Network General Corp and Hewlett-Packard Co have announced the Certified Network Expert programme, which they hope will become an industry-wide standard for testing and certifying personnel in network analysis and troubleshooting. The co-operation between the two is designed to ensure that the programme is not biased in favour of any single network analysis technology, and they say that they are open to discuss participation with other industry vendors. Due to start in the second quarter this year, the programme comprises two parts, a written examination testing candidates’ knowledge of underlying network technology, and a second practical examination of how this knowledge is applied in real-world situations. Initially, candidates will be able to answer the practical portion using traces from a Network General Sniffer Network Analyser or a Hewlett-Packard Network Advisor. The tests consist of 60 multiple-choice questions and 20 practical examination questions chosen from a total of 300 questions, and the pass-mark is to be a demanding 85%. Successful candidates with earn the title of Certified Network Expert in either Ethernet or Token Ring technology, and will then have the option of pursuing additional certification in protocol environments including Novell Inc NetWare, NetBIOS, DECnet and AppleTalk. A study guide is available from both companies, while the test preparation package – which includes the opportunity to take the examination twice, is to cost $400.
