Formal Server 2003/XP Pro training?

[Bob Thomas]

Figured I'd toss this out to the experts....

I'm the IT liason for a small department (Must have missed a meeting and they gave it to me ) We run 10 workstations, 3 server 2003 servers and 4 wireless laptops in the cruisers. I have no formal training in managing the network and "hunt and peck" my way through. I'm afraid that one bad keystroke will shut us down.

Does anyone know of any formal training for managing Server 2003 etc? I am NOT going back to college but just need some training classes to help me out a little. Money is an issue as the town will be funding this but I've already prepped them that it's not cheap.

Thanks in advance!

[The Dad Fisherman]

Give this link a shot. It will help you find trainers in your area for all of the Microsoft Products. be aware that the training isn't cheap....but this is a good place to start. poke around and you will find other optyions such as e-learning.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/tr...indCourse.mspx

[Bob Thomas]

TDF,

I checked that site and it said I need A+ certification prior to enrolling. I was barely a D student, let alone an A+

[fishsmith]

Someone here should be able to help

[ThrowingTimber]

Bob,

The A+ certification is like a hardware install/ os install maint. type gig. Let your department know that they either need to hire someone to maintain the network with the proper credentials, or they need to put you through all thr proper training. You A+ is a good bet because it will stay with you and you can always make some spare coin fixing up folks pc's etc. Fair warning fixing peoples pc's is like a bad marriage, when everything is good it GREAT but when stuff hits the fan its a major SPLAT.

If you'll be the only admin you may want to look into some type of security training. Thats what I do for work the security portion feel free to give me a call and if I can help you out or point you in the right direction I will.

[Bob Thomas]

Thanks, Timber. I tried the "You need to hire" route but that was beating a dead horse. The towns idea was to hire a friend of a friend of a neighbors dog.....let's just say it did not go well.......

Basically, right now, we've got a company that we call when ever there is something I can't handle....which is most of the time. I manage to get us out of a jam from time to time but suggested it was time to improve a little bit. We'll see where they want to go now........

[Raven]

bob it's like sending out sonar from a submarine
to check for distance and location

learn to ping your other computers on your network

find out their ip address

[MrHunters]

i love the mentality of the higher ups that think technology is just something you can poke a stick at and it should work.

tell em to get you proper training or you can't be held responsible for anything pertaining to your network. you could try this angle....
the amount of time it takes you (the untrained guy) is probably 4 to 5 probably more (no offense) times longer than a guy with a few classes behind their belt. they will make their money back in a couple months in productivity!!

couple things about training... ITS EXPENSIVE! 8 -12 week microsoft class can cost you around 15K! I know this because that is what I paid. If you do take the classes make sure you interview your teacher/school and find out what kind of real world experience he or she has had.

google. "paper mcse's"

Microsoft classes are based of the exam's. Make sure if you are planning on taking a test or two you do it right after the class... those suckers ain't easy.

If you are doing hardware and network troubleshooting... I highly reccomend you take a class in that.. they usually pair them together..you can find ton's of practice test online for the A+ and Net +.

I was under par for the most part in school as well but when you have to pay $125 per test non refundable...It kind of motivates you to do a touch better
hope that helps a little.
good luck bob.

[JohnR]

Bob - this is an interesting problem. Because of the nature of the information you work with, security is of the essence too. If it is not set up and managed correctly, someone could "breach" that security and really eff things up.

Not trying to complicate this dilemma even more for you but you need to get them to understand that:

Without any training you could easily muck up the works

With proper training and no experience you could still potentially muck up the works

With time & proper training you could do the work but there is still a minimal chance the works could get mucked up...

Shoot me a PM if you want to talk morew and I'll give you my #

Raven - I'm about to send you a PM too

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by Bob Thomas

TDF,

I checked that site and it said I need A+ certification prior to enrolling. I was barely a D student, let alone an A+

The won't kick you out if you don't have it. But like TT said if your going to be responsible this is a could cert to have....Its what most of us IT guys started with.....Gives you a good foundation to build on.

[Adam_777]

I'd say just keep calling the other people for help if they won't pay your way then after a year of the bills they will either pay your way or replace you with some youngbuck who is certified and happens to know an uncle of a cousin who's dog shared a cage at a shelter with the dog of a great uncles nephew.Networking can be really pretty simple if you tinker and ask your way around the right crowd you can figure out just about anything.

[labrax]

Get a book on the A+ class and read through it - that should be enough for you to understand what a 4 day course would teach you. Hopefully the town will reimburse you or pay for the $50 book. Your library network may even have one for you. If you are totally lost with XP or W2K3 - the books are simple, but they might be a good start - those XP for Dummies are cheap and may introduce you to topics that you want to spend time on. I deal with public safety organizations all the time in my job - and some of the admins are good and some are lost and it is somewhat painful when they are lost. You deal with a lot of data and with confidential stuff - they should realize this and be willing to offer some training - it is shortsighted on their part if they think otherwise.

I do not have any certifications and actually have attended about 7 courses on Windows support, server support and Linux. Some teachers are good and some teach you right out of the book. Global Knowledge is a company that my company has brought in to teach an accelerated MCSE class in the past and the occasional class - they were pretty good. There used to be a company out of Acton Mass that was OK, but they got aquired by a company from Westboro and Braintree - might want to search for Windows training and Westboro, MA. Unfortunately, there are 'paper MCSE's and MCSA's out there - they have taken the courses but lack real world practical experience - and they sometimes are really dangerous as they have the credentials but do not know what to do with them. We had one that was one class away from her MCSE and she could not change the time on the system - I kid you not.

Bottom-line - there are some introductory classes out there that will introduce you to the basics - you will need to find some time to play with what you have learned. If you can set up a test box for yourself to play around with that will allow you to mess around without screwing stuff up. The MS technet pages offer a lot of information to dig around in if you need answers about a specific topic.

Are there any Homeland Security Grants you could apply for related to IT/Security training? Does your town have an Enterprise Agreement with Microsoft - if so, are there any spare training vouchers available that you could use? Can you solicit for Consultants to see what it would cost to have them manage the infrastructure and then compare that with what it would cost to have you attend training - so you could show the higher-ups that you are not blowing smoke - and that they would be better financially served by sending you to some training.

Good luck - because a lot of organizations/towns look to cut in their IT budgets, or level-fund them when they think nothing of adding another mid-level manager in finance, marketing person or curriculum specialist. It is crazy how they do not value IT. Ask TJX how the 1.5 billion dollar (or more) gaffe they made in failing to secure their wireless network in MN worked out for them - data thieves setup outside their Marshalls store there and got a lot of data that cost a lot of people a bunch of time and aggravation.