Hi guys

Hope you can help. I need advice, I don't know wheather I have come to the right Post.
I have an A+ and have done my N+, but not sat the exam. I have a years working knowledge of Linux and Unix and have attended 1 Linux course. I am also fairly clued up with windows desktop systems. My dalema comes now. I want to go into networking and network security, but don't know where to start. I am playing with studing MCSE 2000, or CCNA first. Where would you guys start? Any advise to which direction I should go would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Neil

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I'd advice you to stick with the Unix and networking side of things as the mcse market is pretty much dead and would stay so for a long time. Just go for your CCNA for networking and routers, and gain more skills in the Unix side of things. I know this advice sounds harsh but it is the truth. Just my sincere opinion. Peace Out

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I was thinking of that too. I really am just asking is it really neccesary for me to study an MCSE in order to do any of the Cisco courses, of course it would be an advantage, but would working knowledge be fine?

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Working knowledge is more than fine instead of the MCSE which has almost no bearing. I am not trying to discourage you in anyway. I am saying that your efforts are best spent on learning something that would pay off in the near future. Hope this helps. Best of luck in what you decide to do.

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I thought as much. Linux is becoming big here in SA, when I lived in the UK I hadn't even heard of it, and that was only 2 years ago. For me it would seem the logical route to go maby get my RHCE and qualify for the MCSE by just teaching it to my self in spare time. Im keen to go into networking so the logical choice would be CCNA, knowledge of windows O/S and start doing security.

Perhaps not a bad plan!

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quote:

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Originally posted by ic005qx00
I want to go into networking and network security

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You have answered this question yourself!!

__________________
One Exam leads to another! Where will it ever end?

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Go for your CCNA . Stay with Unix and Linux .

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I agree with the comments made by everyone else. At some point though may want to get an MCP in 2000/.NET Server and/or a CNA in NW 5.1/6.0 though. These aren't nearly as much work as going all the way for MCSE or CNE but they show that you have some level of competency with these OSs.

There's a lot of overlap between the Linux/Unix and Cisco material so the CCNA shouldn't be a big deal for you (ie you probably already have a good understanding of subnets).

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Thanks for the info. Just one last question.
I don't know what an MCP is, I take its something like Microsoft Professional. I know what a CNE is. Where can I find the info to read about MCP?

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http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcp/default.asp

To obtain MCP status, you simply have to pass 1 test. The most logical for you would be either win2k pro or win2k server.

I agree with ccieToBe. You want to broaden your appeal, increase the skill set. I would say you should get out of comptia exam and go for RHCE as extension to your linux+, CCNA for basic network, MCP for competency in Windows and SCSA to display solaris/unix competency. I would prolly place SCSA>RHCE

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