What do Network Admins do on a daily basis?

TheGuy

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Now what about subnetting. How often is that used? Or are most networks functional as is? Or if another client needs to be added, do you use CIDR charts that correlate with the existing network, or use binary with subnetting?

Ps...subnetting is a B#@!?

Subnetting is easy once you get it down the only problem is you never really use it so you forget how to calculate it. Doubt a company will every quiz you on it so you can just use a online tool to calculate it for you.
 

syntax

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Subnetting is easy once you get it down the only problem is you never really use it so you forget how to calculate it. Doubt a company will every quiz you on it so you can just use a online tool to calculate it for you.

You sure about that? I have been quizzed on it, and I have had alot of technical questions regarding it during interviews.
Almost all of it can be answered if you actually know the subject matter in the CCNA course.

I expect someone in networking/firewalling to know exactly how many hosts are in a /27 network out of his head.
 

eclipsedx

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Now what about subnetting. How often is that used?

I use it almost everyday. Sure you get subnetcalculators. But those i ony use to make sure im right. It helps when you are reading through a router config and troubleshooting it.


Also anyone with a CCNP working as a network administrator? WOW. From what I understand a CCNP is under Senior Network Engineer rather than Network Admin. CCNA is a network admin or a jnr network engineer. Im currently studying for my first CCNP exam on the 8th of Dec.

Subnetting is very important if you want to get your CCNP because you need to summerise routes. Also its important for network designing.
 

Elvis007

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Seen CCNP + 5 years clears R25k. If it's not a personal question, what do you clear?

A little bit more than that, don't have a CCNP yet... but have 10 years experience, experience counts a lot at some places, they don't care what you have, as long as you can do it
 

Elvis007

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situation : a trojan is loose on your network. (a new one, for which there is no antivirus signatures yet, and it's running amok.

what do you do?

Get your AV vendor in ASAP, they should have a solution for you for days like that. we had one last week, 553 000 + infections, spread like a wild fire, but all under control 2 days later, problem pc's were taken off the network completely, no server infections for me to worry about... luckily
 

daffy

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CCNP, etc will teach you the theories. But there's nothing that'll teach you more than actual experience in the field using those theories.
Don't think that picking up a CCNP will automatically make you a network guru.
My suggestion, is get experience. Work with the equipment for a while, learn to love it.

And most importantly, don't just get into it because you heard the money is good. Get into it because you love that line of work.
To me, getting paid well is just a bonus for doing something I'm passionate about.
 

Elvis007

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Now what about subnetting. How often is that used? Or are most networks functional as is? Or if another client needs to be added, do you use CIDR charts that correlate with the existing network, or use binary with subnetting?

Ps...subnetting is a B#@!?

Sometimes I use both, but just to make sure

Our standard currently:

WAN links /30
data network /25
voice network /26

I just add the next available range to a spreadsheet as we open/convert branches to the MPLS network...
 

NeonNinja

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A little bit more than that, don't have a CCNP yet... but have 10 years experience, experience counts a lot at some places, they don't care what you have, as long as you can do it

Thanks. Like the bold words.
 

eclipsedx

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CCNP, etc will teach you the theories. But there's nothing that'll teach you more than actual experience in the field using those theories.
Don't think that picking up a CCNP will automatically make you a network guru.
My suggestion, is get experience. Work with the equipment for a while, learn to love it.

And most importantly, don't just get into it because you heard the money is good. Get into it because you love that line of work.
To me, getting paid well is just a bonus for doing something I'm passionate about.

I agree with you on some and also dont. The New CCNP track is much more hands on real world than before. From the end of July this year it changed. Its much harder as the questions and sims are much more about problems you will see in the real world.

Though you will never be a network guru if you think that getting your CCNP will make you one. But i dont think its anyone that can make it. Our Senior Network Engineer wrote the new CCNP route exam 642-902 a month ago. 10 years of hands on exp. And still failed. So not even years of exp will make you a "network guru" only you can if you have the drive and intrest.
 

ponder

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Our Senior Network Engineer wrote the new CCNP route exam 642-902 a month ago. 10 years of hands on exp. And still failed. So not even years of exp will make you a "network guru" only you can if you have the drive and intrest.

Writing an exam and doing the job is two different things. You can train for the exam which requires you to know certain things in a certain fashion but job aptitude is something else. I know a couple of top CCIEs that still fail exams although they know their real world schit. I also seriously reckon you need to speak/know 'american' to do better at the exams as they phrase the questions in a way common to the american way of exams. That's why I reckon it's a good idea to do practise exams so you can get used to their way of english.
 

eclipsedx

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Writing an exam and doing the job is two different things. You can train for the exam which requires you to know certain things in a certain fashion but job aptitude is something else. I know a couple of top CCIEs that still fail exams although they know their real world schit. I also seriously reckon you need to speak/know 'american' to do better at the exams as they phrase the questions in a way common to the american way of exams. That's why I reckon it's a good idea to do practise exams so you can get used to their way of english.

Sorry you dont know what you are talking about. Please go back to SMC switch and try an configure it. Because its clear that you know very little.

Yes almost everyone fails an Cisco exam here and there. Thats the point isnt it. Also CCIE's arent all knowing. Wanna test it give them a Cat5 UTP cable ask them to make a Cross Over cable.

the responce 9/10 time are as follows -> 0o WTF?!?!

I think you are one of those people that failled the ICND1 exam and rolled up in a ball crying. Anyone that has written a new Cisco Exam in the last 6 months would be able to tell you that its been adjusted like crazy.
 
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syntax

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Sorry you dont know what you are talking about. Please go back to SMC switch and try an configure it. Because its clear that you know very little.

Yes almost everyone fails an Cisco exam here and there. Thats the point isnt it. Also CCIE's arent all knowing. Wanna test it give them a Cat5 UTP cable ask them to make a Cross Over cable.

the responce 9/10 time are as follows -> 0o WTF?!?!

I think you are one of those people that failled the ICND1 exam and rolled up in a ball crying. Anyone that has written a new Cisco Exam in the last 6 months would be able to tell you that its been adjusted like crazy.

I am not sure which CCIE's you talk to, maybe the paper ones who havent passed the lab.

I have recently written a cisco exam, and i found it pretty similar to the old exams actually.
Its still nowhere near real world. Sure, you know the commands but troubleshooting is not something you can completely learn out a book.
Knowing all the commands but having no clue where to look for an issue or even what is causing an issue will get you a swift kick to the curb.
 

eclipsedx

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We currently have 5 CCIE's employed in my company. I do believe the last time they made an cable was 6 years ago. Also what exam did you write as I did say "new Cisco exams"

PS no one knows "all the commands" xD
 

syntax

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We currently have 5 CCIE's employed in my company. I do believe the last time they made an cable was 6 years ago. Also what exam did you write as I did say "new Cisco exams"

PS no one knows "all the commands" xD

I havent made a cable in ages either. But I definitely remember it.
i recently wrote the 642-617 (not the ccnp track, but still a new exam).

You know what i mean about knowing all the commands. My point still stands about the troubleshooting. Almost anyone with a manual and google can get things up and running.
Its when things break that you actually earn your money.

/EDIT/ What company is this that has 5 CCIE's?
 

eclipsedx

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xD yeah that 642-617 is really BS when it comes to how ASA's roll outs truly go. The new CCNP track is a beast. Anyone thats seen both the old and the new track of the CCNP certification would tell you that. As for our CCIE's they do designs and presales ( As most do in major companies). The guys doing the work is normaly the CCNP's. The problem i have with the CCIE track is that you dont need to have your CCNA or CCNP to get your CCIE. But Also if you do it the correct way ( not using the dumps out there) you truly know what your doing but I still believe that people with the Prof certs know more than the CCIE's. I have always found them lacking in the detailed knowledge.

Im not going to say what company I work for as im sure that Ill get into trouble if I bad mouth our companies CCIE's. :D
 

syntax

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xD yeah that 642-617 is really BS when it comes to how ASA's roll outs truly go. The new CCNP track is a beast. Anyone thats seen both the old and the new track of the CCNP certification would tell you that. As for our CCIE's they do designs and presales ( As most do in major companies). The guys doing the work is normaly the CCNP's. The problem i have with the CCIE track is that you dont need to have your CCNA or CCNP to get your CCIE. But Also if you do it the correct way ( not using the dumps out there) you truly know what your doing but I still believe that people with the Prof certs know more than the CCIE's. I have always found them lacking in the detailed knowledge.

Im not going to say what company I work for as im sure that Ill get into trouble if I bad mouth our companies CCIE's. :D

I have yet to find a CCIE who passes the LAB, who isnt seriously jacked. You cant dump it, its a lab. From what I have heard, it and the RHCE exam is pretty much as tough as it gets.
I cant give first hand comments, since i have not done it (planning to in a long while though :) )

There might be a chance i have to do the CCNP track, will prob start the exam feb next year. Hopefully its as good as you say.
 

eclipsedx

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Yeah the new CCNP track is tight. Its now only 3 exams. But even Jeremy in the new CBT nuggets says if you dont know how to troubleshoot and understand the problem at hand you wont pass. I dont think ill personaly do the CCIE track... I might do the CCIE wireless one as there is less than 30 people in the World with that cert. But Im doing my CCNP and CCVP right now.... I hope to in a years time have the CCNP CCVP CCDP and CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) certs. Then I would also have 5 years of Cisco networking exp. Which would be great if I didnt stay in KZN as the money sux compared to Jozi or Cpt.

Cheers g2g :D Have a great night peoples
 

ponder

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Sorry you dont know what you are talking about. Please go back to SMC switch and try an configure it. Because its clear that you know very little.

Yes almost everyone fails an Cisco exam here and there. Thats the point isnt it. Also CCIE's arent all knowing. Wanna test it give them a Cat5 UTP cable ask them to make a Cross Over cable.

the responce 9/10 time are as follows -> 0o WTF?!?!

I think you are one of those people that failled the ICND1 exam and rolled up in a ball crying. Anyone that has written a new Cisco Exam in the last 6 months would be able to tell you that its been adjusted like crazy.

Dude, if anyone here does not know what they are talking about it's you. My experience dates back to the original AGS/MGS platforms so I've been around for a bit working on enterprise class networks and other systems (SDH, ATM etc) most people probably never be exposed to.

No, CCIEs are not all knowing but they know more than most, especially those with 20yrs experience. Hell even some of the Cisco Distinguished Engineers I've met don't have all the answers, it's not humanly possible, they also have to look things up.

All the dudes I know would be able to make a crossover cable but why bother when a lacky does it? These people are also quite competent at using LAN cable testers, OTDRs or sniffers should the situation call for it.

Quite presumptuous of you to assume I failed the ICND & cried about it, do you know me?

Have yourself a nice evening ;)
 
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ponder

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So... are you saying you did then? :p

Nah. I did however fail my one CCNP Switching exam due to overconfidence on my side :D

I should have done what many of my colleagues did and written the exams on the Friday afternoon after the course while everything was still freshly imprinted but I left it for a couple of months because I simply could not wait to get the fsck out of jhb to the airport :D
 
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