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Month: August 2022

CompTIA Troubleshoot Model

August 14, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Using the CompTIA troubleshooting model to fix a simple problem.

Troubleshoot – Kali Install on Macbook unable to use Wireless Adapter.

1. Identify the problem

  • After installing Kali Linux on my old (2011) Macbook Pro laptop everything seems to be working good except there is no option to enable WiFi.
  • lspci command shows that there is an entry for Network Controller:
    • Broadcom Inc. BCM4331 802.11a/b/g/n
  • The Network Settings feature does allow setting for a wireless connection to be set up but so far this has had no effect on creating an actual Wireless connection.

2. Establish a theory of probably cause

  • The install of Kali somehow didn’t include the necessary software/drivers to operate the adapter.
  • Kali linux isn’t compatible with the adapter.
  • The manual set up of a wireless connection in Kali has not been done correctly.
  • In the Network Connections edit dialogue box the options available for Band are a, b and g. There is no option for n or ac. The router that we are trying to connect to is transmitting on b, g, and n however.
  • Disable DHCP and setting a manual IP address has no effect.

3. Test theory

  • Find and install driver for the adapter
    • Some googling found: sudo apt install firmware-b43-installer
    • This worked. After a restart the laptop connected to the Cisco48530 AP.

4. Establish a plan to resolve the problem

  • Use – sudo apt install firmware-b43-installer
  • Restart the laptop

5. Implement this solution

6. Verify full system functionality

  • Setting this command produced a flurry of activity in the command window.
  • Finishing with no errors or fail notices
  • After restarting the computer the WiFi was fully functional.

7. Document

  • So this was a simple driver missing or update that was required after the installation of Kali.
  • Presumably because I was installing Kali into a 11 year old machine and a Mac as well the wireless adapter was not in the list of drivers included in the Kali installation.
  • A simple install of the correct driver fixed the problem.
Rooting Android
Understanding NAT

CompTIA. ITProTV vs Professor Messer

August 10, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Currently I am approaching the time to book a CompTIA Network+ N10-008 exam. Having previously completed ITF and A+ using the video courses from ITProTV. I was using other sources to supplement my learning , such as Mike Meyers A+ Complete Guide, but ITProTV was my main source.

However after completing a few practice exams for the Network+ certificate I wasn’t getting good scores. So I started looking around for more insight in how to study. I found Professor Messer and quickly realised that his approach is very much based on the CompTIA Objectives, something that I had admittedly paid little attention to up to this point.

So after downloading Messer’s notes and comparing them to the objectives I saw that they correlated directly. Section 2.3 related exactly to section 2.3 in the objectives for example

ITProTV don’t do this. Consequently it’s harder to know if you have learned everything that they might ask you in the exam. I would say however that ITProTV will give you useful insights into the IT industry and how it works. It’s a more encompassing approach. Messer delivers the exact material that you need to learn to pass the exam.

Yes, you always need to have more than one source of tutoring when studying for an exam, something which ITProTV point out at the start of their courses, but if you haven’t already I would recommend looking in to Professor Messer. His videos are free and the extensive and well laid out notes are $25. He also does live study groups on his YouTube channel.

Most importantly – get and read the CompTIA Objectives as soon as you can when studying a new course.

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