dhay13 wrote: » My lab is pretty basic for now but you can pick up a nice used server off eBay for under $300. i bought a poweredge 2950 iii with 32GB of RAM and a 1 TB HD. install VMWare ESXi 5.5 and a few VM's and build a basic active directory environment for starters. practice creating GPO's or pick up a few Cisco switches and a router and set up some vlans or something. get the fundamentals of networking figured out first. if you like programming or scripting then practice that. once you have a basic understanding of networks start picking up some security practice. isolate your network and practice different attacks on your systems. learn and understand how they work and learn what to do to defend against them. others on here have alot more labbing experience than i do so hopefully they add a little advice too
Plantwiz wrote: » @Foze Congratulations on the goal setting, it should help long term. Keep in mind you are typing into a forum, not texting, so take the time to write out thoughtful replies and attempt to spell correctly. We have members from all over the globe on this board, many who do not speak English as their first or second language and they bother to spell correctly. You are among professionals on this board. Take the time to step your game up rather than look/sound like a punk and before you dig through the threads to find others who also type in slang, save the time, please aim higher. YMMV Some form a formal education is going to land you into a better set of circumstances. There are folks who were able to network with friends and learn-on-the-fly, but that method is the exception not the rule. Stay in school.