Reddit mentions of Microsoft Windows Networking Essentials

here is my 2c

it is crucial that you understand subnet masking as it's like 70% of ipv4 networking and unfortunately the first thing you need to wrap your brain around as you will be working with VLSM in most networking labs/scenarios. download this pdf and just start plugging along..

Sormcontrol.net is a nice online tool to help with learning subnets.


once you finish that workbook and feel comfortable with variable length subnets, start working on these problems in your spare time and at your own pace. your goal should be to solve any single subnetting problem within 30 seconds.


now that you understand a bit of subnetting, you need to begin learning the OSI-model, focus mainly on the layers 1 (sending bits across a medium), 2 (mac address switching) ,3 (ip routing), and 4 (tcp, udp, and icmp ports). here are two of my favorite beginners books to networking.
Microsoft Windows Networking Essentials, &
Cisco Introduction to Networks V6


Once you've read those books you should be ready to learn routing and switching. Focus your attention here to static routing, dhcp, nat, basic ACLs, and to understanding switchports and vlan related things like trunking and routing on a stick.

Next book you want to read is going to be on dynamic routing and scaling networks for large environments.This is where you delve into dynamic routing protocols (RIP, EIGRP, OSPF) and redundancy/failover protocols such as spanning-tree, etherchannel, and HSRP.


This is a nice book to read along the way and to sort of tie all of the knowledge you've learned so far together into short succinct chapters.

Download GNS3 or Packet Tracer if you want to simulate networks and labs at your desktop. You can learn a lot about the concepts and protocols presented in the books by searching on youtube things like "GNS3 dhcp" or "Packet Tracer dhcp".

I don't know about CBT nuggets, but just focus on what I've linked you and if you are going to follow anything online, the topic of routing and switching is the way to go as it is fundamental. Study like you are trying to pass the CCENT exam and then study for the CCNA exam.

I started with videos from MVA and the official Microsoft book:

http://193.140.54.45/network/NetworkingFundamentals.pdf

And while that got me familiar with the terminology and was an okay first dip, as someone brand new to basically all IT, I still felt out of my depth. So I picked up the Sybex book by Gibson:

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Networking-Essentials-Darril/dp/1118016858

I read the whole thing through cover to cover, I took notes because physically writing something down helps me learn it. This book helped me a lot, I'm not sure if it was because I had already read the other book, but every chapter felt like an "ah-ha" moment, where I was really learning the material and not just memorizing facts.

I signed up for the measure up practice tests, which were for me, worth the $$.

The exam had one or two questions I don't remember being covered by the material at all, but everything I read about the test said it would, so I wasn't surprised, but it did make me a little anxious that I hadn't studied enough. Most of the questions were covered by the material though so if you've really learned your stuff, you should be able to pass it.

I watched a couple videos from CBT Nuggets with the free trial week, but they seemed about the same as the MVA videos.

I've seen a couple people ask if they could pass the exam after just watching the videos, and if you're already in IT and somewhat familiar, then I'm sure you could. If the subject is fairly new to you though, I'd say no. It may be testing fundamentals, but it's a broad subject and you really need to know how it all works together.

Hope that helps, and good luck!

I loved the book by Darill Gibson:

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Networking-Essentials-Darril/dp/1118016858/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=FJ7JJMY0G0F4G2E8CS99

I read that book, watched all the MVA videos and read the Microsoft book as well. I passed no problem, but I also spent a year off and on going through everything, in all I really only needed to study for 2 or 3 months (I'm new to IT, really really new). So, if you are familiar with the field already, two or all three of those and a couple weeks of solid studying should get you that cert.

Don't use the MVA, there was a book on Amazon I bought for it and used to study. Might still have ot floating around. Was maybe 20 or so on Amazon

Edit, currently 37 right now

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Networking-Essentials-Darril/dp/1118016858&ved=2ahUKEwio6Zv24tLeAhVIR6wKHVk8A8sQFjANegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw3Cl6NDysbMuidBbKa0oAf7&cshid=1542160369290