Skillsoft Network+ Study Software Questions

[SiliconJon]

I'm taking some refresher coursework for Network+ recertification with SkillSoft and shortly into the first chapter I already have some gripes or questions for clarification and was hoping some could explain to me if this info is thought to be correct in some manner and why. Having taken cert tests before I am familiar with questions that seemed to ask for incorrect answers, or at least seem to be assuming some factors or specifics that are not provided in the question.

The material states that Client/Server networks are both "more efficient" and more scalable than Peer to Peer networks, and it goes so far as to say that client/server networks are nearly infinitely scalable in size, implying but not directly stating that P2P network setups are not.

Q1) How are peer-to-peer networks less scalable than client/server? My understanding of p2p networks is they're incredibly scalable. The explanation given by the software for this is "the size of a client/server network is virtually unlimited. It can be continually grown by adding new clients and servers" which applies to p2p as well, does it not?

Q2) How are p2p networks less efficient in general? I can see this being correct under certain circumstances, but p2p networks are vastly more efficient in many situations such as heavy widespread data distribution, such as large patch deployments across a vast WAN environment as such a setup will prevent each and every client from requiring a dedicated transport from a single, or single set, or servers since p2p networking schemes allow the data to hop-scotch. The question explanation for this in the software is "A client/server network is more efficient because all the files are stored centrally on servers, making them easier to locate and access" which sounds more like administration than general efficiency.

[GroundZero3]

Think of this and how active directory works. When you have a client/server situation running AD, you have a share with a group. And in that group you have users assigned to it. You give them permissions you want them to have and everything is peachy. If you add a new user to AD you just add that user to the group and presto he assumes the permissions.

Now in a peer to peer situation if a client pc has a share and you add all the users, that pc only knows about the users you created on that computer itself. You will have to create the user elsewhere for other types of resources. Peer to peer isn't scalable in a large network enviroment, too much overhead/administration

[SiliconJon]

Sounds like my issue is with the semantics, then, since my first thought regarding scalability would be the number of nodes that can be included in the network, which their explanation would seem to agree with, but their vague question & answer does not. So scalability is referring to more than just lower layer communications, as the lower level of the OSI model operates in a peer-to-peer methodology which has allowed the massive "scalability" of the internet. But scaling upwards to the application layer and P2P does lose some serious scalability, which is what you're referring to, correct GZ?

My foul then for limiting the scope of the term scalability [and efficiency].

[GroundZero3]

Correct, scalability when it comes to the amount of pcs on the network generally means how much bandwidth you have and if you can a free port on a switch to plug into. In a peer to peer network or client server you can put as many clients as you want on the network. When it comes to administrating one setup trumps over the other for obvious reasons (mainly central management). Client/Server is more expensive due to the amount software cost, however peer to peer can cost more if it gets too large and you are wasting all your time managing stupid little things.

Don't worry about asking questions, everyone has a different way of explaining something. Some will make sense while others will make you scratch your head going what the hell?

[nemowolf]

Originally Posted by SiliconJon

Sounds like my issue is with the semantics, then, since my first thought regarding scalability would be the number of nodes that can be included in the network, which their explanation would seem to agree with, but their vague question & answer does not. So scalability is referring to more than just lower layer communications, as the lower level of the OSI model operates in a peer-to-peer methodology which has allowed the massive "scalability" of the internet. But scaling upwards to the application layer and P2P does lose some serious scalability, which is what you're referring to, correct GZ?

My foul then for limiting the scope of the term scalability [and efficiency].

You need to remember that this is not P2P like Torrents. The most common problem i have noticed is that old terms have new meanings and they cause problems.

[Will Harper]

I agree with GroundZero3 - BTW, hello neighbor!

This thread has focused on one part of Siliconjon's post - peer-to-peer vs Client/server. I'd like to focus on the part about "Having taken cert tests before I am familiar with questions that seemed to ask for incorrect answers, or at least seem to be assuming some factors or specifics that are not provided in the question."

Having been a technical trainer for years, and having a very high percentage of people who have been CERTIFIED after training, I see this question reflecting something that I often seen -- Siliconjon is obviously taking a "practice test" to learn a technical skill. If (I'll assume "he") he had read more than the first 3 chapters of any book on Network+, he would have seen the exact answer to this problem. It is in EVERY N+ book.

Where I am heading is to focus on the REAL VALUE of using practice tests (I use them too - and I provide them to every member of every class I teach).

I was, for a long time a paid "beta tester" for Transcender's practice tests. I was paid to take the practice tests, and then write up critical reviews of each scenario, each answer in the answer-set, and the explanation's details.

I teach my students to use the practice tests, but I don't even hand them out until the training is done (I provide them with transcender and one of the many pdf tests).

I tell them NOT to take the tests for a score (or for timing). The questions (scenarios) on the practice tests REPRESENT a TOPIC from the live test (there are thousands of questions in most of the test databases). I tell them to take each questions one-at-a-time and not leave that question until they have fully researched the ENTIRE TOPIC. Use Google, Use the computer you are practicing on, ask somebody else, use Microsoft (or Cisco or ...) technotes and knowledge bases -- until they KNOW every aspect of that topic. The topic is on the practice test, because there is one or more scenarios on the live test on the same topic. Memorizing the answer is USELESS, one word change in the scenario or the answer set can change the meaning.

BTW. When you get around to taking the certification exam, I have done a paper on how to pass ANY cert exam at Passing the MS 70-292 Certification Exam (and ANY Cert Exam) I won't repeat it here. The title is a little misleading, because I wrote it in response to a specific question - but the content works for Network+ and every other technical certification exam.

[SiliconJon]

Originally Posted by Will Harper

I agree with GroundZero3 - BTW, hello neighbor!

This thread has focused on one part of Siliconjon's post - peer-to-peer vs Client/server. I'd like to focus on the part about "Having taken cert tests before I am familiar with questions that seemed to ask for incorrect answers, or at least seem to be assuming some factors or specifics that are not provided in the question."

Having been a technical trainer for years, and having a very high percentage of people who have been CERTIFIED after training, I see this question reflecting something that I often seen -- Siliconjon is obviously taking a "practice test" to learn a technical skill. If (I'll assume "he") he had read more than the first 3 chapters of any book on Network+, he would have seen the exact answer to this problem. It is in EVERY N+ book.

Where I am heading is to focus on the REAL VALUE of using practice tests (I use them too - and I provide them to every member of every class I teach).

I was, for a long time a paid "beta tester" for Transcender's practice tests. I was paid to take the practice tests, and then write up critical reviews of each scenario, each answer in the answer-set, and the explanation's details.

I teach my students to use the practice tests, but I don't even hand them out until the training is done (I provide them with transcender and one of the many pdf tests).

I tell them NOT to take the tests for a score (or for timing). The questions (scenarios) on the practice tests REPRESENT a TOPIC from the live test (there are thousands of questions in most of the test databases). I tell them to take each questions one-at-a-time and not leave that question until they have fully researched the ENTIRE TOPIC. Use Google, Use the computer you are practicing on, ask somebody else, use Microsoft (or Cisco or ...) technotes and knowledge bases -- until they KNOW every aspect of that topic. The topic is on the practice test, because there is one or more scenarios on the live test on the same topic. Memorizing the answer is USELESS, one word change in the scenario or the answer set can change the meaning.

BTW. When you get around to taking the certification exam, I have done a paper on how to pass ANY cert exam at [URL REMOVED]Passing the MS 70-292 Certification Exam (and ANY Cert Exam)[END REMOVED URL] I won't repeat it here. The title is a little misleading, because I wrote it in response to a specific question - but the content works for Network+ and every other technical certification exam.

Wow, thanks for the total insult Will, and then the advice to do what you seem to be insulting me for. And Welcome to TIMO!

I have already "earned" my Network+ but am looking to retest since I haven't done any real networking work in the past 18 months. I had taken a great deal of computing & networking coursework and a fair amount of well varied field work in the past before I took my Network+ cert last time. But I guess I didn't read your book...

Well Insulted by a spammer,

Jon

[Will Harper]

No Insult intended.

My main point, which you seemed to have missed, is don't just use a practice test to study for an exam. Even if you are already a guru

I don't have a book for your to have read - I stated that that exact scenario is included within the first 3 chapters of every book that I have ever taught from.

The people who write Network+ books are not always gurus - but they have compiled a compendium of what is on the test and put the answers into book form, with a lot more detail.