Cisco or Microsoft?

[ben_mayo]

Hi all,

 

I've recently been in the middle of deciding whether IT is really the career for me (as I'm at the very beginning of my career), but have finally decided it's where I want to be as all my college qualifications are in IT and have worked in IT for the past couple of years.

 

My question is that I want to start some qualifications, I know the basics of networking/servers etc as I already work as a techy within a school, but I think qualifications are the best route as I've already seen that schools are very limited.

 

For a broad IT knowledge in any business which qualification would be best? Cisco or Microsoft (to start with obviously, I could eventually do them all)

 

Cisco seems the best option as its heavily network related which I like but for personal budget the courses are very expensive.

 

I've seen uDemy the website for a CCENT course but I didn't know whether it was a reputable source as the whole CCENT course is £22 which compared to all the other websites is ridiculously cheap..

[hardtailstar]

For Schools would say Microsoft qualifications would be a good start.

 

As far as I know/think Cisco is very centered on their kit.

[glen_j]

i would suggest both the CCENT will teach you the basics around networking and the theory a lot of it is transferable to other switch brands although the commands may be different. Microsoft will teach you usable skills too.

[dry]

Both! The Apprenticeship scheme I did had some apprentices who worked for Cisco. They did the same course as me (Microsoft and City & Guilds qualifications) but went on to do CCNA etc with Cisco themselves (all free of course, as they worked for Cisco).

 

If you're still at the start of your career it might be something to think about- as it's a great stepping stone into the industry.

 

QA Apprenticeships - Start an Apprenticeship today!

 

^ This is who Cisco recruit apprentices via. It's not a recommendation, purely a statement that it's the company Cisco use. Been a few years since I did my apprenticeship so I'm sure things have changed from my experience!

[dblight]

MS certs are a good start. Take a cert in the technology you use regularly or have most exposure too. It will make the study easier if you do most things day in day out. After that branch out a little for some certs that you may not use everyday. Some certs are craved after for some jobs SCCM, SCVMM for example.

 

As others have said Cisco is a good route also and although it's a Cisco cert many of the commands are transferable to other brands or at least give you the understanding or idea of what you want to achieve.

[Joanne]

Microsoft is more relevant to IT Support roles.

 

I would say Cisco is more relevant to network setups and installs. I did a Huwawei course for my old company and we did full network installs for new build schools setting up stacks and whatnot.

 

So does depend on your main aim. I find the Microsoft stuff to be more interesting on a personal level. Switch programming bores the hell out of me, but I guess it's always useful to have!

[twin--turbo]

Errr, prime question.

 

What interests you?

 

Networking or Serve/Desktop support?

 

TT

[ben_mayo]

If I had to say any I'd say networking. I do desktop/server support basics already and although I can do it, it doesn't excite me to be doing it.

[Sagima]

The CCNA course is good. It will be relevant to most of the switch brands as they all seem to base their os on ios. there's the odd difference but if you can do it in cisco's ios you'll easily adapt to whoever's equipment you are working with.

I would recommend the networking over the microsoft courses but depending on how your training is set up you would probably benefit from the advanced server course

Switch configuration is quite repetitive though - it's difficult to keep enthused about having to do the same thing to 40 switches

[FN-GM]

As far as I know/think Cisco is very centered on their kit.

 

From someone who has done the CCENT & CCNA only 80% of it is based on Cisco kit.

[sonofsanta]

CCNA covers a lot of networking theory, and while you do the lab work on Cisco kit, most of it is fairly transferable. It's like learning programming with Java; you have a bit of relearning to do with syntax, but the theory will stand you in good stead.

 

Having done a CCNA and an MCSA, I'd say a CCNA is much harder and more rigorous. I'd also say you'd be more in demand as a network engineer at big companies with it than you would in IT Support with an MS qualification; my gut feeling is you could ultimately end up on a higher salary with a CCNA.

 

Ultimately, though, whicever one interests you more. Both have their moments of being dull as dishwater, so motivation and interest will carry you through.

[ben_mayo]

Thanks for all these comments, although most people are saying cisco is more difficult, it seems more profitable for future careers and from some of the preview searches I've done it seems more interesting to learn than Microsoft.

[dblight]

Go for whatever flicks your switch. If you like networking more than I'd say go for it.

 

Nothing worse than studying for something that bores you after the first 20 minutes. I've done it a few times and I was glad to finally pass the exam and do away with it!

[twin--turbo]

I love networking , hate servers (well windows stuff).

 

I have a project on that will span 12 Months (not solid work) migrating and realigning our network. Updating vlans, routing, wan topology, etc, etc.... Out of a department of 20 I am the only one with the knowledge and understanding to implement it. I reckon 8-9 of the department could get a windows server up and running in a couple of hours...

 

TT

[rich_tech]

Cisco for me, going towards my CCENT here slowly and surely, it is what I am looking at as I am looking to broaden my horizons looking for a new role outside education here, Network engineers jobs seem to command higher salaries as its widely regarded as a harder skill to acquire from my reading so far.

 

Udemy courses are ok, though you will find they drop lower as they have sales like DFS, I picked up both ccna exams for £9 each, cbtnuggets are better I think though

[twin--turbo]

There are always jobs advertised for CCNA 40K+ in the south of my county.. Quite easily do the work but it's 2hrs away so out of the question.

 

NIX administrators do well also... Never any near me though

 

Never actually done the CCNA exam, but done the coursework more than once. Apply various bits of it regularly to my working life.

 

Apart from doing the server stuff, vmware and citrix, I also manage Procurve, Comware, Fortigate and Cisco Networking and although the command can vary the principles are the same.

 

After CCNA you could do CCNP , or something like CCNA-Voice/Wi-Fi and eventually work up to CCIE and be worth a MINT!

 

TT

[rich_tech]

Was chatting with my pal who is a net engineer for a major it company the other day about this all, we went to college together, Ironically 15 years ago I was training to be a UNIX admin, on SCO open server while working as a wintel engineer, but left the job to return to education and do a degree, should have just hung in there back then and not wasted my time with the degree, considering the wages on offer for that skill, we both laughed though, hindsight is a wonderful thing

[ass17]

I think your all missing the point, what you should be thinking about is what is happening to the world of IT, then if you come to the same conclusion as me then you should be looking at doing s course in VMware or other server virtualisation. Then look at Microsoft server technologies that would sit on the VM.

 

I would not necessarily do a Cisco course unless you wish to specialise in Cisco. I did complete my CCNA a few years ago but to be honest there are a lot of videos on YouTube/Lynda to do with networking and after watching them you could skip any networking course and just take the exam saving you a load of cash.

 

It's my opinion and not necessarily the right answer for you but hopefully I have given you something to think about [emoji106]🏻

[twin--turbo]

I think your all missing the point, what you should be thinking about is what is happening to the world of IT, then if you come to the same conclusion as me then you should be looking at doing s course in VMware or other server virtualisation.

 

TBH...

 

I could do vmware in my sleep, and whilst dozing explain to a 1st line tech the principals of creating a server or building an esx machine.

 

Understanding vswitcing and having the backbone to support it is the key to having it working properly.

 

So vmware is an EASY.

 

 

TT

[ass17]

TBH...

 

I could do vmware in my sleep, and whilst dozing explain to a 1st line tech the principals of creating a server or building an esx machine.

 

Understanding vswitcing and having the backbone to support it is the key to having it working properly.

 

So vmware is an EASY.

 

 

TT

 

But not everyone can, you'll learn switching as part of VMware along with direct I/O, vcenter management etc....

[FN-GM]

I think your all missing the point, what you should be thinking about is what is happening to the world of IT, then if you come to the same conclusion as me then you should be looking at doing s course in VMware or other server virtualisation. Then look at Microsoft server technologies that would sit on the VM.

 

I would not necessarily do a Cisco course unless you wish to specialise in Cisco. I did complete my CCNA a few years ago but to be honest there are a lot of videos on YouTube/Lynda to do with networking and after watching them you could skip any networking course and just take the exam saving you a load of cash.

 

It's my opinion and not necessarily the right answer for you but hopefully I have given you something to think about [emoji106]

 

I see where your coming from, however for job security I think networking is the way to go. Loads of stuff is going into the cloud, and there will be a time where no servers will be on site anymore. So there will be no Vmware farm to work on. However you will still have a network to manage and maintain, all the devices on site will still need to connect to the cloud resources somehow.

[rich_tech]

I think your all missing the point, what you should be thinking about is what is happening to the world of IT, then if you come to the same conclusion as me then you should be looking at doing s course in VMware or other server virtualisation. Then look at Microsoft server technologies that would sit on the VM.

 

I would not necessarily do a Cisco course unless you wish to specialise in Cisco. I did complete my CCNA a few years ago but to be honest there are a lot of videos on YouTube/Lynda to do with networking and after watching them you could skip any networking course and just take the exam saving you a load of cash.

 

It's my opinion and not necessarily the right answer for you but hopefully I have given you something to think about [emoji106]

 

Its worth adding that these subjects can be self studied too, you don't need to go on a course to learn them specifically, just book the exams at your local centre when your ready.

 

So for for my CCENT -

 

 

• I have paid £18 for 2 CCNA video courses on Udemy - for the 100-101 and 200-101 exam courses
  
• I paid £40 for both of the official Cisco course guides CCENT/CCNA ICND1 100-101 Official Cert Guide: Amazon.co.uk: Wendell Odom: 9781587143854: Books and CCNA Routing and Switching ICND2 200-101 Official Cert Guide: Amazon.co.uk: Wendell Odom: 9781587143731: Books
  
• Cisco Packet Tracer - this is their free emulation program you can download which covers the majority of their switching and routing CLI
  
• Cisco Learning Network - Their forums have a wealth of information on them also (thanks to @FN-GM for pointing that out)
  
• I also paid £110 for a small lab kit for myself of 2 3550 switches and an 1841 ISR router and another £15 to upgrade the router RAM and Flash.
  
• So far my CCNA has cost me - £183 so far, with another £100 per exam cost when I am ready to take them
  

 

I got lucky and had a friend pass me on his CBTNuggets stuff as well admittedly.

[rich_tech]

I see where your coming from, however for job security I think networking is the way to go. Loads of stuff is going into the cloud, and there will be a time where no servers will be on site anymore. So there will be no Vmware farm to work on. However you will still have a network to manage and maintain, all the devices on site will still need to connect to the cloud resources somehow.

 

Indeed that is one of the main reasons why I have chose to do my CCNA, it is definitely going that way now slowly and surely, Cloud based services, web based management of domains and services seem to be the way forward for the moment in IT.

[ass17]

I see where your coming from, however for job security I think networking is the way to go. Loads of stuff is going into the cloud, and there will be a time where no servers will be on site anymore. So there will be no Vmware farm to work on. However you will still have a network to manage and maintain, all the devices on site will still need to connect to the cloud resources somehow.

 

I think long term offsite servers (which might still use a virtual environment) will happen, but short term, there are so many people going physical --> virtual --> cloud as a natural progression route, that there is a market for VM. But I do agree that you will still need an internal infrastructure, so good networking knowledge is and will be essential.

 

But then again how In depth does your knowledge need to be if everything is offsite, thus nothing to protect or serve apart from Internet.

[FN-GM]

I think long term offsite servers (which might still use a virtual environment) will happen, but short term, there are so many people going physical --> virtual --> cloud as a natural progression route, that there is a market for VM. But I do agree that you will still need an internal infrastructure, so good networking knowledge is and will be essential.

 

But then again how In depth does your knowledge need to be if everything is offsite, thus nothing to protect or serve apart from Internet.

 

But the market of on site VM's is on its way out. Why train for something that is coming obsolete and then have to retrain again when it finally does happen?