CISCO vs NETWORK+

Hey guys i am in a bit of a dilemma here. I want to get into the networking field and i am stuck in between getting the CCNA or the NETWORK+. I know that a lot of companies use cisco but recently Juniper and soniwall is gaining popularity. Actually CISCO went down by 20% while Juniper went up by 35% in NASDAQ. Which cert should i get?

P.S. I have an associates in computer science, 4 years of desktop support and i live in NYC if thats any help.

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NOC-Ninja

A big share of network is dominated by cisco but its hard to find juniper techs. How about try jncia?

Forsaken_GA

sizeon wrote: »

Hey guys i am in a bit of a dilemma here. I want to get into the networking field and i am stuck in between getting the CCNA or the NETWORK+. I know that a lot of companies use cisco but recently Juniper and soniwall is gaining popularity. Actually CISCO went down by 20% while Juniper went up by 35% in NASDAQ. Which cert should i get?

P.S. I have an associates in computer science, 4 years of desktop support and i live in NYC if thats any help.

The CCNA contains the same entry level tenets that Network+ does, along with basic Cisco configuration.

Regardless of whichever vendor you decide to go with, you need to learn the information.

My personal recommendation is to follow the Cisco path, simply because the sheer weight of information available is slanted towards Cisco. Once you learn how networking works, transition to another vendor is pretty easy. Configuring a Juniper router isn't really that difficult if you're a Cisco router wizard, it's just a matter of syntax. OSPF is OSPF. ARP is ARP. No matter what platform you're running on, the fundamentals are the same.

SdotLow

Forsaken_GA wrote: »

The CCNA contains the same entry level tenets that Network+ does, along with basic Cisco configuration.

Regardless of whichever vendor you decide to go with, you need to learn the information.

My personal recommendation is to follow the Cisco path, simply because the sheer weight of information available is slanted towards Cisco. Once you learn how networking works, transition to another vendor is pretty easy. Configuring a Juniper router isn't really that difficult if you're a Cisco router wizard, it's just a matter of syntax. OSPF is OSPF. ARP is ARP. No matter what platform you're running on, the fundamentals are the same.

The above is very good advice.

I'd add that while "getting" Network+ certified in your case, might not be the best idea, grabbing a Network+ book and reading through it once or twice before jumping into Cisco might help your studies in Cisco.

tanix

I can't remember, but isn't the CCENT or a Network+ required before being able to take the CCNA? Could have sworn I saw that when I first considered going for it.

wave

Don't make your decision based on who's doing what on the NASDAQ!

Concerned Water

SdotLow wrote: »

The above is very good advice.

I'd add that while "getting" Network+ certified in your case, might not be the best idea, grabbing a Network+ book and reading through it once or twice before jumping into Cisco might help your studies in Cisco.

I agree, jumping right into Cisco CCNA materials can be difficult. I would go with reading a good Network+ book first.

I recommend: CompTIA Network+ Study Guide: Exam N10-004 (Todd Lammle)

Professor Messer, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Nework+, Microsoft Certification Training (free videos on the network+)

hiddenknight821

tanix wrote: »

I can't remember, but isn't the CCENT or a Network+ required before being able to take the CCNA? Could have sworn I saw that when I first considered going for it.

Not at all. There are two routes. You can either take the composite route, which is one exam route (combined both ICND1 and ICND2 stuff together). Or you can go two exams route, take the ICND1 first before moving on to the next stuff. Most people find the two-exam route beneficial. You save money that way and you also get to become CCENT certified after completing the ICND1.

skwira001

You should get your CCNA and Network+. Get your Network+ first because the CCNA builds off of that.

Let me just tell you. You will find it very hard, unless you know someone in the field, to find a job with a CCNA and Network+. You will absolutely need those. CCNA is by far the more important one. However, you will also need either a CCNP or one of the CCNA specialty track certifications like CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, or CCNA Wireless. I recommend getting all 3. If you do that, you will find jobs on job boards all over the places as it is in high demand.

sizeon wrote: »

Hey guys i am in a bit of a dilemma here. I want to get into the networking field and i am stuck in between getting the CCNA or the NETWORK+. I know that a lot of companies use cisco but recently Juniper and soniwall is gaining popularity. Actually CISCO went down by 20% while Juniper went up by 35% in NASDAQ. Which cert should i get?

P.S. I have an associates in computer science, 4 years of desktop support and i live in NYC if thats any help.

pham0329

skwira001 wrote: »

You should get your CCNA and Network+. Get your Network+ first because the CCNA builds off of that.

Let me just tell you. You will find it very hard, unless you know someone in the field, to find a job with a CCNA and Network+. You will absolutely need those. CCNA is by far the more important one. However, you will also need either a CCNP or one of the CCNA specialty track certifications like CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, or CCNA Wireless. I recommend getting all 3. If you do that, you will find jobs on job boards all over the places as it is in high demand.

I don't think the CCNA builds off Network+....the only thing that I learned in Network+ that transitions over to the CCNA was the OSI model. The only thing I remember about Network+ is that it has a big emphasis on cable types, their maximum distance, and how fast they are.

I say skip the Network+ and go straight for the CCNA. No potential employer is going to look at the CCNA, and go "well, he doesn't have the network+". On the flip side, if you only have the network+, you're unlikely to get any networking jobs.

sizeon

I have an associates in cs and getting a BA in CIS. Do you think my degree with certs are enough to get a good paying job (my goal is to be a generalist) or do you think certs are not necessary in my situation?

Concerned Water

sizeon wrote: »

I have an associates in cs and getting a BA in CIS. Do you think my degree with certs are enough to get a good paying job (my goal is to be a generalist) or do you think certs are not necessary in my situation?

I think certs with a degree are helpful for generalist, especially when in competition. You'll definitely get a good job. I don't know how long it will take for you to land one, but after meeting enough people and applying for enough jobs you'll get it.

I'm a generalist too!

skwira001

That's why I said CCNA is by far the most important.

In Testout's Network+, they discussed VLANs. They discussed what a 110 block is and the like. They discuss routing protocol concepts as in distance vector and link state. It does give you a foundation leading into the CCNA. I think it depends on the person. Some people need those fundamentals to really understand CCNA.

pham0329 wrote: »

I don't think the CCNA builds off Network+....the only thing that I learned in Network+ that transitions over to the CCNA was the OSI model. The only thing I remember about Network+ is that it has a big emphasis on cable types, their maximum distance, and how fast they are.

I say skip the Network+ and go straight for the CCNA. No potential employer is going to look at the CCNA, and go "well, he doesn't have the network+". On the flip side, if you only have the network+, you're unlikely to get any networking jobs.

skwira001

sizeon wrote: »

I have an associates in cs and getting a BA in CIS. Do you think my degree with certs are enough to get a good paying job (my goal is to be a generalist) or do you think certs are not necessary in my situation?

Absolutely. Your certifications along with a degree will help dramatically. Again I want to emphasise I tried getting a job just with a CCNA and also Network+, Security+, and A+ and it is really hard to get a job with just routing and switching skills unless you're also a CCNP. You should go for at least one of the CCNA specialty tracks like CCNA Security, Voice, or Wireless. I think all 3 is a great idea.

Concerned Water

Many IT jobs are starting to ask for all kinds of stuff. I seen a job post where they wanted Linux, Microsoft, Cisco and Citrix skills.

: Being an IT with duties like that use to be unheard of. Everyone use to just specialize in one thing whether it be Linux, Microsoft, Cisco or Citrix.

Generalist is starting to become a norm.

wave

A lot of what Concerned Water just said is probably coming from recruiters posting "catch all" advertisements just to grow their candidate base. Many employers will actually make sacrifices for the right people. I worked as an IT recruiter for nearly four years and I can tell you, don't get too hung up on job postings that ask for every flavour of cert/qual on the planet. I also disagree that "generalists" are becoming the norm. In small companies, generalists are the norm, but that's not the case for all companies.

instant000

Concerned Water wrote: »

Many IT jobs are starting to ask for all kinds of stuff. I seen a job post where they wanted Linux, Microsoft, Cisco and Citrix skills. : Being an IT with duties like that use to be unheard of. Everyone use to just specialize in one thing whether it be Linux, Microsoft, Cisco or Citrix.

Generalist is starting to become a norm.

Most places want one guy who can do everything

Saves on salaries

Concerned Water

instant000 wrote: »

Most places want one guy who can do everything Saves on salaries

That makes sense.

pham0329

Concerned Water wrote: »

Many IT jobs are starting to ask for all kinds of stuff. I seen a job post where they wanted Linux, Microsoft, Cisco and Citrix skills. : Being an IT with duties like that use to be unheard of. Everyone use to just specialize in one thing whether it be Linux, Microsoft, Cisco or Citrix.

Generalist is starting to become a norm.

It's more common than you think. Guess who's managing our servers, exchange, citrix, and cisco equipment at my workplace?

wave

Pham, how many IT staff do you have and how many users do you have on your network? I say it's all relative. Smaller companies (smaller user base) demand generalists. The bigger the company gets, the more specialists it has. When one is starting out in IT, being a generalist is probably a very good idea. Then, if you're one who wants to climb the ladder then you're highly likely to become a specialist.

tha_dub

I'd recommend doing the net+ first then ccna if you have time and money to do so. The net+ basically covers half the icnd1 material so you have to study it anyways but you get two certs out of the deal.

Netwurk

instant000 wrote: »

Most places want one guy who can do everything Saves on salaries

Sad but true. We're in a do more with less people economy.

Rah rah, hooray for corporations

NOC-Ninja

I have a friend that has mcse and ccna. He's been in the business for 10yrs. He deploys routers and switches and at the same time does servers. However, he is getting paid 6 digits and the company has only 2 bldg. I don't see that happening in a bigger company. They need an employee that will do solely servers and networks. The team are separated and has 4-8 people in it.

sizeon

Ok i have made up my mind and i will be getting the ICND1 followed by the ICND2. What materials should i use to study? I have access to cbt nuggets.

Netwurk

sizeon wrote: »

Ok i have made up my mind and i will be getting the ICND1 followed by the ICND2. What materials should i use to study? I have access to cbt nuggets.

My advice is that CBT chicken nuggets should stop spamming this site

Concerned Water

sizeon wrote: »

Ok i have made up my mind and i will be getting the ICND1 followed by the ICND2. What materials should i use to study? I have access to cbt nuggets.

For the CCNA I recommend CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide

It's currently up to date. This book is mainly for the one route, but the author has it set so that you can use it for the two route as well. This book comes with practice questions on the disc too.

Amazon.com: CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide, (640-802): Exam 640-802 (9780470901076): Todd Lammle: Books

sizeon

Concerned Water wrote: »

For the CCNA I recommend CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide It's currently up to date. This book is mainly for the one route, but the author has it set so that you can use it for the two route as well. This book comes with practice questions on the disc too.

Amazon.com: CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide, (640-802): Exam 640-802 (9780470901076): Todd Lammle: Books

Thanks i just placed an order on that book. Should i ditch the cbt nuggets and train with this book only?

pham0329

you should have more than 1 source for studying as it gives you a different perspective, or one may cover something the other didn't.

If you already have a cbt nuggets subscriptions, then by all means, use it. Jeremy Ciora (is that how you spell his last name?) is a great teacher and explains the concepts really well. What a lot of people do is watch the videos, then read the book to really cement in what you learned. Plus, even with the many many screenshots and config printout in Lammle's book, watching the command gets entered is way better.

johnnyarks

sizeon wrote: »

Hey guys i am in a bit of a dilemma here. I want to get into the networking field and i am stuck in between getting the CCNA or the NETWORK+. I know that a lot of companies use cisco but recently Juniper and soniwall is gaining popularity. Actually CISCO went down by 20% while Juniper went up by 35% in NASDAQ. Which cert should i get?

P.S. I have an associates in computer science, 4 years of desktop support and i live in NYC if thats any help.

Isn't this kinda like saying "should I get Microsoft Certs, I see a lot of people using Mac Books lately"....

ciscodaze

sizeon wrote: »

Ok i have made up my mind and i will be getting the ICND1 followed by the ICND2. What materials should i use to study? I have access to cbt nuggets.

I bought Todd Lammles CCENT...excellent prep for the CCENT. Its all you need, with testing engine included.

I also read Wendell Odoms ICND1 (CCENT) book too...as I was also studying for CCNA. Either book is all you need.

Jeremy Cioara also has a CCENT book. I Read that too...all good books, any one will get you there though. If you have access to
nugget-land, great, Jeremy Cioara is a great teacher, by book or video.

andy4tech

Going for icnd1 and icnd2 is good,you can use the todd lammle book for your studies,i have seen on this forum and other forum that Wendell Odom's books is good too,i did not use his book for my studies,i only use todd lammle,cbt nuggets and another video by trainings solutions.