From Sysadmin to Network Guy

Started by deanwebb, January 06, 2015, 08:56:27 AM

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deanwebb

January 06, 2015, 08:56:27 AM Last Edit: January 06, 2015, 09:02:13 AM by deanwebb
I used to be a sysadmin kind of guy, back from 1995-2001. I did some networking as a consultant and at a medium-sized company where I also worked as an MS Exchange Admin. That experience plus my Cisco certs were able to get me over into Networking.

Because of my sysadmin background, I get to be the guy that interfaces with the desktop and AD people the most, but since I speak those languages, I kinda like that. I get to act as the translator, so to speak.

But the biggest help was going through the SMB world. Those guys look for jacks of all trades, so having a mix of sysadmin and networking skills means that, in exchange for rebooting Windows desktops and changing toner cartridges, you get to work with the switches and firewalls and claim that as experience. That's a big, big deal.

Having a CCNP-Security and recent experience then made me a candidate for a mid-level networking position, once I worded my resume to focus almost entirely on networking. I mentioned the AD, Exchange, and Windows in my experience section, but not in the prime skills that I listed at the top. Those were ALL networking, and I made sure to have the full shopping list, including DHCP, DNS, and other acronyms that hiring managers put on an application.
Take a baseball bat and trash all the routers, shout out "IT'S A NETWORK PROBLEM NOW, SUCKERS!" and then peel out of the parking lot in your Ferrari.
"The world could perish if people only worked on things that were easy to handle." -- Vladimir Savchenko
Вопросы есть? Вопросов нет! | BCEB: Belkin Certified Expert Baffler | "Plan B is Plan A with an element of panic." -- John Clarke
Accounting is architecture, remember that!
Air gaps are high-latency Internet connections.

Chev Chellios

#1
January 06, 2015, 10:27:03 AM
Wow Dean, great work on getting this thread going so quickly. Just replied to you on the intro one as well!

It's good to read about your experience and how you made the transition as that is the move I would like to make, good job  :)

I've worked with AD, Exchange and Servers quite alot but would really like to pick up more of the networking side of things, currently working in a smaller business than my previous roles but it's meaning I get to work with switches and firewalls (as well as printer cartridges, desktop and server stuff too) so good experience in that respect. Enrolled in the Cisco Networking Academy so hoping to nail the CCENT/CCNA in the not too distant future and along with my work experience hoping I can get more involved in a Networking role!

deanwebb

#2
January 06, 2015, 10:34:37 AM
Big companies will focus you more, smaller will let you spread out and crossover into other areas, so it's good you're in a smaller business.

You'll also want to get your hands on GNS3 for practice and lab work for the CCNA. Really, you don't need much more than that for the CCNA certs. When you make a move for the P-level tests, you're looking at getting a home lab set up. A few old switches and routers will do, should not be over a few hundred dollars unless you need to add a firewall for security work.

Which reminds me, we need a home labbing thread...
Take a baseball bat and trash all the routers, shout out "IT'S A NETWORK PROBLEM NOW, SUCKERS!" and then peel out of the parking lot in your Ferrari.
"The world could perish if people only worked on things that were easy to handle." -- Vladimir Savchenko
Вопросы есть? Вопросов нет! | BCEB: Belkin Certified Expert Baffler | "Plan B is Plan A with an element of panic." -- John Clarke
Accounting is architecture, remember that!
Air gaps are high-latency Internet connections.

Chev Chellios

#3
January 06, 2015, 10:45:34 AM
Home labbing thread sounds good.....

A few folk on the techexams forum also mentioned GNS3 being enough so will check that out for my CCNA journey, if I can get some cash together I would definately like to get a home lab set up as there seem to be plenty of older Cisco switches and routers knocking about  :)

deanwebb

#4
January 06, 2015, 10:49:00 AM
Like I said in the home lab thread, don't buy pre-assembled kits. Getting gear one piece at a time is usually the most cost-effective way to get the right stuff.

And if you have a friend that works at Cisco, buy him a lunch and tell him what you need. ;)
Take a baseball bat and trash all the routers, shout out "IT'S A NETWORK PROBLEM NOW, SUCKERS!" and then peel out of the parking lot in your Ferrari.
"The world could perish if people only worked on things that were easy to handle." -- Vladimir Savchenko
Вопросы есть? Вопросов нет! | BCEB: Belkin Certified Expert Baffler | "Plan B is Plan A with an element of panic." -- John Clarke
Accounting is architecture, remember that!
Air gaps are high-latency Internet connections.

mynd

#5
January 06, 2015, 11:11:51 AM
VIRL is available as well, tho $199/yr is a bit steep (arguments could be made that with a home lab, that's what you spend (if not more) for electricity ...)

http://virl.cisco.com/about-virl-2/

--Richard

deanwebb

#6
January 19, 2015, 01:43:36 PM
Take a baseball bat and trash all the routers, shout out "IT'S A NETWORK PROBLEM NOW, SUCKERS!" and then peel out of the parking lot in your Ferrari.
"The world could perish if people only worked on things that were easy to handle." -- Vladimir Savchenko
Вопросы есть? Вопросов нет! | BCEB: Belkin Certified Expert Baffler | "Plan B is Plan A with an element of panic." -- John Clarke
Accounting is architecture, remember that!
Air gaps are high-latency Internet connections.

wintermute000

#7
January 19, 2015, 09:03:12 PM Last Edit: January 20, 2015, 06:00:44 AM by wintermute000
Quote from: mynd on January 06, 2015, 11:11:51 AM
VIRL is available as well, tho $199/yr is a bit steep (arguments could be made that with a home lab, that's what you spend (if not more) for electricity ...)

http://virl.cisco.com/about-virl-2/

--Richard
One word: solar
Also it's not like the pc running virl uses no electricity!!!

Ether

#8
January 20, 2015, 07:24:28 AM Last Edit: January 20, 2015, 07:27:08 AM by jofas88
Quote from: wintermute000 on January 19, 2015, 09:03:12 PM
One word: solar

YES! My electric bill has been creeping up the more and more toys I show up home with. Next weekend project for sure. Know of any sources out there I can get some design ideas from?
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