a "Certification Guide" published by the company issuing the certification.

In closing, I think this book has a lot of great information in it, and Wendell Odom does a great job of explaining things. I just wish it wasn't littered with errors, and that is why I only give it 3 stars.

Cisco Route Fills all the Gaps for CCNP Exam!!!
CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Official Certification Guide (Exam Certification Guide)

All the voids are filled as I begin my path towards my CCNP with the new testing requirements in this book, however, this book makes the assumption that you have a mastery understanding of CCNA Routing and Switching. Overall, the author is extremely detailed with information to help you pass your CCNP route exam...I did!!! You will want to look into a lab supplement if you do not have your own equipment and experience. Please get this book if you want to move on to the next step in your Cisco Routing and Switching Career.

Very Good Book
Wendell Odom is one of the 3 best authors I've ever known of for IT books.This book was very well written and organized.It explains things, then follows up with diagrams and full working configurations trying to hit up every angle to help the reader understand topics.The memory answers pdf that comes with the book is the best last minute review material I've ever seen with a certification book.The book is almost worth buying for just that!

The only reason I gave this book 4 stars was because it assumes you've mastered ccna topics.Normally that's a reasonable assumption for an author to make, but not for ccnp.I've been cisco certified for more than a decade and ccna/ccnp keep changing so much that I'm now rusty on things like frame-relay that I've never used and the book doesn't cover.Luckily I have old ccnp books laying around with frame-relay covered so it wasn't a big deal, just annoying.

4.5 stars would have been a more accurate rating.

Does not meet the needs of buyer
While this book does a "just Ok review" of old concepts from CCNA it should not be presented as a book to review "new concepts". New Concepts can not be reviewed if your learning them for the first time. I found my self going back learning these concepts on my own and finally realized, this book is suppose to be a review and thats why I also returned it. ... Read more

Product Description
This book helps prepare pharmacy technicians for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam. Topics include law, medication order and prescription interpretation, drug distribution and more. 2nd edition fully revised and redesigned. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

PHARMACY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION REVIEW AND PRACTICE EXAM
I would not recommend this book.It is very poorly organized with a lot of redundancy.

Misleading
The previous review is inaccurate. This book is good for some minor references but doesn't do the pharmacy technician occupation justice. I HIGHLY recommend NOT getting this book. I was very very unsatisfied with it. In all honesty, it probably only tells you 40% of what you need to know to even begin to think about becoming certified.

Great book for the PTCE!
Just took the Nov 18 PTCE, and I found this book to be very useful in my preparation. The drugs and literature (a good portion of the exam) are very well organized, being put into lists. It goes through pretty much everything you need to know for the PTCE. ... Read more

Product Description
The new edition of this powerful review tool helps readers to assess and build their knowledge of the information covered in AWHONN, AACN, & NANN: Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, 3e.The review book is also authored by AACN (American Association of Critical-Care Nurses), AWHONN (Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses), and NANN (National Association of Neonatal Nurses) and is a companion to the Core Curriculum. The Core Review includes 600 multiple-choice study questions to challenge readers' mastery of all the essential knowledge in the field. Written under the authority of the American Association for Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and reviewed by the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) and the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN), it is an ideal study tool to facilitate preparation for neonatal critical-care nursing certification.

• Endorsed by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses; the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses; and the National Association of Neonatal Nurses
• Based on the Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, 3e
• Answers are provided for each question, accompanied by rationales and references, to assist readers in building their knowledge
• Questions mirror the certification exam content, multiple-choice question format, and content distribution, giving readers realistic practice for the exam
• Content on special needs patients
• Heavily illustrated to assist with learning

Customer Reviews (10)

best book ever
This is the best study book ever!I haven't taken the test yet but all of my coworkers that have used this book as their study guide and passed!I expect to do the same when I'm finished with the book.

Would buy again
This was the main tool I used to study for my RNC-NIC and I passed the first time. There are a few mistakes in the book, however, so be on alert!

workinprogress
This book is amazing,with work and family life, I would not be able to read the whole core curriculum book. This book simplifies preparing for the exam. I love the rational with theanswers.

Certification and Core Review for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing
Along with Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (AWHONN)) the "Certification and Core Review for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing" is the GOLD STANDARD for use while studying for either RNC or CCRN. After completely reviewing the Core Curriculum over a series of weeks, then reviewing the "Certification and Core Review for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing", our group took the review course offered by the author, Terese Verklan, PhD. We spent time as a group the night before the exam throwing out questions from the Review book. It was very helpful to hear little tidbits of knowledge from my colleagues. I was then able to pass BOTH the RNC and CCRN exams for neonatal intensive care nursing on my first try. I had purchased other neonatal review titles, but the "Certification and Core Review for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing" was the most complete and helpful. Well worth your money!!

Great tool for NICU Certification
This book provides questions and answers that are specific to the NICU certification review test. I took the course and felt the book was better at preparing me for the test questions. ... Read more

Product Description
Adrienne Mack-Kirschner's work with the National Board program makes her the ideal person to advise certification candidates. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good place to start
I am only just beginning the NBPTS process.this book has provided several ideas for getting started.I was hoping to see more examples of exemplary writing.So far it has been helpful. ... Read more

Product Description
As a teacher, you are already doing an excellent job in the classroom. Nevertheless, with the implementation of No Child Left Behind, and as more states encourage validation of teaching effectiveness, NBPTS certification remains the one standard by which you can establish unquestioned credibility.

Customer Reviews (22)

"Perfect compliment to the new workbook in this handy 'apple' series!"
As others have mentioned, this handy little book not only compliments the NBPTS Instruction Guide with helpful 'buzzwords', reminder lists, and cogent bulleted suggestions for Entry 4, but now serves as a terrific accompaniment to the workbook of the same name.

I have been a part of conferences where this book has been used with great effectiveness. However, as the author himself even stated, there was a need for more charts, worktables, and writing samples. The new workbook furnishes all that. While the workbook can be used alone, candidates I have worked with found using both books to be the most helpful. Since both can be had for less than the cost of most other guides alone, Amazon makes this an attractive purchase.

Although I have not read the mentoring book in the apple series, I know the dozens of candidates I have worked with applaud the brevity and succinctness of these books. While the workbook is much involved in practical (and sometimes exhausting) practice, this book is the best ten buck purchase out there to make sure you don't leave out the basics, and to show you how to speak the language of portfolio writing.

So, You Want to Become a National Board Certified Teacher: Workbook & Evidence Manual: A Candidate's Guide to Successfully Passing the NBPTS Certification ProcessMentoring the NBPTS Candidate: A Facilitator's Guide: A Mentor's Handbook for Successfully Coaching the NBPTS Candidate Through the Certification Process

So, You Want to Become a National Board Certified : This is not the book
I have been looking for books that actually give a deep understanding of what is required to become a National Board Certified. I order the book for the catchy title, which is the opposite. It gives you bullet points of what you need, not a detailed explanation with examples. You get that from the National Board itself; this book is not worth buying, there are no examples and the information is limited. If you want a good book with details get the : Accomplished Teaching: The Key to National Board Certification by Bess Jennings. It's worth the money and it comes with a CD.

"Perfectly compliments the new workbook. Helpful tool."
I was asked by my college to review this book as a part of our professional development seminar for experienced teachers. I found the book to be both helpful and readable. It lacks much of the pedagogy extant in most professional development books of this sort, and at this price (!) it's a bargain.

As other have stated, the one glaring weakness is the lack of worktables and charts which the candidate can systematically utilize. The publishers must have heard the cry. Just released is "So, You Want to Become a National Board Certified Teacher: Workbook & Evidence Manual" which I have received as an advance copy. While I may review the latter in the future, let me stress: these books work better in tandem. The workbook is based upon this book.

My recommendation, as stated before, is that at this price, the book is an absolute steal. The so-called 'buzzwords' (to be utilized sparingly in the writing) is worth the cost alone. Now if Amazon would consider linking the book and workbook together as one of their special offers, NBPTS candidates would have a wonderful collection that--together--become more cost-effective than some single works in this same genre.

Great book!Need to read before and during your NB process
This book was great.It was a short read and had some great tips.I read it when I began the NB process but kept coming back to it for new info.Even came back to it as I began packing the "box".I shared it with a friend who was doing a completely different area than I was.It is well worth the money.

"Outstanding! Like having the directions explained as a mentor"
Wonderful, simple, easy to read and grasp. It's like having a mentor right beside you to walk you through the process.

Heard the author speak at Harding University in Arkansas in '08. Seemed to be less pedantic than most.

Wish there were a workbook to accompany this little manual, but I am told the author has a book on mentoring that addresses this issue somewhat. I am already strapped for funds in this expensive (!) endeavor, so I probably won't buy it.

I would caution (as does this author) the candidate to be SURE and use his/her own voice. I have heard of some who got so caught up in the key words suggested that their writing began to sound like a machine. These won't score well.

Get a used copy, absorb all you can, then pass the book on to someone else.

Recommended! ... Read more

Product Description

• Master CCNP® exam topics with the official study guides
• Assess your knowledge with chapter-opening quizzes
• Review key concepts with exam preparation tasks
• Practice with realistic exam questions on the CD-ROMs

CCNP Routing and Switching Official Certification Library is a comprehensive review and practice package for the three CCNP Routing and Switching exams: ROUTE, SWITCH, and TSHOOT. The three books contained in this package, CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Official Certification Guide, CCNP SWITCH 642-813 Official Certification Guide, and CCNP TSHOOT 642-832 Official Certification Guide, present complete reviews and ample opportunity to test your knowledge of CCNP Routing and Switching exam topics. These authorized CCNP Routing and Switching study guides are written by CCIE®  certified experts, bringing years of teaching and consulting experience together in an ideal test preparation format.

CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Official Certification Guide teaches you how to use advanced IP addressing and routing to implement enterprise-level router networks connected to LANs and WANs. CCNP SWITCH 642-813 Official Certification Guide ensures that you have the skills necessary to implement scalable, multilayer switched networks. CCNP TSHOOT 642-832 Official Certification Guide helps you master the troubleshooting methodologies, tools, and tasks needed to effectively monitor and maintain large enterprise networks.

Each of these official study guides provides you with an organized test preparation routine through the use of proven series elements and techniques. “Do I Know This Already?” quizzes open each chapter and enable you to decide how much time you need to spend on each section. Exam topic lists make referencing easy. Chapter-ending Exam Preparation Tasks sections help you drill on key concepts you must know thoroughly. The companion CD-ROMs contains a powerful testing engine that enables you to focus on individual topic areas or take complete, timed exams. The assessment engine also tracks your performance and provides feedback on a module-by-module basis, laying out a complete study plan for review.

Well regarded for their level of detail, assessment features, and challenging review questions and exercises, these official study guides helps you master the concepts and techniques that will enable you to succeed on the exams the first time.

CCNP Routing and Switching Certification Library is part of a recommended learning path from Cisco that includes simulation and hands-on training from authorized Cisco Learning Partners and self-study products from Cisco Press. To find out more about instructor-led training, e-learning, and hands-on instruction offered by authorized Cisco Learning Partners worldwide, please visit www.cisco.com/go/authorizedtraining.

These official certification guides help you master all the topics on the three CCNP Routing and Switching exams:

ROUTE:

• EIGRP and OSPF
• IGP Redistribution and BGP
• Policy-based routing and IP service level agreement (IP SLA)
• IPv6 and IPv4/IPv6 coexistence
• Routing over branch Internet connections

SWITCH:

• VLANs, trunks, VTP, and STP
• Aggregating switch links
• Multilayer switching
• Router and supervisor redundancy
• IP telephony, wireless LANs, and security

TSHOOT:

• Troubleshooting models, tools, and tasks
• Cisco IOS® troubleshooting commands and features
• Troubleshooting Cisco Catalyst® Switches and STP
• Troubleshooting OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, and route redistribution
• Security, IP Services, IP communications, and IPv6 troubleshooting

• Large enterprise network troubleshooting

Companion CD-ROMS

The three companion CD-ROMs contain 300 practice questions developed by Cisco Press for the CCNP Routing and Switching exams and delivered by the Boson Exam Environment (BEE).

Boson’s ExSim-Max premium practice exams available at www.boson.com

This library is part of the Certification Guide Series from Cisco Press. Books in this series provide officially developed exam preparation materials that offer assessment, review, and practice to help Cisco Career Certification candidates identify weaknesses, concentrate their study efforts, and enhance their confidence as exam day nears.

Covers: ROUTE exam 642-902, SWITCH exam 642-813, TSHOOT exam 642-832

Customer Reviews (8)

well written, great companion for students
I am a student in a traditional college in a Cisco CCNP centric major. These books are well written, easy to understand and serve well as companion reference materials.

A good series that delivers where it counts: the exams.
Recently I have had the opportunity to review these books as part of my journey to the CCNP certification. I had high expectations for these books prior to receiving them, and needless to say they do not disappoint.

Recently the CCNP track was updated and now includes only 3 exams (from 4). These books reflect those changes and do so in an effective manner.

I started my journey a bit out of traditional order by starting with the TSHOOT book, primarily because it closely related to some projects I was working on. Kevin Wallace is by far one of my favorite Cisco Press authors and this book continues his tradition of excellence. His writing style and format "just works" as it were. Perhaps my favorite part of these books were the various scenarios presented that give some real-world style networks and issues to resolve. Personally, this is my favorite style of learning. Reading is great, but reading towards a purpose is even better. All in all, I believe this book delivers more than just as study prep towards an exam and includes valuable real-world usable today information.

ROUTE was my next book. For me, this book was a hit/miss, not so much because of the book itself, but because of the nature of my work. Routing is my second least favorite topic trumped only by QoS, that said this book was more interesting than I initially expected. It is full of ton of great information including some which I had not learned in my career (especially around IPv6). I particularly enjoyed the chapters on OSPF and EIGRP (what I mostly see). Odom does a good job of delivering the information in a way that is enjoyable to read.

Lastly, the SWITCH book. I think this book would be invaluable for the majority of NOC type engineers. From an implementation standpoint this book doesn't miss a beat, everything you could need is in here. L3 routing/switching, 802.1q trunking, Spanning Tree Protocol, VLANs, etc. In some cases, I thought the chapter could have gone more in-depth; but in fairness this book is geared towards the exam. In that regard, I believe this book delivers 100%.

Additionally, the set includes a network simulator (which I didn't play with as I own a Mac) which is a nice touch. I would have liked PDFs to be included but I understand why they weren't as well.

All in all, if you are going for the CCNP, this set will get you there. If you're an implementation engineer I think there is enough information to be gained to justify the purchase.

I fully recommend this series.

Great study guides and reference materials.
With Cisco recently redoing the CCNP certification track, Cisco Press has published a new CCNP certification library.I like the way they package the series, makes having the right study material easy to order and easy to keep organized.

Each of the books has the standard quiz in the front of each chapter so that you can gauge your knowledge.This helps you to identify and focus on some of your weak points.By utilizing this feature you can help to focus your learning efforts on where they are needed.

The TSHOOT guide is good not just for troubleshooting, but also for good network practices.It helps to explain why documentation is important and how it helps you.The guide also covers some good tools within the IOS to troubleshoot basic to advances problems in Cisco devices.It covers the routing protocols, security, and even IPv6.

The SWITCH guide covers the operation and configuration of network switches that will prepare you for real world scenarios, not just what is on the test.There is some extensive coverage of Spanning-tree in this book, and that is a very important topic in Campus networks.STP is a commonly misunderstood and dangerous protocol. An improperly designed or deployed STP topology can be the bane of a network engineer, and this book helps you to understand how to configure, support, protect and troubleshoot STP issues.

The ROUTE guide is what you would expect from a routing book.It covers routing protocols right from the 2nd chapter - the 1st chapter discusses the planning for CCNP.What is also nice about this is that in the beginning of the chapters there are CCNA foundation reviews to help you "refresh" some of the basics.This is a good thing as we tend to forget some of what we have learned over time, and a good refresher helps to also get your brain in the mode to study the topic.What I liked about this guide was the chapter on IPv4 and IPv6 coexistence. This chapter helps you to understand the coexistence and migration requirements.This topic will probably become more discussed and important as IPv4 address exhaustion is imminent.

To recap, this is a good study series as well as a future reference series.Having these guides at your disposal for study and work will prove to be an invaluable resource.

Great resource not only for the CCNP exams, but more
The CCNP series of exams is updated frequently and is consistently well balanced in terms of quantity of techonologies covered versus depth of individual topics. This can be exceptionally challenging when you add the frequent updates that are made to keep the topics relevant.

This latest set of books from Cisco Press is excellent, again. Wendell Odom is fantastic in how he organizes topics. He is able to move through potentially dry and numbing topics in such a way that you don't have to reread pages or chapters 10 times just to "get it".

The entire series is relevant and covers all required topics for the exam. They also provide a great reference for daily routines, if so required in daily work duties.

Lastly, this series is effective in covering a good baseline of topics as you move across to other professional tracks or even up to expert levels.

Highly recommended!

Amazon has Great Service
These books were replacements that I bought from another seller on Amazon, but didn't receive.Amazon shipped these very quick, and reimbursed me for the books that the other seller did not ship.Should have bought from Amazon in the first place -they are great! ... Read more

Product Description

CCNA Security

Official Exam Certification Guide

• Master the IINS 640-553 exam with this official study guide
• Assess your knowledge with chapter-opening quizzes
• Review key concepts with Exam Preparation Tasks
• Practice with realistic exam questions on the CD-ROM

CCNA Security Official Exam Certification Guide is a best of breed Cisco® exam study guide that focuses specifically on the objectives for the CCNA® Security IINS exam. Senior security instructors Michael Watkins and Kevin Wallace share preparation hints and test-taking tips, helping you identify areas of weakness and improve both your conceptual knowledge and hands-on skills. Material is presented in a concise manner, focusing on increasing your understanding and retention of exam topics.

CCNA Security Official Exam Certification Guide presents you with an organized test preparation routine through the use of proven series elements and techniques. “Do I Know This Already?” quizzes open each chapter and allow you to decide how much time you need to spend on each section. Exam topic lists make referencing easy. Chapter-ending Exam Preparation Tasks sections help drill you on key concepts you must know thoroughly.

The companion CD-ROM contains a powerful testing engine that allows you to focus on individual topic areas or take complete, timed exams. The assessment engine also tracks your performance and provides feedback on a topic-by-topic basis, presenting question-by-question remediation to the text and laying out a complete study plan for review.

Well-regarded for its level of detail, assessment features, and challenging review questions and exercises, this official study guide helps you master the concepts and techniques that will enable you to succeed on the exam the first time.

CCNA Security Official Exam Certification Guide is part of a recommended learning path from Cisco that includes simulation and hands-on training from authorized Cisco Learning Partners and self-study products from Cisco Press. To find out more about instructor-led training, e-learning, and hands-on instruction offered by authorized Cisco Learning Partners worldwide, please visit www.cisco.com/go/authorizedtraining.

Michael Watkins, CCNA/CCNP®/CCVP®/CCSP®, is a full-time senior technical instructor with SkillSoft Corporation. With 13 years of network management, training, and consulting experience, Michael has worked with organizations such as Kraft Foods, Johnson and Johnson, Raytheon, and the United States Air Force to help them implement and learn the latest network technologies.

Kevin Wallace, CCIE® No. 7945, is a certified Cisco instructor working full time for SkillSoft, where he teaches courses in the Cisco CCSP, CCVP, and CCNP tracks. With 19 years of Cisco networking experience, Kevin has been a network design specialist for the Walt Disney World Resort and a network manager for Eastern Kentucky University. Kevin also is a CCVP, CCSP, CCNP, and CCDP with multiple Cisco security and IP communications specializations.

The official study guide helps you master all the topics on the IINS exam, including

• Network security threats

• Security policies

• Network perimeter defense
• AAA configuration

• Router security

• Switch security

• Endpoint security

• SAN security

• VoIP security

• IOS firewalls

• Cisco IOS® IPS

• Cryptography

• Digital signatures

• PKI and asymmetric encryption

• IPsec VPNs

This volume is part of the Exam Certification Guide Series from Cisco Press®. Books in this series provide officially developed exam preparation materials that offer assessment, review, and practice to help Cisco Career Certification candidates identify weaknesses, concentrate their study efforts, and enhance their confidence as exam day nears.

Category: Cisco Press—Cisco Certification

Covers: IINS exam 640-553

Customer Reviews (14)

Exactly what you need for Cisco Cert!
This book is an easy read unlike other Cisco books which put you to sleep in 15 minutes or less.Written extremely well, and did the job of getting me my cert.Who can complain about that?

Misses the mark...
I would say this book and the CCNA Security Lab Manual covered about 70-80% of what is on the exam. I would highly recommend spending some time in some ASA books, Security+ and reading up on remote access technologies. The old CCNP guides cover that pretty well.

I found incorrect IP addresses and a lack of real world information in this book.Overall a serious disconnect between the creators of the exam and authors of the book.

Find another book
As other reviewers have noted, this book's quality is very uneven. It contains many typographical errors, some of which completely alter the meaning of a given sentence (e.g., referring to asymmetric encryption when it means symmetric encryptions). The authors repeat themselves often, and the quality seems to decline as the book progresses. The chapter on firewalls is absolutely dreadful.

Not much of a study guide
The book explains very poorly the Site-to-Site VPN topic (chapter 5), which practically forces you to check other sources for better explanation. Also, the Fundamentals of Cryptography (chapter 4) is terrible if you really want to learn cryptography. Chapter 4 is mostly a review guide, and therefore intended for people who have already studied Cryptography in another decent book (say: Bruce Schneier's "Applied Cryptography"). Hence an induced fear of other chapters not covering exactly everything one needs to know to pass the exam!

Redundant, all over the place, typos
Let me just say this....This book is overkill. It is just words. It has redundant information in all the wrong areas, misspellings, incorrect IP addresses, and one other pet peeve of mine is this. When you have illustrations, try to have them on the same layout as the description. It is so difficult to read about an example and have to turn the page to view it back and forth - back and forth. I also found that most of the time the descriptions of the illustrated examples were vague as well. I have read Wendell Odom's Intro and ICND set as well as the ICND1 ICND2 set. I have read Jeremy Cioara's (CBT Nuggets Trainer) CCNA-Voice book about halfway and all of these Cisco Press books were well written. My head hurts from trying to obtain the CCNA-Sec knowledge in this one. I am very disappointed. I have started reading Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security (IINS): (CCNA Security exam 640-553) (Authorized Self-Study Guide) by Catherine Paquet, and it is a much better written book.Visit [...] for others commenting on this book.I am very surprised Cisco allowed this book through.

I give it 2 stars because of the Boson Testing sim on CD... ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

This book helped me pass the 734
I read this book cover to cover. I took all the chapter sample tests, and the Appendix test. Then I re-read the book. I took the 734 exam today and passed 96% (only missed 2 out of 51 questions). Clearly this book works.

The sample exam questions are so close to the actual test questions that, if you understand why a sample question is correct in this book, take all the sample questions and do well, I don't think it is possible to fail the 734.

I say this with several caveats. First, the book is filled with typos and a few serious factual errors. You should have your laptop open as you go through the book and read the DB2 9 and 9.5 Information Center to verify details. Second, the book completely glosses over some DB2 features such as the Administration Server, some details on DPF, or how to use db2pd effectively. Again, check the Internet and IBM Information Center for more information to fill out those gaps.

The Index and Table of Contents could be much better.

I would have liked the Appendix sample test to have had different questions than those used in the Chapter sample tests. At some point obviously the reader begins to memorize the test questions which skews the results for the final sample test, reducing its effectiveness as an assessment tool.

This is NOT a generic reference for how to be an effective DBA. This is a certification guide and will only help you pass the 734 test. The 734 is NOT a comprehensive test of what it takes to be a DB2 LUW DBA. In my opinion, IBM needs to develop a more detailed certification roadmap for DB2 database administrators. In particular there should be a separate certification exam for DPF/Data Warehouse/Balanced Infosphere administration.

You should consider passing the 734 only the beginning of wisdom. Follow this up with your own independent reading in the IBM Information Center and Redbooks.

This book got me to pass the 734 exam on first try
If you are trying to get your Advanced DB2 certification then I highly recommend getting this book. Not only did this book help me pass my 734 exam the first time, I also use it as a guide book for on the job references. It's not a book to go to for a bunch of examples, but it will guide you to the right answers. Buy this book, you won't be let down.

Another Home Run
It's not surprising that this book is extremely well written and informative considering the two authors. Roger Sanders is "the" DB2 author we all admire and Dwaine Snow has long been considered an "expert to the experts" so the collaboration of these two virtually guaranteed a success. Despite this being a Certification Study Guide (a slot that it fits very well indeed), the information this book contains goes well beyond what would simply prepare someone to pass the cert.It is an excellent foundational work for any DB2 DBA and should be considered required reading for those of us who work with the product daily.

EXCELLENT BOOK!!!HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!
I own several of Roger Sanders' books and I have heard Dwaine speak at conferences in the past so I was excited to see that they were working together to produce this book. I pre-ordered a copy and when it arrived, I found it easy to read and full of good information. Before I bought this book, I took the 734 exam and my score was rather low - 39%. After reading this book and working through the practice questions at the end of each chapter, I was able to pass on my second attempt with a score of 84%! I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to prepare for the 734 exam

Not up to par
This book does not warrant an "Advanced" label. The content contains much of the same information as any of the other DBA books. I would have expected more for an "advanced" label. The V9 books have not lived up to their predecessors. I found the V8 books much more informative and useful as a DBA. ... Read more

Product Description
The most complete and comprehensive HVAC technician certification book on the market now features updated information and an all-new interactive practice exam CD. The DEWALT? HVAC Certification Exam Guide, 2E is fully equipped to give you the tools you need to prepare for the NATE, ICE, and RSES Certifications, as well as the HVAC Excellence and HVAC Technician Licensing Exams. It also serves as a valuable resource in studying for the state limited energy license and HVAC contractor licenses. At the core of this book's effectiveness is the foundation of study aids, exam strategies, and realistic sample exams.Another feature is the practice exam CD that simulates the exam experience and includes the ability to skip questions, mark questions to review later, and assess subject areas that need improvement. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Practice exams
Testing prep book.Along with info on testing, this guide is really only useful for memorizing answers to test questions, which of course is helpful in pointing to areas needing further study.Not a substitute for a text book.

Nate
Great review for re-learning things you have forgotten. The book gives some good examples of the types of questions and content you can expect. It DOES NOT give you the test. This book is a great read whether looking for certification or knowledge. If you are looking to take a Nate test, be especially careful reading questions and answers. The answers are as much a question as the original question. Usually you can rule 2 out and you are left to choose the best answer from the other 2. Choose the easiest answer (most common problem). Example: Indoor coil iced over. Most likely cause? Low on refrigerant or dirty filter? Since low charges are not considered maintenance, dirty filter would be most LIKELY cause. I really liked this book. You can't beat it for the price!

Very helpful.....
I bought this book for my husband to use to help him study for the NATE exam. It has been very helpful in assisting him in the areas he needed help with. The CD that comes along is also helpful to take the test using the computer.

Sample Exam Only
Complete waste of time and money.I was looking for a good study guide - but got duped.

DeWalt Review
Pros:
Has info on all parts of the NATE test: Core, HP, A/C, Gas, Duct, Oil.
Has a nice CD that comes with the book to go over the questions easily. These questions are also in the book with the correct answers. Good information for helping you understand what the test is and why you should take it.

Cons:
Only has a limited amount of questions. This book is not a cramming type book. It covers what "type" of questions to look for.

Other thoughts:
I have been in the field for about 3 years with 1 year of schooling. I took the HP and Core test after studying with this book and got an 82 on the Core and an 89 on the HP. I guess it worked.
... Read more

Product Description
The bestselling guide to A+ success, now revised and updated

Here’s the fun and easy way® to study for the exam – all the rewards in half the time!

Here’s the exam 220-301 and 220-302 test-prep guide you’ve been waiting for – an economical For Dummies book-and-software package that actually makes studying fun. Prepared by a CompTIA-certified expert and packed with proven tips and practice exams, it’s all you need to get up to speed on core hardware and operating system technologies – and pass the test!

Discover how to:

• Review the material, objective by objective
• Assess what you know – and don’t know
• Spot and avoid test traps
• Answer questions quickly
• Hone your skills on top test-prep software
• Create custom practice exams

All this on the bonus CD-ROM

• Our exclusive test-prep software, now with twice as many sample questions as in previous editions
• Plus demo versions from Boson Software, Inc., JRK Software, Vista-Net Publishing and Self Test Software.

An included CDcontains study software and hundreds of practice questions. Whetheryou are preparing for the A+ exam or simply want to get a clue abouthow computers work, this title covers the basics well. --StephenW. Plain ... Read more

Customer Reviews (176)

Still waiting...
My review is more about not receiving what I ordered.It wouldn't let me do zero stars, that was my choice.

I ordered this book on 12/20/2008 and have yet to receive it or a reply from the seller.I e-mailed the seller twice so far trying to get a response from them and have not heard back.The first time being on 1/14/09 which was the latest I should have receive it, and on 1/18/09 and still nothing.I would just like someone to communicate with me!!!

Good start, but not a sole study guide.
i used this in conjunction with 2 other books. one of the other 2 was a book filled with sample questions. ultimately i think the sample questions helped the most but this book helps you to understand what you should study and review in order to successfully pass the test.

Computers
This book is a good study guide for the A+ certification.I love the 'For Dummies' books, they are easy to read and understand.

Ok for intro, average resource for actual test.
This book was OK for beginners to get acquainted with actual computer hardware and its inner workings, but NOT ENOUGH for the Core hardware 2003 test at least.I used this as my sole reference and I passed with a 674 (minimum 515 pass).Im not quite satisfied with that score.LUCKILY, I had LOTS OF BACKGROUND computer knowledge by myself and it helped greatly in passing the exam.If I had no background computer knowledge and solely used this book I would have failed miserably.The reason why this book is not good for exam: Many, MANY of the A+ questions are actually real world scenario questions on "what would you most likely do" in a troubleshooting problem. and Many questions are on printers.This book does not have many real world scenario troubleshooting answers, but for the technicalities its ok.It said memorize IRQs and I/O addresses.BULL!!! None of that, if maybe one, was on the test.I hope someone can recommened to me a good book for the OS tech test!!

Great Book
What else can I say? If you complete this book, you will pass your A+ Certification. This book is money well spent. ... Read more

Product Description

Master the mathematics ofproject management!

With McGraw-Hill’s PMP® Certification Mathematics, you have what you need to ace the toughest area of theProject Management Professional (PMP) certification test—math and statistics. The book provides in-depthdescriptions of every math concept covered on the exam, along with all relevant calculations and practicalproblem-solving strategies.

Complete with sample questions and step-by-step solutions, McGraw-Hill’s PMP® CertificationMathematics helps you build a solid foundation in the subject—whether you’re planning to take the test or apracticing professional looking to refresh your skills.

• Target Your Studying
  —Focuses strictly on the critical math concepts and questions
• “Experience” the Test
  —CD-ROM provides on-screen practice in the actual test format
  
• Assess Your Performance
  —Explains what you got right and wrong . . . and why
• Avoid Mistakes
  —Describes the most common errors—and how to avoid them
• Stay Up to Date
  —Aligns with the latest PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) throughout

Customer Reviews (5)

Comprehensive coverage of all the math you'll ever need as a project manager
This book covers all of the math concepts and formulas you'll need throughout the life cycle of a project.It takes you from project initiation and selection all the way through project closure.Each concept is explained in easy to understand terms.At the end of each section key concepts are reviewed, there are lots of great examples, test taking tips and exercises.

PMP Certification Mathematics is an excellent resource
I found the text to be very well written and organized in a fashion that flowed well from one subject to the next.The book certainly covers all of the math one would expect to be on the PMI exam and more. I'm familiar with all of the math, but actually learned more detail on items such as:depreciation, crashing, and probability. I would recommend the book to any student that is preparing for the PMI Exam, especially those that find math to be extremely challenging.The book would also serve as a good resource for those that have already passed the exam.I plan on showing it to my students as a potential PM resource.

Excellent addition for PMP preparation
A really good book to learn about the least understood concepts of Project Management. The topics are clearly explained. I liked how the main concept for each topic is highlighted. This book even gives tips on the difficulty level and the number of problems to expect. Very useful. Wish I had this before!!!

Must have for any PMP cert. aspirant
This book dives into a key area of PMP cert that is rarely addressed by other books, especially in such great detail. Some of the chapters , such as Project Accounting fundamentals, Cost Estimation, and Earned Value Analysis, are exceptionally written and easy to follow. I see myself using this as a reference book even after passing the PMP exam.

PMP Mathematics
I wish I had this book before I took my PMP test. I am amazed by the extensive list of topics covered in the book. The examples and test questions are as good as it gets to help you with the final exam and also for understanding the concepts. Overall it's a great buy. ... Read more

Product Description

Study. Practice. Review.

Approach the new 2009 CompTIA A+ exam with confidence

The CompTIA A+ certification is the industry standard in terms of measuring a technician's hardware and software knowledge. As the most popular entry-level certification, it is particularly popular among individuals switching from another career to computers.

This kit features a trio of essential titles for anyone planning to take the 2009 CompTIA A+ certification exam

• CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide, 2E: Provides clear and concise information on crucial hardware and operating system maintenance, as well as real-world examples
• CompTIA A+ Complete Review Guide: An ideal companion learning tool that is broken into two parts; the first corresponds to A+ Essentials (220-701) while the second part corresponds to the IT technician's experience
• PC Technician Street Smarts, 2E: Focuses on the most common and challenging tasks PC technicians must face-and best practices for handling these tasks

With this complete certification kit, you'll be completely ready to take the new CompTIA A+ exams! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Hard to Read
I have not gone through the entire book. It appears that the first few chapters a difficult to read. I wish this book came with better illustrations of each part of the computer. I plan to keep it and attempt to go through the entire book. I'll let you know more info after that.

Great Package
Awsome 2009 topics in this book, the cram book is just a quick overview of the actual study guide,
street smarts guide is for dum dums,
good study guidebook.
Would recomend just the study guide if you have moderate talent.

Not perfect but good enough
I only used this product for my test and missed only about 5 of 100 questions. That being said, it was not perfect, there were a few things on the test not covered here. You probably should be very comfortable with computers before reading this, it is not for absolute beginners.

Excellent set...
I just passed the IT Technician exam today with an 832/900, after passing Essentials with 779/900 a couple months ago.These books were my original resource.

Some background: I have(had) a Networking degree but decided to get the degree first and certs later.I should have done both simultaneously, but oh well.

As for using this book though, I started studying over the summer.What I did was read the big book first, cover to cover.800 pages took me a number of weeks, but the key thing was taking notes along the way on stuff I didn't know.

After I finally finished the big book, I read the Fastpass book cover to cover which was essentially just a review.Didn't take notes on this one.

Didn't touch the Street Smarts book since it seemed geared towards people whose Windows knowledge is very basic... I knew how to do most of the stuff in there already so that's why I didn't touch it.

Just make sure to put in at least an hour a day and you can be ready for each test in about a month.I chose to take longer but the important thing to me was that I passed, and now I can happily say that I am A+ Certified.Bottom line though, these books helped.

Great kit, but you don't need all of it.
This kit is excellent, however, you'll probably find you don't need all of it.The A+ Complete Study Guide is an excellent book.I've got a lot of experience with pc repair and troubleshooting, but I still learned some things I didn't know.A problem I have with the Complete is that some sections of the book are repeated word for word later on while other parts of the book tell you to refer to other chapters.If you do use the book, read the whole book before you take the essentials exam.The book suggests you read chapters 1-11 for the essentials and 12-6 afterwards for the later exams.I followed that and passed the essentials, however, while reading the later chapters, I found information that would have helped me with a few questions on the essentials.

Onto the next book, the A+ Fast Pass is simply a condensed version of the Complete Study Guide.There is very little reason to read it if you've already read the Complete SG.I will say that some of the material in the Fast Pass is not in the Complete, however, I was never tested on it.

The last book, the PC Technician's street guide is probably only useful for people who don't have much experience actually building or troubleshooting PCs.

So overall, I only really needed the Complete Study Guide.

Lastly, the 2006 (labeled 2007 exam by some testing proctors) will be retired next July.The 2009 test is already available.Be careful when you buy this book, if you want to take the 2006 version and can take both test before the retirement date, I'd say buy it!If you want the 2009 test or can't finish the exams by the retirement date, don't.
... Read more

Product Description
The popular Unified Modeling Language (UML) is both a language and notation developed by the Object Management Group (OMG) used to design and create specifications for software systems. With the recent release of version 2.0 UML, the OMG has started the OMG-Certified UML Professional Program to provide an objective measure of UML knowledge. As a certified UML professional a developer has an important credential to present to employers and clients. Certification also benefits companies looking for skilled UML practitioners by giving them a basis for making hiring and promotion decisions.
UML 2 Certification Guide is the only official study guide to passing the new UML exams. This book systematically covers all of the topics covered in the exams, and has been carefully reviewed by the OMG. The book begins by assuming only a basic knowledge of UML and then progresses far enough to allow a reader to pass both the fundamental and the intermediate level exams. Along the way the book also covers topics that are not in introductory books on UML but that are necessary to pass the exams. Tim Weilkiens is considered one of the top ten experts on UML, and both authors have extensive experience training developers to successfully take the exams.

* The official certification resource
* Assumes a basic knowledge of UML so that you can focus immediately on the exams
* Written by two authors known for their skill as trainers, consultants, and developers
* Developed systematically to enable you to master all exam topics-without exception
* Covers the use of UML for applications, as required by the exams, both inside and outside of the realm of software development
* Includes a practice exam, glossary, list of books, and website information ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Great for Language Geeks, not for those trying to learn UML
1. What makes this book unique.
2. Who this book is NOT for.
3. Who would benefit from this book.

1. UNIQUE
Unlike all other books I have seen on the Unified Modeling Language (UML), this book neither attempts to assist the reader in learning the UML, nor does it attempt to assist the reader in applying the UML. The reader will, of course, learn a great deal about the UML. In fact this book provides a detailed and methodical explanation of the UML meta-model, and may very well be the only book to do so (the only other source for this information, that I am aware of, is the UML Specification itself).

2. NOT
As stated above, this book does not assist the reader in learning UML. Most books introduce a small number of notation elements, explain them, and then add to that in a graduated fashion. This is like reading an I-Can-Read book, where core vocabulary is used over and over again, and new words won't be introduced until one picks up the next volume in the series. UML 2 Certification Guide is like reading a text about grammar principles that is written in the language itself, thus command of the language (in this case UML) is expected at the outset.

Don't bother looking into this book unless you are already familiar with UML notation, especially UML Class models. Most (if not all) of the notation gets explained eventually, but attempting to follow the presentation with only this text as a guide would invite unnecessary frustration. There are many good books available to learn the UML. Use one of those for that purpose.

Some people might be looking for practical advice on how to use the notations they have learned. This is decidedly not the book for you. There is no attempt to demonstrate application beyond the detailed example of the UML itself. Books on methodology exist; these generally depend upon your purpose. Are you a Business Analyst or a Software Engineer? The right book for you is out there, but this isn't it.

3. BENEFIT
I enjoyed this book. I first learned about the Meta-Object Facility (MOF) when reading Model Driven Architecture and Ontology Development, by Gasevic, et al. I have read multiple books that explain how to read or apply the UML. Speaking as an ontology geek, a book that provides a detailed meta-model for the humble lifeline is really cool. So, if you are interested in learning about the UML meta-model, or are already familiar with UML notation, but want a deep-dive into what makes the UML a formal language, I can easily recommend this book.

I would like to recommend this book more broadly. The purpose of the book is to prepare for UML Certification (the OCUP). Unfortunately I have never seen a job announcement that mentions OCUP, and requests I have made in professional groups about the utility of the OCUP have been ignored. I can only assume the OCUP is unknown and unused by the general software engineering and business analysis communities, so reading this book for its original purpose is unlikely to have a professional payoff.

Outstanding study guide and valuable reference book
If you are seeking certification in the Unified Modeling Language (UML), then you must read "UML 2 Certification Guide: Fundamental & Intermediate Exams".It is an outstanding study guide as well as a valuable reference book for the experienced UML Practitioner.In this well-crafted and well-organized book, Tim Weilkiens and Bernd Oestereich explain UML is such a way that each chapter builds knowledge necessary for the following chapters.
I found this book very helpful for obtaining the certification.UML's key definitions and concepts are defined, modeled, and described clearly and concisely.The sample tests revealed strengths and gaps in my understanding, and allowed me to focus my studies.From the information in each chapter, I prepared flash cards.The sample test questions translated directly as did the key definitions.I suggest this technique for anyone preparing for the exam.
I passed the examination on my first attempt.This book continues to serve as a valuable reference for my modeling efforts.I recommend this book to anyone seeking UML 2 Certification.
__Joseph Starwood

A Poor Effort from the OMG
I passed my UML Fundamental Exam using this book as my main text because it was recommended for this exam.But it was a far harder effort than it needed to have been.

I dislike this book for its lack of clarity.In particular:

1) The translation too often leaves you puzzling.Here is one example including surrounding sentences for context.
"The entire activity terminates as soon as a token reaches a final node regardless of how many other tokens are still within the activity. Several incoming edges that have only one of them must transport a token.As soon as a token is made available at one of the edges the final node is activated and the activity terminates".

What does "Several incoming edges that have only one of them must transport a token" mean?

2) Statements too often are wrong.An example is a discussion on p111 about include and exclude relationships that reaches the wrong conclusion.

3) Too many figure and diagram references are incorrect.Try to find Figure 2.6.2: it is really Figure 2.122.Figures 2.54 and 2.55 are the wrong way round.

4) Primitive Data Types are defined as: 1) Integer, 2) Boolean (you have to search for this one because a typo puts it with Integer), 3) Unlimited Natural.It is a surprise to find in the answer to a question on Primitive Data Types that String should also be included.

Not Enough
It only describes what other books have described; therefore, it does not make it distinguishable from others. It could have been better if there is chapter of questions (e.g. 200+ questions) for the exam along with its answers.

Great Resource
I used this book to prepare for the basic exam and passed it first try with a score of about 85%.Its a tough, quite abstract exam but I think a very good one and this book would have been all I needed to pass. The sample exam in the book is a very good indication of where your level needs to be.The certification guide also deepened my knowledge of UML considerably - which I have been using off and on over the past 8 years.
The book is perhaps a little too terse and very dense and thats the only reason I didnt give it 5 stars as a preparation resource.
I'm going to use it to prepare for the intermediate exam too... ... Read more

Product Description

With the expert insight of leading coding educator Carol J. Buck, this complete exam review highlights the content you'll need to master to pass the AAPC CPCÒ certification exam and take your coding career to the next step. An easy-to-follow outline format guides you through the anatomy, terminology, and pathophysiology for each organ system, reimbursement concepts, an overview of CPT, ICD-9-CM, and HCPCS coding, and more. Two full practice exams and a final exam modeled on the actual CPCÒ exam simulate the examination experience and help you build the confidence to succeed.

Customer Reviews (16)

this is an awesome book!
Best book for review for this type of course.I was told 100% pass rate on the CPC using this book! Arrived in perfect condition and very fast.

Good study guide
I bought this in June, 2010 and studied the whole summer. I took the CPC cert exam 10/2/10 and passed (1st try)! Overall, I think this study guide is good, but I did find a few errors. I tried looking for the author and publisher's e-mail addresses and/or phone numbers to alert them of the mistakes but couldn't find either. The study guide is user-friendly w/ practice quizzes after each chapter. The exams were very similar to the actual AAPC certification exam. I recommend preparing for the cert exam 4-6 months in advance. You really need that much time to absorb all the info in a productive manner w/out burning out. Good luck!

great
Book is great, even better than I expected. Great for repetition of medical vocabulary and coding guidlines. It is really useful before taking CPC exam. CD enclosed with book is also helpful. Highly recommended.

CPC Billing Exam
I found this book to be very insightful regarding the information required to pass the CPC coding exam.The layout of this exam book is very easy to follow and it steps you through each body system thoroughly. The sections for insurance reimbursement, surgery, radiology, etc., was very helpful to refresh what I learned in my school courses.

Buy this book only for the enclosed CPC practice coding tests
I was VERY DISAPPOINTED in this book.Buy it only for the review tests.The text material had no relevance to the actual CPC test.I spent a lot of time using the book materials to prepare for the test.When I returned to the sample test I saw that I had wasted vaulable time by studying the information in the text.The actual CPC test is heavily procedure-centered and the information in this book does not prepare the tester for these requirements. ... Read more

Product Description
Becoming a certified computer technician can take your career to new heights. Unfortunately, sitting down to take the A+ Certification exam can do the same for your blood pressure—but don’t get your cables in a knot!

A+ Certification Workbook for Dummies gives you everything you need to sharpen your skills and boost your confidence as you prepare for the A+ Certification exam. Reflecting the tone and content of the actual test, this friendly workbook includes hundreds of hands-on exercises, scores of quizzes covering the terms and specifications you’ll need to memorize, and tons of troubleshooting “story problems” that require critical thinking and application of theory.

With A+ Certification Workbook for Dummies, you’ll get practical guidance and helpful tips on answering questions and solving problems in all areas covered on the real exam, including:

• Protecting yourself and your PC
• Motherboards and CPUs
• Memory, BIOS, and CMOS
• Disk storage
• Power supplies and portable PCs
• Ports, cables, and connectors
• Monitors and adapters
• Printers
• Multimedia and input devices

Plus, you’ll get hands-on experience with:

• Installing and upgrading Windows
• Files, folders, and command prompts
• Running and configuring applications
• System resources and device drivers
• Optimizing and maintaining Windows
• Understanding the system files and boot sequences
• Troubleshooting hardware, bootstrap, startup, and application problems

Bonus CD-ROM includes example files and a test engine with additional review questions!

A+ Certification Workbook for Dummies gives you everything you need to pass the A+ Certification Exam and prove you have what it takes to work in the competitive computer support industry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A+ Certification book -
the book was in great condition and well worth the price - thx so very much!

Great Seller
Very happy with this purchase. This book was a great help to me in this college class. I highly recommend it.

A+ Certification
Excellent guide book to A+ Certification. Excellent product of knowledge, book reviews networking and security procedures, as well as maintenance and trouble shooting. ... Read more

Product Description

CCNP TSHOOT 642-832

Official Certification Guide

Kevin Wallace, CCIE® No. 7945

CCNP TSHOOT Exam Preparation

• Master CCNP® TSHOOT 642-832 exam topics
• Assess your knowledge with chapter-opening quizzes
• Review key concepts with Exam Preparation Tasks
• Practice with realistic exam questions on the CD-ROM

The official study guide helps you master all the topics on the CCNP TSHOOT exam, including

• Common network maintenance tasks and tools
• Troubleshooting models
• Cisco IOS® troubleshooting commands and features
• Troubleshooting Cisco Catalyst® Switches and STP
• Troubleshooting BGP, OSPF, and EIGRP routing protocols
• Route redistribution, security, and router performance troubleshooting
• IP services and IP communications troubleshooting
• IPv6 troubleshooting
• Large enterprise network troubleshooting

CCNP TSHOOT 642-832 Official Certification Guide is a best-of-breed Cisco® exam study guide that focuses specifically on the objectives for the CCNP® TSHOOT exam. Senior instructor and best-selling author Kevin Wallace shares preparation hints and test-taking tips, helping you identify areas of weakness and improve both your conceptual knowledge and hands-on skills. Material is presented in a concise manner, focusing on increasing your understanding and retention of exam topics.

CCNP TSHOOT 642-832 Official Certification Guide presents you with an organized test preparation routine through the use of proven series elements and techniques. “Do I Know This Already?” quizzes open each chapter and enable you to decide how much time you need to spend on each section. Exam topic lists make referencing easy. Chapter-ending Exam Preparation Tasks sections help drill you on key concepts you must know thoroughly.

The companion CD-ROM contains a powerful testing engine that enables you to focus on individual topic areas or take complete, timed exams. The assessment engine also tracks your performance and provides feedback on a module-by-module basis, laying out a complete study plan for review.

Well regarded for its level of detail, assessment features, and challenging review questions and exercises, this official study guide helps you master the concepts and techniques that will enable you to succeed on the exam the first time.

CCNP TSHOOT 642-832 Official Certification Guide is part of a recommended learning path from Cisco that includes simulation and hands-on training from authorized Cisco Learning Partners and self-study products from Cisco Press. To find out more about instructor-led training, e-learning, and hands-on instruction offered by authorized Cisco Learning Partners worldwide, please visit www.cisco.com/go/authorizedtraining.

Kevin Wallace, CCIE® No. 7945, is a certified Cisco instructor who holds multiple Cisco certifications including CCSP®, CCVP®, CCNP®, and CCDP®, in addition to multiple security and voice specializations. With Cisco experience dating back to 1989 (beginning with a Cisco AGS+ running Cisco IOS 7.x), Kevin has been a network design specialist for the Walt Disney World Resort, a senior technical instructor for SkillSoft/Thomson NETg/KnowledgeNet, and a network manager for Eastern Kentucky University.

This volume is part of the Official Certification Guide Series from Cisco Press. Books in this series provide officially developed exam preparation materials that offer assessment, review, and practice to help Cisco Career Certification candidates identify weaknesses, concentrate their study efforts, and enhance their confidence as exam day nears.

Companion CD-ROM

The CD-ROM contains 100 practice questions for the exam developed by Cisco Press and delivered by the Boson Exam Environment (BEE).

Boson’s ExSim-Max premium practice exams available at  www.boson.com

Category: Cisco Press—Cisco Certification

Covers: CCNP TSHOOT exam 642-832

Customer Reviews (12)

good buy
i think it`s a good buy... probably the best way to get ready for tshoot till now. i recommend.

CCNP TSHOOT Review
The TSHOOT exam guide is an excellent guide to the updated CCNP program.Since I have already passed the BSCI and BCMSN over a year ago, I needed to brush up on some of the older topics.This guide covered those concepts well and introduced the new topics in a great way.This book is not only recommended for the certification, but also recommended for any network engineer interested in troubleshooting Cisco (or any network vendor) network gear. The trouble ticket approach of this book is an excellent approach and really prepares you for the tshoot exam format.

Please note this version I received does not include the PDF of the book.This was very disappointing.

A great addition to my growing collection!
I recently earned my CCNP by completing the 4 retired exams. TSHOOT (642-832) is a replacement for ISCW and ONT, a move to create a more "specialized" or "focused" certification. I personally would have loved this book during my early years. I believe that troubleshooting is a skill learned from hands-on experience, not to mention a handful of mistakes, and thorough understanding of the technologies used in the network.

Chapters 1- 3 are my favorite, it gives the reader solid fundamentals to systematical approach the art/science of troubleshooting. The foundations presented will assist in expediting the resolution of a network issue, leaving most guess work out the door. Different troubleshooting methodologies are presented giving the reader a perspective on why a certain approach is used, when it is useful when its is not, or why one is better than the other on a given situation. Chapters 4 - 12 are quick reviews of the various protocols theories in conjunction to their configuration, show, debug commands. The reader is presented with a specific approaches in troubleshooting each protocol. Each protocol behaves differently, hence a slightly different approach in diagnosing a problem. A Lab Portfolio would be an excellent companion for this exam, unfortunately development of this product is currently unknown.

There are "key topics" noted throughout the book, assisting the reader on topics they should focus on for exam preparation.At the end of each chapter a list of all noted "key topics" is presented, an additional reminder for the reader. The "trouble tickets" are first introduced in Chapter 4, a great addition, but seemed a little easy. The "practice exams" included in the CD-ROM contains 100 practice questions, the usual multiple choice, drag/drop type questions utilizing the Boson Exam Environment. The inclusion of a simulation similar to the demo that was released to preview the exam could have been an excellent bonus.

I enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it. For anyone looking to "spice up" or revise their troubleshooting approach/techniques, a good resource to have on hand with bits of golden nuggets. For test takers, this book alone will probably not help in passing the TSHOOT (642-832) certification exam. It is ultimately the responsibility of the reader to understand the underlying theories, their correct configurations for proper operation, and maintenance. One can't troubleshoot a problem if correct configuration and operation is not understood. I highly suggest going over the BSCI/ROUTE and BCMSN/SWITCH material, implementations, mis/configuration, and verification commands. The chapter configuration exercises along with the "old" Lab Portfolios compliments this book for its lack of simulated troubleshooting scenarios. Taking the Cisco Networking Academy at your local college, assuming one is available, is advisable. Studying the publicly available topology and demo simulation of the exam is also recommended. Information can be found at the Cisco Learning Network website for the troubleshooting demo and topology used in the exam.

A Must Read For Cisco Techs At All Levels
This book is an awsome book. I thought I was good at troubleshooting network problems until I readed this book. It showed me how to logically think and work the problem through to get to a satisfactory ending. It starts off by teaching you simplified model of troubleshooting.

Problem Reporting.
Problem Diagnosis.
Problem resolution.

Then it takes you into an area the really helped me to better understand how to correctly troubleshoot.

Popular Troubleshooting Methods.

Also how to establish a baseline and what tools to use to fine the cause of the problem. This book is good for someone who's just starting and those who are advanced in this field. I recommend this book to all Cisco Technician who has a desire to be the best. This book will open your eyes to things that you have not seen but is present before you daily.

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Great material, fresh format
I am a current CCNP who has made regular use of the Cisco Press Certification Guide Series to pass Cisco Exams. Recently, Cisco revamped the certification path for its CCNP certification. This guide is the first for the new TSHOOT exam.

Although the certification path I followed for CCNP did not include the TSHOOT exam, I recognized most of the actual material from the older BSCI & BCMSN tests. However, the presentation of this material has changed dramatically. Where the older material typically required you to know several show commands and the output they produce, the new material focuses on problems that may occur and the effective use of show commands to isolate the problem and identify what needs to be corrected. This is typically quite a bit trickier than simply memorizing the show commands and you will find this guide a welcome help in preparing for examination.

One feature I really liked was the inclusion of "trouble ticket" sections in many of the chapters where you are presented with a trouble ticket, given some show command output and asked to identify the problem. The trouble tickets are a useful exercise and help bridge the gap between book knowledge and what you might encounter in real life. Throughout the book there is an emphasis on creating baselines and the author does a good job of showing how useful these baselines are during later troubleshooting efforts.

The software included with the book was a disappointment. Boson has a great reputation for NetSim, their Cisco network simulator, but I did not find any simulated scenarios on the CD. On the CDs from my older CCNP certification guides they would usually include one or two simulation exercises. This material contained only multiple choice, multiple answer and drag & drop style questions were presented. I felt this was a missed opportunity especially because the TSHOOT material is more suited for the scenario style questions than for multiple choice questions. One redeeming point is that I was able to register the exam to my account on [...] and this makes the process of retrieving previously registered exams on a new computer relatively easy.

Overall, the CCNP TSHOOT Certification Guide is an advisable investment for anyone seeking to take the exam, delivering the same quality material we have all come to expect of Cisco Press exam preparation materials. The guide is also a good resource if you are looking to augment your troubleshooting skills or check how your existing knowledge stands up to the new exam format. ... Read more