IT - Networking: Getting Started - Advice?

I'm looking at starting a part time course to get into IT, I was initially going straight to CCNA but was advised to do Network+ first for fundamentals. I had a look at www.nightcourses.com and there's various options and prices in general, and was wondering if anybody has any advice or recommendations for a particular course or college etc I do want to do it in person rather than in my own time and I'm trying to figure out if it's better to pay 1950 and do it in 1 week full time Monday to Friday, or to pay half that and do it 1 evening a week over 10 weeks or if that's stretching it out too much, and do those prices sound about right? Any info/tips/advice is appreciated really. Is Network+ first really the way to go?


I'm working full time now but wouldn't mind taking some time (week or 2) off for a course, or evenings and weekends are totally fine as well.

For those that are in the field, is networking still the way to go in terms of opportunities in IT or is it better to explore other areas (cloud etc..)?

I'm into tech and I have a sound engineering degree so have a reasonable knowledge base. I got into coding for a while as well so have some basic knowledge there.

I wouldn't bother forking out that kind of money on a foundation course, the likes of CBTnuggets or pluralsight are fantastic resources and will give you enough of a basic understanding.

CCNA, that may be worthwhile doing in-class, just from a practical understanding point of view.

I'm probably not best placed to advise as Ive been in the networking business for about 20 years...

A lot depends on where you are and what you want from it (career wise).

I've been a network engineer, network designer, consultant and even head of networks in a pair of ISP's (at the same time).

What I would say is that where I am now ( a LARGE multinational ) it's all about software and automation. Look to NFV (network function virtualization) but you will need some knowledge of networking and software. I run network engineering teams in both Dublin and the USA and almost all.of.my engineers are working of automation of network configuration and operations.

When I got my CCIE back in 2000 I was about the 5th or 6th in Ireland (I did CCNA back in 1999) but in todays market you need to be able to differentiate from everyone else.

There are many sides to networking - wireless, security, microwave, switching, routing etc....

It's a small enough community all the same - ecooney and I worked together for a good few years (unless there are two of them with a fetish for M3 cabs)......

Look at any qualification as a building block. I don't see any difference between self learning Vs taking a week long course. Both will give you a grounding but it will mean you will know you have more to learn. There are many niches and each can be very rewarding in their own right...

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

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Here’s a good starting point to get in to networking:

http://comptia.certified-training.co...SADEgKgS_D_BwE

I was reading through your reply Alan and thought to myself that has to be the Alan I know. Obviously when you mentioned me it was obvious. Good to see you in a Beemer. I take it your previous daily is now a weekend toy?



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Originally Posted by ecooney

I was reading through your reply Alan and thought to myself that has to be the Alan I know. Obviously when you mentioned me it was obvious. Good to see you in a Beemer. I take it your previous daily is now a weekend toy?



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Ha.. I know from past experience that I can't not use a weekend toy during the week..

Moved it on after 8 years - I was starting to leak coolant from a cylinder head. My mechanic said it was just a quick whip the engine out and retorque one of the heads job...

Traded it in for a e93 320i. But moved that on after a year - gearbox leak, timing chain, headlight, 7 coil packs and injectors and it was burning a litre of oil every 2k miles. Even under BMW approved warranty it was more hassle that it was worth.

Have a E70 now in Monaco blue that is a glorious comfy sofa on wheels (albeit even higher maintenance)....

Must start a thread on my car history...

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My advice would be to go down the route of CBT Nuggets, buying secondhand books and teaching yourself, some subjects can be a bit dry but its all doable. Set up GNS3/EVE and use it as your home lab, best way to learn is by trial and error. I took the Juniper track, currently looking at Cisco and Aruba now, but by and large the principles are the same, as suggested, you could take a vendor agnostic course to give yourself the fundamentals?

There is a massive drive towards automation so any python/ansible etc. skills would be major bonus.

If you've an interest in network engineering, I think given the current market it is one of the best routes to take in IT, although I am biased! There are a multitude of areas in which you can specialise in once you have the fundamentals.

Some very good feedback and suggestions here.

To add a little to it Peter, I don't think you are coming from a techie background? If so, then going straight in to a 5 day CCNA classroom course could be a bit like being thrown in at the deep end. It could mean that you won't get full value because you'll still be figuring out what the last bit was about as they are diving in to the next topic. Also, if you don't have access to some equipment to test/play with could mean that you lose some of what you've learned by not having the opportunity to repeat, play, etc.

The price for the course that you mentioned isn't outrageous but I would generally not send someone on a course like that until they have a decent grasp of the fundamentals of networking and some basic hands on experience. That way, they bring plenty of questions, etc. with them that means they get better value and experience from the material.

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Originally Posted by dergside

Some very good feedback and suggestions here.

To add a little to it Peter, I don't think you are coming from a techie background? If so, then going straight in to a 5 day CCNA classroom course could be a bit like being thrown in at the deep end. It could mean that you won't get full value because you'll still be figuring out what the last bit was about as they are diving in to the next topic. Also, if you don't have access to some equipment to test/play with could mean that you lose some of what you've learned by not having the opportunity to repeat, play, etc.

The price for the course that you mentioned isn't outrageous but I would generally not send someone on a course like that until they have a decent grasp of the fundamentals of networking and some basic hands on experience. That way, they bring plenty of questions, etc. with them that means they get better value and experience from the material.

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That’s why I was suggesting the Comp-TIA course. We take in people with this as a foundation to train them up on virtual networking on top of that.

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Originally Posted by rebel.ranter

That’s why I was suggesting the Comp-TIA course. We take in people with this as a foundation to train them up on virtual networking on top of that.

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Yup, fully agree with you.

Thanks for all the information and advice guys, really do appreciate it! I have some thinking to do now. I'm always trying to work on continuous self-development, sometimes it's not fruitful and I don't get to use what I learn but it's always beneficial to explore other areas.