In the next section, I describe an ideal Solaris 9 Network Administrator candidate, knowing full well that only a few actual candidates meet this ideal. In fact, my description of that ideal candidate might seem downright scary. But take heart because although the requirements to obtain a Solaris 9 Network Administrator certification may seem pretty formidable, they are by no means impossible to meet. However, you should be keenly aware that it does take time, requires some expense, and consumes a substantial effort. You can get all the real-world motivation you need from knowing that many others have gone before you. You can follow in their footsteps. If you're willing to tackle the process seriously and do what it takes to obtain the necessary experience and knowledge, you can take ”and pass ”the certification test. In fact, the Exam Crams and the companion Exam Preps are designed to make it as easy as possible for you to prepare for this exam. The same, of course, is true for other Solaris certifications, including
The Ideal Solaris 9 Network Administrator CandidateJust to give you some idea of what an ideal Solaris 9 Network Administrator candidate is like, here are some relevant statistics about the background and experience such an individual might have. Don't worry if you don't meet these qualifications (or, indeed, if you don't even come close), because this world is far from ideal, and where you fall short is simply where you'll have more work to do. The ideal candidate will have
I believe that well under half of all certification candidates meet these requirements; most probably meet less than half. (At least when they begin the certification process candidates generally don't meet these ideal standards.) It's worth reminding you that to take the Solaris 9 Network Administrator Exam you must be a Sun Certified System Administrator ”if you're not, you will not be allowed to take the exam. But, because all those who already have their network administrator certification have survived this ordeal, you can survive it, too ” especially if you heed what this self-assessment can tell you about what you already know and what you need to learn. Put Yourself to the TestThe following series of questions and observations is designed to help you determine how much work you'll face in pursuing Solaris certification and what kinds of resources you may consult on your quest. Be absolutely honest in your answers, or you'll end up wasting money on exams you're not ready to take. There are no right or wrong answers, only steps along the path to certification. Only you can decide where you really belong in the broad spectrum of aspiring candidates. Two things should be clear from the outset, however:
Educational Background
Hands-on ExperiencePractical experience is one of the most important factors in achieving success on the Solaris exam. If I leave you with only one realization after taking this self-assessment, it should be that there is no substitute for time spent practicing and using the networking facilities and commands in Solaris that you'll be tested on repeatedly and in depth.
Before you even think about taking a Solaris exam, make sure you've spent enough time with Solaris 9 to understand how the networking functions work and are configured. Also, study how to troubleshoot the software when things go wrong. This will help you in the exam ”as well as in real life. Testing Your Exam ReadinessWhether you attend a formal class on a specific topic to get ready for an exam or use written materials to study on your own, some preparation for the Solaris certification exam is essential. At $150.00 U.S. ( & pound ;100 U.K.) a try, pass or fail, you want to do everything you can to pass on your first attempt. That's where studying comes in. I have included in this book several practice exam questions for each chapter, as well as two sample tests, so if you don't score well on the chapter questions, you can study more and then tackle the sample tests at the end of the book. The score needed to pass the exam is 70%. But if you don't earn a score of at least 75% on the sample tests included in this book in Chapters 14 and 16, I recommend that you investigate other practice test resources available via the Web ”locate these using your favorite search engine. For a given subject, consider taking a class if you've tackled self-study materials, taken the test, and failed anyway. If you can afford the privilege, the opportunity to interact with an instructor and fellow students can make all the difference in the world. For information about Sun classes, visit the Sun Training Web site at http://training.sun.com/US/catalog/courses. If you can't afford to take a class, visit the Sun Training Web site anyway, because it includes free sample questions. Even if you can't afford to spend money, you should still invest in some low-cost practice exams from commercial vendors , because they can help you assess your readiness to pass a test better than any other tool. Check with www.unixcert.net for other available resources.
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