Transitioning from Server 2012 to Cisco

Currently working at a microsoft shop with unmanaged switches and sonicwall routers. I'm getting a lot of exposure with server 2012 albeit there's a lot of things I'd like to do that have been declined, failover clustering and dmz to name a few. While I'm enjoying learning, sys admin I don't think I enjoy enough to make a career out of.

I really enjoyed studying for ccent, especially labbing on cisco routers and I think network design and engineering is what I'd like to make a career of. I'm currently enrolled in WGU Net Admin which has MCSA 8.1 and 2012 but I'm still undecided if I should switch to Security for the next term.

The MCSA will improve my performance at work and maybe increase my wages but it's not a place where I can really grow and become as successful as I want. So what I'm seeking is some advice. Do I pursue MCSA to improve my current position and later on go after cisco certs or should I switch to cisco now and hope to get a networking job without cisco experience, only certs?

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Comments

anhtran35

Skip the MCSA and get your CCNA. You already stated you have NO desire to be an SA.

MeatCatalogue

Security pays well. If you hate microsoft, you might wanna go network security.. though realistically a security guy would be responsible for Microsoft stuff too.

Keep in mind that Microsoft permeates IT completely, so its a good skill to have even if you dont like it. Active Directory is nearly universal, and wont be going anywhere anytime soon. My network architect (a CCNP) for example is responsible for our Microsoft DHCP cluster.

olaHalo

Go for the CCNA, but adsorb all you can about AD and Server 2012 while working there.

OfWolfAndMan

olaHalo wrote: »

Go for the CCNA, but adsorb all you can about AD and Server 2012 while working there.

Agreed. Not everything will be relevant in the network world from then systems side of things, but knowing AD and certain server functions will put you a step above the rest.

techfiend

Thanks for the replies, CCNA seems like the unanimous opinion. What kind of positions would a sys admin, basically a JOAT, with a ccna but no cisco work experience be fit for? I'd think a noc tech position would be a step back career wise and was thinking an MCSA now would get me into a bigger company as at least a jr sys admin while getting some cisco experience.

I don't dislike 2012 at all, actually it's changing my opinion of linux being the better server os. It's just I don't see myself wanting to work mainly with AD and powershell for the next 30+ years. Also a lot of the network positions I see around here are terrible shifts, 10-12 hours overnights for example, is this pretty standard in the networking field or is there many normal or split shift positions?