I Need Help preparing for MCSA Exams

reznog12 · Post by **reznog12** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:41 am

I have a bachelor's degree in Technology and an associate degree in Computer Technology with a concentration in Networking. During my years in college I made the terrible mistake of not getting a job directly related to my major. I'm very much interested in Network Administration and I will love to get some real life working experience.

Most of my experience working with computers came from fixing other people's computers, troubleshooting my computer (dell dimesion 2400, 768 MB of RAM. 2.19 GHz with a P4 CPU) and downloading as many e-books on Networking that I can and reading them. The problem is that the information is so intense that I hardly remember the details due to the fact that I'm not currently administering a real network where I could actually practice the concepts I read about.

Looking at my situation I have decided that it might be a good idea to go for for the MCSA (Microsoft Certifide Systems Administrator). I want to setup a small network with a Win 2003 server and some old computers so that I could develop some hands on experience before attampting any of the MCSE exams. I'm not employed in a Networking field and that just sucks

Where do I start? Is this a good way to pratice for the exams? What kind of equipment will I have to buy in order to simulate an efficient network - router, hub, bridge, switch?

If anyone has any good advise please send a response. I could us all the help I can get!

dazzaf · Post by **dazzaf** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 9:31 am

depending on were you live i am doing a MCSE course and i have opted to go through comptia a+ and then comptia N+ and then go through to MCSE and not even bother with the MCSA part as you cover it anyway..

i would get a networking job operating on either a small or large network of machines then all the content of the MCSA will become easier to handle..

if you need to maybe do a comptia N+ or similar to gain that postition and then life will be easy..

it is never easy just learning from books you need to do the job to gain the experience..

good luck mate

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 9:56 am

Pickup Microsoft Action Pack....get another computer to run as your server...and start fiddling. Nothing beats "hands on".

reznog12 · Post by **reznog12** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 11:21 am

I'll look into comptia A+ and N+ to get started. It's crazy. I spent 4 years in college just to relize that my degree is really not that hot after graduation! Thanks a lot!

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:46 pm

reznog12 wrote:I'll look into comptia A+ and N+ to get started. It's crazy. I spent 4 years in college just to relize that my degree is really not that hot after graduation! Thanks a lot!

Def good to get those, for a foundation. But honestly, nothing beats hands on experience. Even if you have to start at a basic place doing break/fixit stuff...and tailing along with senior engineers doing products..it's all a great foundation.