Server+ All-in-One Exam Guide: Nice, But Not Quite There
Our reviewer wonders whether a rush to get this book on the shelf is the reason some topics are lacking.
by Andy Barkl
3/20/2002 --
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| Title |
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Server+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide |
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| Author |
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Stephen J. Bigelow |
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| Publisher |
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Osborne/McGraw-Hill |
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| Publication Date |
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May 2001 |
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| ISBN |
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0-07-213161-6 |
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| Price |
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$59.95 (U.S) |
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| Pros |
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Nice organization. Includes detailed coverage of third-party server maintenance and diagnostic tools. |
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| Cons |
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Not enough coverage of concepts, server planning and disaster recovery. |
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| Verdict |
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Not for those without hands-on experience. |
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CompTIA's Server+ certification exam was released in February of 2001. The Osborne Server+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide hit the shelves early in the summer of 2001, and I suspect the priority was to be first on the shelf. This book by itself will not get you past the Server+ exam if you have any less than the suggested amount of hands-on server experience, though it will get you started in the right direction.
The Server+ exam covers a wide range of topics and requires a diverse level of knowledge of servers, networks, operating systems, and hardware. Server+ is a standalone certification, but it can also be used in combination with the A+ exam as an elective for the new Microsoft MCSA certification. It can also be used as an elective for EMC's Server Management Certification Track, but not Compaq's ASE.
The book includes a CD-ROM with six practice exams and many third-party maintenance and diagnostic tools. The practice exams are all technically correct but at times do border on obscure topics. I like the coverage in the book of the utilities, which includes screen shots and step-by-step instructions. With so many to choose from, I think the author selected a good mix of software to cover.
However, the author focuses too much on hardware and misses some important points in the process. More concepts would have been nice. For instance, Chapter 5 mentions backup types, but doesn't discuss the details and purpose of backup methods such as Grandfather, Father, Son or the Tower of Hanoi. It's very important to understand how something works, rather than just stepping through a few examples. I would have also liked to have seen more space devoted to topics such as planning and disaster recovery.
There are some really good reference tables of hardware and device settings, but at times the author assumes you are configuring a specific server and using specific software utilities, even though the topic is more general. With a chapter devoted to each major Server+ topic, there is plenty of material, although I noted some technical inaccuracies. There are also plenty of screen shots and diagrams included. The author does cover all of the CompTIA Server+ exam objectives thoroughly enough to prepare you for the exam -- provided you use additional reference materials and your own experience as well.
I am going to give this book 3 out of 5 stars. I hope there is a second edition released soon and that the author gives more consideration to planning and disaster recovery, not just hardware.
Have you read this book? Let us know what you think: Rate it below!
Andy Barkl, CCNP, CCDP, CISSP, MCT, MCSE:Security, MCSA:Security, A+, CTT+, i-Net+, Network+, Security+, Server+, CNA, has over 19 years of experience in the IT field. He's the owner of MCT & Associates LLC, a technical training and consulting firm in Phoenix, Arizona. He spends much of his time in the classroom but has also been responsible for many Microsoft Windows 2000, Exchange 2000, and Cisco networking deployments for many clients across Arizona. He's also the online editor for MCPMag.com, TCPMag.com, CertCities.com, and a contributing author and editor for Sybex and Cisco Press. He hosts a multitude of exam preparation chats monthly on MCPmag.com, TCPmag.com and CertCities.com. You can reach him at .
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