[PEN-TEST] First step of a pen-test

["Christopher M. Bergeron" <ChrisB () HGSS COM>]

What is the industry norm for _beginning_ a pen-test after the contract has been made?  Would one first map the 
network?  Try to war-dial the exchange for possible remote (pcanywhere, etc). access machines?  VRFY email addresses to 
look for user logins?  Is it typical to ask for information about the network (ie. network architecture) beforehand or 
do most pen-tests start "blindly" and do the network reconnaissance.

Thanks to anyone who addresses even one of my many questions.