Hi, Sorry for the off topic (if it is) post. I am getting back into IT full time after doing it as a secondary job for a decade or so and I have a number of questions. My goal is to get the skills necessary to become a modern Systems Admin and/or Network Admin in the SMB market.
I currently have both the MCSA and MCSE for Windows 2000 and a Cisco CCENT. I plan on updating the Microsoft certifications to their modern counter parts and to take the Cisco certificate to at least to CCNA. Now the questions. - Any recommendations for a good online Cisco discussion group? - For my target job, how high should I go in the Microsoft and Cisco certification tracks? - Other certifications? - Recommendations for training sources? - Recommendations for lab equipment? I'm thinking a virtual server farm but real Cisco equipment. Question is, which Cisco equipment. I already have a 871W that I got for the CCENT but it hurt as much as it helped -- integrated routers have command sets that are similar, but different, from their non-integrated counterparts -- so I'm looking for other equipment to train with. Any suggestions? - Is TechNet still the best way to Microsoft lab software on the cheap? I think that covers it, at least for now. :-) Any help you be greatly appreciated! Phil Brothwell ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
