Lab

kinggeorge1987

Hey everyone,

Guys I feel kinda dumb asking this next to thousands of network gurus, but what exactly are you referring to when you say your 'home lab' ? Secondly, what is the purpose of one ? Is it to experiment with a network to keep skills sharp ? I would like to know. Me personally, I see no reason to have such amazing systems at home. Anyone have the time to break it down to an IT noob ?

rogue2shadow

Hehe. We all started out at some point

A home lab varies based on what you're studying for. A lab is usually composed of virtual machines accessed via VMware or VirtualBox (which can both be downloaded online for free) if you're working with Microsoft certs or you're in need of experimenting with different operating systems.

If you are a student, check out Dreamspark by Microsoft. It's a free student site which offers software ranging from Windows 2003 Server to the Robotics suite.

https://www.dreamspark.com/default.aspx

A "Cisco" home lab is compromised of Cisco routers, switches (frame relay and/or standard, WAPs etc. They are usually mounted on a "rack" which can also be purchased online. You can find great deals on ebay but make sure you know who you're buying from (aka read the feedback).

earweed

To the Cisco Guys/Gals it invoves a lot more but my home lab is just a computer powerful enough to run what I need via virtualization.

kinggeorge1987

so I would use VMware to install - Windows Server 2003 on to test it as if I was a server admin ?

earweed

Yeah you could do that. If you were studying for the MCSA/MCSE track.

kinggeorge1987

Well my next two classes starting in the fall are Network Tools and Techniques, and Servers.

I would love to get a head start + begin pursuing microsoft certs. I just have no idea where to start. I want to get into being a server admin, but I want to have a good understanding of security also. What would you recomment ? Of course Im starting with A+ and then Net+, that seems to be the basic initiation.

erpadmin

kinggeorge1987 wrote: »

Well my next two classes starting in the fall are Network Tools and Techniques, and Servers.

I would love to get a head start + begin pursuing microsoft certs. I just have no idea where to start. I want to get into being a server admin, but I want to have a good understanding of security also. What would you recomment ? Of course Im starting with A+ and then Net+, that seems to be the basic initiation.

Since you also want to get into security, you might as well finish "the trinity" and complete Security+...especially before 1/1/2011. Because on 1/1/2011 and any day after that, you'll have to recertify it every three years. If you complete A+ and Network+ plus read the Security+ thread to see what's helped others, you should have no problem with the exam.

After that, you can concentrate on the Microsoft exams....and see which ones you feel might interest you. MCITP: SA, MCITP: EA, or even the MCSA/MCSE 2003....

kinggeorge1987

I hope your right, the issue really is the money for all of those exams. A rough estimate off the top of my head will fall close the $1000 mark if im not too far off. I could definitely do it in time, but a 3 month window is kind of difficult right now, just had a new baby girl and my work has stopped. My wife is a full time nurse and with my school, our two other girls, and studying for my certs, im having to play the stay-at-home-dad role right now. If only there was some sort of online tech support/help desk job I could land.

earweed

Try here Apply Now!

kinggeorge1987

Well, didn't think they were out there like that. Appreciate the link earweed. Had any experience with them ?

earweed

I applied but my experience with video games is nil. They want people with some video game experience.

kinggeorge1987

Longest application ever. More of a personality quiz.