I want to become a Network Admin - but no "experience"??

[admin]

So you want to become a Network Admin, but have no "experience"?

Caveat: this is a guide based on my experience, but it is not comprehensive and will benefit from the discussion that this page will hopefuly develop into. If you have questions in any area, post them here and I will respond, and also encourage others to post their opinions, links, etc.

Let's go to the meat of it -> Maybe you are in a computer school, college or academy and you are getting frustrated because when you apply for jobs your zero level of practical experience hurts your chances?

With cheap computing hardware (well, relatively cheap) you can clear this hurdle and demonstrate real skills by doing this "at home".. http://pcretro.com/

- Setting up a home network using at least 3 computers.

to setup a mini home network to practice admin skills I would recommend getting three used computers and setting one up as a windows 2000/2003 server, the next one as windows xp/windows 2000 and the third as a Linux box (server or workstation mode), probably fedora, Ubuntu etc. this way you can practice windows/*nix interoperability. (*nix is my preferred way of referring to Unix, Linux and BSD-related Operating Systems).

- Where to get used computers?

since you are in the DC metro area, used machines can be obtained very cheaply from a reliable source - http://pcretro.com/

- What is a KVM?

it will be also helpful for you to get a kvm like a TRENDnet TK 400K 4-Port KVM Switch Kit with the cables so you can use just one (k)eyboard, (v)ideo monitor aka display and (m)ouse to operate all your machines - this is what is done on a larger scale in server rooms and data centers
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/defaul ... EDC=584485

- Do I need a switch?

the core switch and cables for your network can be a good linksys or other easily available for as little as $20, also you should learn how to make your own cables, for a simple network all you need to know is straight through cable, but as admin you need to learn about rollover and crossover, here is a googled link:

http://www.lammertbies.nl/comm/cable/modular.html

- Private IP address? 192.x.x.0 or 10.x.x.0

if you don't know what APIPA or private addresses v/s public addresses are, dont be shy, google it or post questions to this forum, here is a link: http://cc.uoregon.edu/cnews/summer2003/homenet.html


- Which *nix - UNIX or Linux or BSD??

Which Linux: http://www.tuxmagazine.com/node/1000265

- there is no one correct answer, just preferences, I started with Redhat back in 1997, so I have a particular lean towards them, but I find Debian and the Debian derivative Ubuntu (probably Ubuntu is the easiest for new users). At home I run Redhat and Debian (Debian enhanced with Automatix2 - google it!)

Free Redhat - Fedora Core Linux - http://fedoraproject.org/
Free Debian - use the netinst image - http://www.debian.org/
Free Ubuntu - based on Debian - http://www.ubuntu.com/


- Microsoft or Cisco - which certification first?

My experience leads me to say start with MCP/MCDST and get to MCSA level before doing CCNA, CCNA is also being replaced by CCENT, read up on it.

CCNA/CCENT: http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/l ... _home.html
MCDST: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/m ... fault.mspx
MCP: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcp/default.mspx
MCSA: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcsa/default.mspx
MCSE: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/default.mspx

Exam practice sites

- my best resource for IT certification exam prep is http://www.cramsession.com

they have free study guides for most if not all the IT exams in existence

http://www.cramsession.com/

How to fix hardware

- absolute my best hardware Bible is Mark Minasi's "The Complete PC Upgrade and Maintenance Guide" now in 15th edition

http://www.minasi.com/ (he has discussion forums as well)
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Upgrade- ... 0782143105

Other useful sites:

http://www.milestek.com
http://www.blackviper.com
http://www.experts-exchange.com



- Internship

if you are in the DC metro area, contact me and I will see what I can assist you with, others in other locations, well you have some searching to do, but with a home lab and fixing other peoples computers, practice makes perfect.