[nflug] network admin/ engineer advice

[Ryan Slomiany]

just an update from this post

took my CCNA today and got a 973/1000, first try

thanks all of you for your input


--- Ryan Slomiany <ryamigo at yahoo.com> wrote:

> for sure. thanks for the advice, everyone.
> 
> you've helped me a lot and, i'm certain, will
> continue
> to
> 
> -ry
> --- Cyber Source <peter at thecybersource.com> wrote:
> 
> > Those were some nice posts guys. Nice to see such
> > helpful, professional 
> > advice handed out.
> > 
> > Brad Bartram wrote:
> > > I'll put in my $.02 - take it as you will.
> > >
> > > The first thing I would recommend is to get an
> > idea of what exactly 
> > > you want to do.  Try to direct you efforts
> toward
> > the goal you set.  
> > > It's real easy to say IT / Networking, but the
> > field is a mile wide 
> > > and a mile deep.  It helps to figure out what
> > really scratches your itch.
> > >
> > > With regards to the cisco stuff.  The book is
> > great, but the best 
> > > teacher is to dig in on real hardware.  For a
> > minimal investment ($100 
> > > - $200) you can buy a ton of cisco hardware from
> > previous generations 
> > > on ebay and other places.  Get some form of
> router
> > - 1700 series would 
> > > be good - you might even find an old 1600 series
> > real cheap.  Pick up 
> > > an old catalyst switch with enterprise IOS. 
> From
> > there, you can play 
> > > on the commandline until your eyes bleed.  Once
> > you get down the basic 
> > > IOS, the more advanced stuff is just mating
> theory
> > with syntax.
> > >
> > > Assuming you already know windows, familiarize
> > yourself with some unix 
> > > fundamentals.  For that, Ubuntu is more than
> fine
> > - just don't get too 
> > > hung up on the Ubuntu specific ways of doing
> > things.  If you learn the 
> > > basics of the way things are done in unixland,
> > most modern os's are 
> > > fundamentally the same.  Of course they all have
> > nuances, but if you 
> > > know the basics, the specifics can be picked up
> > without a huge 
> > > learning curve.
> > >
> > > Learn all of the major systems you can.  Learn
> web
> > servers, mail 
> > > servers, file servers.  If not the specific
> > servers, know how they 
> > > work and interact with each other.  Learn best
> > practice security and 
> > > the concepts of defense in depth.  Learn packet
> > filtering as well as 
> > > how to read a packet capture.
> > >
> > > In short - learn to build a network, enhance a
> > network, protect a 
> > > network, and fix a network when things break. 
> If
> > you can do that, 
> > > you'll find yourself in a great position.
> > >
> > > The best way to go about that?  That's the
> $64,000
> > question.  My 
> > > opinion is that experience is the best teacher. 
> > Sometimes, you have 
> > > to go the conventional route by taking courses. 
> > Mostly, you have to 
> > > love doing what you do and find ways to make
> > yourself better at it.  
> > > If I were you, I would start slow.  Leverage the
> > knowledge you already 
> > > have and see if you can get a position doing
> tech
> > support or help desk 
> > > type of stuff.  It'll introduce you to a lot of
> > various problems and 
> > > situations.  Try to work your way into being a
> > sysadmin on some 
> > > servers.  From there deal with the
> infrastructure
> > of the network.  
> > > Once you get to the point where you understand
> the
> > system, multiple 
> > > systems, and then the infrastructure - you can
> > choose where you want 
> > > to go from there.
> > >
> > > It's a long road, but the journey's worth it.
> > >
> > > Brad
> > >
> > > On 8/30/07, *Ryan Slomiany* <ryamigo at yahoo.com 
> > > <mailto:ryamigo at yahoo.com>> wrote:
> > >
> > >     and the subject's suppose to be advice not
> > advise lol
> > >
> > >     ><
> > >
> > >     --- Ryan Slomiany <ryamigo at yahoo.com
> > <mailto:ryamigo at yahoo.com>>
> > >     wrote:
> > >
> > >     > hi
> > >     >
> > >     > I'm still in school but i feel the need to
> > start
> > >     > side
> > >     > projects to further my knowledge in the
> > networking/
> > >     > IT
> > >     > fields.
> > >     >
> > >     > just a few questions:
> > >     >
> > >     > i have a book for the CCNA cert, and am
> > currently
> > >     > reading this. what else could I do to
> > broaden my
> > >     > cisco
> > >     > knowledge?   which router series is most
> > common? And
> > >     > are there cheap routers/switches and
> whatnot
> > out
> > >     > there
> > >     > for me to buy and play around with?
> > >     >
> > >     > what would be a better OS to get
> acquainted
> > with?
> > >     > FreeBSD or my current installation of
> Ubuntu
> > Server?
> > >     >
> > >     > what other steps would be beneficial?
> > installing an
> > >     > SMTP server? playing with sercurity and
> > firewalls?
> > >     >
> > >     > what would be the best way to go about
> this?
> > >     >
> > >     > i appreciate any help and i'll be
> attending
> > >     > september's meeting as well :)
> > >     >
> > >     > -ryan
> > >     >
> > >     >
> > >     >
> > >     >
> > >     >
> > >    
> >
>
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