If you don't mind me asking... what was your mindset when you decided to get the Net+ instead of say the CCNA?

Thanks for the replies.

I think going for the Sec+ is a good option and one that i would benefit from. However, after reading some posts and reviews on the Sec+, i wonder if my background in networking is strong enough to do the Sec+ straight up, or if i should do the Net+ first. I'll do some more research and find out.

As far as the Linux+ is concerned, that's something i'm interested in doing in the near future. Good point on that as well. 

Honestly, i'm going for the MCSA/MCSE and was thinking of choosing the A+/Net+ elective. The reason i picked that over the Sec+ is because i was thinking superficially...two certs as opposed to one. However, you brought up a good point.

I have been building and fixing workstations for many years, built my first server for work a few weeks ago. In addition to having decent hardware knowledge, i've also taken two classes in college that went deeper into hardware, so maybe it'd be a waste of time and money.

You were correct in assuming that im focusing on security and system administration.

The other thing is also that i would like to get at least two of these CompTIA certs before January 2011, which is when you will have to re-cert every 3 years.

So i should either do Net+ and Sec+ in the next 4 months (if i feel like i can pull off Sec+ in 4 months while also studying for Net+), or pick a different elective for the MCSA that is security related.

Thanks a lot for your input!

I decided to go ahead and start the process of getting my A+/Net+.

I looked around for ideas on books, on this site and also on the recommended list by CompTIA and found a few that look like good ideas. However, while a few had good reviews, other books that "look" good from the cover, have no reviews. So i was wondering what you guys can tell me about these options please:

CompTIA A+

1) CompTIA A+ Complete Certification Kit, Second Edition (Exam 220-701/220-702) http://search.barnesandnoble.com/CompTIA-A-Complete-Certification-Kit-Second-Edition/Quentin-Docter/e/9780470486474/?itm=7&USRI=comptia
** This one looks like it would contain the necessary material for both exams, but there are no reviews on it.**

2)CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, (Exams 220-701 & 220-702) / Edition 7 http://search.barnesandnoble.com/CompTIA-A-Certification-All-in-One-Exam-Guide/Michael-Meyers/e/9780071701334/?itm=1&USRI=comptia

3)CompTIA A+ Complete Deluxe Study Guide: Exams 220-701 (Essentials) and 220-702 (Practical Application) http://search.barnesandnoble.com/CompTIA-A-Complete-Deluxe-Study-Guide/Quentin-Docter/e/9780470486481/?itm=13&USRI=comptia

CompTIA Network+

1)CompTIA Network+ http://search.barnesandnoble.com/CompTIA-Network/Todd-Lammle/e/9780470430972/?itm=15&USRI=comptia
**Again, this looks like the complete kit, but it has no reviews, and it only mentions exam N10-004. On the CompTIA site, it says there are two exams, N10-004 and JK0-016.**

2)CompTIA Network+ Deluxe Study Guide (Exam: N10-004, includes CD-ROM)  http://search.barnesandnoble.com/CompTIA-Network-Deluxe-Study-Guide/Todd-Lammle/e/9780470427484/?itm=3&USRI=comptia
**Leaning towards this one**

3)CompTIA Network+  http://search.barnesandnoble.com/CompTIA-Network/Michael-Meyers/e/9780071614870/?itm=2&USRI=comptia

I saw no mention of the JKO-016 exam on any of the Network+ books. Anyone know why that is?

Appreciate it!

Knb15

Problem has been solved.

Thanks for your replies dynamik.

In case anyone has this issue in the future, our problem was two fold.

1. We had a W2K3 standard edition media (with no Service Pack) but a server that required a W2K3 OS with Service Pack 2. That caused the OS installation to hang, without any errors mind you. So we slipstreamed Service Pack 2 into our OS media, and that did the trick.

2. Dell sent us a server, with a RAID Controller and Hard drives as we requested, but without the actual drivers for them. Therefore, during the install the OS needed those drivers and couldn't find it. This was solved simply by downloading the appropriate driver for the RAID Controller/Hard Drive, and slipstreaming it into the OS media (although it could've easily been done by using a floppy drive or bootable USB drive to accomplish the same).

@ Dynamik - You were correct by the way. SP2 includes everything SP1 has, so adding SP2 alone was enough.

Knb15

Also, in order to add SP2 to the media, i'll have to first add SP1 as well correct?

I'm going to try adding SP2 to our OS media and see if that does it.

I also downloaded The Bootable CD and will try that as well.

No, can't get in safe mode because there's no OS installed at the moment. It boots up and allows me to get to any of the configuration tools that are available, including booting from CD, or USB, BIOS config, etc...
 
It only hangs after it loads the drivers from the Windows CD, while on the Setup is starting windows.

We have encountered a problem while setting up a new server here at work, and i would appreciate some help from you guys.

Its a Dell PowerEdge server. We are attempting to install Windows Server 2003 standard edition on it. However, when we boot the OS, it gets stuck at the "Setup is starting windows".

We setup a RAID configuration (RAID 5), and at first we thought the RAID config was the problem (and so did dell). While trying to troubleshoot the problem with Dell, they thought it was a hardware problem and sent us a new RAID Controller. Changed the controller, and nothing.

Next we tried giving the OS the Raid Controller driver when setup was downloading the drivers (through a bootable USB). It asked for the driver, we provided it, but it is still getting stuck at the starting windows screen (with no HD activity).

Have you guys seen an issue like this before? Dell told us that its a problem the server has with Windows Server 2003 problem, that does not occur with Windows Server 2008. Which to me it sounds like BS, because its like we're getting cornered into buying server 2008 which is not what we want to do.

We have used this OS media before and have never had an issue with it. At the sametime we can't remember whether this OS we are using has SP2 on it by default because me and this other guy remember always having to download it after the OS is done installing. So that could very well be the problem.

Question:

1.Do you know if it is possible to add service pack 2 to the OS disk?
2. If our OS media does not have service pack 2, and that is what the server needs, would we get some type of error indicating as such, or would it just hang like that?


When i get home I'm going to install windows server 2003 from this media we are using here to check whether or not it has SP2. But until i get home and get to do that, i thought maybe you guys would have some thoughts, specially some of you that have dealt with servers extensively.

Thanks!

Hi Satyr and welcome to the forums.

Personally i don't know the answer to your question. However, from being around for a few months i've noticed that you need to be a bit more descriptive in your request to get a better answer from the guys/gals that do know the answer.

It would be useful if you provided what your current skill level is, if you have completed any certifications in the past, if you have any programming knowledge (what languages you know or are familiar with) or experience in any computer related fields.

Welcome to the forums Matt, I'm kind of a "new guy" here too just like you. The guys here have so much knowledge and experience and they are always willing to help!

About two weeks ago i started setting up a small lab for me to begin tinkering with things.

So far i have two machines, a desktop and a laptop.

The desktop is Win7, with VMWare Server. I've setup XP, Ubuntu, and a Ubuntu Server VMs so far. (The linux server VM is for me to learn to use a different OS server other than MS)

On the laptop, being that it is a 5 year old laptop with not much room for improvement, i have a dual boot of Ubuntu and Backtrack4.

They all access the internet and are operational, but i am still in the process of getting them linked (networked).

So far only one modem, one router (linksys), no switches.

Lots of learning to know how to use it properly, but you gotta start somewhere.


When you are installing your OS using VMWare Server, you have the option specifying whether you want the USB drive installed or not. Did you do that when you were setting it up?

"The bank doesn't believe any personal data was exposed by the flaw."

"We have no reason to believe that our customers' personal information has been accessed or used inappropriately by anyone,"

In addition to what hayabusa said, i really doubt that during the time that this app has been released and now, that no one else found this vulnerability and perhaps accessed or used it.

Congratulations!

That is some very good insight there.

A little late to the party, but congratulations!!