What's this? Yet another MCITP, MCSE 2012 Question.

[Inn3rs3lf]

Hey all.

As per title. With the MCITP getting the boot next month, what should one do? There is still the option to get your MCSA in Server 2008, http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/mcsa-windows-server-2008-certification.aspx#fbid=ALaH5SdPus0 and then from there, go do your MCSE: Server Infrastructure http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/mcse-server-infrastructure-certification.aspx#fbid=ALaH5SdPus0 Or would you skip the MCSA, and head straight into server 2012?

I have nix experience in the server field, so this will all be a new experience for me, but have to start somewhere. I take it most companies have not, and most probably will not implement Server 2012 for many years to come. So I gather from that, take the MCSA, get server 2008 under my belt, mess with labs, the usual, then head on over to the MCSE: Server Infrastructure?

Any help from you admins in the field would be appreciated.

 

[srothman]

Server 2012 might not be as far off as you think, with R2 said to be released by the end of this year already. I know we are pushing it quite aggressively, especially from a virtualization perspective, with all our new clusters going into operation being on a 2012 platform.

In any case, considering you have no experience, I suggest start with the MCSE: Server Infrastructure in the order of the exams as listed in your above link.

The technologies and concepts found in 2008 are (relatively) similar to those found in 2012, with the latter featuring in most cases the newer version of whatever (Cluster-Shared Volumes v2, Hyper-V v3, etc.)

Rolling back onto a slightly older platform, a la 2008, will be a lot easier, in my opinion, than rolling forward onto the newer and not understanding all the nuts and bolts and being able to leverage the abilities or enhancements that make 2012 better, such as RFS, IPAM, native NIC teaming, etc.

Just my 2c

 

[ShawnStar]

Server 2012 might not be as far off as you think, with R2 said to be released by the end of this year already. I know we are pushing it quite aggressively, especially from a virtualization perspective, with all our new clusters going into operation being on a 2012 platform.

In any case, considering you have no experience, I suggest start with the MCSE: Server Infrastructure in the order of the exams as listed in your above link.

The technologies and concepts found in 2008 are (relatively) similar to those found in 2012, with the latter featuring in most cases the newer version of whatever (Cluster-Shared Volumes v2, Hyper-V v3, etc.)

Rolling back onto a slightly older platform, a la 2008, will be a lot easier, in my opinion, than rolling forward onto the newer and not understanding all the nuts and bolts and being able to leverage the abilities or enhancements that make 2012 better, such as RFS, IPAM, native NIC teaming, etc.

Just my 2c

Is there a add-on for IPAM to check Cisco routers for their DHCP lease tables? I installed a 2012 server the other day just to check out IPAM (My excel sheet is getting a bit messy, over 220 internal IP subnets on and growing fast) But stopped as soon as I saw you can only add MS servers to monitor IP ranges etc, or did I give up to early?

 

[srothman]

At this stage you can't, but I've heard rumours through the geek vine that there will be support for this (and a heck of a lot of integration) via the System Centre suite of products, most likely Service Manager or Configuration Manager to allow for this to happen.
Microsoft, like any good prostitute, only shows you the tip of the err... iceberg, and then makes you spend more money for all the bells and whistles.

In my opinion it's not worth it, and Orion Solarwinds is a much better route to go for IPAM, which I believe integrates beautifully with the required licence (still cheaper than a full-blown SC licence), unless of course you or your organization sold your soul to Microsoft.

 

[Inn3rs3lf]

I see what your saying in regards to the tech released with 2012, but will SA companies really be adopting it at a rate high enough for 2008 to fall in the background?

Just from what I heard with the 2003 vs 2008 debate a while ago, people always suggested to go with 2003 as companies can't afford the change. Is it not true with the 2008 vs 2012 debate now?

 

[ShawnStar]

Ja, we sold our soul, or our manager sold our soul, SCOM and SCCM 2012 rolled out a few weeks ago, DPM, well, tried and failed horribly, now Lync is next

 

[srothman]

DPM works well when it works. Actually busy building a new environment now, including DPM 2012 SP1.

As for the 2008 vs. 2012 debate, I've always believed that companies don;t adopt new technologies or features because they aren't introduced to it properly. It is your job as an IT professional to coax business in the direction of these technologies, explaining the benefits, highlighting the risks, and being fully competent to actually implement and support these technologies in your organization. I've posted this in another thread as well.

At the end of the day you won't waste your time with 2008, and I agree that it will likely still be around for a while. I just feel that if you are going to invest time and money into developing as a professional, rather be 'backwards compatible" than playing catch-up the whole time.

 

[Inn3rs3lf]

DPM works well when it works. Actually busy building a new environment now, including DPM 2012 SP1.

As for the 2008 vs. 2012 debate, I've always believed that companies don;t adopt new technologies or features because they aren't introduced to it properly. It is your job as an IT professional to coax business in the direction of these technologies, explaining the benefits, highlighting the risks, and being fully competent to actually implement and support these technologies in your organization. I've posted this in another thread as well.

At the end of the day you won't waste your time with 2008, and I agree that it will likely still be around for a while. I just feel that if you are going to invest time and money into developing as a professional, rather be 'backwards compatible" than playing catch-up the whole time.

You make perfect sense. Just wish I was in a situation where I could actually have that swaying power. However, I will be starting at the bottom, so it will be more a case of survivability as opposed to paving the way

Bottom line is this...If I went ahead now and studied the 2012, if placed in front of a 2008 domain controller, or faced with an AD specific problem, would I be able to navigate my way through server 2008 to fix said problem? I think that is my biggest concern.

 

[srothman]

100%, and you are actually very correct and sensible in your approach. that being said, from a certification/qualification point of view, I would still recommend the 2012 track, but by no means neglect the 2008 material, but it just doesn't make sense for me to invest a lot of effort (and money) in obtaining a qualification that, for all intents and purpose, is out-dated.

Side note: In this context, "Out-dated" does not mean irrelevant

 

[reactor_sa]

You have to do mcsa before the more specialised certs. All roads lead to mcse again.

 

[])ragon_\/oid]

100%, and you are actually very correct and sensible in your approach. that being said, from a certification/qualification point of view, I would still recommend the 2012 track, but by no means neglect the 2008 material, but it just doesn't make sense for me to invest a lot of effort (and money) in obtaining a qualification that, for all intents and purpose, is out-dated.

Side note: In this context, "Out-dated" does not mean irrelevant

+1 on this. Server 2008 R2 will be used for years to come still. Personally after toying with both server 2012 and 2008 R2, I can just see a nightmare if you switch from 2012 to 2008. Not trying to make it sound bad, but these are almost two different operating systems, as 2012 is more powershell based, where as 2008 isn't.

Do the 2012 certs, but do a bit of research on 2008. No point in going for outdated technologies. And for the love of chilly cheese crackers, do some Exchange training, you will need that if you want to do the whole server thing.