MCITP Training

[eats4treats]

Hi all

I've been a telecom engineer for 15 years now and over the past few years Ive seen a growing need to learn more about routing, servers, switches and all things IP.

I have a great boss who agrees that I should learn more about this area and having done some google'ing, microsoft MCIPT certification is the way forward. There are various courses to learn but not knowing a great deal about the subject I dont know where to start. Web design and stuff like that wouldnt benefit me in a day to day routine but working with routers, servers, domains and IP would.

Can anyone advise me on the correct or best tests in the MCIPT range to train for?

Also, is there a way of completing the training online then attending a test at a centre or does it require time out at colleges/uni's? Im not focused enough to buy the books, learn myself and then take the test, like what some people have recommended.

Any thoughts on the above would be great

Thanks

Eats.

 

[58sniper]

MCITP doesn't require any classes. It merely requires you to pass some tests. So the training part is really up to you.

There are some companies, like Train Signal, that have DVD based CBTs you can use for learning. Of course, there is always instructor lead classes like those from New Horizons that you can take as well.

Keep in mind, though, that MCITP is based on Microsoft technologies. So, while some of the tests do cover routing and/or IP, they are based specifically to those functions within Microsoft products. If you want to learn more in-depth about the core concepts, something like Cisco's CCNP might be a better route.

Oh - and as a telecom guy, I'm surprised you're not going the unified messaging route with something like Microsoft Lync, or Cisco's stuff.

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[kmcferrin]

I will second the comment here. There is very little routing/switching/IP-based material in the MCITP tracks that I've passed. If you're really more interested in learning "All things IP" then you'd probably be better off looking towards a CCNA to learn routing and switching. The MCITP programs are pretty much exclusively about implementing, managing, and supporting Microsoft products (typically servers).

And I think that the Lync/UC path would probably be pretty valuable for you. We see a lot of demand for that on the Microsoft side of things, but don't often see people coming at it with the telcomms experience so aspects of it are like learning a whole new world.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Server Administrator
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator
MCITP:Virtualization Administrator 2008 R2
Certified Quest vWorkspace Administrator

 

[cajuntank]

Just to add my 2 cents in as well... you never really clarified on what your really trying to end up being. Are you still going to do primarily telecom or are you shifting more toward network admin, etc... Are you just after certification or true understanding of the subject matter?

The only reason I ask these questions is some training material and classes you might attend are geared toward passing tests only and really don't offer a good foundation on understanding the subject matter at hand. I've taken the MCIPT boot camp course and by no means was it for someone that wanted to truly understand the material, it was purly to review what topic matter would be seen on the test.

I have also taken the Office Communication Server (OCS 2007 R2) course (now known as Lync) and absolutely loved the course. I plan on taking the Lync course next month in fact. And while I did take the test for OCS 2007 R2, the course did not focus on test material as much as it dealt with real world usage and implementation. And again, like the other guys mentioned already, the CCNA course or training material would be your best start for routing/switching/IP.