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Ask Slashdot: Becoming a Network Administrator?

Posted by timothy on from the why-not-hire-one-to-show-you dept.

J. L. Tympanum writes "After many years as a star programmer, I have taken a position which involves maintaining and rebuilding the in-house network of a small company. There are maybe 100 machines, a mix of blade servers running Linux and desktop PCs running Windows of all flavors. Basically, I have to learn networking from scratch. I have been given an 'unlimited' budget to buy routers, switches, etc., to set up my own little test network as part of the learning process. So the question is: what's the right strategy here? What routers or switches or other equipment should I acquire? What books should I read? Should I take classes from Cisco, Global Knowledge, my local community college, or somewhere else?"

8 of 480 comments (clear)

  1. Step 1 by nuintari · · Score: 5, Funny

    Run, run as fast as you can, and don't look back.

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    --Nuintari

    slashdot : where an opinion can be wrong.

    1. Re:Step 1 by bberens · · Score: 4, Funny

      I dunno, seems like a cake job to me. As a programmer I can assure you that the problem is never the network. Just ask the network guys, they'll be sure to tell you. Never mind the trace-route, pings, and FTP client log showing 100 byte/sec transfer speed I have provided, the single green LED graphic on the monitoring tool indicates with absolute certainty that all things on the network are working swimmingly.

      --
      Check out my lame java blog at www.javachopshop.com
  2. Welcome to management by characterZer0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    1) Use your unlimited budget to hire a network administrator.
    2) Go golfing.

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    Go green: turn off your refrigerator.
  3. This isn't a boon. It's a curse. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have this job now and my girlfriend tells me I wake up almost nightly screaming. I can't help but think they're connected.

    1. Re:This isn't a boon. It's a curse. by PrimalChrome · · Score: 5, Funny

      Haven't you seen Inception? You're still sleeping....the girlfriend should have given it away.

    2. Re:This isn't a boon. It's a curse. by dkleinsc · · Score: 4, Funny

      That's clearly crazy talk. Admins don't have time for girlfriends.

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      I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
  4. you just need to learn one thing by roman_mir · · Score: 5, Funny

    All you need is the cloud.

    What you do is get a cloud. Just connect all your machines and networks and cables to the cloud and you will be aaaaalright.

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    You can't handle the truth.
  5. Whatever you do... by Bobfrankly1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...don't take any lessons from anyone employed by Sony.