An Inside Look at i-Net+
What aspiring Internet professionals need to know to achieve this entry-level
CompTIA certification.
by Bob Potemski
10/31/2000 --
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| Exam
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i-Net+
(IK0-001) |
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| Vendor
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CompTIA |
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| Status
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Live
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| Reviewer's
Rating |
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"Not
overwhelmingly difficult, but tricky in places." |
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| Test
Information |
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72
questions, 90 minute time limit, 73% pass rate. $185 U.S. (non-members);
$135 U.S. (CompTIA members). |
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| Who
Should Take This Exam? |
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Those
who want verification of their fundamental Internet skills.
Don't expect to be offered a job as a vice president for E-commerce,
or even as a Webmaster, based solely on this credential. However,
don't sell this certification short, either. With it, you'll
know more about the Internet and how it works than most. |
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| What
Classes Prepare You? |
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No
CompTIA classes available, but various training centers and
programs offer their own classes. |
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| Test
Objectives URL |
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http://www.comptia.com/
certification/inetplus/
blueprint.pdf |
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CompTIA, the Computer Technology Industry Association, is one of a handful
of vendors who fill an explicit need in the certification industry today--providing
vendor-neutral certifications in specific areas within the field of information
technology. Passing its i-Net+ exam is meant to certify to current and potential
employers that you possess baseline Internet skills and knowledge. This isn't
the most difficult exam around, but passing it requires a range of knowledge
that is quite broad, yet still very detailed.
Three To Get Ready
There are three underlying principles that you should keep in mind
when preparing for the i-Net+ exam. First, you'll need to understand that "baseline
Internet skills" means a whole lot more than pointing, clicking, searching and
using your browser. Check the sidebar for functional descriptions of the exam
objectives. You'll be expected to recognize and define Internet vocabulary terms,
and to differentiate between terms that are similar. You'll also need to demonstrate
an understanding of basic networking techniques and show more than a passing
familiarity with all aspects of the World Wide Web, from page creation to the
principles of e-commerce.
Second, understand that it is the breadth of the test that feeds its difficulty.
Unlike a specific operating system or application exam, the i-Net+ test requires
that you shift your thinking back and forth among the six areas of expertise
over which you're being tested. While I didn't find the information in the study
guides exceptionally difficult, there was a lot of it to memorize and keep straight.
If you are not an experienced certification test-taker, the added pressure of
watching the time tick away will make it even more difficult for you to recall
the information necessary to answer the questions correctly.
Third, understand that the i-Net+ exam is not meant to be the final Internet
certification that an individual holds. (See our article on Internet certifications
located at http://www.certcities.com/editorial/features/story.asp?EditorialsID=9).
Look at this certification as a starting point for any one of a number of Internet-centered
careers, and plan to seek additional follow-on certifications.
Inside the Exam
With these concepts as our basis, let's take a look at the
exam itself. The material on the exam is drawn from six topic areas:
- Internet basics
- Internet clients and infrastructure
- Internet development
- Networking
- Security
- Business and e-commerce
Each topic is represented on the test to one degree or another, and each question
is weighted equally, regardless of its topic area.
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Internet Basics (10 percent)
Topic 1 is Internet basics. Questions from this topic area provide a
chance for potentially easy points and a confidence boost for the test taker,
as the topics covered are the closest to those encountered by everyday Internet
users. Specifically, make sure you know your way around a URL, completely, from
front to back. Be able to identify and explain the function of each part. Most
importantly, make sure you have a handle on and can explain the things that
most users take for granted.
FTP is a good example of this. It's one thing to click on a link that says
"Click here to download file," but explaining what happens when someone actually
does that is something completely different. An Internet professional should
be able to make that kind of explanation.
Similarly, other areas of expertise you might be asked to demonstrate include
issues affecting bandwidth, access, effective search engine usage and connectivity.
Be able to explain how Internet connectivity works, from the single user dialing
in to AOL via an ISP to the huge entities that create and maintain the Internet
backbone. You'll also need to know something about networking, specifically
how additional devices such as dedicated appliances, Web servers, proxies, routers,
et al., figure into the Internet equation. The basics account for 10 percent
of the exam.
Internet Clients and Infrastructure (20 percent)
Topic 2, Internet clients and infrastructure, deals primarily with
getting on to the Internet, and staying on once you get there. Even the most
basic of networking books will tell you that TCP/IP is the protocol of necessity
for Internet connectivity, so it makes sense that you should understand it pretty
well if you want to be certified as an Internet professional. Understand what
TCP/IP is, why it's necessary, and the ways in which it is used today. Develop
an affinity for some of the lesser-used functions of your browser (Telnet, for
example), and make sure that you are clear in your head about the similarities
and differences between services like WINS and DNS. Topic 2 also addresses network
addressing, sub-netting and subnet masking. A knowledgeable Internet professional
ought to be comfortable with explaining the ins and outs of each of these functions.
Questions from this topic comprise 20 percent of the exam.
Internet Development (20 percent)
This topic covers the subject of Internet development, and focuses
on the things that make the Internet work, such as HTML and JavaScript, as well
as the things that make the Internet useful, such as relational databasing.
Internet professionals should know enough about HTML and JavaScript to interpret
code samples--for example, looking at a piece of code and determining what effect
it would have if included in a Web page. You'll also benefit from understanding
how different "building blocks" can be put together to build solutions, as in
knowing how CGI scripts are written.
Tip: Don't get stumped early on. If, for some reason, the first few questions
you see make you wonder if you've been given the wrong exam, choose an answer,
mark the questions for review and move on-quickly- until you get to one that
you know you know. Answering a few questions you're sure about will help you
regain any confidence you've lost.
For many of the existing scripting languages, you'll be fine with being able
to identify which ones are used to achieve specific purposes. You will need
to know the latest plug-ins (Shockwave, Flash, QuickTime, RealPlayer and Windows
Media Player) and what they're used for, and you should devote a decent chunk
of time to understanding the pros and cons of the dozen or so graphics file
formats available to Web page developers. You'll also be expected to understand
what happens when a Web developer puts all of these functions and features together,
so don't be surprised if you're asked to troubleshoot a Web page scenario where
something isn't quite working correctly.
In terms of relational databasing, make sure that you are able to explain the
technology behind connecting a Web page to a database. You'll need to know which
software and hardware components would be part of a relational database solution,
and also will be expected to demonstrate the discernment necessary to make appropriate
security recommendations for connecting a database to the World Wide Web. This
subject area accounts for 20 percent of the questions you'll see.
Networking (25 percent)
Topic 4, networking, is arguably the most important topic of the six.
I say that because networking figures so prominently in nearly all computing
today. There are numerous subject areas covered in this section of the test.
Some of them, such as class address ranges or data transfer speeds, are just
things that any Internet professional ought to know, and are best dealt with
by memorizing. Other subjects, such as connectivity problems, require an explanatory
understanding, and therefore require more thought. For example, a number of
possible causes should come to mind if you are presented with a scenario involving
pages or parts of pages not loading, difficulties involving email, or general
Internet access.
Since networking involves both hardware and software, a properly prepared Internet
professional should have a good command of the role and use of all appropriate
hardware (NICs, routers, bridges, caching devices and more), as well as local
and remote protocols and services, from the well-known HTTP to the lesser-discussed
LDAP. You should be familiar with domains and domain servers, proxies, and top-level
domains. Don't be surprised to see a country-level domain from a relatively
obscure country.
You'll receive the biggest payoff for your studying time by making sure that
you have a thorough understanding of TCP/IP. TCP/IP is the protocol of the Internet,
and anyone in an Internet-related career needs to understand it forwards and
backwards, and should also be extremely conversant with tools used to troubleshoot,
diagnose and repair TCP/IP-based networks. At 25 percent of content, this is
the single largest subject area over which you'll be tested.
Internet Security (15 percent)
Topic 5 is Internet security, a very important topic given the headlines
of the past year. Candidates seeking i-Net+ certification are expected to demonstrate
an understanding of all aspects of Internet security: controlling Internet and
network access, user authentication, encryption, transaction security and breach
detection. Thoroughly understanding public and private key encryption is very
important, especially since the "Digital Signature Law," more correctly known
as the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, went into
effect on October 1. Of course understanding how to implement virus protection
is crucial, as is familiarity with different types of hack attacks (denial of
service, ping, synflood, login, and the like). You should also be familiar with
the security ramifications of using intranets, extranets and virtual private
networks. 15 percent of your questions will come from here.
Internet Business and E-Commerce (10 percent)
Topic 6 is Internet business and e-commerce, another subject where
the importance is related to real-life events. E-commerce is exploding, with
wild successes and spectacular failures both making news. As an Internet professional,
you'll be required to demonstrate a solid foundation in the technology that
makes e-commerce possible, as well as strategies that will make it successful.
On the technology side, the three "P"s--push, pull and payment--are all areas
with which you should be conversant. Licensing and copyright are addressed here
also, so be familiar with the concepts involved in protecting proprietary material.
And of course, you should be able to recognize examples of the different commerce
models: business-to-business, business-to-consumer, electronic data interchange,
cataloging, marketing, and the rest. This section is 10 percent of the exam.
My Impressions of the Exam
Overall, this is not an overwhelmingly difficult test, but passing
it requires a lot of attention to detail, a strong professional vocabulary,
and good reasoning skills. Also, I recommend that you use at least two sources
of sample questions; the more sources you use, the better off you will be. I
used two study guides and scored greater than 95 percent on six straight simulated
exams, yet I passed my real test with just below an 80.
As with all exams, read the questions carefully, and make sure that you're
answering the question that is actually being asked. And remember, if you are
pursuing an Internet career, i-Net+ is most likely going to be the first in
a series of Internet-related exams for you, so study to learn, don't just study
to pass.
Have you taken this exam? How difficult was it for you? Rate it below
or discuss Internet certifications in our Forums.
Bob Potemski is a writer and Certified Technical Trainer currently living in the Kansas City area. A transplanted New Yorker, Bob holds a Bachelor’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master’s from Long Island University. In addition to his technical training certification, Bob is iNet+ certified by CompTIA, and is a member of ASTD, the American Society for Training and Development. When he’s not writing or training, Bob moderates the new Technical Writing forum at www.brainbuzz.com, and also develops and validates e-certification tests for www.brainbench.com. His outside interests include dogs, (he has four), Harleys, (he’s still saving for one), theater, comedy and New York sports teams the Mets and the Rangers.
More articles by Bob Potemski:
Get Smart!
A Complete i-Net Education
Certification Success Stories
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