If you have some networking experience under your belt (namely, an A+ exam or a basic understanding of Ethernet and wiring), then that's exactly what the Server+ Exam Prep feels like--a talk from a tech.

The writing is topnotch, explaining the concepts with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of clarity. The book goes well beyond the scope of the Server+ exam objectives--a fact that may annoy some--but almost always stays firmly based in reality, telling you things that are likely to come up during the course of a sysadmin's day. The Server+ Exam Prep doesn't just look at hardware, but also considers budgets, political factors, and building architecture. Furthermore, the book almost invariably informs you when it's going off the rails, so you can always skip the nonessential stuff when you want--but in general, the digressions add to your knowledge, giving you a greater understanding of why certain things are important to the well-being of your server.

The organization, however, is a little spotty and is likely to confuse some readers--for example, the book discusses RAID technology extensively in one chapter but doesn't suitably explain what RAID is until later in the guide. Likewise, the book also assumes that the reader also knows some important concepts: it talks about the importance of wearing an ESD strap several times but never says how to wear one safely, and the importance of getting a solid baseline--a critical task for sysadmins--isn't stressed nearly enough. And some topics are compacted into a dense black hole of technobabble that may require rereading several times; the introductory discussions on SCSI types, TCP/IP, and basic networking concepts stand out in particular as having a high "huh?" factor for people not in the know.

Still, these are minor kvetches with a book that has solid features that others lack--a good, solid section on troubleshooting, a fine disaster-planning chapter, and a very in-depth discussion on what factors go into making a good server environment.

What is troubling, however, is the paucity and quality of the sample test questions. The questions given are cotton candy compared to what you can expect to see on the actual exam, mostly being simple multiple-choice questions that can be answered flawlessly after a single read-through. Practically no "scenario" questions are given, and the book commits the cardinal sin of allowing multiple answers on certain questions without making it clear that you're supposed to choose more than one. Still, the answers are explained in some detail at the back of the book, which is more than some guides do. Taking some online Server+ exams before you do the real test is definitely recommended in this case.

In short, this is an excellent introductory book and will probably get you through the exam without a hitch. The weakness of the questions is overcome by the overall strength of the writing and the clarity with which it hammers concepts home. At the price, it's hard to go wrong with this. --William Steinmetz

Product Description
Server+ Exam Prep is a content-rich study guide designed to teach the underlying technology while preparing the reader to pass the CompTIA Server+ core exam. The book's chapters provide in-depth material on all of the major test areas including server hardware, network fundamentals, server planning and installation, server environment and maintenance, and server configuration. Real-world projects and examples provide the reader with practical hands-on experience that aid recall during the exam.

On the down side, it contains a number of mistyped text and technical nomenclature. For example, MB appears in a few places when GB was clearly intended based upon the surrounding context. The frequency of such typos left me worrying about other unrecognized mistakes I could not contextually infer. Better editing is needed. Unfortunately, the Coriolis web site refused my connection when I attempted to check for corrections and addendums to the text.

Nevertheless, I learned a great deal from the text and am quite pleased overall. Unlike that ruinous study guide by Stephen Bigelow, this text is worth of its title as an exam study guide.


Generally impressed   December 15, 2001
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Having taken over 14 certification exams I can say that I have never seen one as odd as the Server+. Fortunately I passed and for that I was grateful. I really didnt want to take it again.

I was impressed with the Server+ Exam Prep and felt that it prepared me very well for the test. The content is spot on and I agree with the Amazon review that it is written by a couple of knowledgable techs. The casual style works well and the occassional joke reminds you that you can have laugh about certian aspects of IT at the same time as taking it seriously.

One last observation that has nothing to do with the book - Why do CompTIA have to charge so much for the exams? $190 for an exam from a not-for-profit organization seems steep. Just my 2 cents.


For Learning, NOT for memorizing   December 3, 2001
Passed on first try Friday but just barely. Used only this book and truly read it from cover to cover. Also used some transcender sample questions and another Certification Bible CD for quizzing. The actual exam was harder than any practice questions I used. CompTIA's wordings were inverted and they actually test for thorough working knowledge rather than making sure I memorized any questions. All the info needed is contained in this fine prep book but a complete understanding of what I read was mandatory. Before studying this or the Server+ Certification Bible, I highly recommend, as I did, reading the real Bible. Then you'll have everything needed to pass the exam!


Excellent study guide   November 6, 2001
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

This is an excellent study guide for the exam. I passed, but what a test. Beleive everything you hear about it being hard.


Really pleased   November 6, 2001
Passed yesterday. Hardest exam I ever took - period. Well done Coriolis, thanks.