Saturday, May 1, 2010

A+ Class 4/13/10

Today we talked some operating system utilities and troubleshooting issues
1) Defrag:
- What it's purpose?
- Where is it found?
- Differences between XP and Vista

2)Disk Management

3)Troubleshoot:
- Chkdsk command:try to repair any corrupt file.

4) MSconfig:
- Startup tab
- Disable

FYI:
- Do not add toolbars to your internet because they also require loading that slows your internet down.
- The boot manager will replace any corrupted file.

A+ Class 4/8/10

Today we wrapped up our disscusion on laptops. Our topics covered:
Storage- the HD size (not capacity) of a desktop is 3.5 and for a laptop it's 2.5.
Input - Both consist of a keyboard but only the laptop comes with a touchpad now days and a desktop comes with a full size mouse.

This was just a few things that we covered. We also covered about what to connect to a laptop to give it some functions of a desktop that it lacks. This accessory is called a docking station. The last topic of our discussion was on laptop batteries. There were 4 types:
• Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad)
• Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH)
• Lithium Ion (Li-Ion)
• Feul cell

Network+ Class 4/7/10

Today we discussed NAT. NAT(Network Address Translation)really helps in two areas; Security and Cost. NAT changes the LAN IP address to a WAN IP address so a "man in the middle attack" (where someone tries to take over your computer) cannot be performed on the system. There are three forms: static (network administor changes each one), Dynamic and PAT(Port Address Translation).

A+ Class 4/6/10

Today we continued our discussion on the differences and similarities to desktops. The focus was on:
• portability
• cost
• performance
• expandability
• quality of construction
• Motherboard
• Processor
• Memory
One thing to keep in mind is that not too many people try to build laptops for one main reason, ALL motherboards are proprietary when it comes to the lapptops that encases them. There is no set standard(s) for laptop motherboards and they are specially made to fit only that specific laptop series.

A+ Class 3/25/10

Today we started to discuss the differences and similarities between laptops and desktops. Some of the main points that we started to discuss were; cases, motherboard, processors, memory, and storage.

Network+ Class 3/24/10

Today we talked about servers and how to load a small business server. Most people have a misunderstanding about what a server is. A server is nothing more than software. A server does not have to be a seperate piece of equipment ( unless its a large organization), it can be as small as your computer. When setting it up you must check and see if the mothrboard can handle RAID. When installing a server you are really installing an operating system, thats how easy it is to set up. Just an FYI, Microsoft recommends two partitions (1 for the O.S and 1 for the data).

A+ Class 3/23/10

Today we focused on laser printers. Laser printers consist of a 6 step process before it even puts out a sheet of paper:
1) Cleans
2) Charges
3) Writes
4) Develops
5) Transfers
6) Fuses
This process is what’s going on in the printer from the time it says “Warming up” to the time it pushes out its first page.

A+ Class 3/18/10

Today we started to talk about Printers and how to Install and Configure them. There are 4 types of printers:
- Laser
- Thermal
- Inkjet
- Impact
We then touched based on the local printers versus the network printers, then about printer drivers.

Network+ Class 3/17/10

Today we did a lab that consisted of one computer taking over another or called VNC (Virtual Network Connection). This is somewhat similar to remote login except on remote login if someone touches the computer you remotely logged into, then you are kicked out. VNC is used by many companies to help troubleshoot when someone is having problems with their system. When using this software, only one computer at a time can be a server side and the other a user side.

C# Class 3/17/10

Today we discussed the midterm.

A+ Class 3/16/10

Today we did a lab that was about remote login or Remote Desktop Connection. Before you can perform a remote login, you need to change the settings on your computer. To do this go to your system properties in the control panel and select the remote tab. Then select the box where it says “Allow users to connect remotely to this computer”. Then you choose which users you want to access your computer but keep in mind they must have a user account and password. After that, go to another computer and follow these steps:
1) Click start
2) All programs
3) Accessories
4) Communications
5) Remote desktop

A+ Class 3/11/10

Today we started talking about network architecture. One part we disscussed, was about the coaxial network. If an organization is still using a coaxial network they need to avoid signal lose. To do this the network administrator would add a repeater to the network to regenerate the signal. If an organization is running a modern networking system using twisted par, then they should just add a switch.

3/10/10 Network+ Class

Today we talked about routers. A routers purpose is to connect a LAN to a WAN like the Internet which is one really big WAN. A router has 2 ports, a LAN port and a WAN port. In addition a router can have multiple WAN ports but only needs one LAN port. If you have a small organization, most likely you have a router there. Here it is not difficult to choose a routing protocol; the organization could use the static protocol because it doesn’t require much to keep it up. But if an organization is large, then it is highly suggested that the dynamic protocol is used. Here very little work has to be done by the network administrator because the addresses and routes are established dynamically (automatically). All routers have routing tables. A routing table is something like the specifications of the router. A routing table consists of a: Destination LAN IP, Subnet Mask, Gateway, and Interface. Another topic that we discussed was NAT (Network Address Translation). This is what most if not all of the companies use. NAT is a form of security because it takes the actual IP address and changes it to another one. The best way to look at this is to imagine leaving you home and put a mask on and do what you were going to do. Your task still gets done but nobody saw your face and knows where you can from. That is similar to NAT. When you access a website instead of it sending over the actual IP address (where you can actually see their network) NAT gives it a different one to mask it.