What basic knowledge is needed to be network support ?

momo56

momo56

momo56

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Not sure if this is the right thread. Was wondering if anyone could give me some links preferably not wikipedia to give me all the basic knowledge regarding network connectivity etcc. Aim is to sound like I actually know what I'm talking about.

Basically Im reapplying for a post to be a 'student network support co-ordinator' at a halls of residence. Its a pretty basic duty, its pretty much helping fellow students who have problems connecting on and using the internet. Any actual problems I just have to report to an actual qualified technician.

My last interview went pretty well. It was when they started asking me technical questions where I sounded pretty clueless. Had no idea how to find the mac address, or what is was, and couldnt describe what an IP actually was. Hopefully you have an understanding of how clueless I am.

So any links would be helpful :)
 
Doubt it, job is for undergraduate students, only basic knowledge is needed in the interview, ive lived in the same halls and spoke to someone who has the same job for that year, its pretty much checking if the ethernet cable works and then reporting anything more complex than that to an actual technician. With 600 people living there its easier for a student to fix trivial issues rather than the technician coming from off campus.
 
That may be true, but if you dont even know how to find a mac address then youre no good to anybody really, even as first line or dogs body.

You need to do a course, even if it is a short one

- Pea0n
 
'Networking For Dummies' book? I'm not sure how useful it would be for preparing you for doing the job. It would give the theory.
 
Pretty basic networking stuff. You wouldn't need a course for something that simple, a beginners book to basic networking should have all that you'll need to know.
 
Surely if they are asking these questions and you can't answer then you are not the right person for the job?

Networking for Dummies is probably a good start and will give you a broad enough scope to do that sort of job. Go to your library and see what they have?
 
Wikipedia has screwed me over in the past before with wrong info so I tend not to trust it.

J.B said:
Surely if they are asking these questions and you can't answer then you are not the right person for the job?

Networking for Dummies is probably a good start and will give you a broad enough scope to do that sort of job. Go to your library and see what they have?
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Not necessarily. The questions he asked like mac address and I.P. will never come up in the actual job. All I pretty much have to is go to a students room, see if his ethernet port on the wall and ethernet cable is working correctly by using a laptop and working cable given by the residence. If the port isnt working then I simply report it to the technician. If its a problem with the students computer/ laptop then the student himself has to get it sorted at the IT department. My job role im not allowed to even look at his laptop or fix it even if I did know a solution. Other than that I pretty much just have to put up posters whenever the internet is down. Only 4 hours a week but you get discounted accomodation.

Im thinking he only asked those questions to whittle down the number of applicants, as many applied but there were only 2 vacancies. Guess ill have a look at networking for dummies. Thanks for the help!
 
momo56 said:
Not necessarily. The questions he asked like mac address and I.P. will never come up in the actual job.
Click to expand...

Whether the laptop has received an IP address or not, or at least whether it's been accidentally set to static instead of dhcp, will solve a significant number of problems involving uni networks and student laptops.

You're entirely unsuited to the job, and will be a waste of space if they hire you.

Open command prompt, type ipconfig /all. That's one of your problems solved.
 
I agree with what has already been posted, this sort of knowledge is very basic and if you do not know this sort of stuff then you shouldn't be applying for the job in the first place. If the interviewer asked these sort of questions its because they would much rather have someone who knows the subject matter and beyond rather than someone who doesn't have a clue to what they are doing.
 
Dist said:
I agree with what has already been posted, this sort of knowledge is very basic and if you do not know this sort of stuff then you shouldn't be applying for the job in the first place. If the interviewer asked these sort of questions its because they would much rather have someone who knows the subject matter and beyond rather than someone who doesn't have a clue to what they are doing.
Click to expand...

Couldnt agree more - when i was at uni, i applied and got the same job as you are applying for. They had just started putting in LAN connections in some of the residences, and needed a resident at each halls to do this sort of diagnostic work out of hours. At interview they asked the same basic questions - these sorts of things should roll off your tongue if you have any basic knowledge of computers. Tbh you could probably learn it by reading this section of the forum. As for doing a course - you shouldnt need to - i never did - hell i didnt even do a computer/IT course at uni - far from it ;)

You cant be going into a students room trying to diagnose a fault with 'networking for dummies' in hand! Dont mean to be harsh mate, but it doesnt sound like this job is for you. :)
 
I agree, if I was in a hall of residence and had to get past someone who doesn't even know this stuff before I could get to an actual technician to fix my problem it would drive me round the bend.

I don't profess to be be any kind of networking guru myself but I'd expect anyone applying for such a position to be able to answer these most basic of questions. Otherwise, there is really no point, they can tell people to check a cable over the phone.
 
If you didn't know what an IP is, then you're obviously not the right person for the job. Harsh I know, but it's the truth.
 
Hey Mate,

I'm doing a degree in networking, sorry but if you don't know what an IP address is / where to find it and the same with a mac address you aren't the man for the job.

Even if by some miracle you flunked the interview, you'd be a fat lot of use to the actual students. You're also no use reporting faults if you can't tell what the fault is.

Leave it to someone who has a clue would be my advice, harsh but I think its justified.
 
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