The contest focuses on testing the networking knowledge and hands-on ability of the competitors. The online written portion tests the student’s complete knowledge of internetworking concepts. The hands-on component demonstrates the abilities of the contestant to make cables, trouble shoot network systems, configure routers, switches and servers, and to deliver customer service in a technical assistant center environment. The contestants will find errors in WAN and LAN networks; do a full network configuration using routers, switches, and servers; talk a technician through an error they are having on their network; and take an online, certification type test. The national contest is based on the most current CCNA certification. In today’s job market system administration skills are needed, therefore server skills that will be scored include, but are not limited to: DNS, Active Directory, and DHCP.