CCNP Security FIREWALL 642-618 Official Cert Guide (2012)

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Install the Software from the CD

The software installation process is quite routine compared with other software installation processes. The following steps outline the installation process:

Step 1. Insert the CD into your PC.

Step 2. The software that automatically runs is the Cisco Press software to access and use all CD-based features, including the exam engine and viewing the CD-only appendixes. From the main menu, click the Install the Exam Engine option.

Step 3. Respond to the prompts as with any typical software installation process.

The installation process gives you the option to activate your exam with the activation code supplied on the paper in the CD sleeve. This process requires that you establish a Pearson website login. You need this login to activate the exam, so register when prompted. If you already have a Pearson website login, there is no need to register again. Just use your existing login.

Activate and Download the Practice Exam

After the exam engine is installed, activate the exam associated with this book (if you did not do so during the installation process), as follows:

Step 1. Start the Pearson Cert Practice Test (PCPT) software from the Windows Start menu or from your desktop shortcut icon.

Step 2. To activate and download the exam associated with this book, from the My Products or Tools tab, click the Activate button.

Step 3. At the next screen, enter the activation key from the paper inside the cardboard CD holder in the back of the book. After you enter this, click the Activate button.

Step 4. The activation process downloads the practice exam. Click Next and then click Finish.

After the activation process is completed, the My Products tab should list your new exam. If you do not see the exam, make sure that you have selected the My Products tab on the menu. At this point, the software and practice exam are ready to use. Simply select the exam and click the Usebutton.

To update a particular exam that you have already activated and downloaded, simply select the Tools tab and click the Update Products button. Updating your exams ensures that you have the latest changes and updates to the exam data.

If you want to check for updates to the PCPT exam engine software, simply select the Tools tab and click the Update Application button. This ensures that you are running the latest version of the software engine.

Activating Other Exams

The exam software installation process, and the registration process, has to happen only once. Then, for each new exam, only a few steps are required. For example, if you buy another new Cisco Press Official Cert Guide or Pearson IT Certification Cert Guide, extract the activation code from the CD sleeve in the back of that book. (You don’t even need the CD at this point.) From there, just start the exam engine (if it is not still up and running) and perform Steps 2 through 4 of the previous list.

Premium Edition

In addition to the free practice exam provided on the CD-ROM, you can purchase additional exams with expanded functionality directly from Pearson IT Certification. The Premium Edition of this title contains an additional two full practice exams and an eBook (in both PDF and ePub format). In addition, the Premium Edition title also has remediation for each question to the specific part of the eBook that relates to that question.

Because you have purchased the print version of this title, you can purchase the Premium Edition at a deep discount. A coupon code in the CD sleeve contains a one-time-use code and instructions for where you can purchase the Premium Edition.

To view the Premium Edition product page, go to http://www.pearsonitcertification.com/title/9780132979436.

Cisco Learning Network

Cisco provides a wide variety of CCNP Security preparation tools at a Cisco website called the Cisco Learning Network. This site includes a large variety of exam preparation tools, including sample questions, forums on each Cisco exam, learning video games, and information about each exam.

To reach the Cisco Learning Network, go to www.cisco.com/go/learnnetspace, or just search for “Cisco Learning Network.” You need to use the login that you created at www.cisco.com. If you don’t have such a login, you can register for free. To register, simply go to www.cisco.com, clickRegister at the top of the page, and supply the requested information.

Chapter-Ending Review Tools

Chapters 1–16 have several features in the “Exam Preparation Tasks” section at the end of each chapter. Many of you have probably reviewed each chapter using these tools. You may have used some or all of these tools. It can also be helpful to use these tools again as you make your final preparations for the exam.

Suggested Plan for Final Review/Study

This section lists a suggested study plan from the point at which you finish reading Chapter 16 until you take the 642-618 FIREWALL v2.0 exam. Certainly, you can ignore this plan, use it as is, or just take suggestions from it.

The plan uses three steps:

Step 1. Review the key topics and the Do I Know This Already? (DIKTA) questions: You can use the table that lists the key topics in each chapter, or just flip the pages looking for key topics. Also, reviewing the DIKTA questions from the beginning of the chapter can be helpful for review.

Step 2. Review command references: Go through the command reference tables at the end of each chapter, where all the commands presented in the chapter are collected in a concise format. These tables can help you remember command syntax and the basic steps needed to configure a feature.

Step 3. Use the Pearson Cert Practice Test engine to practice: The Pearson Cert Practice Test engine on the CD can be used to study using a bank of unique exam-realistic multiple-choice questions available only with this book.

Using the Exam Engine

The Pearson Cert Practice Test engine on the CD includes a database of questions created specifically for this book. The Pearson Cert Practice Test engine can be used in either Study mode or Practice Exam mode, as follows:

• Study mode: Study mode is most useful when you want to use the questions for learning and practicing. In Study mode, you can select options such as whether you want to randomize the order of the questions, automatically view answers to the questions as you go, test on specific topics, refer to specific sections of the text that resides on the CD, and so on.

• Practice Exam mode: This mode presents questions in a timed environment, providing you with a more exam-realistic experience. It also restricts your ability to see your score as you progress through the exam, view answers to questions as you are taking the exam, and refer to sections of the text. These timed exams not only allow you to study for the actual 642-618 FIREWALL v2.0 exam, but they also help you simulate the time pressure that can occur on the actual exam.

When doing your final preparation, you can use Study mode, Practice Exam mode, or both. However, after you see each question a couple of times, you will likely start to remember the questions, and the usefulness of the exam database may be reduced. So, consider the following options when using the exam engine:

• Use this question database for review. Use Study mode, and study the questions by major book part, just as with the other final review steps listed in this chapter. Plan on getting another exam (possibly from the Premium Edition) if you want to take additional simulated exams.

• Save the question database, not using it for review during your review of each book part. Save it until the end so that you will not have seen the questions before. Then, use Practice Exam mode to simulate the exam.

Choosing the correct mode from the exam engine’s user interface is obvious. The following steps show how to move to the screen from which to select Study or Practice Exam mode:

Step 1. Click the My Products tab if you are not already in that screen.

Step 2. Select the exam you want to use from the list of available exams.

Step 3. Click the Use button.

By taking these actions, the engine should display a window from which you can choose Study mode or Practice Exam mode. When in Study mode, you can further choose the book chapters, limiting the questions to those explained in the specified chapters of the book.

Summary

The tools and suggestions listed in this chapter have been designed with one goal in mind: to help you develop the skills required to pass the 642-618 FIREWALL v2.0 exam. This book has been developed from the beginning to not just tell you the facts, but also to help you learn how to apply the facts. No matter what your experience level leading up to when you take the exam, it is our hope that the broad range of preparation tools, and even the structure of this book, will help you pass the exam with ease.