@scottalanmiller said in Which IT role I am suitable and to which should I apply for ?:

@openit said in Which IT role I am suitable and to which should I apply for ?:

2. If I choose System Admin position : (Assuming of Windows environment)
....
d) I believe Virtualization and Cloud knowledge matters ?

All knowledge is good knowledge. But if you really want a system admin specialist position, many do nothing with virtualization or cloud, because those are platform tasks, not system tasks. Small companies, like the SME and Medium space, will normally merge platform speciality into the system speciality because there is so much overlap in skills. But you can get into the Fortune 100 where they do not and system admins never see the platform, at all.

I've seen this separated in companies as small as 1,400 staff - where the platform team and the systems teams were completely discrete.

Also at specialist, admin and engineer are discrete. So you'd have platform administration, platform engineering, system administration and system engineering all in one company.

Then when you specialist more, it's common to have tech divisions. So in a company with two platforms and three systems, you might have these teams:

• Windows Administration
• Windows Engineering
• Linux Administration
• Linux Engineering
• AIX Administration
• AIX Engineering
• VMware Administration
• VMware Engineering
• Xen Administration
• Xen Engineering

What's difference b/w Administration and Engineering ? I mean how responsibilities separate them ?

@Dashrender said in Which IT role I am suitable and to which should I apply for ?:

Your list reads like mine for the most part.

And I just get to parrot Scott and Dustin, what is your goal? Next desired job?

As said above, confused about my Title, my knowledge and available options (system admin, Desktop Support etc.), once I analyse my status and options with you people help, I will set my Goal.

@DustinB3403 said in Which IT role I am suitable and to which should I apply for ?:

Is there a position you are currently considering? Or are you simply trying to figure out what kinds of jobs you'd should be looking at if you were looking?

No, there's no vacancy available for me, trying to know what exactly I know, what options do I have , so I can prepare my CV and myself for Next.

@scottalanmiller said in Which IT role I am suitable and to which should I apply for ?:

Defining where you go "next" is more about what you are passionate about, doing at home, getting certified in and so forth than it is about where you have been.

Okay I want to go Desktop Support or System Admin position and following are my queries depending on which role I will choose :

1. If I choose Desktop Support :

a) I feel my current knowledge is enough or more than enough (see above) ?
b) What kind of knowledge than above I mentioned will be helpful ?
c) How about certifications ? what certifications are good ? I already have "ITIL Foundation"

2. If I choose System Admin position : (Assuming of Windows environment)

a) I think I need to learn and do lots of exercise on Active Directory and Domain things
b) what certifications are recommended ?
c) What other knowledge than AD and Domain and Server services like DHCP, DNS, File Server etc. is necessary or helpful ?
d) I believe Virtualization and Cloud knowledge matters ?

Thanks !

@scottalanmiller said in Which IT role I am suitable and to which should I apply for ?:

@openit said in Which IT role I am suitable and to which should I apply for ?:

I guess "System Admin" post require 5-8 years of experience.

No, this is not at all the case. Specialist roles are never "levels". There is no experience necessary for the entry level point of any discipline. All disciplines start from zero experience and work up. System Admin is a specialist role, many people, like me and many that I know including @Technomancer started as admins our first days in IT. There is no implication in any role title of a level of experience. If someone tells you that, they are likely a confused HR person, not someone in the industry.

Oh okay, sometimes I used feel good because of System Admin position, while doing other things or more.

@scottalanmiller said in Which IT role I am suitable and to which should I apply for ?:

@openit said in Which IT role I am suitable and to which should I apply for ?:

Now question is, my title says "System Administrator" and my knowledge on AD and experience is very less (assuming going to choose Windows environment job) and years of total experience is 4.2 Years.

Your workload is IT Generalist or SMB Generalist. SMB only has generalist in reality. In theory some SMB somewhere hires someone outside of generalist, but it is purely a theory, I've never heard even a rumour of someone having found one.

I just wondering to know what is "IT Generalist" ? is that mean All-in-One IT ? who takes all categories of work like System Admin tasks, Network admin, helpdesk, cabling guy etc. ?

Hello All,

I am willing to change my job and not sure what is my status and for which role I am suitable.

Following is the quick review of my job career :

As discussed in my other thread, Title is not reflecting my job responsibilities.

1. Worked as Linux Admin for 8 months : Not much to tell here. I became familiar with Linux and open source, of course learned the concepts of DNS, DHCP, Web server, File server, RAID etc.

2. Working as System Admin from 3.5 years : I learned lots of stuff here.

Even though my title is System Admin, I am one who handles everything in IT dept. Following are categories I handles:

a) Windows Server : Having File Server as a primary service and DNS on it.
b) Helpdesk Support : Addresses all complaints, from printers, telephones to PCs.
c) Email : We have O365, and I administers from creating, setting up to troubleshooting and coordinating with Microsoft support for any issues.
d) Firewall : I manage firewall things, most basic things like adding rules, blocking things, allocating good bandwidth to specific users.
e) Networking : Even though I am not good at it, but I manage basic things. I can configure general routers, access points, extenders etc.
f) Misc : VPN (managing on Firewall), using DDNS and port forwarding services, printers management (having 10s of private and network printers), network monitoring with PRTG,
g) Backup admin : Manage backups for Data and Server.
h) Anti-virus admin: Setup and administer Anti-virus on all PCs.
i) Familiarity : I am familiar with Linux, Virtualization (using XenServer), Cloud (have used Google Cloud Compute and storage).

Note: We are talking about 70+ users. Even though our network in not under Domain, I am familiar with how things works with AD. Trying to learn and certify on Windows Server to get good command to migrate to Domain.

Now question is, my title says "System Administrator" and my knowledge on AD and experience is very less (assuming going to choose Windows environment job) and years of total experience is 4.2 Years. I guess "System Admin" post require 5-8 years of experience.

In my job location, Support L1/L2/L3/L4, system admin, IT admin everything is same and that's me

So what's my status now and for what I should apply for ?

Tagging the IT Pros who helped me in other posts recently

@scottalanmiller @JaredBusch @Breffni-Potter @dbeato @guyinpv @Tim_G @Dashrender @DustinB3403 @mlnews

Thank you for your time !!

@Tim_G said in MS 2012 or 2016 to learn and certify ?:

Make sure you use TechNet Virtual Labs. They are seriously excellent.

Sure.

@mlnews said in MS 2012 or 2016 to learn and certify ?:

@openit did you see that MSPress has a sale on today?

Nope, I was not aware. Also there is no 70-740 in your listed offered books.
Anyhow, still I am seeing 35% discount if I wish to buy immediately.

Hello All,

In IT support category, I am confused with following posts, can someone clarify which post is for what ?

1. Desktop Support Specialist
2. Helpdesk Specialist
3. Helpdesk Technician
4. IT Support Specialist

I feel, almost all are same, and my confusion increased when I seen these posts posted somewhere in Job Vacancies in same page, which reveals all of them are different.

Thanks !

Going to study MCSA Windows server 2016. And will get guide one of the following

1. By William Panek

https://www.amazon.com/MCSA-Windows-Server-Study-Guide/dp/1119359341

2. Microsoft Press
   https://www.microsoftpressstore.com/store/exam-ref-70-740-installation-storage-and-compute-with-9780...

@scottalanmiller said in MS 2012 or 2016 to learn and certify ?:

Also, should go without saying... build a huge home lab and test EVERYTHING hands on while doing it.

Noted and sure I will do the same.

@scottalanmiller said in MS 2012 or 2016 to learn and certify ?:

@openit said in MS 2012 or 2016 to learn and certify ?:

2. Now we are using Windows Server 2012 R2, but 2016 is already in market, so may be better to start learning 2016 to be advanced and Certify in latest one ?

But there are no educational materials for 2016 R2 yet, so you are stuck with 2016 as the latest thing that you can study in any way. It's already more mature than you actually would want to focus on, but it is what it is.

One another concern is, I will be having holidays from tomorrow for some reason, so I am thinking to buy (if require) PDF material on MCSA 2016 to starting studying immediately, as book delivery may take long for Middle East region.

Thanks !
@Dashrender @DustinB3403

@scottalanmiller @Dashrender @DustinB3403
Thanks for quick response, I agreed on learning latest one (2016).

Hello all,

Currently we are running Windows Server 2012 R2 at our office.

I need/want to learn AD and Domain things, so I am thinking of learning and certifying MCSA in Windows Server 2012/2016 in this process, so that I can learn and getting Certified too. So I am at starting point to learn and following are few queries based on that :

1. I need to learn, so better to learn in a way that I can learn, practise and Certify too, is that good idea ?

2. Now we are using Windows Server 2012 R2, but 2016 is already in market, so may be better to start learning 2016 to be advanced and Certify in latest one ?

3. Now looking for a PDF material based on certification (guide in getting certification point of view), do you know any ? if require I would like to buy PDF and get a Print out for hard copy.

4. I seen one test/mock paper on MCSA Windows Server 2012, it was very strange for me, even though I am working on Windows server, and there seems to be lot of theory and other things involved in Certification point of view.

Thanks for suggestions !

Hi all,

As you are aware of NHS England, German Railway, etc. are affected by Ransomware virus (WannaCry - as of now highlighted).

Lots of patches may be released by the Microsoft and one of them I know is https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms17-010.aspx

Following are my queries :

1. Doing only Windows Updates is not enough to get all Patches ? or there are some patches like (MS17-010) which should be patched separately and not available in normal Windows Updates ?, if yes, what is the central location to get this information so that I can apply for our workstations.

2. We are having all Windows 7-10. And from link https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms17-010.aspx , I am not very clear what to install to get patched. Let me give example for my laptop :

a) I have navigated to Windows 10 Version 1607 build which is my laptop build from above link MS17-010

b) And opened 3213986 link from Update Replaced, which took to following page:

c) And then chosen Microsoft Update Catalog and following is the next screen and again not sure which executable (patch) to download ?

3. Third step in this process is to disable SMB V1.0 on all which is very older one.

4. Currently all workstations are left to update windows randomly, but seems end-users are skipping some times (by postponing) and you know Windows Updates can take 30-40 minutes sometimes and users are very annoyed when it happens on working hours. What's the best practice to set the Windows Updates Schedule ?

Appreciate your suggestions !

@Francesco-Provino said in Offsite Backup copy to Bank Locker suggestions.:

@openit said in Offsite Backup copy to Bank Locker suggestions.:

Hello all,

In process of setting up Offsite Backup, I am thinking of doing to full backups twice in a month (lets say) to External hard drives and moving them to bank locker. How's the idea ?

Following are the reasons I am thinking of above process :

1. I want to make sure that offsite copy is not touchable in any case. If I chose to set it up on remote location and use VPN to connect over Internet and do offsite backups on schedule, still it may vulnerable to Ransomware kind of virus if something missed security thing or new vector of attack, right ? so don't want to take chance.

2. Chosen external hard drive, because it's cheap and don't need much equipment, maintenance like Tape one, on the top of that offsite backup is not for longer duration, so it will be okay with external drives, right ? may use 3 external drives to rotate, so at least two versions of backup will in hand (may be older but at least )

3. Now I want to discuss how to backup ? one thing is I need to full backup, which could be around 5TB.

• Now need to chose the method, and I don't want to copy and paste the data, because, there will be some errors like long path name which could miss the files, so may be third party software or in-built Windows Backup software will be fine ?
• Secondly, password or encryption for the backup, because it's going to out of office premises.

4. Why this location : We don't have any offsite location or branch near reachable and may not able to choose Authorized person's home. So bank locker comes to my mind.

Really appreciate your suggestions !!

My suggestion is a cloud, single-purpose instance that just "pull" the backup and throw it to S3/Glacier. You can apply a vault lock policy to the Glacier bucket so it's not deletable or changeable in any way, from your own super-admin account also
I think it could be superior to redundant and vaulted tape copies, maybe just slower in case of disaster recovery.

I am not sure about how this cloud can be safe guarded from Ransomware if network got infected from where Cloud pulls the data, maybe some versioning or vault as you said above, I just wonder if it's blocking deletion/changes how it's going to allow to make backup ?

I have thought of Cloud, but the Bandwidth (Upload = 10Mbps) with around 5TB data makes me to leave this option.

@scottalanmiller said in Offsite Backup copy to Bank Locker suggestions.:

@openit said in Offsite Backup copy to Bank Locker suggestions.:

@scottalanmiller said in Offsite Backup copy to Bank Locker suggestions.:

@openit said in Offsite Backup copy to Bank Locker suggestions.:

2. Chosen external hard drive, because it's cheap and don't need much equipment, maintenance like Tape one, on the top of that offsite backup is not for longer duration, so it will be okay with external drives, right ? may use 3 external drives to rotate, so at least two versions of backup will in hand (may be older but at least )

That's an option. I prefer tape whenever possible, but tape can be a bit more expensive in small batches. But if you go with tape, you could leverage it for more than just this one piece of your backup.

Thank you for your replies !!

Could you please elaborate "you could leverage it for more than just this one piece of your backup" ?

That was in reference to tape. I meant that you could be using tape for your daily backups onsite, in addition to your occasional offsite backups.

Ah okay, we are currently using NAS to store Onsite copy, still I will look if it's near to our budget with Tape option.

@scottalanmiller said in Offsite Backup copy to Bank Locker suggestions.:

@openit said in Offsite Backup copy to Bank Locker suggestions.:

3. Now I want to discuss how to backup ? one thing is I need to full backup, which could be around 5TB.

• Now need to chose the method, and I don't want to copy and paste the data, because, there will be some errors like long path name which could miss the files, so may be third party software or in-built Windows Backup software will be fine ?

I would almost never use Windows Backup today. Not that it is bad, but Veeam's Agent for Windows is free and the best in the business. So why not use that if you are using Windows?

Really this would depend mostly on what tools you are already using for your normal backups.

Yeah, for sure I will consider Veeam if require. Yes, Windows Server. And using EaseUS backup software.

@scottalanmiller said in Offsite Backup copy to Bank Locker suggestions.:

@openit said in Offsite Backup copy to Bank Locker suggestions.:

2. Chosen external hard drive, because it's cheap and don't need much equipment, maintenance like Tape one, on the top of that offsite backup is not for longer duration, so it will be okay with external drives, right ? may use 3 external drives to rotate, so at least two versions of backup will in hand (may be older but at least )

That's an option. I prefer tape whenever possible, but tape can be a bit more expensive in small batches. But if you go with tape, you could leverage it for more than just this one piece of your backup.

Thank you for your replies !!

Could you please elaborate "you could leverage it for more than just this one piece of your backup" ?