Exam Cram for NetWare 5 Administration CNE/CNA (Exam: 50-639)

Like all quality exam preparation books, this one provides information on the when, what, where, why, and how of much of the CNE exam. For example, you can find out everything from where exams are held to what trick questions might crop up. Also included is a 77-question sample exam, along with an answer key and an extensive glossary.

In addition to its test coverage, this book explains core components of NetWare, such as the Novell Directory Services (NDS). It gives the basic concept and then, in the case of NDS, for example, moves on to objects, tree structures, and the like, always doubling back to reiterate the information. The opening page of each chapter contains two lists--terms you'll need to understand and techniques you'll need to master--a feature we especially liked because it's a great way to help the reader maintain focus throughout the book. --Sarah L. Roberts-Witt

Topics covered: Novell certification exams, NetWare 5 administration, file-system and application management, remote-access administration

Product Description
Guides you through the entire NetWare 5 network from the administrators viewpoint. Covers all important Novell administrative utilities and command-line programs. Leads readers through NetWare installation, from design, through testing and deployment, including automated installs.

I usually use the Exam Crams on the last week before the exam. After using this book I was lucky I passed. It has example questions that are wrong and many mistakes. One questions about Country being a required objects is answered 2 different ways.(it is not a required object!)

The technical editors shoud be embarased. If this book was proofread at all.


Very poor actually - Not to be trusted for exam success   June 2, 2000
 8 out of 9 found this review helpful

I thought the Exam Cram for NT Server 4 was the key to my success in getting my MCP, so I thought the same would apply to an Exam Cram for Novell... Wrong!... This book has some good information in it, but it has HUGE holes in the presented information which is hopeless for the exam... The sample tests are nothing like the actual, and the book has many mistakes in it... Initially I read this book along with David James Clarke's CNA Study Guide (which is excellent)... This book only confused me because it seems to follow it's own study path which didn't flow with the Clarke book... The Clarke book was written specifically for the Novell exam and is authorised by Novell... That should say it all...

When I threw this book away and concentrated on the Clarke book my study began to flow again...


Not as useful as expected   April 1, 2000
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

The information in this book is well laid out and the explanations of many topics are very good. However, the book has many problems that keep me from recommending it to anyone. First of all, I think it doesn't have enough detail. Unless you are already familiar with the topics (and in that case, why are you reading this book?), you might have a hard time understanding some of the explanations. For example, the very brief explanation of disk suballocation could only be meaningful to someone already pretty familiar with that topic. In addition, there isn't enough detail to help you with some of the test questions! Ugh. I think there is enough to pass if you review the book carefully and combine it with other books and resources. Next, there are way too many errors in this book. The author and editors should be embarrassed. I know I would be embarrassed to have my name on anything with so many glaring and confusing mistakes. For example, the two-page example of file security, which is supposed to help summarize and clarify the chapter, is totally wrong. You can see in part of the example the rights "flowing down" or being inherited, as they should be, and in the piece of the example next to it, where nothing is different, the rights are not being inherited. Many of the end-of-the-chapter review questions have the wrong answers and explanations. Some chapters have contradictory, wrong, or vague information. In some places, the book unexpected changes terms and starts using the wrong terminology...as if the person who typed the book up was confused. I found myself constantly turning to other NetWare 5 reference books and Novell's webpage to figure out where the book was wrong or to clarify vague points. In the end, I felt like I couldn't trust the information in it. I threw it away right after taking the test--because of all of the errors, it is not very helpful as a reference and I wouldn't want to give it to someone else to use. I still give the book two stars, because if you combine it with another, better book, use other sources, and are already somewhat familiar with NetWare, you could find the book helpful.


Very poorly edited and does not cover all exam objectives   January 14, 2000
 13 out of 14 found this review helpful

I am an experienced 4.11 CNA, but was not able to make an acceptable score on any of the practice tests after reading this book until I bought CNE Clarke Notes book. With the Clarke Notes book I passed the exam with a 93. Don't waste your time or money with the Exam Cram for CNA 5 book. However, I did find the Exam Cram for NDS Design & Implementation book very, very helpful in passing that test.