Are cisco certs only for network engineers?

CodeBlox

So I asked, and someone said that they only mean anything if you are going into network engineering O_O. I know, that because I asked on yahoo answers I can get some goofy answers. Is this true? Here is the link: Does a ccna mean anything today? - Yahoo! Answers

Also, I know this isn't the forum for this but I just thought I'd ask. So a few days ago, devices started losing their connections to my home wireless network. I go downstairs to see what was going on and my brother had plugged in a single ethernet cable into two ports on the router. I take one of the connectors out and everything goes back to normal. Can anyone tell me why this happened? Not why he put the single cord into two ports, but why did devices disconnect and severe lag.

stuh84

Well, its obviously going to be more useful to network engineers, however I suppose if you are in a mixed networking/server admin job, or something involving Ciscos then it will be useful.

There is some degree of truth to what the guy is saying though, what use would a CCNA be if you were a web designer? It will only be useful to those dealing with networking (whether directly or indirectly).

Also in your question, you mention going "up" to CCNP, I'm not sure if you mean skipping the CCNA to go to CCNP. Just so you know, you cant get a CCNP without a CCNA.

CodeBlox

I meant get CCNA first and then CCNP. And say a person had nothing, no degrees ONLY these certifications. Do you think they'd have a chance at getting a decent job?

stuh84

Over here its possible, if you have some decent experience, I don't know about where you live so it may not be the same.

Mojo_666

It depends where you work, the area where I live and work most the jobs are for generalists not speacialists, I am working on my CCENT and might go for my CCNA as alot of the jobs will require those skills albiet on a limited basis, however when you move toward CCNP you would be a specialist and probably only do networking.

billyr

In answer to your connection problem i'd mostly likely take an educated guess at it being a broadcast storm or switching loop.




edited to add: assuming the device you were connecting to was a home router. i.e the ethernet ports on the back of it.

CodeBlox

billyr wrote: »

edited to add: assuming the device you were connecting to was a home router. i.e the ethernet ports on the back of it.

Yes that is correct.


I'm getting my BA in Computer Science. Lots of programming, thats the focus of the degree. But I also want to get into networks. Is it possible? Will I have to start over and get another degree after? I had to chose between the two because I love both programming and networks.

Aldur

CodeBlox wrote: »

But I also want to get into networks. Is it possible? Will I have to start over and get another degree after? I had to chose between the two because I love both programming and networks.

I also have a Bachelors in CS and I'm work in networking. I never pursued another degree but I did have to work my butt off in my own free time to get to where I am today.

CodeBlox

Aldur wrote: »

I also have a Bachelors in CS and I'm work in networking. I never pursued another degree but I did have to work my butt off in my own free time to get to where I am today.

This is comforting. I suppose I just need to quite doubting it and dive in. I have been studying a bunch this summer for network+. My goal is to have it within a month from now. Thank you very much, I begin to doubt when I hear someone say "oh [insert cert here] is useless" I start to worry. I'm on summer break and a lot of my time has still gone to studying.

impelse

I do not bealived that it is just for network engineer. My main role today it is mixed with servers, workstations and network devices like switches. I only have ccna and ccna:s and it helped me a lot to configure some devices (not just cisco devices) and surprisely I found a couple of brands that run cisco IOS.

it_consultant

impelse wrote: »

I do not bealived that it is just for network engineer. My main role today it is mixed with servers, workstations and network devices like switches. I only have ccna and ccna:s and it helped me a lot to configure some devices (not just cisco devices) and surprisely I found a couple of brands that run cisco IOS.

Dell's and HP's behave like Cisco IOS, except HP's are far simpler. It took me a couple of minutes to aggregate 3 gigabit links between a switch and an ESX host. In a cisco, that would have been an afternoon!

My CCNA is and has been very valuable to me even though I primarily work on HP switches and Watchguard firewalls. Even if I had my choice I would go with Juniper over Cisco any day. I even stopped recommending Aironet access points in favor of the Meraki system.

All that to say, the one thing that CCNA does is give you an excellent baseline education in general networking which does not exist in any of the MS tracks and is hard to get in a university setting. The Juniper cert MAY be as technically challenging, but it does not have the name recognition of the CCNA.

impelse

it_consultant wrote: »

All that to say, the one thing that CCNA does is give you an excellent baseline education in general networking which does not exist in any of the MS tracks and is hard to get in a university setting.

I agree.

Devilsbane

Aldur wrote: »

I also have a Bachelors in CS and I'm work in networking. I never pursued another degree but I did have to work my butt off in my own free time to get to where I am today.

Once you get going, the degree subject becomes mostly irrelevant. It just matters that you have one. Plenty of people in IT have a degree in a different IT field, and some even in a non IT field.

it_consultant

Devilsbane wrote: »

Once you get going, the degree subject becomes mostly irrelevant. It just matters that you have one. Plenty of people in IT have a degree in a different IT field, and some even in a non IT field.

My boss has a BA in exercise science! He is an outstanding IT professional.