Life as a SysAdmin

Can someone who is already a SysAdmin give me an example of a typical day at the job? I understand there is some networking involved as well? That would be helpful, since it's all I've been doing for the last few years. Do SysAdmins just sit staring at a computer all day, too, like those in networking or do they get to move around?

My whole point in considering this field is to hopefully do a little bit of a lot of things.

Lastly, are "MCTS/MCITP" the newer 2008 versions of MCSA/MCSE?

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Comments

ptilsen

It can vary. I spend 90% of the time at the computer now, but in previous positions I did enough hands on hardware work that I was often not at a desk. If you find yourself in a position doing a lot of physical installations, it's not all sitting at a PC. Outside of that... it's mostly sitting at a computer all day.

If you want to do more than just that, you'll really want to work for a sort of generalist position, probably working for a managed service provider or consulting firm, or even directly for an SMB. Even in larger organizations that haven't fully siloed, you'll still likely find yourself in a position with limited scope. When I worked for an MSP, I might design a project one day; configure a firewall, switch, or router the next; migrate server services the next; configure a SAN and virtual infrastructure the next; and so on. Such positions can be tough because you either don't get deep enough or you have to somehow get deep and broad, which can be overwhelming or simply impossible. Still, it's a great experience and it sounds like what you're looking for, at least before you find your sweet spot.

MCTS and MCITP are not certifications in and of themselves. They are certification lines. An MCTS certification is a credential you earn for completing a single exam. It is more akin to MCP, which you got for completing any exam in the previous system. The main difference is you get a different MCTS for each exam.

The MCITP line contains the "equivalents" to the old MCSA/MCSE line. MCITP:SA is akin to MCSA 2003, and in fact MCITP:SA now earns MCSA 2003. Microsoft is discontinuing the MCITP line in factor of going back to an altered form MCSA/MCSE nomenclature. MCITP:EA would be the closest thing to a 2008 R2 equivalent of MCSE 2003. The new line of MCSE is based on technology area, like MCITP, rather than simply product version, like the old MCSE. MCSA is tied to product version.

For getting into systems administration, getting the MCSA 2008 (the MCITP:SA) is the best start. Later, you can upgrade it to MCSA 2012, and in turn use that towards the MCSE Server Infrastructure credential, which in essence is the 2012 equivalent of MCITP:EA and MCSE 2003.

Mutata

Great post ptilsen, this helped me a lot.

Thanks,

antielvis

Well it really matters where you're the system admin.

Small Business: If you work in small business you will likely manage several companies and cover all facets of support, development, and design. You will be involved in networking, but likely only with a Sonicwall and a switch. No VLAN's

Medium Sized Business: If you work for a medium sized business you may well have a team, but be involved in hands on everything. You'll also probably be on call...a lot. It'll depend on teh client and how much of a trainwreck the site is. You may do some networking or VLAN's but it's possible you may outsource that. This type of position is the best place to be to learn how things work & to get the most experience. It's also the position that's got the highest burnout rate.

Enterprise/Data Centre: The most "narrow" of all positions, you will likely focus on specific aspects of server administration. You may have AD/DS specialists, printer server specialists, file server specialists, etc. In this environment it's most likely you'll get to use/experience many of the facets of Windows Server (NAP, File Classification, WDS,) that you wouldn't use elsewhere and, if involved in AD/DS, become a real master at Directory Services and DNS. Ironically, this is the position with the LEAST amount of after hours stuff. It can also be the most boring too. On the plus side (at least in my opinion), there is no desktop at all and very little people interaction.

Cat5

ptilsen wrote: »

For getting into systems administration, getting the MCSA 2008 (the MCITP:SA) is the best start. Later, you can upgrade it to MCSA 2012, and in turn use that towards the MCSE Server Infrastructure credential, which in essence is the 2012 equivalent of MCITP:EA and MCSE 2003.

So which tests would earn me an MCSA 2008? You mentioned the MCITP:SA already. Are there two other tests or three? I already have a CompTia Security+ - but I don't know if that counts toward this certification any longer or not.

Second, is it reasonably possible to take and pass these tests without having to buy expensive lab equipment? I simply don't have the money, even for eBay.

TechZilla

Basically you need the 640/642/646 for a MCSA 2008.

If you don't work with these systems day in day out you will more than likely need some type of lab environment. A simple desktop PC with virtualization capabilities is all that's really needed.

RobertKaucher

You can build a decent lab using pieces of junk PCs that you cobble together. The most important thing that you need is at least a good study PC with something like an i5, at least 6 GB RAM, and a large capacity hard drive. This will allow you to virtualize server and client systems.

IMO new people do best when they have a few PCs in their labs and a couple consumer grade routers and integrate this with virtualization on a primary study PC. There is something about actually setting up real systems and plugging things in and making it work that bring the information you are learning together far better than JUST virtualizing. Doing this sort of work you are also more likely to make mistakes and have to figure out what it was you did wrong. These sorts of experiences stick with you far longer than if you just read.

You don't have to buy expensive equipment. But you will need to put a lab together. You just aren't going to be able to pass these exams with theoretical knowledge. I have instructed people in the Server 2003 era MCSA lelvel exams and it's just a fact. Can you get by without it? Maybe. But no one I worked with who just used a single PC passed anything beyong the client exam and most of those types failed that as well. I am talking about people who do not work in IT, though.

And then you get to be a SYSADMIN!