2.7.3 Windows XP Mode
By Val Bakh
We don’t talk much of Windows Vista nowadays. It didn’t stay on the market very long and was soon replaced with a “new-and-improved” version, Windows 7. The important fact, however, is that Windows Vista was the first of the new generation of Microsoft’s operating systems. The move from Windows XP to Windows Vista and Windows 7 is perhaps even more significant than the long-forgotten departure from Windows NT in favor of Windows 2000. In the big scheme of things, Windows 2000 brought us Active Directory, but from a regular user’s perspective, the change was not all that significant: a prettier graphical user interface (GUI), but not much difference in the applications that users could run. Windows XP added a few new bells and whistles but did not hinder our ability to run most of our favorite legacy applications.
By Kailin Acheson
If you are a network administrator, you might be familiar with various types of attacks that malicious users might launch against the network in an attempt to destroy it. These attacks, described in Network Security Part 1: Attacks, include passive, active, close-in, insider, and distribution attacks. As a network administrator, you should also be familiar with possible threats to the network. These include physical threats, reconnaissance attacks, and access attacks.
By Kailin Acheson
If you are the administrator of a network, you likely have been thinking about, and possibly worrying about, potential network attacks. It's much more rewarding (and less stressful) to protect a network than to fix it (unless, as Tim Charlton wrote in one of his recent blogs, you like the pressure. It might be helpful to try to answer the following questions as you consider attacks on the network:
By James Hanback
You've spent all these weeks and some of your hard-earned cash studying for Cisco's 640-816 ICND2 exam only to discover that there's a brand new Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) version 2.0 track. Cisco's 200-101 exam, along with its 100-101 ICND1 prerequisite, was announced on March 26 and is now available to candidates pursuing CCNA certification or recertification. Cisco also released a new version 2.0 of the composite exam, which is numbered 200-120. Among the many questions these new developments raise in your mind as you consider heaving your old 640-816 study guide toward the trash bin might be "Have I wasted my time studying for 640-816?"
By Michael Aldridge
Have you ever felt like the cartoon character who tries to kick the football, but at the last second, the football is jerked away, causing the poor guy to flip into the air and land flat on his back? Some of you who are studying for your Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) or Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certifications might feel that way after Cisco's recent announcement of brand new ICND1, ICND2, and CCNA exams. But fear not! You're in a much better position than our cartoon counterpart is.
By Kailin Acheson and Delana Hallstedt
As you begin the process of setting up a network, you will likely first need to figure out how to best connect the devices on the network so that communications are optimal. You might have to do a little research, planning, and organizing to make sure everything is positioned to maximize performance on that network. One good place to start is with the devices you will need to deploy. You can ask a few key questions to help point you in the right direction, such as the following:
2.7.2 AppLocker (part 2)
By Val Bakh
In last month’s blog post about AppLocker, we covered the basics of using AppLocker. Now let’s consider a few examples of AppLocker use that might help you avoid unexpected and sometimes unpleasant situations.
By Tim Charlton
What’s the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit computing?
If you’re in the market for a new computer, or perhaps just a new operating system (OS), you’ve likely noticed designations such as x86, x64, 32-bit, or 64-bit. What do these designations mean, and how do they relate to your next technology purchase? Simply put, these designations indicate the amount of data that a computer system can process at any given time.
