Setting up a personal lab for experience.

I am currently a Printer Tech where I specifically only deal with printers and is my first job in I.T. I would like to move away from this and focus more in hardware and software or networking. I obtain my A+, Network+, and MCP. The only problem is I lack experience. I mean anyone can study and pass a test. Last week I had an interview for a break/fix tier 2 position. I didn't do so well because the interviewer ask me question like:

Have you ever setup Outlook? How to fix a corrupt pst? Setting up a Blackberry? Questions about Remote Desktop.

I would like to setup a personal lab where I can get some hands on experience. Down the road I would like to work toward CCNA. What type of lab should I setup? Would having 2 PC and a router be sufficient?

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Comments

t3ch_guru

I personally don't think you really need a lab for A+,Net+. You should worry about a lab when obtaining CCNA in my opinion. I dont carry a A+, but I do know those answers only because I deal with them at my IT shop.

Definitely look into virtualization(Hyper-V,Vmware, Virtualbox) when messing with labs. If you have 2 comps and a router that is definitely a good start.

When studying for your CCNA you should look at these router sims.

GNS3 | Graphical Network Simulator
Main

Sie

Either look into the Net+ or A+ as this is a good basis or try looking into either the 70-270 XP exam or the 70-620 Vista Exam.

These can be done with one machine and would give you a good basis for the rest of your studies. You need to understand one machine before you understand a whole network.

Apologise if this is telling you to suck eggs but its a good starting point for I study and can be done with just the computer infront of you!!

veritas_libertas

t3ch_guru wrote: »

I personally don't think you really need a lab for A+,Net+. You should worry about a lab when obtaining CCNA in my opinion.

Bingo

On the other hand it doesn't hurt either though.

Turgon

passcert23 wrote: »

I am currently a Printer Tech where I specifically only deal with printers and is my first job in I.T. I would like to move away from this and focus more in hardware and software or networking. I obtain my A+, Network+, and MCP. The only problem is I lack experience. I mean anyone can study and pass a test. Last week I had an interview for a break/fix tier 2 position. I didn't do so well because the interviewer ask me question like:

Have you ever setup Outlook? How to fix a corrupt pst? Setting up a Blackberry? Questions about Remote Desktop.

I would like to setup a personal lab where I can get some hands on experience. Down the road I would like to work toward CCNA. What type of lab should I setup? Would having 2 PC and a router be sufficient?

You want at least one computer you can install and install again on with a secondary to be a management PC of sorts. Make sure you find a good place to store all your stuff, it can get messy and noisy as it grows! Also don't understimate the time you will sink into setting things up and using your lab. There are usually no quick jobs in there when you are learning things so whole afternoons or evenings can be sucked up. Clear it with your significant other if you are married first!

blargoe

To me it sounds like you would benefit from some more self study in the MCDST track or the equivalent, newer MCITP track, which would cover all the examples you mentioned (except how to set up a blackberry). I haven't taken this track, but we a forum dedicated to this track, you might find some lab advice there.