CCNP - Need MCSE??

Author

Need MCSE??

xzadio

2001-07-18, 11:28 am

Do you think that a network engineer
must have the MCSE??I see that a lot off people have this certification.
Is MCSE more difficult than CCNA or CCNP??

Thanks in advance.

Cya

xzadio

tiggermcse

2001-07-18, 11:48 am

MCSE is more difficult than ccna. One reason is that ccna is one test that only covers a broad overview of routing/switching. MCSE requires minimum of 6 exams that cover a good bit more information. CCNP is probably comparable to MCSE since you end up having to pass 5 exams (CCNA plus 4 more) to complete it.

MadChef

2001-07-18, 12:05 pm

quote:
Originally posted by xzadio
Do you think that a network engineer
must have the MCSE?

Depends on what you're doing. I have my MCSE, but nobody gives a crap because I don't work on their servers. I put it to so little use that I remember very little about NT and should probably be relegated to Paper MCSE.
But there are a number of people I work with who are involved with Cisco Call Manager. Because it sits on 2000, Cisco is requiring engineers to have their MCSE to acheive the telephony specialization. In this case, it would definately pay to have your MCSE in addition to Cisco stuff.

MadChef

ramlax

2001-07-18, 12:36 pm

MCSE is good to get self study to see what the major os in the world will be sending out traffic wise. That way you will understand why you are using Cisco equipment in an internetwork. Most likely to support traffic to and from Windows workstations, servers and the like. You will get a good grasp of why it is important to limit broadcast domains. Plus when do you ever remotely troubleshoot all your equipment. You need to bring a pc sometimes and plug into the console and you can't be waiting for hours at the call center for someone to fix your laptop to get work done. Also Ciscoworks and some new stuff from Cisco is installed on NT machines so be able to understand why it is not working right, the machine, the os or the app.

Retired-Mod

2001-07-18, 5:35 pm

You can have my MCSE because I damn sure don't want it!
I'm letting it expire intentionally...

Retired

depamo

2001-07-18, 7:02 pm

This is a touch issue. I always believed that you do what you are good at and then go for it. I am pretty damn good at routers, so I am going to make sure that my certifications meet my experience and I only plan on working on networks for the most part.

If you don't want to work on networks, then stop at the CCNA or CCDA. There is no need to torture yourself to get an advanced certification in this if you don't plan to use it or don't really want to do it.

You are looking for marketability and if you are going to be applying for a job, an MCSE is a Hunan Resources requirement for most administration jobs. They want it so you can understand what is going on in the rest of the network and they also don't have to flip the bill to get you certified.

In simple terms, a certification is a sure fire way that any potential employer can insure that you have reached a certain level of capability. Experience then augments this as it proves your capability. An MCSE tells your employer that you understand Microsoft Networks and if you are designing or extending your network, you can assist in the planning to insure maximum efficency of the network through server and service placement.

Will it help you get a job??? Yes, it shows something that you can give to a company and when in the absence of experience, that can mean a lot.

For the real world, I really do loath the MCSE. I just use experience because the tests are nowhere near a real implementation of the equipment. As soon as I was almost tracked for NT 4.0, Win2K came along and blew it out of the water. Now there is a possible new level being added with XP and Whistler.

Cisco is Cisco. The equipment changes but the certs are pretty much the same. I prefer to stay below the application layer as much as possible but you cannot hid there forever and if you do, you will probably get either laid off or fired for someone that can show much more versatility.

So overall, if you have experience in Win2K or WinNT, don't worry about it too much but expect to be able to prove yourself. Equivilant for experience is about 2 years in an Administrative position for the certifications (I personally believe that it is much less, have been around too many MCSE's that cannot tell up from down). But the same for Cisco Certs but they are a much better benchmark then the MCSE exams.

Hope that helps some, I do work in an Administrative Management and this is what I have experienced as a personal issue. I would much rather hire someone that is both Cisco and MCSE certified then someone that is just Cisco certified for network router management. On the other hand, I would take someone with a couple of years with an ISP over both if they had no comparable experience. The top of the heap, obviously, a certified person with experience, proven and stamped off by a neutral thrid party.

xzadio

2001-07-19, 12:30 pm

Guys i think i start reading and a little
bit Micros world.

Many thanks

Cya

xzadio

chodan

2001-07-20, 7:36 pm

I earned my MCSE over a year ago and then began my adventure into CCNP having finished it early this month I decided to take a microsft 2000 elective "designing windows 2000 network infrastructure" next week then study for a couple months on the accelerated exam.
Why? you may ask.
A: I`m a glutten for punishment
B: I have alot of time invested in My MCSE
and can keep it with 2 tests so why not.
C: I like learning new things.
D:I think it makes me more Viable.

After I get passed the upgrading process
I am thinking of applying my Certifications toward college credit and taking a few classes and getting a degree, a CS or CIS I guess.
Jonathan Foster MCSE CCNP Network+

Sponsored Links