What are the best certs to get for a Systems Admin

Good Morning all!

It has been quite awhile since I last posted on here. I am back in the swing of things and want to start obtaining certs again. Currently I started a new job as a Jr Systems Administrator. My job consists of managing and monitoring WSUS server, Nagios Network Monitoring, Performing Tape backups and managing and monitoring our VMware Environment ESXi 5.5 and VSphere.

I am under the direction of the Sr Systems Administrator. Sometime soon he will be promoted to the IT manager. I want to work towards his job. I am only a month in so I have quite a ways to go as this is my first systems job. My job before I was a Desktop Support Specialist II. So this is definitely a step up.

Anyhow my question to you is what are some good certs I should start studying towards. Our environment is all windows based. Other than Nagios which is linux based (centos) We are a total windows environment. We run Server 2008 & Server 2012. We also run Exchange 2010 for our mail and use some Barrucada Web Filters and Cisco Moraki devices. I currently posses my A+ only. I would like to start going more into the system side of certs since that will be my role but need some guidance on a good starting cert and books to get going. I would like to study and possibly test once a quarter. Is that something that is feesable?

Any guidance would be much appreciated.

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gbdavidx

the obvious of them is mcsa then mcse

N2IT

+1 with David or something *nix if you want to go with that OS. Red Hat is popular. You have a lot of options, I would go with what your gut tells you. You can also do Exchange or some of the other technologies you mentioned. I wouldn't do them all, just the one that interest you the most. I find that if I like something I get more out of studying it.

gpitts85

Thanks Guys! I understand that on the MCSA it has 3 MCP certs that you get before getting that MCSA. Is that correct? Also are their any books you suggesst on this?

N2IT

I have not taken these exams so I would be a bad person to ask. ***I believe the training kits are what most people use in conjunction with other studying resources. CBT and Practice Exams. HTH

kriscamaro68

There are 3 certs to take. If you go the Server 2012 route which I would suggest then it would be the 70-410, 411, and 412. Once you get those you can go multiple different routes which is nice. After you knock those 3 out you can take 2 exams for System Center, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, Desktop, or continue down the server path and all will give you the MCSE for those respective paths. (each path requires 2 exams not 2 exams and you have all of them) The Microsoft track is very flexible in that you can go down any road that interests you and get certified after getting that MCSA.

As for study, you can get yourself cbt nuggets, itdvds.com, pluralsight, or get a safaribooksonline subscription. Make sure to use multiple sources.

gorebrush

MCSA, any Exchange certs, even VCP as you are in VMWare environment.

How much networking do you get involved with? Any Cisco? If so, CCNA will get your networking sharp.

ajs1976

If you plan to be there a couple of years, start with the MCSA 2012.

I think the Exchange 2010 exams retired, so might want to hold off studying for an exchange cert for now. Figure out if your company is upgrading to Exchange 2013 or the next version.

If you can address the training requirement, VCP is a good option.

Continuing on to the MCSE is another option.

gpitts85

Thanks all I think I will start going towards my MCSA 2012. It seems to be what the consensus is right now and I think its a good path. Is it realistic I could have it by the end of this year if I start now?

N2IT

Yes you could.

4_lom

MCSA Server 2012 (or 08 R2), VCP since you are using VMWare, and RHCSA for CentOS.

gpitts85

is the 2008 R2 version still available to take? That is what alot of organizations including mine are using. No one except for testing purposes are using server 2012 right now in my realm of contracts. I was going to install 2012 in my home lab and read books galore so I could get an idea on how it work.s I was also going to install windows 8 since they both use the same platform on a spare laptop I had to get more familiar. My plan is to take an exam every other month.

410 I want to study from now through June 1st week of june. Take the test the 2nd week of june. Take a week off then study for the 411 from June through August take it the first part of sept. Study from October through Dec take the test towards the end of dec before or after Christmas possibly.

My plan is to do the book reading on my lunch break for an hour and then again an hour in the evenings then do video and labs on the weekend. What do you all think? I am not the best study guru I have a hard time concentrating my mind tends to wander and before I know it im off doing something else.

4_lom

gpitts85 wrote: »

is the 2008 R2 version still available to take? That is what alot of organizations including mine are using. No one except for testing purposes are using server 2012 right now in my realm of contracts. I was going to install 2012 in my home lab and read books galore so I could get an idea on how it work.s I was also going to install windows 8 since they both use the same platform on a spare laptop I had to get more familiar. My plan is to take an exam every other month.

410 I want to study from now through June 1st week of june. Take the test the 2nd week of june. Take a week off then study for the 411 from June through August take it the first part of sept. Study from October through Dec take the test towards the end of dec before or after Christmas possibly.

My plan is to do the book reading on my lunch break for an hour and then again an hour in the evenings then do video and labs on the weekend. What do you all think? I am not the best study guru I have a hard time concentrating my mind tends to wander and before I know it im off doing something else.

Retired exams

Doesn't look like it's retired yet.