Article ID: 153970
Article Last Modified on 12/11/1999
APPLIES TO
- MSPRESS Networking Essentials ISBN 1-55615-806-8
This article was previously published under Q153970
SUMMARY
This article contains comments, corrections, and information on known errors relating to the Microsoft Press book "Networking Essentials."
The following topics are covered:
- CD-ROM: Demo 6 issues and corrections
- CD-ROM: No sound in demos
- SPLINE: "Self-Placed Training" misspelled Paced
- Page XXXV: Certification Roadmap not on CD-ROM
- Page 75: "Insulation (PVC, Teflon)" is not correct term
- Page 80: Connectors used with Thicknet cables
- Page 96-103: Summary contradictions
- Page 102: Optical cable incorrectly described
MORE INFORMATION
In addition to a description of the book's problems, each entry in this document might also include sections labeled "Correction" and "Comments." Please note that the "Correction" section is worded for correcting the book and does not necessarily address the problem introduced by the book error. The "Comments" section contains specific information for working around the problem.
CD-ROM: Demo 6 issues and corrections
Below are two comments from an astute reader regarding Networking Essentials Demo 6:
The demo on the CD says that, to install a new network card, you must first remove the power from the machine because you might get zapped, and then goes on to show someone putting in a network card.
I have two issues with this demo:
In the first case the card is fitted without any obvious indication, nor even a mention, of Static Precautions. I've been known to have been a little tiresome on this point around this place but I suspect that is only because static damage is such a difficult thing to prove, and if you view similar instruction videos from hardware vendors you will find that they are all careful to highlight and observe static precautions. (I have heard that in some companies, failure to observe static precautions is an automatic dismissal offense i.e. Medical Companies.)
In the second case (and I could be debated on this), I believe that the recommendation to remove the power from the PC is actually counter- productive to properly grounding the computer during servicing.
Almost all computer boards run on +5V DC with the occasional use of -5V & +,-12V DC. The main power is converted to these voltages by a SMPC (Switched Mode Power Supply) which is in a case of its own (the little metal box in this particular demo). Usually the power supply is fitted into the PC so that the main power lead plugs directly into the box, and in some cases the power switch is connected via a flying lead which is fairly well insulated if it is to meet design standards. Should any voltage leakage from the SMPS occur due to a fault condition, the whole PC case would go live as well and you would tend to notice that... I can assure you!
I doubt too that you could find many PCs using either a Linear Power Supply or any other sort of Power Supply without some form of shielding of its own. Also, it would only be in extremely rare circumstances that you would find any other form of high voltage equipment inside the case of a PC, and there would probably be a regulatory requirement to add some sort of label to indicate that situation on the outside of the PC case itself.
For my own purposes (and this is what I recommend), I have found it best to leave the power lead connected to the PC, and if you want be really safe to switch the power off at the wall outlet. This means that the PC is still properly grounded via the main lead and that I can connect a static lead from the PC to myself to be held at the same grounded voltage potential.
Hope this is of some help. Correction:
- Change steps and wording to keep power supply connected (but turned off) during servicing, unless the power supply or power switch is potentially erratic or defective.
- Add information regarding static grounding before servicing internal components that might be sensitive to static electricity (especially memory, CPU, and other microchip components.
Comments:
Please note that not unplugging the computer case can be dangerous in certain situations. One particular instance is if the power supply or power switch is suspected to be erratic or defective in any way. In these cases, it is highly recommended that you remove the power cord from the computer before you open the case.
CD-ROM: No sound in demos
All of the demos provide excellent text content and motion videos. However, there is no sound to accompany the demonstration presentations.
The omission of sound was by design to ensure that all content was accessible, regardless of whether the computer was configured to provide audio. No sound is necessary to fully understand the concepts being demonstrated.
Microsoft is investigating the possibility of enhancing the demonstrations to include sound in future editions of this product.
Correction:
Add the information in the description above to the README.TXT and README.WRI files on the CD-ROM.
SPLINE: "Self-Placed Training" misspelled Paced
The Networking Essentials book spine reads "Self-Placed Training" instead of "Self-Paced Training."
Page XXXV: Certification Roadmap not on CD-ROM
The section titled "Microsoft Education and Certification Roadmap" refers to installing the Roadmap and the assessment exams from the \Roadmap\Disk1 and \Assmt folders (respectively). However, these directories do not exist on the Networking Essentials CD-ROM.
Correction:
Page XXXV: Remove the one paragraph section titled "Microsoft Education and Certification Roadmap."
Comments:
Page XXXVIII states clearly how to obtain the Roadmap and other Certified Professional resources and information.
You can also find out more about the Roadmap and assessment exams by connecting to the World Wide Web address http://www.microsoft.com/ and searching for Roadmap.
Page 75: "Insulation (PVC, Teflon)" is not correct term
Page 75: Diagram pointer for inner insulator labeled "PVC or TEFLON." This terminology actually applies to the outer jacket. The part being pointed to is either soft foam, hard nylon, or a spiral type insulator.
Correction:
Replace "PVC or TEFLON" with "soft foam, hard nylon, or spiral type."
Page 80: Connectors used with Thicknet cables
Page 80 indicates the following: "Both thinnet and thicknet use connection components, known as BNC..." Actually, thinnet cables use BNC connectors and thicknet cables use N connectors.
Correction:
Reword page 80 so that it properly indicates that thinnet cables use BNC connectors, and thicknet cables use N connectors.
Page 96-103: Summary contradictions
Page 96 states, "Because broadband transmission signal flow is unidirectional, there must be two paths for data to flow..." Page 103 contradicts this by stating, "Broadband uses analog signaling to transmit multiple simultaneous transmissions on the same cable."
This is not a contradiction because broadband transmission contains many different channels, each capable of independent unidirectional transmission. Page 96 states that all channels can be devoted to unidirectional transmission or a mid-split broadband configuration can be used to reserve a portion of the broadband channels for receiving signals.
Page 99 chart indicates IBM type 3 cable is "Voice grade cable." Page 103 contradicts this by stating "IBM Type 3 cabling, for example, is a voice and data, shielded twisted-pair cable otherwise known as STP."
Page 103 should state [ASCII 147]IBM Type 1 cabling...[ASCII 148].
Page 102: Optical cable incorrectly described
On page 102, Chart states optical cable is "not flexible at all." Most fiber optic cable is considerably more flexible than any of the copper cables, including UTP.
Correction:
Chart should state that optical cable does have some flexibility.
Microsoft Press is committed to providing informative and accurate books. All comments and corrections listed above are ready for inclusion in future printings of this book. If you have a later printing of this book, it may already contain most or all of the above corrections.
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