Stand apart from your peers by adding the Compaq Accredited Systems Engineer title to your MCSE.
System Savvy: The Compaq Certification
Stand apart from your peers by adding the Compaq Accredited Systems Engineer title to your MCSE.
At first, the dividing line was drawn between those who
were certified and those who werent. With over 126,000
MCSEs in the job market today, candidates who truly wish
to stand apart from their peers now must become an expert
in an area of interest and prove their knowledge with
additional certifications. The pursuit of multiple certifications
produces a much more well-rounded candidate and shows
proficiency with more than one type of technology.
Piggybacking on the tails of the success of Microsoft
and Novells certification programs, product vendors
have created a new onslaught of initials you can add to
the end of your name. While many often think of the CompTIA
A+ certification as the standard proving ground for hardware
savvy candidates, Compaq offers a vendor-specific approach
to rounding out your MCSE credential. Whether youre
a systems architect, developer, administrator, or engineer,
the common denominator is, in fact, always the system.
If the systems you support happen to sport a Compaq logo
on the front bezel, the Compaq ASE certification could
be the title youve been awaiting to augment your
MCSE preparations.
Compaq
ASE Sample Questions |
The following questions
have been paraphrased from the Compaq
Self-Assessment guide to give you an idea
of the type of questions you can expect
on the exam.You'll find the answers
at the end of the article.
Thomas Eck
1. When using the NT graphical
control feature on the Compaq Remote
Insight Board, how many IP addresses
are assigned?
- 2
- 4
- 6
- 8
2. What is the purpose of the
Compaq Insight Manager Version Control?
- Perform remote firmware updates
- Identify outdated firmware
and drivers
- Identify and update the operating
system
- Upgrade the service pack
on Windows NT
3. Where can .PEZ files be found
to update a Compaq Integration Server?
- SmartStart CDs
- Microsoft Windows NT CD
- Integration Server Setup
CD
- Microsofts Web site
4. Which formula determines
the maximum transfer rate across a bus?
- Bus Speed (MHz) X Wait States
- (Memory Address Bus Size
X Clock Speed) / Wait States
- (Bus Speed (MHz) x Bus Width
(Bytes)) / Cycles per Transfer
- Processor Speed (MHz) / Clock
Speed (MHz)
5. Errors in adjacent bits can
be corrected in which of the following
memory types?
- ECC
- Non-Parity
- Parity
- EDO
6. Which of the following Compaq
Array Controllers support eight logical
volumes?
- Compaq Smart Array/Smart-2
Array
- Compaq IDA/IDA-2
- Compaq 2033 Array Controller
- None of the above
7. What is the maximum boot
partition size in Windows NT when using
SmartStart?
- 4G
- 2G
- 1G
- Unlimited
8. What is the bootable CD specification
called?
- a. El Niño
- b. El Torito
- c. El Niña
- d. None of the above
9. How are the disk performance
counters enabled in Windows NT Performance
Monitor?
- Diskperf -enable
- Diskperf -e
- Diskperf -i
- Diskperf -y
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The Certification Process
Like most vendor certifications, the Compaq ASE credential
offers several variations to suit your skill set and interest
level. At the highest level, there are three major types
of Compaq ASE certifications: Associate ASE, ASE, and
Master ASE.
If you havent achieved your MCSE, Compaq offers
the Associate ASE program. Within this category, candidates
may choose from exams covering Windows NT or Novell NetWare
on Intel platforms, hardware troubleshooting, Compaq Professional
Workstation support, and Compaq LAN technologies. Once
you've achieved the MCSE or CNE credential, you can send
in a copy of your transcript or certificate and apply
to become a "full ASE."
To do this, you may select from all of the above choices
for specialties. Now that the Compaq/Digital acquisition
has had time to mature, you can also venture away from
the Intel platform and achieve your title based on your
knowledge of Compaqs Alpha-based products. Candidates
choosing to certify on Alpha-based hardware can test their
integration skills with Unix, OVMS and, of course, NT.
Once you've achieved the ASE title, you can further your
studies by going for the Master ASE certification in Enterprise
Management, Enterprise Storage, or Compaq high-availability
solutions. You can also test your hardware/software integration
skills by selecting from Internet/intranet technologies,
messaging and collaboration, Baan, SAP, Oracle, and SQL
Server integration to obtain the premium title.
Compaq Certification Benefits
Benefit |
Description |
Associate
ASE |
ASE |
Master
ASE |
Software Support CDs |
Updates
of OS software for Compaq servers and
all standard Compaq utilities. |
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Compaq
QuickFind Subscription |
Compaq
service, sales, and support information. |
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Compaq
SmartStart Subscription |
Compaq
utilities, product information, server
management tools (Compaq Insight Manager),
and drivers. |
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NT
Resource Paq |
Tools
and information that supports Compaq server,
workstation, and desktop products in a
Windows NT environment. |
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Compaq
ASE Connection |
Access
to an ASE-only Web site with product purchase
information, ASE logo merchandise, and
access to technical information. Email
access to Compaq technical support and
access to databases containing product
information, software utilities, and more. |
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Compaq
ASE Product Purchase Plan |
Compaq
products at a discounted price. |
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ASE
Only Events |
Sales
and technical briefings by invitation. |
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New
Product CBTs |
Product
training in a self-paced format (CBT). |
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Day-of-Announcement
Product Kits |
Sales
and technical information and tools for
Systems Engineers. |
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Advertising,
Logos, and ASE Logo Store |
For
use on business stationery and business
cards. |
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ASE
Newsletter |
Quarterly
publication covering subjects about engineering
and sales support, ASE success stories,
and upcoming events. |
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Compaq
Engineering Conferences |
Early
registration for Compaq conferences with
discounts and incentives. |
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Compaq
Technical Support Hotline |
Free
priority access to Compaq Technical Support. |
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ActiveAnswers |
Access
to extranet Web site that provides structured
information and tools for planning, deploying,
and operating packaged enterprise solutions. |
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A Natural with NT
Despite the many options available to those seeking the
ASE credential, it makes sense for an MCP to seek the
Intel/Windows NT Specialist track to best augment the
knowledge you already have about NT. To get this title,
you must pass three exams within a six-month period. Then
you must submit proof of your test scores, a copy of your
Microsoft transcript or certificate (if applying for the
full ASE), the Compaq ASE application, and a signed non-disclosure
agreement. After all this has been faxed to Compaq, youll
receive an email message from the ASE program coordinator
stating that all the requirements have been met and your
welcome package will be mailed in four to six weeks.
Exam Details
Like most certification programs, Compaq has selected
Sylvan Prometric to administer the ASE exams. Prior to
registering, you must first obtain a Compaq student ID
number by calling 800-732-5741 (U.S.) or 800-392-7024
(Canada) and registering with Compaq. Once you have obtained
your student identification number, you can call Sylvan
Prometric at 800-366-EXAM to schedule your tests.
Each test costs $100, lasts one hour, and consists of
50 multiple-choice questions. To complete any of the exams
for the Intel/Windows NT Specialist program successfully,
you must achieve a score of 84 percent, which equates
to answering 42 questions correctly.
The exams are straightforward with few exhibits and no
multiple-answer selection questions. If you fail an exam,
there are no restrictions on the amount of time to wait
before attempting the exam again, nor any limits on the
number of times youre permitted to take an exam.
To achieve the ASE certification, you must pass all three
exams and submit all paperwork within six months from
the date of your first exam.
On the day of the test, in addition to your two forms
of identification, be sure to bring your Compaq student
ID number. Youll be required to enter the number
as one of the first questions on the exam to help Compaq
track your progress through the program.
Exam 1: Compaq Systems Technologies
To prepare for test 10-056, you should either attend
the Compaq five-day accelerated ASE program or complete
the self-assessment study guide available at www.compaq.com/training/2060.htm.
Be forewarned: The study guide doesnt cover every
aspect of what youll need to know for the exam;
its merely a starting point.
To pass this exam, you must demonstrate proficiency in
the following system technologies:
- Bus subsystems found in PC hardware
- Intel microprocessor architecture and features
- Memory and cache subsystems
- Disk and array technologies
- Compaq network cards
- Compaq software, diagnostics and utilities
- Compaq server features
- Compaq options
- Compaq recovery server
Exam 2: Windows NT Integration and Performance
As with the first exam, you can acquire the body of knowledge
required to pass this exam from either the Compaq five-day
accelerated ASE program or through careful preparation
of the Compaq self-assessment study guide, this one found
at www.compaq.com/training/2061.html.
Unlike other Compaq exams, this exam is specific to NT
and requires you to remember many of the topics studied
while preparing for the core MCSE exams. Youll come
across a significant number of questions regarding the
use of Performance Monitor to optimally tune a Compaq
server, as well as Compaq enhancements to the installation
and maintenance of systems running NT. To pass this exam,
you must have a firm grasp of the following topics:
NT architectural overview:
- Differences between NT Server and NT Workstation
- NT executive components
- NT environment subsystems
Compaq-developed software for NT
- Compaq Smartstart
- Compaq HALs
- Insight agents and Insight Manager for NT
- Compaq Integration Server
- Compaq specific drivers
NT performance tuning on Compaq hardware
- Identifying and remediating a bottleneck
- Fault-tolerance features in Compaq products
Exam 3: Compaq Systems Management
You can prepare for the Systems Management exam either
by attending the Compaq five-day accelerated ASE program
or by answering every question in the self-assessment
study guide found at www.compaq.com/training/
2063.html. Unlike the other exams, this one closely
resembles the questions found in the study guide. To successfully
pass this exam, you must demonstrate proficiency in the
following areas:
Server management
- Network management
- Management platforms
- Management applications
SNMP
- Terminology: Get, Set, Trap, Community Name, Object
Definition
- Interaction with TCP/IP
Compaq server management
- Server health and error logs
- Automatic server recovery
- Compaq management agents
- Insight Manager licensing
Compaq desktop and portable management
- System requirements
- Management agent installation and features
Compaq Insight Manager management PC
configuration
- System requirements and data locations
Using Compaq Insight Manager
- General usage
- In-band management considerations
- Asynchronous management considerations
Compaq Remote Insight Board
- System requirements
- Features and usage
Version control
- Features and limitations
- Using Insight Manager to identify necessary firmware
upgrades
Compaq Integration Server
- System requirements
- Setup and usage
Compaq Web-based management
- Using Web-enabled insight agents
- Best-practice usage of Web-based management
Be Prepared
Few third-party resources exist to help guide you toward
achieving your ASE certificate. If you depend upon simulation
exams for practice and a plethora of brain dumps to get
you through tests, this certification isnt for you.
While its possible to pass the exams without ever
stepping foot in a Compaq training session, youll
be at a significant disadvantage. Considering that many
of the exam questions are based purely on statements made
in the courseware and not on industry-standard concepts
and terminology, you may need to resort to the process
of elimination or pure guessing to achieve a passing score
on the exam. In the self-assessment study guides, Compaq
states a statistic that 70 percent of all ASE training
attendees pass the exams when taken within three to seven
days of the training course. Conversely, theres
an 80 percent failure rate for those who either dont
attend training or wait a significant amount of time after
attending the class to take the exams.
If you lack the time or budget to attend the training
class, you can use Web resources to help you toward your
goal of achieving the ASE credential. Begin with Compaqs
site at www.compaq.com/ase. Here youll find a wealth
of information about the ASE credential, self-assessments,
and Compaq course schedules. By studying the self-assessment
questions and spending significant amounts of time with
the hardware and software referenced in each guide, youll
be able to handle most questions found in the actual exams.
Crossing the Finish Line
Once youve completed all three exams to achieve
your ASE credential as an Intel/NT Specialist, employers
can be confident that you have the skills necessary to
engineer and support Compaq-based hardware solutions for
their NT environment. Using your skills, youll be
able to install and maintain servers in a more efficient
manner through implementation of a Compaq Integration
Server, manage remote servers using the Remote Insight
Board, and receive updates to your pager in the event
of a pending hardware failure using Insight Manager.
These kinds of skills and this knowledge can let you
improve system availability and ease support burdensmaking
you a definite asset to any organization. Take the time
to add the Compaq ASE credential to your MCSE. Both you
and your employer will be glad you did.
Answers
to Compaq ASE quiz:
1. c, 2. b, 3. a, 4. c, 5. a, 6. a, 7. a, 8. b, 9. d