Microsoft, Cisco or Comptia - What are the Pros and Cons?

[eddiebaby]

Looking at training courses/paths for schools IT technicians/network and server administrators. Can anyone with experience of some or all of the above certifications offer any guidance as to the relative merits of each body. There seems to be a bewildering array of courses out there but it's difficult to decide on whose certification path is best. Any constructive views would be most welcome.

In particular I'm unsure as to whether Microsoft and Cisco's offerings might be too vendor specific? Is this a valid concern?

[GrumbleDook]

As well as discussions in here I would also look at www.certforums.co.uk

[plexer]

If you are supporting microsoft products and you see yourself continuing to do so then the MS ones can't be too bad of an idea.

If you use and support cisco kit then the cisco ones would be good.

Most vendors offer training for their products I know HP do for the procurve kit and it's expensive as well.

Ben

[tosca925]

Certification is the path to the dark side..............1

[GlennT]

Comptia A+ is well worth it as you will DEFINATELY have to "breathe life" into machines in a school network and this exam pretty much covers you for the basics.
Microsoft exams will pretty much cover most of the rest of it as few schools can really afford Cisco gear or stuff like Novell.

[StewartKnight]

but for added kudos on a CV for a job out of education MS or Cisco is the gravy!!!