IT Essentials Course Booklet, Version 6

Cisco Networking Academy teaches hundreds of thousands of students annually the skills needed to build, design, and maintain networks, improving their career prospects while filling the global demand for networking professionals. With 10,000 academies in 165 countries, it helps individuals prepare for industry-recognized certifications and entry-level information and communication technology careers in virtually every industry–developing foundational technical skills while acquiring vital 21st-century career skills in problem solving, collaboration, and critical thinking. Cisco Networking Academy uses a public-private partnership model to create the "world's largest classroom."

Chapter 0 Course Introduction 1

0.0 Welcome to IT Essentials 1

0.0.1 Message to the Student 1

0.0.2 The IT Industry 2

Chapter 1 Introduction to the Personal Computer System 7

1.0 Introduction 7

1.1 Personal Computer Systems 7

    1.1.1 Cases and Power Supplies 7

    1.1.2 Internal PC Components 10

    1.1.3 External Ports and Cables 17

    1.1.4 Input and Output Devices 20

1.2 Select Computer Components 23

    1.2.1 Select PC Components 23

1.3 Configurations for Specialized Computer Systems 29

    1.3.1 Specialized Computer Systems 29

1.4 Chapter Summary 34

Chapter 2 Introduction to Lab Procedures and Tool Use 37

2.0 Introduction 37

2.1 Safe Lab Procedures 37

    2.1.1 Procedures to Protect People 37

    2.1.2 Procedures to Protect Equipment and Data 39

    2.1.3 Procedures to Protect the Environment 41

2.2 Proper Use of Tools 43

    2.2.1 Hardware Tools 43

    2.2.2 Software Tools 44

    2.2.3 Organizational Tools 45

    2.2.4 Demonstrate Proper Tool Use 46

2.3 Summary 50

Chapter 3 Computer Assembly 53

3.0 Introduction 53

3.1 Assemble the Computer 53

    3.1.1 Open the Case and Connect the Power Supply 53

    3.1.2 Install the Motherboard 54

    3.1.3 Install Drives 57

    3.1.4 Install the Adapter Cards 58

    3.1.5 Install Cables 59

3.2 Boot the Computer 64

    3.2.1 POST, BIOS, UEFI 64

    3.2.2 BIOS and UEFI Configuration 66

3.3 Upgrade and Configure a Computer 70

    3.3.1 Motherboard and Related Components 70

    3.3.2 Storage Devices 73

    3.3.3 Peripheral Devices 74

3.4 Chapter Summary 75

Chapter 4 Overview of Preventive Maintenance 77

4.0 Introduction 77

4.1 Preventive Maintenance 77

    4.1.1 PC Preventive Maintenance Overview 77

4.2 Troubleshooting Process 81

    4.2.1 Troubleshooting Process Steps 81

    4.2.2 Common Problems and Solutions 85

4.3 Chapter Summary 85

Chapter 5 Windows Installation 89

5.0 Introduction 89

5.1 Modern Operating Systems 89

    5.1.1 Operating System Terms and Characteristics 89

    5.1.2 Types of Operating Systems 91

    5.1.3 Customer Requirements for an Operating System 92

    5.1.4 Operating Systems Upgrade 94

5.2 Operating System Installation 96

    5.2.1 Storage Device Setup Procedures 96

    5.2.2 Custom Installation Options 104

    5.2.3 Boot Sequence and Registry Files 108

    5.2.4 Mulitiboot 110

    5.2.5 Disk Directories 114

5.3 Summary 117

Chapter 6 Windows Configuration and Management 119

6.0 Introduction 119

6.1 The Windows GUI and Control Panel 119

    6.1.1 Windows Desktop, Tools and Applications 119

    6.1.2 Control Panel Utilities 125

    6.1.3 Administrative Tools 135

    6.1.4 Disk Defragmenter and Disk Error-Checking Tool 138

    6.1.5 Command Line Tools 140

6.2 Client-Side Virtualization 142

    6.2.1 Purpose and Requirements of Virtualization 142

6.3 Common Preventive Maintenance Techniques for Operating Systems 144

    6.3.1 OS Preventive Maintenance Plan 144

6.4 Basic Troubleshooting Process for Operating Systems 148

    6.4.1 Applying the Troubleshooting Process for Operating Systems 148

    6.4.2 Common Problems and Solutions for Operating Systems 149

6.5 Chapter Summary 149

Chapter 7 Networking Concepts 151

7.0 Introduction 151

7.1 Principles of Networking 151

    7.1.1 Computer Networks 151

    7.1.2 Types of Networks 154

7.2 Networking Standards 156

    7.2.1 Reference Models 156

    7.2.2 Wired and Wireless Ethernet Standards 158

7.3 Physical Components of a Network 160

    7.3.1 Network Devices 160

    7.3.2 Cables and Connectors 163

7.4 Basic Networking Concepts and Technologies 166

    7.4.1 Networked Equipment Addressing 166

    7.4.2 Transport Layer Protocols 171

7.5 Chapter Summary 173

Chapter 8 Applied Networking 175

8.0 Introduction 175

8.1 Computer to Network Connection 175

    8.1.1 Networking Cards 175

    8.1.2 Wireless and Wired Router Configurations 178

    8.1.3 Network Sharing 184

    8.1.4 Remote Connections 188

8.2 ISP Connection Technologies 190

    8.2.1 Broadband Technologies 190

8.3 Internet Technologies 194

    8.3.1 Data Centers and Cloud Computing 194

    8.3.2 Networked Host Services 196

8.4 Common Preventive Maintenance Techniques Used for Networks 199

    8.4.1 Network Maintenance 199

8.5 Basic Troubleshooting Process for Networks 200

    8.5.1 Applying the Troubleshooting Process to Networks 200

    8.5.2 Common Problems and Solutions for Networks 201

8.6 Chapter Summary 201

Chapter 9 Laptops and Mobile Devices 203

9.0 Introduction 203

9.1 Laptop Components 203

    9.1.1 Features of Laptop Components 203

    9.1.2 Laptop Displays 207

9.2 Laptop Configuration 208

    9.2.1 Power Settings Configuration 208

    9.2.2 Wireless Configuration 210

9.3 Laptop Hardware and Component Installation and Configuration 212

    9.3.1 Expansion Slots 212

    9.3.2 Replacing Hardware Devices 215

9.4 Mobile Device Hardware Overview 223

    9.4.1 Mobile Device Hardware 223

    9.4.2 Other Mobile Devices 227

9.5 Common Preventive Maintenance Techniques for Laptops and Mobile Devices 229

    9.5.1 Scheduled Maintenance for Laptops and Mobile Devices 229

9.6 Basic Troubleshooting Process for Laptops and Mobile Devices 231

    9.6.1 Applying 231

    9.6.2 Common Problems and Solutions for Laptops and Mobile Devices 232

9.7 Chapter Summary 232

Chapter 10 Mobile, Linux, and OS X Operating Systems 235

10.0 Introduction 235

10.1 Mobile Operating Systems 235

    10.1.1 Android vs. iOS 235

    10.1.2 Android Touch Interface 238

    10.1.3 iOS Touch Interface 241

    10.1.4 Windows Phone Touch Interface 244

    10.1.5 Common Mobile Device Features 245

10.2 Methods for Securing Mobile Devices 250

    10.2.1 Passcode Locks 250

    10.2.2 Cloud-Enabled Services for Mobile Devices 253

    10.2.3 Software Security 255

10.3 Network Connectivity and Email 257

    10.3.1 Wireless and Cellular Data Network 257

    10.3.2 Bluetooth 260

    10.3.3 Configuring Email 262

    10.3.4 Mobile Device Synchronization 265

10.4 Linux and OS X Operating Systems 268

    10.4.1 Linux and OS X Tools and Features 268

    10.4.2 Linux and OS X Best Practices 272

    10.4.3 Basic CLI 274

10.5 Basic Troubleshooting Process for Mobile, Linux, and OS X Operating Systems 276

    10.5.1 Applying the Troubleshooting Process to Mobile, Linux, and OS X Operating Systems 276

    10.5.2 Common Problems and Solutions for Mobile, Linux, and OS X Operating Systems 277

10.6 Chapter Summary 278

Chapter 11 Printers 281

11.0 Introduction 281

11.1 Common Printer Features 281

    11.1.1 Characteristics and Capabilities 281

    11.1.2 Printer Types 283

11.2 Installing and Configuring Printers 287

    11.2.1 Installing and Updating a Printer 287

    11.2.2 Configuring Options and Default Settings 290

    11.2.3 Optimizing Printer Performance 292

11.3 Sharing Printers 293

    11.3.1 Operating System Settings for Sharing Printers 293

    11.3.2 Print Servers 295

11.4 Maintaining and Troubleshooting Printers 297

    11.4.1 Printer Preventive Maintenance 297

    11.4.2 Troubleshooting Printer Issues 299

    11.4.3 Common Problems and Solutions for Printers 300

11.5 Chapter Summary 300

Chapter 12 Security 303

12.0 Introduction 303

12.1 Security Threats 303

    12.1.1 Types of Security Threats 303

12.2 Security Procedures 307

    12.2.1 Windows Local Security Policy 307

    12.2.2 Securing Web Access 309

    12.2.3 Protecting Data 312

    12.2.4 Protection Against Malicious Software 317

    12.2.5 Security Techniques 319

    12.2.6 Protecting Physical Equipment 323

12.3 Common Preventive Maintenance Techniques for Security 326

    12.3.1 Security Maintenance 326

12.4 Basic Troubleshooting Process for Security 331

    12.4.1 Applying the Troubleshooting Process to Security 331

    12.4.2 Common Problems and Solutions for Security 332

12.5 Summary 333

Chapter 13 The IT Professional 335

13.0 Introduction 335

13.1 Communication Skills and the IT Professional 335

    13.1.1 Communication Skills, Troubleshooting and the IT Professional 335

    13.1.2 Working with a Customer 336

    13.1.3 Employee Best Practices 339

13.2 Ethical and Legal Issues in the IT Industry 341

    13.2.1 Ethical and Legal Considerations 341

    13.2.2 Legal Procedures Overview 344

13.3 Call Center Technicians 347

    13.3.1 Call Centers, Level One Technicians, and Level Two Technicians 347

13.4 Chapter Summary 348

Chapter 14 Advanced Troubleshooting 351

14.0 Introduction 351

14.1 Computer Components and Peripherals 351

    14.1.1 Apply Troubleshooting Process to Computer Components and Peripherals 351

14.2 Operating Systems 352

    14.2.1 Apply Troubleshooting Process to Operating Systems 352

14.3 Networks 352

    14.3.1 Apply Troubleshooting Process to Networks 352

14.4 Security 353

    14.4.1 Apply Troubleshooting Process to Security 353

14.5 Chapter Summary 354

 

 

9781587133565    TOC    4/22/2016