What does the future of Cisco look like?

TechBoy22

Hey, I was just curious. I am obtaining my A+ cert at the moment and I am looking into Networking next. I was wondering what the future holds as far as Cisco goes and is it the way I might want to go. I have spoken to some people and a lot are a fan of Microsoft and tell me to get into that for my MCSE, but I was also interested in networking. Any opinons would be great. Thanks!!

empc4000xl

with as much of the market share they have I don't see them going anywhere soon. Your always gonna have 3rd party stuff around, but you can't go wrong with cisco.

Daniel333

The MCSE is a great certification to have. It holds amazing branding.

Seems to be heading in the direction that you need a MCSE and CCNP in order to get a good job in IT. Plus some specializations.

I would say do your CCNA before doing your MCSE, there is a lot of cross over that Cisco simply explains better than the Microsoft stuff.

TechBoy22

how long does it usually or should it take a person to learn most of these certifications? My A+ class starts soon and its only for 6 weeks, 2 days a week for 4 hour classes. will that be enough time to pass my first exam? are there any tricks to learning the trade that would be most beneficial as far as obtaining the knowledge at a decent moving pace? the cisco crossing over with the microsoft sounds like a good plan. I definatly thnk I will look into the CCNA first and get into networking. I believe Microsoft is also not going to leave any time soon and will always be there for me when I am ready to take a step towards MCSE. If in 6 weeks I pass my A+, would learning Cisco be similar as far as difficulty? Im a realist and as I am planning for my career, I would like to sort of set a time line in order to create goals for myself. Thank you so far for the insight. It is helpful.

-Michael

scheistermeister

TechBoy22 wrote:

how long does it usually or should it take a person to learn most of these certifications? My A+ class starts soon and its only for 6 weeks, 2 days a week for 4 hour classes. will that be enough time to pass my first exam? are there any tricks to learning the trade that would be most beneficial as far as obtaining the knowledge at a decent moving pace? the cisco crossing over with the microsoft sounds like a good plan. I definitely thnk I will look into the CCNA first and get into networking. I believe Microsoft is also not going to leave any time soon and will always be there for me when I am ready to take a step towards MCSE. If in 6 weeks I pass my A+, would learning Cisco be similar as far as difficulty? Im a realist and as I am planning for my career, I would like to sort of set a time line in order to create goals for myself. Thank you so far for the insight. It is helpful.

-Michael

Time wise it depends completely on you and how much time you have and how much effort you put into it. It also depends on your background. At the beginning of the year I had no certifications. On 1/14/08 I got my CCNA, took a short break, studied for three days and got my Linux+, took a longer break and really started focusing on my CCNP. I passed the first exam for it on 6/11/08, the second 6/30/08, third 8/4/08 and hoping to pass the last later today.

Now that is not saying that I started from nothing to that though. I had studied the A+ stuff long ago but never sat for the exam. I had also been using linux for years. I also didn't sit for the CCNA until I was halfway through the BSCI in Cisco's Net Academy. The only class I have not completed from the Net Academy is the ONT class, but I am in it now and already passed the test for it (it is by far the easiest CCNP test :P ).

So it all depends on you. I would also say that the CCNA will be a bit harder than the A+; 6 weeks should also be plenty of time if you focus on it.

TechBoy22

First Id like to say thank you and congradulations on your accomplishments. Thats great. What is Net Acadamy and how much does that cost? Im really tight financially and was really lucky to even get the opportunity for the A+ class. Are there insufficiant ways about accomplishing my goals? As Im sure you do, I work a full time job. How much time should I put in a night as far as my studies to move at a good pace? Im pretty much in a real crappy job and look at this career move to be my way out. THe more I obtain, the more money I will hopefully make. I dont have much experience or knowledge. You can basically say Im fresh and starting from the bottom.

scheistermeister

Here is a link for the Net Acad. I took mine at a local college since it was part of one of my degrees.

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/index.html

As for time that is up to you. Just pace yourself so you don't get burnt out.

TechBoy22

Is net acadamy free and how does it work? The links to things are a bit confusing. Do I have to register first? Idk, maybe Im just tired. haha

nel

TechBoy22 wrote:

Is net acadamy free and how does it work? The links to things are a bit confusing. Do I have to register first? Idk, maybe Im just tired. haha

Hi michael,

No the net acadamy is not free sadly. Its usually a course ran at a local uni or college. Basically it covers whichever cert (for example ccna) and its taught in a classroom environment with real lab gear etc.

At my uni the course costs £800! So i went for self study - if you can self study well i would go that route as for the price of that you can buy your own lab, books cbt's etc. but thats all down to the person i guess IMO.

As for the future of cisco. Well its here to stay. Its abit like Microsoft as it has a large share of its market and is a very good product anyway. Just realise that there certs are geared mainly towards cisco networking and not other vendors. If you serious about the ccna i would go for the ccent first then do icnd2 to gain your ccna. That way you will be able to break it down more easily as a newbie to it all imo.

Slowhand

There's been some great advice already given, so I'll spare you my usual ranting and give you a suggestion for your certification-path. Keep in mind, this is a general outline, designed to give you a rounded IT skillset:

* A+
* Network+
* Linux+
* CCNA
* MCSE (possibly with a specialization, like Security and/or Messaging)*
* Security+ (more than likely, as your MCSE elective)
* CCNP
* Another Unix/Linux cert, such as LPIC, RHCE, or SCSA
* MCITP: Enterprise Administrator

*(Being certified on Windows Server, it'll be assumed by pretty much every employer that you know Exchange. The MCSE: Messaging specialty trains you on Exchange 2003, while MCITP: Enterprise Messaging Administrator is a full-fledged professional-level certification on Exchange 2007. There is also a technology-specific certification called MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 – Configuration that requires only one exam and isn't quite as heavy-duty as the pro-level.)

TechBoy22

THank you all for such great advice. I will definately look into all of the informative comments. It really is a big help.

mamono

For an example of the network engineering route:

* CompTIA A+
* CompTIA Server+
* CompTIA Linux+
* CompTIA Network+
* Cisco CCENT (640-822)
* Cisco CCNA (640-816)
* CWNP Wireless#
* CompTIA RFID+
* CWNP CWNA
* Cisco CCNA: Wireless
* CompTIA Security+
* Cisco CCNA: Security
* CWNP CWSP
* Cisco CCNP
* Cisco CCSP
* Other Unix/Linux cert, such as LPIC, RHCE, or SCSA

etc etc...

I like how they all start with the letter 'C'...