I really appreciate all the feedback! I have a long road ahead of me as I'm just starting but already I feel more confident and excited about my journey down the path of becoming a Systems Administrator. Thanks again!
-Shane On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 2:07 AM, Shane Yoder <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello, > > I just recently joined LOPSA and have contacted the LOPSA Mentor > Program about becoming a LOPSA Protege. I'd like to request some advice > from professional Sysadmins regarding my education and career path as I'm > working on transitioning into a career as a Sysadmin. > > *Background* > > I'm currently working as a Quality Assurance Analyst for a software > company and my responsibilities include initial project analysis and > documentation, functional software testing and producing project > specifications . I want to change careers and work as a Sysadmin. I'm > going back to school part time at my local community college > <http://www.dvc.edu/org/departments/computer-science/degrees-and-certificates/program-information-computer-network-tech.htm>and > working towards an AS in Windows Systems > Administration<http://www.dvc.edu/org/departments/computer-science/degrees-and-certificates/program-requirements-computer-network-tech.htm> > ( > > http://www.dvc.edu/org/departments/computer-science/degrees-and-certificates/program-requirements-computer-network-tech.htm). > My past experience in IT is basically CompTIA A+ type tech > support/building computers/troubleshooting for a local computer store/ISP in > the mid to late 1990's when I was a teenager and being the "Computer Guy" > for family and friends. I've also dabbled in Linux since the mid 1990's > (Slackware 3.0 FTW) and currently have a Ubuntu box running as a firewall > and router for my home network which includes FreeBSD, OpenBSD and Windows > boxes. Basically I want to transition from power user to the world of > professional computing. > > *Questions* > > 1. Regarding education I'm seriously considering transferring to Western > Governors University after I finish my AS and completing a Bachelors degree > in IT with a focus on Network Administration. WGU <http://www.wgu.edu/> is > a national *and* locally accredited non-profit college which is endorsed > by companies such as AT&T and Microsoft. The program seems pretty awesome > because the cost isn't too much, it's a competency based program and you'll > earn popular professional IT Certifications(which I was planning on getting > anyway) in addition to the degree (CompTIA, Microsoft Certs & more). More > info: > http://www.wgu.edu/online_it_degrees/information_technology_degree_networks_admin > > > So my question is what do you all think about this? I can't take > student loans so going to a traditional four year would be hard because of > the expensive tuition. I'm also working full time and have to support my > family so going to an online school is an attractive option. I know to stay > away from University of Phoenix and similar for-profit schools but this > college doesn't seem to be like those shady schools at all. Does where you > get your bachelors from matter as much or is a bachelors a bachelors? > > 2. Regarding career paths is it better to focus on one operating system, > such as Microsoft Windows, or be more of a jack of all trades and have some > level of proficiency in multiple OS's. I like Linux and BSD better than > Windows but I have a more access to education learning Windows > Administration than Linux. Right now I was planning on completing my degree > in Windows Administration and getting some professional certifications in > Linux and BSD (Linux Professional Institute Certified (LPIC-1 & 2) FreeBSD > and OpenBSD System Administration (BSDA) on the side. Is this a good idea? > I think it might be easier to get a job as a Windows Sysadmin rather than a > Linux Sysadmin - is this the case? I was kind of hoping on learning both so > that if there's a job opening for a Jr. Linux Sysadmin or a Jr. Windows > Sysadmin I could apply and be qualified for either position. > > Thanks for any advice you all can offer! > > -Shane Yoder >
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