How to become a Systems Adminstrator

ITdude84

Hey guys, as the titles states, while I work on my Certs and possibly go back to school to work on my BA in (Networking/Administration) or (Security) still deciding how does one move into a systems Administrator role what skills are needed/required?

I have done everything from helpdesk, desktop support, some AD, patch management, corporate antivirus/firewall, System backups, etc etc list go's on. I would definitely say I am mid level in my career (10 yrs) but would like to have a role where I can touch on more programs I have not had a chance too.

I also figured this would help as well decide if I want to go the Cisco or Microsoft route.

Thoughts and opinions?

Cisco Inferno

get your network+ and then hop on the microsoft bandwagon. MCSE style. You have enough certs to nail interviews when you get your certs.

ITdude84

I am currently working on my network +, then my security + knocking the comptia trio out. after those are completed, I will seriously research deeply into the microsoft and ccna paths to find out what I like more. I do not want to make a career out of a systems admin job, just want a good stepping stone to go higher as I progress. Just want to get out of the lower level support jobs....

Cisco Inferno

get your mcsa instead of mcse and then maybe move into cisco.

ITdude84

Does the Microsoft path have a security section like Cisco has? I am not seeing any really security oriented in the MCSE path or I am not looking fully...

** correction, I cant say I wouldnt make a career out of a systems admin role, because I know there are senior level Sys Admins, but what would come after say a Sys level admin III or IV?

puertorico1985

Systems Engineer, maybe even Systems Architect comes after SysAdmin...i would guess

dlx509

@ITdude84 thank you for this thread. I am in the same exact situation, the only difference is you have more experienced than I do. I am trying to move away from lower level support I am currently working on my CCNA then I will go for the Net+ and Sec+ then hopefully get an admin job by the end of this year. A combination of MS Certs specially MCITP and Cisco Cert is a very good way to land where you wanna go.

ITdude84

no problem brother, the IT field has endless possibilities we just need a track to follow so eventually we will reach our goals! lol. the WGU program for network administration is looking more and more appealing due to the fact you get the best of both worlds, CCENT, CCNA, and the Microsoft certs. ( I seen some of these are expiring,) I am not sure if I should wait to enroll until they update to the new tests, or if WGU is letting students take the newer tests, ( that I have no idea) hopefully we can get some WGU guys to chime in here as well.

dlx509

The current CCENT and CCNA exam will stay up until September. I do self-study, I study on my own pace and I am trying to knock down the current CCNA exam before it is retired in September. It is slower and harder to stay focused like that but its the cheapest way, a school is the way to go if you want to get it done faster.

ITdude84

any sys admins out there? (including junior level)

ITdude84

Can anybody guide me on the path to MCSE? which versions to take, (Are most companies going to server 2012)? I dont see mass windows 8 upgrades from windows 7 either...

I have viewed microsofts website, and there certification paths are confusing... how long would it take to reach a MCSE?

puertorico1985

I got my MCSE back in 2009 for Windows Server 2003. It was a total of seven exams (six if you have Net+ or Sec+). It took me a few months to study and take the tests. I was working with Server 2003 (including AD, GPO, Exchange/Outlook) and decided that I wanted the cert. It was extremely difficult to get the certs for me, but I was able to pass all my tests on the first go. At this point though with Server 2008 and Server 2012 out, I would actually recommend certs in Server 2008. Companies (atleast the ones I have worked on) are always a few years behind on OSes, and they are either already on Server 2008 or planning the move towards 2008.

jibbajabba

System Administrator ?

They still exist ? Must have been around the time an office looked like this

instant000

I'd consider someone who's in charge of AD, patch management, backups, etc. to already be a systems administrator.

What else are you trying to do that you aren't doing already?

Enterprise OS like these?
Win 2008/2012, HP-UX, Red Hat, Solaris

Enterprise apps like these?
Exchange? MS-SQL? Oracle?

I'm not sure what you're wanting to work on, that you aren't working on, already. Could you be a little more specific?

ITdude84

instant000 wrote: »

I'd consider someone who's in charge of AD, patch management, backups, etc. to already be a systems administrator.

What else are you trying to do that you aren't doing already?

Enterprise OS like these?
Win 2008/2012, HP-UX, Red Hat, Solaris


Enterprise apps like these?
Exchange? MS-SQL? Oracle?

I'm not sure what you're wanting to work on, that you aren't working on, already. Could you be a little more specific?

Yes, Server 2008/2012 Active Directory, Exchange, Sharepoint, Avaya, VMware, more of the upper level. Get into the linux stuff possibly later....

RoyalRaven

Answer: apply for a sysadmin job and land it.

If you're not getting the job, find out why and brush up on that. Be it lack of education (degrees), lack of experience, lack of certifications or lack of IT friends, fix what's not working. You need to be in that job now and learning in that role every day.

jeepster78

And this my friends is one of the problems in the IT field, lack of structure. There is no standard set of requirements for a job title and the job titles along with their position descriptions varies greatly from company to company. I know a guy who has the title of network specialist III however he can't even install a network printer on the print server without needing help. Guess what he got the title because he had enough years in the IT department with the state to get it, sad.