Certs for a Sys Admin Role

eshark89

Hi everyone. First of all I'd like to say that this forum has been such a great resource while I have been researching my certification stuff and career information.

I have researched this question quite a bit using the search tool but I'm in a little bit of an odd situation and would like to see if I can get some situation specific advice.

A bit of background:

I have been working for a rather large corporation doing desktop support for about 2 years. The company is going through a lot of restructuring which has not meant good things for most of my colleagues and in fact just a few months ago my entire department was outsourced, but they ended up offering me a decent retainment bonus and a raise and created a new position for me in our senior support role. The role is more software support, application compatibility, remote desktop I support internal and high priority external clients.

My company ended up paying for me to get the 70-680 certification and are also paying for me to continue getting certifications.

I would like to one day be working as a system admin type role, but I am trying to figure out what the best path for that would be. I have researched our local dice/indeed jobs to see what is being required, but it is still inconclusive. I see some positions requiring networking certs and others requiring linux, and even some mySQL.

I have already passed the 70-680 certification and I'm currently looking at the MCSA: Server 2012 path but would like to know if pursuing a Microsoft SQL cert or Linux or even getting a lower level networking cert to diversify my skill-set would be better first?

I would like to make sure if there are more cuts at the end of the next fiscal year that I have the best shot of landing a position within that role or a very similar one.

techfiend

Linux is good for everyone to know the basics of but it's a common weak spot among IT colleagues of mine. Linux+ shows basic knowledge the more advanced Red Hat certs are higher demand.

When they mention sql on an infrastructure position it often means setting up servers and simple queries. Nothing that can't be learned outside of cert study and worth knowing. Unless sql is interesting I wouldn't get get certified, 95% of it isn't related to sys admin.

Microsoft certs supply greatly exceed the demand and they're some difficult tests. Most marketable way in my experience is vmware cert with linux. Although AWS is in very high demand right now as well.

sj4088

The main certs for a sys admin to have are:

Windows - MCSE
Unix/Linux - RHCE

Linux+ is a good cert to show you have been introduced to linux and you have the very basics down. But it's not close to being a sys admin level cert. Now if you are a windows sys admin that's fine, you don't need to be a full fledged linux admin.

Unless you are just interested in sql or have a rare admin job that is heavy sql I wouldn't bother with a sql cert. I'd leave that to the dba guys. I'd focus on my MCSE or RHCE depending on the OS you will be the admin for. Now another cert I'd would focus on after I got my MCSE or RHCE is CCNA. As a sys admin you need to understand a fair amount of networking. Not at an network engineer/CCNP level but you need to have the basics down and the CCNA or network+ would be good for that.

Also consider a VM cert. Pretty rare these days to be a sys admin and not touching/working with VMs.

DAVIS NGUYEN

Congrats!

eshark89

Thank you for the feedback. I have taken a few database administration and database programming classes when I was completing my bachelor's degree in which I was exposed to SQL. I'm sure simple queries would not be a problem, I'm happy I don't need to go after that certification though

It sounds like VM, Linux, and the MCSA > MCSE path is where I want to head. Would I be incorrect in assuming that starting with the 70-410 would be my best bet since there is exposure to hyper-v configuration?

I would love to learn more about linux, I work in a microsoft heavy environment currently so I have not had much exposure, but the little amount I have had has definitely peaked my interest.

techfiend

Certifying experience is important but so is strengthening weak spots.

If you are focused on enterprise positions where you work on windows specifically and like windows admin focus on MCSA. 70-410 is a good place to start.

If you want to focus on SMB where you do a wide variety of work focus on strengthening your weaknesses.

UnixGuy

AWS, Puppet, Python...not necessarily certificates, just learn the skills. For certs, RHCSA/RHCE

volfkhat

eshark89 wrote: »

It sounds like VM, Linux, and the MCSA > MCSE path is where I want to head. Would I be incorrect in assuming that starting with the 70-410 would be my best bet since there is exposure to hyper-v configuration?

I would love to learn more about linux, I work in a microsoft heavy environment currently so I have not had much exposure, but the little amount I have had has definitely peaked my interest.

the 74-409 is the exam that tests Hyper-V 2012.
Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA) has two separate courses freely available.
If you want to learn about virtualization, i highly recommend them.

In addition, the 409 can be swapped for the 412 exam requirement :]

If you want to learn Linux... then don't bother starting by reading a bunch of books.
Instead Go download & Install it onto a computer. THEN, go and USE it everyday.
Then, go bac and start reading a book to learn more.
checkout ElementaryOS... it's a decent distro for beginners.

chickenlicken09

is linux a must have for AWS

Trucido

My buddy is a system admin and hes only got A+ S+ N+

UnixGuy

@eddo1: I'd say probably yes (strongly recommended). Linux knowledge not Linux certificate that is.


@Trucido: and I know heaps of sysadmins/engineers with zero certs. We use certificates to further our knowledge and improve our situation. They are not a requirement, but the knowledge you gain while studying them will set you apart. Some employers prefer them some don't.