Cisco vs Microsoft

[CHiLL]

I am coming into the final few weeks of my degree course, and I'm in two minds about which one of these courses to apply for. As I know people only really go down one route or the other due to their layout.

I thoroughly enjoy the implementation of networks and the maintenance, etc. But I'm unsure as what sort of jobs and roles I could get with Cisco qualifications. Network engineers are becoming less and less from what I've heard. I don't know much about contract companies though.

Some of my tutors are Microsoft qualified, and they are advising Microsoft qualifications, but they are more on the administration side of computers, which I enjoy, but not as much as networking. I also hear there is more money in this side?

Any help or advise would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks.

[Graham M]

Network engineers are becoming less and less

err, what do you mean?

[CHiLL]

err, what do you mean?
I don't really, know, because it was something my tutor briefly mentioned.

[Hugh]

Your tutor is talking rubbish (imho).

Network staff are highly employable, especially the way Cisco (and others) are moving into appliances, turning their switches into multi-purpose devices.

And, if cloud computing takes off, more and more companies and people will be keeping their applications off-site, so reducing the need for MS staff, but they still need to be connected (by a network....;) ).

If you want my advice, go down the Cisco route (but learn about MS servers etc as well, as breadth is important, as well as depth).

[Raistlin]

Yep, Cisco is the way forward if you want to be a network engineer.

[Hugh]

Having said that, if you specialise in one of the up and coming MS technologies, like Sharepoint2007, those skills are in fairly short supply, so have a market premium (at this time).

[PlanBee]

Having said that, if you specialise in one of the up and coming MS technologies, like Sharepoint2007, those skills are in fairly short supply, so have a market premium (at this time).

Questions:
How many businesses (and what type employ) network engineers...

How many businesses employ someone to look after their Microsoft systems ...

How many people, employ developers?

The answer to your question about which route to take is.... what ever is right for you. The "cloud" will still need to be managed and developed for (Azure is the Microsoft O/S for the cloud... check it out)

Why not try this... Do an MCTS in Windows Server or SharePoint or... and a CCNA... and maybe top it all off with a MCTS in ASP.NET.

If you like the answer, check out my blog http://www.qa.com/qa-a-learning-company/blogs/2009/april/apparently-im-just-cool-enough-for-facebook and pretty please complete the survey in Paragraph 3... I need the data for my degree homework... and I'm 43 !


All the best in your chosen role... work hard and RTFM...

[Hugh]

Answers

Lots

Lots

Lots, but not as many

At this moment, network bods tend to get paid more (in general) than MS techies.

I am fairly agnostic, as I originally worked my way up from a developer to project manager to infrastructure manager to programme manager to Head of Technology to IT director.

[CHiLL]

Well, one of the modules on my degreee uses the 72-90 (Server 2003) Microsoft learning resources. So if I know my stuff about server 2003 and related things, I can pay and take the exam in a qualified institution.

I was advised by my tutor to do the Server 2003 exam, Windows XP course, networking course and then MCDST.

Thanks for the quick and good replies. :)

[PlanBee]

Fore*.* proves my point really well. He/she has a 360 degree view with developer and infastructure skills and now seems to be very successful.

If you understand the "wire", the services, the semi-colons and curly brackets then you understand the ingredients of the business cake. Oh you'll need PM skills to make the cake and service delivery skills to keep it fresh... I may have overcooked the baking metaphore here :-)

FYI:
A Server 2003 exam will earn you Microsoft Certified Professional Status. Although Server 2003 is still dominate, Server 2008 will eventually overtake it. There is no longer a Microsoft Certified Professional certification, you would have to become a Certified Technology Specialist.
If you PM me, I have a 25% off exam vouchers with a free second shot if you want it.

MCDST - great if you want to support Windows XP.

All the best

[CHiLL]

Fore*.* proves my point really well. He/she has a 360 degree view with developer and infastructure skills and now seems to be very successful.

If you understand the "wire", the services, the semi-colons and curly brackets then you understand the ingredients of the business cake. Oh you'll need PM skills to make the cake and service delivery skills to keep it fresh... I may have overcooked the baking metaphore here :-)

FYI:
A Server 2003 exam will earn you Microsoft Certified Professional Status. Although Server 2003 is still dominate, Server 2008 will eventually overtake it. There is no longer a Microsoft Certified Professional certification, you would have to become a Certified Technology Specialist.
If you PM me, I have a 25% off exam vouchers with a free second shot if you want it.

MCDST - great if you want to support Windows XP.

All the best
Thanks, I might drop you a PM depending on which way I decide to go.

If I did the Server 2003/Windows XP way, and become a MCTS, there's only 1 exam to take to top it up to Server 2008/Vista I believe.

[PlanBee]

There is an upgrade from MCDST to Vista Enterprise. The Server 2003 exam would die when the product retires. There is no upgrade path for a single exam in Server 2003.

MCDST >Vista >Windows 7 would be a great route.

Windows 7 RC ships in 1:15mins ... so its getting closer... will it get deployed? Well thats another thread for another time...

---------- Post added at 22:47 ---------- Previous post was at 22:44 ----------

oh and there is no MCTS for Windows Server 2003 or XP... MCTS the next gen of MS certs arrived in 2005 with Visual Studio and continues into 2008 with Windows Server 2008 and in 2009 with Windows 7.

An exam pass in Windows Server 2003 earns you MCP status... confused? you should try doing this for a living :-)