Recently, Microsoft announced that Small Business Server 2011 would be the final release of that product. Wow! I’ve supported Small Business Server (SBS) since it was called BackOffice, version 4.5 as I recall. Back then, it was an awkward, kludgy product. A few releases later SBS 2003 came out and was likely one of their best. In fact, an MS employee in a presentation said (paraphrasing as I can’t remember exact quote/location), “Those SBS 2003 boxes are just about nailed to the floor, we can’t kick them to the curb for anything.”

Certainly, there are good reasons for sunsetting. Microsoft server OS’s and applications get bigger, requiring more CPU, drive spindles, and RAM to support. The counter to this is that hardware also grows thus handling the increased demands.

Server grade applications also get harder to keep happily living together on the same box. Some of the toughest installs I support are SBS. With larger server farms you are able to segregate server roles, making administration easier. The natural response to this is with enough RAM and a virtualization product server apps can be placed in their own VM’s.

Cloud computing solutions are Microsoft’s suggested upgrade path from SBS. I’m looking forward to seeing how things shake out. Many of the businesses I support aren’t excited about the monthly outlay required to move their key applications and business processes to the cloud. It takes time for paradigms and mindsets to change, maybe we’re watching something already in motion.

I will say, in conclusion, I’m sad to see such a great product reach the end of it’s life.

In Christ,
Nathan

The current A+ course is just getting into networking. It’s pretty neat to see the learning and progress of students. Networking is a new concept for many and stretching. To think that in a week we’re going to cover such topics as NAT, dynamic vs static IPs, and common ports. Students are experimenting with Remote Desktop. One recently ran into the default policy that prohibits RDP connections to a host PC/account with a null password.

Networking is well represented on the A+ test(s). The tests are designed to mimic real life scenarios and probe for the knowledge needed for day to day desktop repair work. Since networking permeates most homes and literally all businesses, it only makes sense to have it integrated into a desktop technician exam and skillset.

In Christ,
Nathan

We’ve been looking at doing CompTia’s Server+ course this fall. However, we’re seeking to judge interest in such a course. If you are interested in such a course and would strongly consider taking it (and haven’t already communicated such to me), please use the “Contact Us” form to let us know.

In Christ,
Nathan

The Network+ course has been done for a few months now. What a great course! The students worked hard at grasping new concepts and wrapping their arms around network technologies such as NAT/PAT, WAN connectivity options, IPSec, cabling and a myriad of related pieces.

Network+ tends to be more of a conceptual course. For example, it’s hard to first-hand experience the latency difference between a T1, T3, DSL and satellite connection. We can talk about jitter and packet delivery variables, but to simulate that is challenging. The difference between single and multi-mode fiber is pretty easy to memorize and learn, but not something we can walk to a fiber lab and work with.

I’m excited to see a pass rate way above industry averages. We have yet to have a student fail a Network+ exam.

In Christ,
Nathan

Wow – I’ve neglected this blog for awhile. I’m going to work on catching it up with a few posts.

First, you may have noticed that the second A+ track is off the schedule. What happened?

Good question! CompTia is updating the A+ test, scheduled release is September-October of this year. While the current A+ exam is live and available through at least second quarter of 2012 (likely fourth quarter), we felt the need to pull the final A+ course for the year.

Here’s why we did that. Any time a test updates the curriculum preparing students also updates. But, the study materials update is usually multiple months behind the test release. It would be very difficult to prepare students for the new exam using old materials. And, when you’re putting all that work and effort into preparing for a test, you want that preparation to be focused on the latest iteration of the exam.

We are working through the 2013 schedule and look forward to posting it. We have at least two new courses in the pipeline we look forward to making available as well.

In Christ,
Nathan

The Network+ course will start February 20th. It’s been a bit tentative due to the exam/objectives update in December. But, curriculum is starting to become available and it looks like we’ll be set to start then.

Anna was the first A+ student to pass both of her exams. Since then, a steady stream of students have been taking – and passing – their exams!

The beauty of the A+ exams is that they test not only knowledge but how to leverage that knowledge in day to day trouble-shooting scenarios. The 702 exam, generally seen as harder than 701, focuses on practical application. One of the key challenges for me, in leading the course, was assisting students in converting their knowledge to those real world skills.

I’m hearing two pretty consistent things from those who’ve tackled their tests (there are two tests that make up the A+ certification, 701, Essentials and 702, Practicals):
– 220-702 (the practicals test) was harder, they perceived, than 220-701
–Each scored at least as well, if not better, on 702.

The reason 702 was harder is that students had to work with the questions, reason through the choices and pick the best answer. A question that asks you to select the max cable length for CAT5e is pretty straight forward. But, a question that presents a scenario, and asks what step is next… much harder.

This tells me that the students are walking away from the A+ course with a significant amount of head knowledge, but also the ability to apply it to real world troubleshooting scenarios.

Even more exciting than seeing them pass their tests will be observing what God does with their skills going forward.

One of the challenges most instructors face is how to adequately prepare someone for an exam. It’s one thing when you write the exam. But, what of when the exam is written by a panel of professionals to test for a specific range of skill sets? And, to make it more challenging, when the exams cover not only knowledge but practically applying that to real life help-desk situations? Furthermore, when each exam consists of a random selection of questions from a much larger question pool, thus assuring that no two exams are the same? Now that is a challenge for sure!

I’m excited that one of the A+ students worked ahead and has already taken, and passed, both of her exams. The student is Anna Maxwell, my sister. “Ahhhh” the skeptic might say, “Of course, she had unlimited access to tutoring and grew up working with computers.” My response, smiling, “Ahhhh, not so!”

In fact, Anna probably received less phone calls than most students. Phone calls are not tutoring sessions, they are designed to check-in with the student, see how they’re doing, and briefly answer any pending questions. While Anna did have some questions throughout the course, her “mentor” contacts were nothing beyond what anyone else received.

And, to the “growing up in a tech savy family” — Anna was never very interested in how a computer worked. She used them yes, but not from a technical or heavy knowledge standpoint.

Anna’s passing score was a result of hours of hard work on her part. I loved walking past her “lab” in the basement and seeing stacks of old computers there that she was working on. I enjoyed getting a call from her saying, “I took that one Dell apart, and when I put it together it didn’t work. But, I did the basic troubleshooting steps and found the video card was loose. Now it works great.” I smiled when she went to my grandparents to re-program their router — someone had factory reset it and left the wireless wide open. She worked through learning resources provided by ITonRamp, participated in the webinars, and studied hard – very hard. For that, she was rewarded by seeing not once, but twice, the “Congratulations” banner on the screen.

Well done Annie! You applied yourself, sat both exams, and passed. You not only learned the material, but how to apply it in real life situations. Only those who have taken the A+ exams will understand just what a significant accomplishment this is.

An A+ student had a bad CPU on his lab computer. While he could accomplish many of the labs, having a PC that would progress through the POST process would be a blessing.

After some research, he found a company that did computer recycling. He stopped by and they handed him a box of CPUs. He sorted through it and found a number that matched his. The challenge was that the top of the CPUs were all covered in thermal compound and therefore not readable – so an exact match was hard to find. But, based on size and other clues, he was able to locate some that matched his current blown CPU.

When asked what they wanted for him to take four, they told him $2.00 – that’s total, not each. He happily paid, and walked out with four CPUs.

There’s one problem that needs to be mentioned. When the company stripped the CPUs from recycled PCs, they did so with no care or concern for the CPU. The CPUs would be melted down, not ever put back into a computer. Therefore, no special care was given to the most sensitive, fragile component on the motherboard. This student had four CPUs in his hand, yet all of them had extensive damage to the pins on the underside. Most CPUs have a large number of pins on the bottom. Each pin is slightly thicker than a human hair.

Solution — he got home, took two CPUs, and painstakingly straightened the pins. This is not an easy thing! Pins are fragile and break easily. The straightening process was done with great care using some improvised tools.

After straightening a large number of pins, he mounted one of the CPUs on his motherboard, attached the heat-sync, and turned on the power. He was thrilled to see it POST and then boot!

I love seeing A+ participants gaining experience and skill as theu progress through the course.

In Christ,
Nathan

I received an email recently from a student who is participating in A+ course right now. This particular gentleman started with Home Track and then signed up for A+. Here’s a snip:

“I had the opportunity to troubleshoot a church computer that was having trouble and found it to be an issue with the power supply which I replaced and was able to check for and install updates. The system is now running without glitches.”

I was thrilled to see this. Is replacing a power supply super hard? No, the mechanics of it aren’t amazingly involved. But, that’s just part of the equation. He had to troubleshoot the computer first. Perhaps it was the motherboard or CPU that had failed? Once he identified the problem component, he had to find a compatible replacement unit. All cables had to be hooked up correctly. And, in closing the project out he noticed that security updates were behind on the PC. He caught those up and left the PC not only working, but the OS in better shape than he found it.

Well done!!