CompTIA A+ (Exam 220-902)

Course Length: 4 days

Course Description
Overview:
If you are getting ready for a career as an entry-level information technology (IT) professional or computer service technician, the CompTIA® A+® (Exam 220-902) course is one of the first steps in your preparation. The course will build on your existing user-level knowledge and experience with personal computer (PC) software and operating systems to present fundamental skills and concepts that you will use on the job. In this course, you will acquire the essential skills and information you will need to install, configure, optimize, troubleshoot, upgrade, secure, and perform preventive maintenance on PC and digital device operating systems.

The CompTIA A+ (Exam 220-902) course can benefit you in two ways. Whether you work or plan to work in a mobile or corporate environment where you have a high level of face-to-face customer interaction, where client communication and client training are important, or in an environment with limited customer interaction and an emphasis on application, operating system, and security-related activities, this course provides the background knowledge and skills you will require to be a successful A+ technician. It can also assist you if you are preparing to take the CompTIA A+ certification examination, 2016 objectives (exam number 220-902), in order to become a CompTIA A+ Certified Professional.

Course Objectives:
In this course, you will install, configure, optimize, troubleshoot, repair, upgrade, and perform preventive maintenance on personal computers, digital devices, and operating systems.

You will:

• Identify the basic components and functions of operating systems.
• Identify networking and security fundamentals.
• Identify the operational procedures that should be followed by professional PC technicians.
• Install and configure Microsoft Windows.
• Optimize and maintain Microsoft Windows.
• Work with other operating systems.
• Identify network technologies.
• Configure networking capabilities.
• Support mobile digital devices.
• Identify security threats, vulnerabilities, and controls.
• Implement security controls.
• Troubleshoot system-wide issues.

Target Student:
This course is designed for individuals who have basic computer user skills and who are interested in obtaining a job as an entry-level IT technician. This course is also designed for students who are seeking the CompTIA A+ certification and who want to prepare for the CompTIA A+ 220-902 Certification Exam.
To become CompTIA A+ certified, you need to take and pass both exam 220-901 and 220-902.

Prerequisites:
To ensure your success in this course, you should have basic computer user skills, be able to complete tasks in a Microsoft® Windows® environment, be able to search for, browse, and access information on the Internet, and have basic knowledge of computing concepts. You can obtain this level of skills and knowledge by taking any introductory computing course from Logical Operations, such as:

• Using Microsoft ®Windows® 10

The prerequisites for this course differ significantly from the prerequisites for the CompTIA certification exams. For the most up-to-date information about the exam prerequisites, complete the form on this page: http://certification.comptia.org/Training/testingcenters/examobjectives.aspx.

Course-specific Technical Requirements
Hardware
For this course, each student and the instructor will require one computer. The class is designed for each pair of students to work at a lab station that consists of:

• One desktop computer.
• One laptop/portable computer. If you do not have enough laptop computers for each lab station, provide as many as possible.
• One mobile device (such as a smartphone or tablet).
• If you do not have enough mobile devices for each lab station, provide as many as possible.
• Try to provide iOS, Android, and Windows smartphone and tablet devices.
• Consider requesting that students bring their own mobile devices to class.
• If possible, have at least one laptop or desktop computer running the latest edition of OS X. If you have only one Mac, use it to demonstrate OS X and Mac features.

You will need one computer for the classroom server. This computer should be capable of running Windows Server 2012 R2.

In addition, you will need a networking device such as a switch or router for the computers to physically connect to, as well as a device that provides Wi-Fi capabilities for the mobile devices to connect to. You could use a device that combines these connectivity options, such as a combination wired/wireless router.

Desktop and Laptop Specifications
Here are the specifications for the desktop and laptop computers, as well as a list of other hardware items you will need to provide:

• Desktop computers should be ATX-based, with a 64-bit processor with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), and BIOS-level Hardware Virtualization enabled systems.
• The system should have PCIe slots. Additional bus types and slots are a plus.
• The system should include the following ports: VGA, USB, and, if possible, FireWire, Thunderbolt, HDMI, and sound ports, including Line In, Line Out, and Mic. Any additional ports are a plus.
• Desktop systems should have bootable DVD-ROM drives.
• Portable computers should have a CD/DVD drive (this can be built-in or connected externally); a mini-PCI card bay; and an empty memory slot.
• At least one laptop computer should have a docking station or port replicator to support the standard peripherals (keyboard, mouse, and monitor).
• All computers should be 1 GHz Pentium® systems or higher.
• All computers should have 100 GB or larger hard disks.
• All computers should have 8 GB or more of RAM.
• All computers should have a keyboard and mouse.
• All computers should have network adapters and appropriate network cabling.
• All computers should have at least 1024 x 768-capable display adapter and monitor.
• Consider providing monitors capable of using VGA, DVI, and/or HDMI connections
• Consider providing a second monitor or a projection system students can connect to their systems.
• Consider providing at least one touch screen monitor, or touch screen overlay for a regular monitor.
• Consider providing high and low resolution monitors.
• Consider providing 4:3 and 16:9 ratio monitors.
• Provide as many different printing devices as possible, such as laser, inkjet, and impact printers.
• Provide consumables for each printing device such as maintenance kits, replacement toner or ink, and paper.
• The instructor’s computer should have a projection system so the students can follow activities and demonstrations and so the instructor can display the course slide presentations.

Lab Station Hardware and Accessories

• For each lab station, provide at least one mobile device, such as an Android or iOS smartphone or an iPad or other tablet. Alternatively, ask students to bring their own mobile devices.
• If the PCs do not have integrated sound support, install sound cards.
• Provide alternate input devices, such as different types of pointing devices and touch screens.
• Provide the appropriate cabling for all devices.
• Surge suppressor and/or UPS for each station.

Software

• Windows® 8.1 Professional with appropriate licenses.
• Windows® 7 Professional with appropriate licenses.
• Windows Server 2012 R2 with appropriate licenses.
• Linux CentOS 7.Students will install Windows 7, Windows 8, and Linux on virtual machines during the course, so these will need to be made available via a bootable medium for students to use during the course. You can use evaluation copies of Windows software if appropriate for your class.
• If you are using a small classroom router with a default gateway, you might need to adjust the IP addressing scheme or the gateway as appropriate for your environment.Classroom Internet access. Please configure Internet access and TCP/IP settings as appropriate for your learning environment.
• Device drivers and software manuals for each device the students will install. You should be able to obtain this live from the Internet during class; if not, you can download the drivers and burn them to a CD-ROM or place them on a network share, or provide the manufacturers’ original disks.
• If necessary, software for viewing the course slides. (Instructor machine only.)
• Antivirus and anti-malware software, or use Windows Defender.

Course Content
Lesson 1: Operating System Fundamentals
Topic A: PC and Mobile Operating Systems
Topic B: PC Operating System Tools and Utilities

Lesson 2: Networking and Security Fundamentals
Topic A: Common Network Services
Topic B: Cloud Concepts
Topic C: Security Fundamentals

Lesson 3: Safety and Operational Procedures
Topic A: Basic Maintenance Tools and Techniques
Topic B: Personal and Electrical Safety
Topic C: Environmental Safety and Materials Handling
Topic D: Professionalism and Communication
Topic E: Organizational Policies and Procedures
Topic F: Troubleshooting Theory

Lesson 4: Installing and Configuring Microsoft Windows
Topic A: Implement Client-Side Virtualization
Topic B: Install Microsoft Windows
Topic C: Use Microsoft Windows
Topic D: Configure Microsoft Windows
Topic E: Upgrade Microsoft Windows

Lesson 5: Optimizing and Maintaining Microsoft Windows
Topic A: Optimize Microsoft Windows
Topic B: Back Up and Restore System Data
Topic C: Perform Disk Maintenance
Topic D: Update Software

Lesson 6: Working With Other Operating Systems
Topic A: The OS X Operating System
Topic B: The Linux Operating System

Lesson 7: Networking Technologies
Topic A: TCP/IP
Topic B: Internet Connections

Lesson 8: Configuring Networking Capabilities
Topic A: Configure Basic Windows Networking
Topic B: Configure Windows Proxy and Firewall Settings
Topic C: Using Windows Networking Features

Lesson 9: Supporting Mobile Digital Devices
Topic A: Mobile Device Accessories and Ports
Topic B: Mobile Device Connectivity
Topic C: Mobile Device Synchronization

Lesson 10: Security Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Controls
Topic A: Common Security Threats and Vulnerabilities
Topic B: General Security Controls
Topic C: Mobile Security Controls
Topic D: Data Destruction and Disposal Methods

Lesson 11: Implementing Security Controls
Topic A: Secure Operating Systems
Topic B: Secure Workstations
Topic C: Secure SOHO Networks
Topic D: Secure Mobile Devices

Lesson 12: Troubleshooting System-Wide Issues
Topic A: Troubleshoot PC Operating Systems
Topic B: Troubleshoot Mobile Device Operating Systems and Applications
Topic C: Troubleshoot Common Security Issues

Appendix A: Mapping Course Content to CompTIA A+ Certification Exam 220-902
Appendix B: A+ Command Reference
Appendix C: A Brief History of Personal Computers