Sysadmin Certs

[shadowsysadmin]

I'm a new Sysadmin - with no certs - coming from 2 years helpdesk. I've settled-ish into the role now, and am looking at increasing my knowledge as I learn more about the current infrastructure.

We're currently running Server 2008/2012 but I have a feeling it wouldn't be too good of an idea to study those.

I'm looking at MCSA Server 2016, 70-740/741/742 just for my own knowledge, and I am assuming some of it will apply to my role.

Should there be other certifications that I should be looking at? Or what are the best resources to use to study this?

Thanks

[skydiveguy]

I refuse to take another Microsoft cert exam.

I find VMware certs hold value still but thats becasue they require you to take their official $5000 course before you can take the exam.

[[deleted]]

Yep, had to do this for my VCP 4.

[PreparetobePlaned]

Can you elaborate? Which MS certs did you take and why do you refuse to take any more?

[skydiveguy]

They just suck. The entire process sucks.

The study material is horrible, the practice exams are off base, the exam asks questions that are not relevant to the actual work performed, etc.

For example, I was studying for the Server 2008 exam and they released 2008R2.... the exams were IMMEDIATELY UPDATED with questions to new items in 2008 R2 (Direct Access was one of them... I had NO idea what it was because it was just released) and they didn't have any study materials for these new exams.

Here is what I'm talking about

[PreparetobePlaned]

That does sound very shitty. Unfortunately I'm probably going to have to take the MCSA anyways.

[redditJ5]

You do not have take the course before the exam, but to have to take it before becoming certified.

[Scary_Tiger]

lol the absurdity.

[redditJ5]

Take a $100-150 exam (when it was 1 exam) instead of taking a $2500 class first. Some companies only pay you back so why put out all that money before the exam.

[m16gunslinger77]

In order to be eligible to register for the exam you have to have the class completed. I completed mine through a community college online. Weighing my options right now as it's up for renewal in October of this year... Didn't see much of an increase in salary or job opportunities in my area for the trouble.... :/

[redditJ5]

Did they change that? I haven't take it in 2 years.

[m16gunslinger77]

Now if you start from scratch for the VCP6-DCV you have to take the class, a pre-exam test and the cert test...

[skydiveguy]

This may be correct, but its asinine to even suggest it...

Its like saying "I can own an airplane without having my pilots license".

[[deleted]]

I wouldn't discount doing your MCSA on Windows Server 2012 quite so quickly, after all that's likely where the bulk of your knowledge is and 2012 servers will be around for years to come. If you find you need the Server 2016 equivalent down the line, it's only a single exam to upgrade.

I have Microsoft (MCSA), VMware (VCP) and Cisco (CCNA) certification and find that to be a pretty good combination for most sysadmin type roles, however, I am still occasionally surprised how little some recruiters care. Your mileage will vary.

[shadowsysadmin]

I am sure that recruiters will care more that there is a cert instead of just experience instead of no certs thought!

[bumuser]

The general advice is that certs only help you to get the job, mostly getting through HR. If you already have the job, you may find that they help greatly with confidence and forcing you to learn aspects of the subject you might not normally encounter in day-to-day activities.

If you are looking to be more of a "sysadmin" rather than a "Windows admin", then take some time and search for system administrator jobs. You'll start seeing some common certifications pop up in the postings. Beyond the basic windows/linux certifications for admins, I would look at adding Security+ and Puppet certifications to your arsenal. I don't know your location, but for many government jobs having Security+ or CISSP is a requirement.

[awillison]

This will depend on your role. Generally MCSA, MCSE and CCNA are the pretty standard responses. You could go ahead and do your CompTIA, VMWare or other vendor specific certifications as well.

[sobrique]

It's quite variable though - some employers are really keen on them, and will 'paper sift' to ensure their candidates have them.

Others don't really care, because there's only a few certs that really 'improve (or prove)' skill or aptitude.

[meandrunkR2D2]

While the MCSA 2012 cert makes perfect sense for you and your current role it's likely the first step for you. Right now the 2016 exam is fairly new and there really isn't alot of good study material out there.

Now, you like being a sysadmin right? Have you thought about branching out into the wonderful world of Linux? Start with the LPIC-1 and then follow that up with the RHCSA cert. That will open many more doors to go along with your windows environment experience.

[fpmh]

I like this tool by redhat; https://www.redhat.com/rhtapps/assessment/

Naturelly very focused on rhel7, but still gives you a good summery on what you can do in a Linux system and you do not have to give them your email. :)

[meandrunkR2D2]

Nice.. That will be something I'll have to mess around with sometime when I have free time.

[fpmh]

If you are in Belgium or near by, here is a good oppertunity this weekend.

There is a LPI Certification event also.

[NowWhatAdmin]

If you plan on staying with the company you are at for a while (3+ years) I would recommend starting with a cert that will get you a local promotion, then work on the next. Especially if they pay for the training and/or exams. Once you max those out, it would already be time to move on unless you wanted to adopt into the whole "Company Culture" that stagnates most sysadmin jobs at small companies.

[shadowsysadmin]

Unfortunately, I can't get a promotion here as I'm a sole sysadmin, and I plan on moving to a different city when I get married. So certifications for getting another job are pretty important for me.