IT Qualifications

[adz08]

Hi all

I've kind of been asked to setup and manage my friends new companies IT stuff. So I want to try and get some qualifications under my belt. So far IT's only been a hobby, so I'm only really experienced in what affects me at home, so setting up my little network, building pc's etc. Obviously now I want to turn it into a career.

So I'm looking to get some qualifications under my belt before it all starts. Problem is there seems to be so many different exams out there and I haven't a clue which ones are what I'm looking for!

My first thought was the MCSE but from what I remember this has been replaced now hasn't it?

If anyone can point me in the right direction, would be much appreciated!!

[Guy]

With regards to the MCSE see here: http://forums.hexus.net/general-disc...cse-mcitp.html

What exactly will you be looking after and managing? How big is the company, what do they do, anything specialised etc.

More networking support he is looking for, or general 1st/2nd line support?

[adz08]

Initially, it will just be three people two salesmen and me. But with the intention or expanding pretty quickly. Basically it's an insurance underwriters, so they'll be using specialist software as well as linking into the external claims databases and things.

They want me to support everything from setting up the network and managing it to software support etc.

They haven't decided how they want email's handled yet but I think they'll want blackberrys, which I'm guessing means an Exchange server and blackberry server.

I've had a look on MS's website at the MCITP courses and thought the Windows Server 2008 courses could be a good place to start?

[Lucio]

Ok, for such a small setup you'll want to consider a server running 2008 Small Business Server, which gives you all your basic things like a domain controler, exchange server etc. on one box.

AFAIK there's no such thing as a Blackberry server that you run, you setup them to connect to your exchange server and RIM store the rest of your data.

Areas to study would be Active Directory (for access control), Exchange and some basic Networking, so I'd start with your CompTIA courses in N+ and A+ and then look at studying for some of the exams such as server management, Exchange server configuration etc.

Finally don't be afraid to suggest an external support contract! You'll be his IT manager but that doesn't mean you should try to do everything alone. Sound out local firms to find one you can work with and who doesn't mind teaching you a bit as they go. For cost saving, look at a "payg" type contract where you buy support time in blocks and refresh it as you use it up, rather than a regular monthly cost.

[spoon_]

Lucio, google BES aka Blackberry Enterprise Server. No company in their sane mind would want RIM to handle the traffic of emails between EX and BBs.

You setup BBs to connect to BES not EX...

[Lucio]

Lucio, google BES aka Blackberry Enterprise Server. No company in their sane mind would want RIM to handle the traffic of emails between EX and BBs.

You setup BBs to connect to BES not EX...

well you live and learn, I assumed that was why there were news stories about governments trying to force RIM to hand over encryption keys, that they stored everyones data for them.

[Konan555]

All the traffic to BES servers still comes from RIM. The activation is handled by RIM and you're bound to a BES contract with the phone.

Three (and a bit) Levels of connecting Blackberries to exchange.

1) OWA - Works out of the box on new handsets if you've set up OWA properly. Syncs e-mail only AFAIK

2) BES express. It's free, supports something like 35 handsets and gives full sync of mail, contacts and calenders. You can't activate wirelessly (except you can if you confuse vodafone)

3) BES Enterprise... Costs money and probably doesn't do anything extra that you need.

3 and a bit) Some people set up Google stuff as an intermediate. I have no idea about this.

In my experience, the BES servers are crashy, unreliable services that I'd never want to install direct onto a SBS box. 2008 premium SBS licencing does allow you to run a 2008 server alongside for SQL purposes so you could probably shift the BES to that, but I still just wouldn't.

S60, android and iOS all do active sync without any cost and work out of the box with 2008SBS installs.

I'd definitely look to an external contract. There's nothing massively complicated about building a small network, however, there are plenty of little pitfalls. An external consultant would make the difference between getting a full system built and running in a day or two and spending the next 6 months having users complain as you run into things.

We've got a few companies with a permanent member off staff to look after IT. They handle the shifts and changes, workstation maintenance and general IT issues that crop up every day so their spend on external help is minimal.

[adz08]

Thanks for the help. Actually, my friend runs his own IT Services company that I'll be getting to help out, so that's covered. I'm partly wanting to train for the new company but also for my own future.

Isn't BIS the RIM run service? And BES the stand alone server (that's always how I understood it).

I'm half tempted to try and get them off blackberrys and onto either or IOS or even WP7 as by the time we think about starting the company up Mango will have been released and thinking the office integration could be a massive bonus.

I'm gonna download the trial of SBS 2008 and give it a look. I'm thinking of picking up a cheap PC or server and having a play around.

[Splash]

well you live and learn, I assumed that was why there were news stories about governments trying to force RIM to hand over encryption keys, that they stored everyones data for them.

Well they *could*, but I think said governments are just looking to sniff packets as they pass through RIM's servers.

[Splash]

Isn't BIS the RIM run service? And BES the stand alone server (that's always how I understood it).

BES is the server which you host. It talks to your internal mail servers (be they Exchange, Domino or otherwise) and relays content/internet connection (one of the nice aspects of the BB is that you can force your staff to run through your corporate proxy and grant access to your intranet while they're on the road)/etc etc to the handheld devices through "the cloud" (for want of a better term, and without overcomplicating things.)

I'm half tempted to try and get them off blackberrys and onto either or IOS or even WP7 as by the time we think about starting the company up Mango will have been released and thinking the office integration could be a massive bonus.

Bear in mind that the corporate management functionality of BES is far superior to what Apple or Microsoft have in the market at present. Sure, the handsets are harrible by comparison, but be aware of the requirement to be able to remotely secure the handsets through policies - it's the reason that Blackberry is so deep rooted in the enterprise space.

I'm gonna download the trial of SBS 2008 and give it a look. I'm thinking of picking up a cheap PC or server and having a play around.

By all means give it a shot. If you have a couple of hundred quid to throw around for self development I strongly recommend a Technet subscription. That, combined with a small home lab is an incredibly useful tool for self development.

[Jay]

I would go with MCP (or what ever the equiv is these days) maybe get a Cisco ICND1 done (it will always help you even if you never use a cisco device ever again!) then if you want to go further you can either go on to CCNA etc. Currently I am going for a BSc (long way off finishing it though) and getting some more Citrix certs (I have CCA)

I also got my ITIL certs as it was a big help when talking ****e in an interview. They lap it up!

[Konan555]

Bear in mind that the corporate management functionality of BES is far superior to what Apple or Microsoft have in the market at present. Sure, the handsets are harrible by comparison, but be aware of the requirement to be able to remotely secure the handsets through policies - it's the reason that Blackberry is so deep rooted in the enterprise space.

A little overkill in a small business IMO. Going with the latest SBS, exchange 2010 has remote wipe capability, which would probably suffice in most circumstances.

I'm gonna download the trial of SBS 2008 and give it a look. I'm thinking of picking up a cheap PC or server and having a play around.

You can pick those Proliant Microserver things up pretty cheap and they support ESXi. Gives you a good trial and error environment to work in.

Just keep in mind that SBS2008 is an utter resource hog

[sybrows]

I also got my ITIL certs as it was a big help when talking ****e in an interview. They lap it up!

I second that one !!

[Moby-Dick]

I've deployed some reasonably large scale BES installs and come to the conclusion that BES is a lot more than just emails - its about complete mobile device management , you can control just about everything on the devices , from what applications they are allowed to install , to what web sites they are allowed to go to.

However if you are wanting to just provide mobile device access for email, I dont think I would recommend BES.