Saturday, December 11, 2010

CIT Super Stars!

Nine of our CIT students just passed their A+ exam on the first take. They are:
Erik Farrow, Matt Feilen, Steven Gerger, Ruth Horak, John Kerksta, Jason Wegner, Vin Cayanan, Steven Bae and Derek Thomas.

We, the CIT faculty, are soooooooo proud of you! Congratulations!

CCNA Certification - More Than a Piece of Paper by Stephen McQuerry

Staying competitive in the ever-changing information technology market is a challenge. With employers trying to get more skills for their hiring dollar, competition in the market has become fierce. Today many employers are looking for IT professionals who are well versed in the many nuances of the field with desktop, server, and networking skills to provide comprehensive support skills. A major factor for remaining competitive in the IT field is the completion of industry certifications. Many certifications are available; however, one vendor is viewed by many as the leader in the certification market. That vendor is Cisco Systems.

There have been many debates in the IT market concerning the validity and the worthiness of industry certifications—the bottom line is that employers still value a certification from a reputable organization as a benchmark for both the interview process and for advancement into higher level positions. Of course the importance of the certification is not the piece of paper, the number, or even the title; the value is in the knowledge that one gains by preparing for and acquiring the certification. Much of what one learns in pursuing a Cisco certification is fundamental networking knowledge that can be applied to any networking environment, regardless of the vendor.

In pursuing a Cisco certification, the first mile marker one will encounter along the path is the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification. This certification is designed to validate a solid foundation of networking skills, including a basic knowledge of the OSI reference model, networking protocols, Layer 2 switching concepts and protocols, routing concepts and protocols, and wide-area networking (WAN) connectivity. A person who achieves CCNA certification should have the skills necessary to provide basic network installations and level 1 troubleshooting skills.

The knowledge required to pass the CCNA certification exam is among the most valuable skills required in the networking field. The topics covered by the CCNA certification exam are the building blocks of all networking topologies and protocols. Without the proper grounding in these skills, a networking professional will find it difficult to understand many of the more complex technologies in the networking field. The most important aspects of the certification are the ways that devices communicate between each other in a networking environment using the different devices, such as Layer 2 switches and routers, to provide interconnectivity.

The key in preparing for the CCNA certification exam is not memorization of terms, but rather, learning the processes involved in passing traffic through Layer 2 switches and routers and the services provided by these devices. Most of the CCNA certification revolves around the fundamentals of switching and routing. Key to this understanding is the ability to "see" networking from the perspective of each device, to be able to identify an Ethernet Frame or IP packet, and to understand what each device must do to move the packet to the next device or "hop" in the network path.

Describing the protocols and encapsulation methodology used to communicate between different types of media and the addressing schemes used by different protocols are also keys to understanding this transportation process. Once an individual begins to understand how these processes are being accomplished, patterns begin to emerge. For example, a device that uses protocol addresses to identify networks will all have some scheme for identifying a network and a host on that network. Also, any devices that communicate directly on a media will have some addressing or mapping mechanism to identify other devices on the segment. These patterns go beyond the concepts of the foundations learned when starting out in networking and continue into some of the more advanced networking topics like Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) or Packet–over–SONNET (POS).

An understanding of the principles of networking also aids in day-to-day troubleshooting of network problems. The ability to identify and correct a problem lies in the understanding of how the network functions. Having a network technician who doesn't understand the basics of a network would be like having a doctor who didn't pass Anatomy 101. Sure the person may still be a doctor, but I wouldn't want him or her performing surgery on anyone I care about.

There is, however, one more piece to the puzzle, and that is the ability to demonstrate one's skills and expertise. What many industry certifications lack in testing is the capability to have candidates demonstrate their knowledge. Cisco has implemented changes in their most recent certification exams that require candidates to demonstrate their knowledge by using a simulator to configure and validate the operation of many fundamental networking functions. This is where the operating system portion of learning becomes a factor. Understanding fundamentals means a person knows exactly what must be done to make networks communicate, but performing those functions requires a knowledge of the devices and operating systems involved.

Two things are required for a person to pass the CCNA certification exam: a full understanding of networking fundamentals and the ability to configure and troubleshoot Cisco networking devices to operate in a network. These factors are the main reasons the CCNA certification is so popular among employers today. Cisco Systems has the largest install base of any networking vendor in the world and for an IT professional to show fluency with Cisco devices is a bonus, as many networks use Cisco products. There is also a common view that if someone understands networking enough to pass a Cisco certification exam, the person then only needs to learn a different vendor's operating system and products to perform the same tasks. These factors make the CCNA certification valuable and credible to many employers in determining which candidates are considered for hiring or promotion.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Switchfast Open Positions

We currently have the following open positions:

· IT Support Technician (HelpDesk)
· Network Engineer
· Software Developer
· Web/UI Designer
· Project Management Intern

If you know anyone that may be qualified and interested in working for Switchfast Technologies in any of these positions, please feel free to forward their resume on to me. Thanks for your help!

Arzoo Abbas

Finance Manager

Switchfast Technologies, LLC

(773) 241-3040

aabbas@switchfast.com

Wireless Network Designers and Integrators needed

EVDO Radio Network Controller (RNC) Design Engineer

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Design Engineer will engage in the planning efforts working with Customer Engineering staff and Alcatel-Lucent Project team to develop customized EVDO Low Level Network Designs in support of a new EVDO RNC deployment on existing CDMA Wireless Service Provider Networks.

REQUIRED SKILLS / EXPERIENCE:
 Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering/Computer Science/Technology or equivalent job experience.
 Experience designing Wireless Voice and Data Broadband networks with specific focus on EVDO Radio Access Network and Transport.
 Experience creating detailed network architecture drawings, IP addressing plans, network topology and network connectivity.
 Minimum of 5 years experience in Telecommunications industry with specific focus on Wireless Broadband and Backhaul Networks. Possess a strong understanding of the CDMA / EVDO Architecture.
 Strong knowledge of Data and Telecommunication Network Architectures is required.
 Excellent knowledge of TCP/IP, MPLS, VPN, PPP, VRRP, HSRP, OSPF, BGP and SNMP protocols.
 Good understanding of T1/EI, DS1-3 & SONET interfaces [OC-3, OC-12].
 Excellent technical writing, communication, presentation, and customer interface skills are required.
 Hands-On experience with Cisco, Juniper and Alcatel-Lucent 77XX Products are a plus.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
The successful candidate will be performing the following tasks.

 Utilize the existing customer database as input into the low level design questionnaire.
 Work with the customer to gather the new EVDO RNC design requirements.
 Provides low-level network configuration design services to support the integration of EVDO network components.
 Conduct formal review of completed EVDO questionnaire and gain the sign-off on the questionnaire from the customer.
 Generate EVDO Customer Network Design Document (CNDD) as part of the final delivery.
 Coordinate the EVDO CNDD review meetings and act as the primary point of contact for customer queries, design issues related to that market and gain the sign-off from the customer.
 Work with the EVDO RNC Integration Engineer during the deployment of the new RNC.
 Work with the EVDO Router Engineer to support the integration of the EVDO network components.
 Provide network data provisioning support for the growth of new EVDO cell sites into customers wireless data networks

Send your cover letter/resume to wagnerjo@cod.edu

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Dice News - The Certifications That Matter Most

The Certifications That Matter Most


Every once in a while, IT training gurus step back and compile a list of the certifications that seem to matter most at that particular moment. The latest list, via Infoworld, is out now, and you can use it as a planning tool if you want to direct your career in a new direction. The highlights:

Microsoft (MCSE, MCITP, MCTS)
Few businesses get along without a hearty helping of Microsoft-powered equipment, and the company offers a raft of specialized training programs for those who service its products.

CompTIA (A+, Network+, Security+, Linux+)
The nonprofit Computing Technology Industry Association offers popular vendor-neutral certifications--a good option if you're seeking a consultant who has a mix of experience beyond a single brand. Among the certification options, the basic A+ [8] requires 400 hours of hands-on experience.

Cisco (CCNP, CCNA, CCiE)
Among the most popular certifications in the industry, the basic Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) covers installing and managing medium-size networks. It requires a passing mark on a $250 exam, and certification lasts for three years.

Apple (ACSP, ACTC)
A help-desk pro with Microsoft skills may not know how to manage Macs. For shops that rely on Apple products or use a mix of operating systems, Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) and Apple Certified Technical Coordinator (ACTC) cover basic support skills as evidenced by passing marks on tests that cost $200 and $400, respectively.

International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (CISSP)
If your company deals with proprietary information and has deep security needs, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification is known to be rigorous. People who qualify for it must have worked for at least five years in areas such as security architecture and design, and then must pass a $599 exam and pay an annual renewal fee.

Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)
This advanced certification is reserved for IT security consultants and auditors with five years' experience. The test costs $415 or more. Tech consultants who earn this seal of approval enjoy a median annual salary of $87,000.

Project Management Professional (PMP)
This well-respected certification is for people with some college education and at least three years of project management experience. The median salary for PMP-certified IT project managers is $89,000.

Be sure to check out the entire article, which digs into that age-old question: How much do certifications really matter in the real world?

-- Don Willmott



Source: http://career-resources.dice.com/articles/content/entry/the_certifications_that_matter_most?cmpid=214

Diffie-Hellman In Action


Joanne,

I posted on FB about Tuesday nights class as follows:

Is at COD and trying to go over the Diffie-Hellman Algorithm, i don't think
that it is sticking in my brain....but I KNOW Jeff Suggs is loving every
minute of this stuff!....

Jeff decided to post that he did it. I thought I would share that with you.
See the attached photo.

:-)

Steven Edelman

Sunday, October 24, 2010

New CCNP Security

Existing CCSP Information

Currently for an engineer to begin their journey towards achieving CCSP certification, they would need to start by acquiring their CCNA Security certification. The CCNA Security is comprised of a valid CCNA while also passing exam 640-553. The information needed to pass exam 640-553 is attained in the IINS training course (Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security).

Once a valid CCNA Security is completed, the next steps for CCSP would be to attend and pass the associated exams for the following three courses (SNRS, SNAF, and IPS) and one of the elective courses (CANAC, MARS, or SNAA).

If you are currently working towards your CCSP and have already started your training, here are some test dates that you will need to be aware of. Last day to test for following exams: SNRS 642-504 is April 8, 2011; IPS v6.0 – 642-533 is May 31, 2011; SNAF 642-524 is April 8, 2011; SNAA 642-515 is April 8, 2011. Please call us at Sunset Learning if you have any questions regarding how to combine the new courses into your existing training to complete the security certification.

New CCNP Security Details

Security engineers today are faced with many challenges associated with such dynamic environments from complex networks, virtualization, mobility, and increased threats. Cisco has redesigned the security track to help engineers get the training they need to meet ongoing and evolving demands for security.

To begin down the path of CCNP Security, and engineer will need to start with CCNA Security which is described in detail above (no changes to this certification and learning path).

With the new curriculum for the professional level, there are four mandatory courses (SECURE, IPS 7.0, FIREWALL, and VPN). CANAC and MARS are no longer elective courses needed for CCNP Security certification but are available if there is a need for specific product knowledge or to achieve a specialist certification.

Here are brief details of the new courses.

SECURE – Securing Networks with Cisco Routers and Switches v1.0
This course teaches engineers to develop the knowledge and skills needed to secure Cisco IOS Software router and switched-based networks, and proved security services base on Cisco IOS Software.


IPS – Implementing Cisco Intrusion Prevention System v7.0
This course teaches engineers to develop the knowledge and skills needed to deploy, maintain, and troubleshoot Cisco IPS-based security solutions.


VPN – Deploying Cisco ASA VPN Solutions v1.0
Provides network security engineers with the knowledge and skills needed to deploy Cisco ASA based on VPN solutions.


FIREWALL – Deploying Cisco ASA Firewall Features v1.0
Provides network security engineers with the knowledge and skills needed to implement and maintain Cisco ASA-based perimeter solutions.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

If Your Lab Went Smoothly - Most Likely You Didn't Learn as Much as You Could Have!


As mentioned in my earlier blog, "The Classful vs. Classless Routing Behavior Dilemma", there was a problem with our lab last week. Classful routing behavior was working for us, as described in the lab. As it turns out, to get the lab to work correctly, we needed to disable CEF, Cisco Express Forwarding. With which platforms, which version of ios, the no ipclassless command stopped working, I am not sure. Doesn’t matter, really. What’s more important, I believe, is that we understand the difference between process switching and CEF so you know what it is you are disabling in the lab. No better time like the present to take a look at these two different technologies (there are others, as well, but let’s focus on process switching and CEF today).

As we have discussed already, there are three main steps to forwarding a packet through a router: 1) determine if the packet’s destination is reachable, 2) determine the next hop toward the destination, and the interface through which that next hop is reachable, and 3) rewrite the source and destination MAC address on the frame header so it will successfully reach its next hop. I am not going to go into a lot of detail, but I do want to briefly introduce several switch technologies used by Cisco IOS releases. Let’s start with process switching.

Process switching is available on every version of IOS, on every platform. With process switching, the forwarding decision and information used to rewrite the MAC header on the packet are taken from the RIB (routing Information Base) and the ARP table cache (which maps the MAC header information to the IP address of each host that is directly connected to the router). Processes that normally run on the router are not interrupted to process switch a packet.

The input interface processor detects there is a packet on the network media, and transfers the packet to the input/output memory on the router. The interface processor generates a receive interrupt, and during the interrupt, the central processor determines what type of packet it is. If it is an IP packet, the processor places the packet in an input queue and the interrupt is released. When the scheduler runs, it finds the packet in the input queue of ip_input and schedules the process to run. When ip_input runs, it consults the RIB to determine the next hop and the output interface, then consults the ARP cache to determine the correct physical layer address for this next hop. Ip_input then rewrites the packet’s MAC header, and places the packet on the output queue of the correct outbound interface. The packet is copied from the output queue of the outbound interface to the transmit queue of the outbound interface. The output interface processor detects the packet on its transmit queue, and transfers to packet onto the network media.

Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) is advanced, Layer 3 IP switching technology. It stores the reachability and forwarding information in two different tables. An adjacency table holds the forwarding information and the CEF table holds the reachability information. The CEF table is called the FIB (Forwarding Information Base) table. Both are built without process switching any packets.

Whereas process switched technologies used the routing table, CEF uses this FIB table. Because the FIB lookup table contains all known routes that exist in the routing table, it eliminates route cache maintenance (fast switch technology). CEF uses a FIB to make IP destination prefix-based switching decisions. The FIB is conceptually similar to a routing table and maintains a mirror image of the forwarding information contained in the IP routing table. When routing or topology changes occur in the network, the IP routing table is updated and those changes are reflected in the FIB. The FIB maintains next-hop address information based on the information in the IP routing table. Because there is a one-to-one correlation between FIB entries and routing table entries, the FIB contains all known routes and eliminates the need for route cache maintenance associated with fast switching.

In addition to the FIB, CEF uses adjacency tables to prepend Layer 2 addressing information. The adjacency table maintains Layer 2 next-hop addresses for all FIB entries. When CEF mode is enabled, the CEF FIB and adjacency tables reside on the route processor (along with the routing table), and the route processor performs the express forwarding. When distributed CEF mode is enabled (dCEF), line cards maintain an identical copy of the FIB and adjacency tables. The line cards then perform the express forwarding between port adapters, relieving the route processor of involvement in the switching operation. Inter Process Communication mechanism acts as an interface between the route processor and the line cards to ensure synchronization of FIBs and adjacency table.

I hope this brief explanation of process switching (routing as we know it) and CEF gives you some idea of the difference between the two technologies. In order to see the difference between classful and classless behavior, as explained to us in our text, powerpoint, and lab of chapter 8, we needed to disable cef with the no ip cef command. As put in the title of this blog entry, if our labs run smoothly each week, we probably are not learning as much as we could!

Anyway, hope this helps!

Joanne

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Classful vs Classless Routing Behavior Dilemma


We had a very interesting time in our labs this week. One of the topics covered this week in our CCNA2 (CIT1122) Routing Class was Classful and Classless Routing behavior. We have been studying classfull and classless routing but, this week, focused on classful and classless routing behavior.

Unfortunately, or interestingly, the lab did not work as expected, using RIPv1, a classful protocol. According to what we read in our text and online curriculum, we should be able to use the "no ip classless" command with RIPv1. As a result of using that command, if we ping to a subnet that doesn't exist in the RIPv1 routing table, the packet destined to that subnet should be dropped. Because we were using the, "no ip classless" command, the router, as described in our studies, should not have been able to reach the default route. The ping should have failed.

I contacted Rick Graziani, author of our text and professor at Cabrillo Community College, and he is trying to get an answer for us.

The question we are asking is, does the "no ip classless" command still work in current IOS images for RIPv1? As stated above, in the lab this week, we found that it didn't matter if we disabled the "ip classless" command with the "no ip classless" command - RIPv1 still used the classless behavior and found the default route.

Below is a example with the routing table looking like this (I don't remember the exact networks but found this one on the Internet):

Gateway of last resort is 0.0.0.0 to network 0.0.0.0

172.16.0.0/24 is subnetted, 3 subnets
R 172.16.1.0 [120/1] via 172.16.2.2, 00:00:12, Serial0/1/0
C 172.16.2.0 is directly connected, Serial0/1/0
C 172.16.3.0 is directly connected, FastEthernet0/0
C 192.168.1.0/24 is directly connected, Serial0/1/1
S* 0.0.0.0/0 is directly connected, Serial0/1/1


Regardless if "no ip classless" or "ip classless" was in use, the ping to
the network 172.16.4.0 was successful (but with classfull behaviour shouldn't):


Router#ping 172.16.4.1

Type escape sequence to abort.
Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 172.16.4.1, timeout is 2 seconds:
!!!!!
Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 12/14/16 ms


As soon as we here back from Rick, I will update you with his findings. We now have him curious!!

Joanne

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Load Balancing


As we have learned in our CIT1122 class, load balancing is used when a router has multiple paths to a destination when forwarding packets. It is a standard function of the Cisco IOS software for all of the routing protocols we study.

Load balancing occurs when a router receives multiple paths with the same administrative distance and the same cost to a destination. You can set load-balancing to work per-destination or per-packet.

Per-destination load balancing means the router distributes the packets based on the destination address. Given two paths to the same network, all packets for a specific destination go over the first path, all packets for a second destination on that same network would go over the seconed path.

Per-packet load-balancing means that the router sends one packet for destination1 over the first path, the second pacet for the same destination1 over the second path, and so on. Per-packet load balancing guarantees equal load across all links. For per-packet load balancing, the forwarding process determines the outgoing interface for each packet by looking up the route table and picking the least used interface. This ensures equal utilization of the links, but is a processor intensive task.

For most Cisco routers, per-destination load-balancing is the default. You can enable per-packet load-balancing with the ip route-cache command for a specific interface.

If you issue the show ip route command, you will see an asterick corresponding to the active route that is used for new traffic (single packet or entire flow to a destination - depending on what method you are using). For per-packet load-balancing, the asterisk points to the interface over which the nexst packet is sent. For per-destination load-balancing, the asterisk points to the interface over which the next destination flow is sent. Check this out, in the lab, such as Lab 7.5.1. Let me know what you observe - I will be curious as to your findings/reflections.

There is more to know about load-balancing, but this should get you started. You will learn more in your CCNP class about per-packet load-balancing (process-switching) and per-destination load-balancing (fast-switching).

Hope this helps!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

There was recently an article in the Naperville Sun by Katie Morrell, "Hiring experts offer unconventional job tips", Thursday, September 9, 2010. She had indicated that the Naperville Sun had consulted with a few job search experts to bring you some cutting-edge job-hunting tips. Things you might do beyond just posting your resume on Monster and Career Builder. I thought I would share these tips with you:

1) Keep in Touch
"Try to keep in touch long after a job you've applied for is filled," suggested Fran Liontakis, regional vice president for Robert Half International, a job search firm in Naperville. "Oftentimes, the person they choose may not be the best fit. The person who continues to follow-up may be the potential backup. Try sending a friendly e-mail once a week."

2) Work for Free
"Offer to work pro bono for a period of a month," Liontakis said, "Tell them you want to volunteer your time for a period to highlight your skills. At the end of the time, tell them that if you don't have the skills they want, you will part ways without obligation."

3) Link in
"You need to have a well-developed profile on LinkedIn," said John Myers, managing partner of Kensington Internalional, a talent management consulting firm in Oak Brook. "Make sure you know how to expand it well beyond the people you know. Most people don't think they have a very big network and think in finite terms. Your network is much bigger than you think LinkedIn casts a big net and if you purchase an upgraded membership, you will have the ability to directly communicate with those people. Today, more and more search firms are accessing LinkedIn for candidates."

4) Get involved
"Do volunteer work at a nonprofit organization that is aligned with the industry in which you are looking to work," said Liontakis. For example, if you are a credit specialist, you may want to volunteer your time at a consumer credit counseling service. This type of volunteering will give you networking opportunities."

5) Be creative
"Be creative about the ways you are presenting your skills," Liontakis said. "Some candidates send DVDs highlighting their experience. Don't do away with traditional resumes, but look for creative ways to capture the decsion maker's attention early on."

6) Help others help you
"When people ask you what they can do to help, make sure you are well-prepared," Myers said. "Present them with a list of companies you want to get introduced to and go down the list."

7) Act
"Be proactive," Liontakis said. "Let's say you've make it past the first interview. From there, try to make a business plan for the company on how to solve their problems. Putting in that extra time and creating extra ideas shows your interest."

8) Sell yourself
"Try approaching a company as an entrepreneur instead of a candidate," Myers said. "Package yourself with your own business card and materials that describe the value you can deliver. That way, you are offering your services for rent instead of for hire, but you aren't using a project firm as an intermediary, you are doing it yourself. "Instead of going in with your resume as a job candidate, you are going in and saying you can do a project. Oftentimes, those turn into offers."

Please keep in mind, these are just suggestions that I ran into a week or so ago. There are no guarantees here, just suggestions. I would love to hear from you as to job interviewing tips that have worked for you. I have some thoughts of my own that I will be sharing with you, as well.

Hope this helps - Joanne

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Full-Time Configuration Technicians Needed

3 to 5 COD CIT students/alumni needed for a full-time Configuration Technician position. Other Roles, as well, as described below:

Supplier/Roles & Responsibilities

Supplier personnel, as required, shall attend coordination meetings as needed with CLIENT and OEM suppliers. Supplier shall provide the following personnel to ‘Jointly’ perform the services described in this Agreement:

(1) Depot Deployment Manager – This person will be responsible to work hand in hand with the assigned CLIENT employee Depot Lead role to plan, coordinate, and execute the CLIENT deployment schedules and various duties as performed in the depot per the CLIENT schedule of work. The Depot Deployment Manager shall dotted line report to the Senior Technical Director of the CLIENT ITO Evolving Technologies Operations Support team and will be located at the ITO Configuration Depot Center.
- The Depot Deployment Manager shall provide assistance to the Senior Technical Director of the CLIENT ITO Evolving Technologies Operations Support team as necessary to build deployment schedules, assist with project management planning, and ensure timely deployments are occurring in the field and administrative tasks as needed.
Responsibilities shall also:
 Serve as the primary interface between CLIENT and Supplier’s account team;
 Coordinate all Supplier activities to support the success of this relationship;
 Manage, escalate, and resolve any issues impacting SUPPLIER’s ability to meet CLIENT requirements.
 Facilitate and attend CLIENT meetings as necessary;
 Work with CLIENT focal points to understand CLIENT requirements.

(1) Installation Services Manager – This person will be responsible to plan, coordinate, and execute the CLIENT Mobile Office Installation deployment schedule per the CLIENT schedule of work.
- The Installation Services Manager will be located at the ITO Configuration Depot Center. The Installation Services Manager shall dotted line report to the Senior Technical Director of the CLIENT ITO Evolving Technologies Operations Support team.

One (1) Configuration Center Technical Lead –This person will be responsible to manage and coordinate all activities of Supplier’s staff in the ITO Configuration Depot. This Technical lead shall dotted line report to the Senior Technical Director of the CLIENT ITO Evolving Technologies Operations Support team.

Configuration Technicians – (Minimum 3 - 5 staffed on site) These personnel shall be responsible for day-to-day Services in accordance with the CLIENT schedule, the ITO Configuration Depot processes and Warranty / Break fix and / Hot swap / software re-configurement as required. Supplier is responsible to maintain the correct number of resources required to meet all obligations of the various support models and obtain SLA consistently, month over month, over and above set minimum staffing levels. These technicians shall be assigned to the ITO Configuration Depot and dotted-line’ report to the Senior Technical Director of the CLIENT ITO Evolving Technologies Operations Support team.

One (1) Warehouse Lead –This person will be responsible to manage and coordinate all activities of Supplier’s staff in the ITO Configuration Depot Warehouse. This lead shall dotted line report to the Senior Technical Director of the CLIENT ITO Evolving Technologies Operations Support team.

Warehouse Services personnel – (Minimum 3 staffed on site) These person(s) shall be responsible for the day-to-day warehouse services in the ITO Configuration Depot. They shall be responsible for receipts of Supplier’s goods at the CLIENT dock location or in the depot through receipt and inventorying of goods, in addition to preparation of Laptops for activation and configuration and Shipment to CLIENT. Supplier is responsible to maintain adequate resources required to meet all obligations of the various support models and obtain SLA consistently, month over month over and above set minimum staffing levels. The Warehouse Services team members shall be assigned to the ITO Configuration Depot and dotted-line’ report to the Senior Technical Director of the CLIENT ITO Evolving Technologies Operations Support team.

Note: Looking for 3 to 5 Configuration Technicians ($40,000 to $50,000). The Configuration Center Technical Lead position ($45,000). Windows OS and some Cisco needed.

If interested, email me via wagnerjo@cod.edu.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

On August 25th, I blogged on COD's Alpha Beta Gamma. As a result, a former student sent me an email with the following question on ABG:

"Was looking at your blog and saw the posting on ABG. I'm interested in learning more about it since I meet the requirements.
What advantages does it bring to a resume? What does it involve? I work full time now and have classes Tues and Thur night, so if I had to attend meetings or something
I might be hard pressed to find the time. Any other info you could give me would be appreciated. Thanks. Dan"


I turned Dan's question over to Kathy Horton, ABG advisor, for an answer. Here is what she told us:

"Hi Joanne and Dan. Thank you both for your interest in ABG. It is an international honor society for business and technology majors in two-year institutions. To qualify, a student must have a 3.0 GPA, 12 hours of semester credit at COD completed, and be a business or technology major.

Dan, if you meet those qualifications, please return the attached completed form to me, per the instructions. We will let you know what to do next when we receive your application.

And why would you want to do this? First of all, it recognizes your exceptional academic achievement. You can participate in an induction ceremony in the spring, attended by faculty and administrators. This recognition should be a part of your resume and included on academic and job applications. Other advantages include:

· Leadership opportunities

· Special scholarships to transfer schools

· Recognition at COD graduation

· Participation in ABG essay competitions for scholarship monies

· Networking opportunities"


Please let Kathy or me know if you have any other questions about ABG. Hope this helps - Jo

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Great Website for IINS 640-553 exam

Hi Joanne,
Found a great website for the IINS 640-553 exam. They cover quite a bit and have LabSim examples
for port security and Cisco SDM, also a Zone Based Firewall LabSim that is being updated.
Hope this helps out other students who are looking for some way to study for IINS.

Dan

http://www.securitytut.com/

Jr. Systems Administrator

This lead comes to us from Dan Dunhac: EmailJob@site.CareerBuilder.com.
Thanks Dan!

NOC Support Engineer

The Network Operations Center (NOC) Support Engineer will be one of the resources responsible for year round 24 hour and 7 day a week support and monitoring of the website infrastructure (applications and associated hardware).
• The NOC resource will ensure that all interactions with the client requests and reports of issues are resolved in a prompt, professional and personable manner, meeting the business’ continuity objectives.
• The NOC resource will provide exceptional Level 1 & some Level 2 customer service.
• The NOC resource will diagnose, troubleshoot and resolve all phone, e-mail, and ticketing system inquiries, requests, and issues received from customers regarding site functionality and operations.
• The NOC resource will appropriately escalate those issues and inquiries to Level 2 Technical Operations Support (Site Ops, Sys Admin’s, DBA, DataMgmt, Help Desk) and continue to work with Level 2 Tech Ops support as necessary until the issue is resolved.
• The NOC resource will manage the collection of performance and availability metrics, capacity management metrics, and continuity of service metrics for reporting purposes.
• The NOC resource will be responsible for the installation and maintenance of the tools (i.e. Tivoli, KeyNote) utilized in the day to day operations of the NOC.
• Reporting to work onsite and on time, on a daily basis is an essential function of the job (rotating schifts).

If interested, contact Dave Galati at dgalati000@sbcglobal.net

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Career Exploration Workshop for Unemployed Adults

Faculty from Counseling Services and the Library and Career Services specialists are working together providing a workshop for recently unemployed adults to help them identify resources for career exploration and transition. Included in the workshop is a presentation by Career Services on finding a job, an administration and interpretation of the Self Directed Search for career exploration by Counseling Services, and a presentation of career library resources housed within COD’s own Library.

This workshop is free of charge, however space is limited. To register, please contact Janeen Paul at (630) 942-2231.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Alpha Beta Gamma (ABG)

To be eligible, a student must have a 3.0 GPA, have completed 12 semester hours of credit, and be a business or technology major. Come see me for a Alpha Beta Gamma Membership Form.

Once you have the form, you can submit a hard copy to a ABG advisor or send it in electronically per instructions.

I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to have your academic excellence recognized! This will look really good on that resume of yours!


Let me know if you have any questions.

Academic and Career Advising at COD!

Kath Kotowski, CIT/CIS TechConnect Liaison, is available to provide CIT/CIS students with both academic and career advisement. Her normal office hours beginning September 1st will be Wed, Thu, Fri 11:00 am to 5:00pm. Her email address is kotowsk@cod.edu. Her email address is kotowsk@cod.edu; her phone number is 630/942-3961; she is located in Seaton Computing Center Room 108, Business and Technology, College of DuPage.

Stop by to meet her!

Monday, August 23, 2010

The Fnal Exam . . . .

At PennStateUniversity, there were four sophomores taking chemistry and all of them had an 'A' so far. These four friends were so confident that, the weekend before finals, they decided to visit some friends and have a big party.They had a great time but, after all the hearty partying, they slept all day Sunday and didn't make it back to Penn State until early Monday morning.

Rather than taking the final then, they decided that after the final they would explain to their professor why they missed it. They said that they
visited friends but on the way back they had a flat tire. As a result, they missed the final.
The professor agreed they could make up the final the next day.

The guys were excited and relieved. They studied that night for the exam.
The next day the Professor placed them in separate rooms and gave them a test booklet. They quickly answered the first problem worth 5 points. Cool, they thought! Each one in separate rooms, thinking this was going to be easy.... then they turned the page. On the second page was written...

For 95 points: Which tire? _________

Thursday, August 19, 2010

RE: CIT & Physics

Hey Joanne,

I'm looking over the new program requirements and I see physics has been dropped. But it still says it's required? Is that a typo?


That is a typo which is currently in the process of being corrected. Physics is one of the courses that you may select under your Physical/Life Science (3-5 credit) CIT AAS Gen Ed. Requirement but it is not, itself, a required course.

CIT Wireless Course

Hi Joanne
Is there any hardware in place to support wireless at COD? How will the labs be conducted?


Thank you for the question on wireless. We have cisco use 2821s with nm-air-wlc6 modules and lwapp based access points lap-air-1242. We will be doing extensive labs around controller based wireless and configuration of the same both from the controller cli as well as the GUI.

What Type of Employers are Looking for CCNAs

I received the folling questions today and thought it such a good question that I would share it, and my response, with you:

"Hi. I met with a counselor regarding obtaining a certificate in the CIS or CIT area. Lisa said you might be able to help me understand what type of employers are looking for the CCNA certificate and what type of jobs might be obtained with one of these certificates."

Hi
I have been taking classes in computer networking. As I continue to take classes, I would like to work on finding out what businesses I would be able to work in and work on my resume and/or try to get job in a company in computer networking as I go to school--even as an intern. How would I go about getting a job in computer networking? How do I get my foot in the door? Do all companies have a networking dept? Thanks


IT managers across all vertical markets, government, healthcare, education, finance, insurance/securities, wholesalers, and retailers in the production and distribution of products, law, entertain/sports, real estate, etc. hire our graduates. Depending on the individual student’s background, he/she may find a career in any of the following fields with a degree or certificate from CIT: network administrators, system support specialists, system administrators, technical support specialist, network support specialist, computer support, security specialist, convergence specialist, or VoIP support specialist. And of course, there are also many opportunities and careers in security, not only as a career but as a network professional in the IT departments of any of the above mentioned industries.

One of the best ways to get your foot in the door is to land an internship while working on that CCNA certification. An intership, paid or unpaid, will give you that experience every company seems to be asking for. Experience can increase the number of job opportunities available to you exponentially. More than 30% of hiring managers surveryed by CareerBuilder.com said relevant experience is the most influential factor in hiring a new college graduate. Check out CODs job board, my blog, network, hit the job fairs, etc. A high percentage of students who serve in internships in up getting hired by the firm.

Hope this helps - Joanne

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Hardware Support Specialist - Lake Forest College

Hardware Support Specialist

Lake Forest College’s Office of Library and Information Technology seeks a Hardware Support Specialist who will work closely with students, faculty, and staff to provide hardware and software support for Macintosh and Windows computers.

Will configure and install new computer hardware and support existing hardware. Supervises and mentors members of student help desk team who assist in provision of hardware support services. Serves shifts on the help desk.

Requirements:

Broad knowledge of computer hardware (Mac, Windows, and handheld and peripheral devices)

Demonstrated ability to install, diagnose and repair Macintosh (OSX) and Windows (XP and Vista) computers.

Experience working with file sharing, TCP/IP, and other network protocols.

Knowledge of Active Directory, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Suite

Strong service orientation, commitment to customer service and excellent communication skills.

Previous supervisory experience highly desirable

To apply, send letter and resume to Cindy Carlson, Director of Human Resources, Business Office, North Hall 105, Lake Forest College, 555 N. Sheridan Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

You've Just Gotta Check This Out!

This NetworkWorld article was sent to you by dandunhac@sbcglobal.net

Message from sender: Dice is launching a tech network for recruiters and job seekers.

Read the entire article at
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/072710-dice-recruiter-network.html

It includes: 20 most useful career sites for IT professionals

Monday, July 26, 2010

Network & Systems Specialist I

Job Information
Job Title: Network & Systems Specialist I
Company: Advanced Technology Services, Inc.
Location: US-IL-Hoffman Estates Base Pay: N/A
Employee Type: Full-Time

ATS grew out of the need for American business to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global economy. From our roots as a spinoff enterprise from Caterpillar, ATS has grown into a leading supplier of outsourced factory maintenance, industrial component repair and IT services for top Fortune 500 companies. ATS has improved the performance for the worlds most sophisticated companies and we owe our nearly 20 years of success to our employees. Your time and your knowledge are important, make the most of both. At ATS, we’ve continually empowered our employees to develop their skills and advance in their careers. It’s our philosophy, along with our uncompromising commitment to customer satisfaction that has made ATS a success and a great place to work. Advanced Technology Services (ATS) is a nationwide leader in providing IT Services and Solutions to large Fortune 100 corporations that include Help Desk, Desk Side Support, PC Life Cycle Support, PC and Wintel/Unix Server Hardware Maintenance.

ATS has improved the performance for the world's most sophisticated companies, and we owe our success to our employees. Your time and your knowledge are important - make the most of both. At ATS, we've continually empowered our employees to develop their skills and advance in their careers. It's our philosophy, along with our uncompromising commitment to customer satisfaction that has made ATS a success and a great place to work.
ATS has an immediate opening for a Network and Systems Specialist I in Chicago/Hoffman Estates, IL.

Responsibilities will include:

Maintaining, testing network infrastructure and performing vulnerability tests

Maintaining and testing client network firewalls and overall network security

Working actively to maintain currency in a variety of computer and network related technologies such as routers, hubs, firewalls and servers

Performing research on network and computer systems for higher level analysts

Providing basic support of PC's and networks throughout the organization

Relying on higher level analysts for more complicated support

Identifying areas of operation which need upgraded equipment

Assisting with installation and troubleshooting of recommended systems

Assisting users to identify and solve data communication problems

Conferring with personnel and gathers detailed description of user needs to determine analysis at a higher level

Conducting survey to determine user need

Instructing users in use of equipment

Overseeing or assisting in installation of communications hardware

Occasionally performing minor equipment repairs

Performing more complex duties as a part of training and development

Diagnosing and/or repairing systems and software as required

Full Job Details at CareerBuilders.com

Source: CareerBuilders.com

Monday, July 19, 2010

Joanne,

We have the following job opening on in Las Vegas, Please pass on or post as you like. No relocation paid, but it pays well. Regular full time w/ benefits.

You can have them email me their resume at szeitlin@viproductions.com - PDF format only.

Scott

Network Operations Engineer

WHAT IF YOU COULD START A CAREER WITH THE COMPANY THAT’S SIMPLIFYING THE WAY PEOPLE GET ONLINE?
Our Mission is Clear! Empower a smarter, more connected world with the fastest, most cost-efficient, and highest capacity 4G network -- enabling people everywhere to have the magic of the Internet with them all of the time. With unmatched network capability and investor funding from Intel Capital, Comcast, Sprint, Google, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, customer experience drives our actions. Guided by our values, we are committed to making Clearwire an amazing and unique place to work for each member of our team. If you are motivated by having a role where what you do each day directly influences the way our customers work and communicate, Clearwire may be the right opportunity for you.

JOB DESCRIPTION:
The selected candidate will be expected to act as a subject matter expert within a team of experts who are responsible for Clearwire's customer-facing network. Expertise in layer two network design, configuration and management preferably in a backbone ethernet and microwave environment is key. Subject matter experts will be required to provide technical leadership, documentation and escalation support to other groups within Network Operations, and Field Operations and will act as a final point escalation for production network issues.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Proactively identify system impacting issues through the analysis of network performance data and alerts.
• Support the introduction of new software releases for network elements
• Support the introduction of new network and microwave platforms to the Clearwire network
• Support the Clearwire NOC and field personnel, operations, and engineering by escalation
• Establishing and Monitoring Network KPIs and taking proactive action to avoid network performance degradation
• When required, support scheduled and emergency maintenance activities in the maintenance window
• Report and track on the root cause of network incidents for organizational review
• Assist with the creation and implementation of documentation and procedures to support Clearwire's objectives
• Resolution of major network issues that have been escalated from front tier support groups
• Generating requirements to development organizations for network operational and performance enhancements

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Must be available to work either 2nd Shift or 3rd Shift.
• Expertise in networking (layer two and three) in diverse physical topologies (fiber, copper, microwave)
• Previous experience and mastery of Ciena, Foundry, Cisco or Juniper network equipment
• Previous experience and mastery of Dragonwave, Orthogon, Redline or E-Band microwave equipment
• Knowledge and use of scripting languages such as Perl, Python or others preferred
• More than three years' experience in a carrier or ISP network operations role
• Solid written and verbal communication skills
• Analytical thinker with the ability to “think outside the box” to resolve customer impacting situations
• Bachelor degree in related field preferred or equivalent additional experience or expertise

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Senior Cisco Certified Network Engineer

Hi Professor!

Here is another one if you wouldn't mind posting it. It looks like a good gig though. The VOIP is partially asking just to know how it works, it's not a priority.
Thanks

Job Description:
Our client needs a Senior Cisco Certified Network Engineer with 7-10 years experience to assist with day to day operations that their outsourced vendor isn't responsible for.
Duties include:
· Managing core switches
· Site to site tunneling
· Break/fix
· Bringing up a monitoring system
· Day to day operations
· Recognizing areas of weakness at the site locations they're responsible for, which number about twenty with approximately 55-60 total nodes.

They need to have strong VOIP experience as well and use Call Unity to support the Cisco 6509. They use 2811 routers and 3560 switches as well. Specific protocol knowledge isn't as important since the outsourced vendor handles the majority of the site work. This person will be the first line of defense and will be expected to troubleshoot issues before escalating to the outsourced vendor Allstream. Knowledge of Cisco Pix Firewall 515. The manager would also prefer to have the CCNA certification for this position.
Additional Job Info:
This is a 6 month Contract to Hire role with an 85K perm salary. Target Manager will do brief phone screen, then personal interview. Little to no travel is expected
Stack-Rank Top 3 Skill Sets Cisco Network engineer, VOIP, CCNA

Cody Cielenski IT RECRUITER
1400 Opus Place suite 800; Downers Grove, IL 60515
T 630.795.3349 877.686.8455
F 630.795.3390

Friday, June 25, 2010

Network Administrator - Schaumburg, IL

Job Title Network Administrator

Date Posted 5/19/2010

Area/Specialty HOTEL/Other

Location Schaumburg, IL

Min Salary $55,000.00

Max Salary $65,000.00

Position Id HHG-197

Job Description SYSTEMS SUPPORT MANAGER

We are seeking a Systems Support Manager for a growing Hotel Management Company located in a suburb of Chicago. This individual will be based at the company's corporate headquarters located in Schaumburg.

This is an ideal opportunity for a Network Administrator or someone aspiring to become a Network Administrator!

Requirements
3+ years of Diagnostic/Trouble Shooting Experience
Good Technical Writing Skills
Excellent Communication Skills
Strong Microsoft Experience - XP Workstation Experience & Server Operating System Experience
VM Ware Virtual Server Experience
Some Project Management Experience preferred

If Interested, Contact dana@horizonhospitality.com

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Do I Need to Understand VLSM to Pass the CCNA Certification Exam?

Today I received the following email from a former student:

"Hi,
I was in your Fall CCNA class and I am preparing to take the CCNA exam and have been following the notes I have from your class, CBT nuggets video, your sild you gave us. I have been doing simulations on different topologies/protocols like Rip/version 2, OSPF, EIGRP and IS IS.

I will like to know do I need to worry much about VLSM? I have been practicing doing basic subneting off the top of my head ???"


My response to this student:
You, as an IT professional, need to understand the concept of VLSM and how to apply it to a network. As you learned in class, the benefits of VLSM is more efficient utilization of available address space and reduced size of route advertisements. Any company IT department will expect you, as a CCNA, to understand and implement VLSM – regardless of whether it was on the actual exam or not.

As an example, let’s assume you were given a single class C IP address of 193.160.1.0/24 from your upstream provider. From that, you need to create four subnets – one for payroll (30 hosts), one for marketing (12 hosts), one for administrators (60 hosts), and one for clerical staff (100 hosts) – all different sizes.

Without VLSM, each subnet would need to accommodate 100 hosts which would not be possible with that class C address you were given. The clerical staff, alone, would use up half of your address space leaving you one subnet! For example: 193.160.1.0/25.

With VLSM, we would be able to accommodate all four workgroups. We would be able to use VLSM to subnet that second block of address space (192.160.1.128/25).

The results: Clerical Staff – 193.160.1.0/25 with 100 hosts; Administrators – 193.160.1.128/26 with 60 hosts; Payroll – 193.160.1.192/27 with 30 hosts; and Marketing – 193.160.1.224/28 with 12 hosts.

If you understand what I have described, you should do just fine with VLSM on your CCNA cert exam. If not, make an appointment to see me so we can get it down cold.

Hope this helps!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Technical Support Engineer - Frankfort, IL

Company: TEKsystems
Location: Frankfort, IL
Position Type: Full Time, Temporary/Contract/Project
Job Category: IT/Software Development


Technical Support Engineer
TEKsystems is currently seeking a Technical Support Engineer for a client in the south suburbs of Chicago for a contract to hire opportunity. Ideal candidates for this position will have 5-7 years of technical support experience as well as 5-7 years of experience of LAN/WAN networks. This role will be responsible for providing level one and two phone support for proprietary LAN/WAN products for our client. Also, a CCNA certification and a bachelors degree are huge plusses for this opportunity.

If you meet the requirements listed above and would like to be considered for this opportunity please apply directly to this position. Please note that only candidates with previous phone technical support experience will be considered.

Required Skills:
CCNA, LAN/WAN, SNMP

Join TEKsystems® and get your career on the fast track. As the leading technology staffing and services firm, we are passionate about deploying high-caliber IT and communications expertise. To satisfy our constant need for expertise, we actively seek talented Technical Professionals with all levels of information technology and communications skills. TEKsystems knows that every professional has different needs, so we'll work together to determine a suitable benefits package. We offer options to our Technical Professionals that could include: a health plan, 401k, provisions for vacation and holiday pay, and technical and professional training. With a foundation as the nation's largest IT staffing firm, we've become a billion-dollar services company by blending superior client service with an unrivaled ability to source and manage talent to precise specifications, resulting in successful technology executions. Allegis Group and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers. M/F/D/V

Contact Information

Contact: Jeremy T Haney

Address: 1400 Opus Place, Suite 800
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Phone: (630) 795-3334
Fax: (630) 795-3391

Source: Monster.com

Network LAN/WAN Engineer - Chicago, IL

About the Job
Littelfuse is the worldwide leader in circuit protection products and solutions with annual sales of approx $430 million in 2009. The Littelfuse portfolio, backed by industry leading technical support, design, and manufacturing expertise, has made significant investments in R&D and Distribution to ensure that we not only have the world’s broadest and deepest line of circuit protection solutions, but also the most advanced, recognized circuit protection brand in the world.

We work in a highly empowered work environment where managers are very involved in planning and generating ideas for improvement. You will be supported and surrounded by some of the best and brightest people in the industry. People who care about our customers and care about helping them achieve the results they seek. At Littelfuse you will be in great company!

Reporting to the Regional Network Manager, the Network LAN/WAN Engineer will respond to Helpdesk support requests regarding network hardware and software, network security, and connectivity issues. Provide timely resolution in order to minimize impact to business. Responsibilities include: LAN/WAN, Security, Windows Servers, IP Telephony, Wireless, Remote Access and Directory Services.

MAJOR SPECIFIC DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Respond to helpdesk requests regarding LAN and WAN connectivity and performance problems. Troubleshoot and resolve issues. Contact and interact with vendors regarding maintenance and support. Complete requisitions in order to purchase parts and equipment.

Monitor and respond to Local and Wide Area Network hardware and software failures. Maintain maximum system uptime for production systems and applications.

Maintain and manage LAN and WAN performance using network analysis tools to fine tune system performance or resolve issues. Maintain network security.

Analyze user needs, network traffic, system capacity and other data in order to design network architectures. Assist with moves/adds/changes as required.

Maintain and develop network documentation to include locations of routers, switches, firewalls, wireless access points and servers. Maintain inventory of equipment configuration and OS levels.

Develop, implement and maintain standards for router, switch, firewall and wireless access point configurations, and OS backup and upgrade procedures to ensure optimum and consistent configuration and installations across the enterprise.

Provide project management and participate in the design, implementation, and support of the network infrastructure including coordinating projects with other departments and external organizations. Provide direction during the implementation of projects to technical support teams. Negotiate exact technical requirements with vendors and write technical specifications and proposals.

Test and evaluate new technology and applications as needed. Make recommendations to management.

Effective communication of standards, policies and procedures throughout global team.

Monitor and advise management on system misuse and potential abuse.

Mentor and provide cross-training for other team members.

Collaborate with non-I.T. business units to develop effective solutions to problems.


Requirements:

4+ years' technical and troubleshooting experience with Cisco routers and switches in medium to large corporate environment. Strong working knowledge of TCP/IP, IPSec, routing protocols, SNMP, VLans, Radius and network management tools is required.

2+ years' experience in the design and implementation of networks is required.

1+ years' experience in the support of wireless LAN technology (802.11b/g) is required. Strong experience with authentication protocols (PEAP) and encryption is preferred.

1+ years' experience in the design and support of VPN Concentrators, IPsec LAN-LAN VPN tunnels, and Firewalls (Cisco ASA/PIX) is required.

Experience and knowledge of Ethernet performance analysis and troubleshooting is required.

Current CCNA certification is required, CCNP preferred.

Experience with the configuration and support of Cisco enterprise chassis switches (4500, 6500) and is preferred.

Strong working knowledge of LAN and WAN connectivity issues and support in a Windows Server, Active Directory and SAP environment is preferred.

Experience with Cisco’s Voice over IP products including Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Call Manager), voice gateway routers, and IP Telephony endpoints is preferred.

This position directly impacts the availability of all production systems globally so 24 x 7 on-call support and a willingness to work off-hours and weekends is required.

This position will require some travel (10%) as on-site technical support will be required.

Source: Monster.com

Client Technical Analyst - Telephony - Hoffman, Estates, IL

Skills:
Analyst, CCNA, Cisco, Customer Service, Networking, PBX, Research, Web, Windows

Date:
6-17-2010

Description:

(Description)

About ADP Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADP), with nearly $9 billion in revenues and over 585,000 clients, is one of the world's largest providers of business outsourcing solutions. Leveraging nearly 60 years of experience, ADP offers a wide range of HR, payroll, tax and benefits administration solutions from a single source. ADP's easy-to-use, cost-effective solutions for employers provide superior value to companies of all types and sizes. ADP is also a leading provider of integrated computing solutions to auto, truck, motorcycle, marine and recreational vehicle dealers throughout the world. For more information about ADP visit the company's Web site at www.ADP.com.

Position Overview

IP Telephony Client Technical Analyst:

As an IP Telephony Technical Analyst, you will be able to demonstrate your leadership and expertise by working as the vital link between ADP and the car dealerships. You will provide World Class telephone support in a fast paced, service-focused environment providing solutions to real world IP Telephony problems. Receive in bound calls from dealership clients on technical issues/problems Responsible for resolution and/or escalation of issues. Dedication to exemplary customer service is necessary Provide timely resolutions. Knowledge of CISCO products is very beneficial in assisting with client problems.

QualificationsRequired
(Experience, Skills, Academic): Qualifications: Experience:

Prior experience in customer service/technical problem solving, preferably in a service desk environment is highly preferred.

Ability to identify problems, research and analyze solutions, make appropriate recommendations and decisions, and effectively communicate directly with ADP clients

Experience with Microsoft Windows Server and a networking knowledge is highly desired. Experience/exposure to Cisco products is highly desired.

Working experience with Cisco IP Telephony products or previous PBX exposure is also highly desirable.

CCNA related classes preferred, CCNA certification would be highly desired but not a requirement.

Commitment to excellent customer service.
Education : Associate's Degree
Job Category : Client Service
Area of Interest : External Client Support



Department: Nor Am F&S - Global Client Rel

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
Web: http://www.adp.com/

Source: Dice.com

Network Engineer, Jr - Lisle, IL

Title:
Network Engineer, Jr

Skills:
HP Openview, NETQos, Spectrum, WAN Technologies, EIGRP, OSPF, DLSW+, RIP, HSRP, VRRP

Date:
6-17-2010

Description:
POSITION PURPOSE:
This primary purpose of this position is to support and manage the communications networks of client customers. In addition, the position also requires implementing new networks and modifications to existing networks.


ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
* Provide network configuration, installation, documentation and support for the client customers with regards to the contracted SLAs and including, but not limited to, routers, circuits, hubs, switches, IP addressing, DNS, etc.
* Perform network implementation project management functions for
client customers with regards to new network implementations and existing network modifications
* Work with the Solution Design team to create robust network solutions
* Create, review and modify existing processes and procedures to improve efficiency
* Document configurations of supported customer environments
* Periodic on-call, after hours customer support on a weekly basis, including weekends
* Regular, predictable attendance.
* Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:
REQUIRED-
* Equipment: Routers, Ethernet hubs and switches, fast-Ethernet hubs and switches, token ring hubs and switches, 56K and T1 CSU/DSUs
* Software: Microsoft NT Server v4.0 and Windows 2000 Server
* WAN Technologies: Frame Relay,MPLS, PPP, HDLC, 56K, ISDN
* LAN Technologies: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, LAN Switching, VLANs, copper and fiber cabling
* Routed Protocols: TCP/IP,BGP
* Bridging: Transparent
* Years of Experience: Two To Three

PREFERRED-
* Software: HP Openview, NETQos, Spectrum
* Ticketing: Remedy and Cosima based ticketing systems.
* WAN Technologies: ATM, ISDN BRI and PRI, T3
* Routing Protocols: EIGRP, OSPF, DLSW+, RIP, HSRP, VRRP
* Bridging: Translational, Source-Route, Source-Route Translational, Source-Route Transparent

EDUCATION:
* Bachelors degree in Computer Science, MIS, or equivalent work experience
* Preferred: Cisco Certified Network Administrator * CCNA

For the quickest response, please include the Job ID (10050401) in your cover letter and submit your resume as a Word document to: resumes@sirco-associates.com

SIRCO Associates, Inc.
2701 Troy Center Drive
Suite 440
Troy, MI 48084
Phone: (248) 362-2200
Fax: (248) 362-0081
Web: http://www.sirco-associates.com

Source: Dice.com

Security Engineer - Westmont, IL

Skills:
Security TCP/IP SOX CCNA

Date:
6-14-2010

Description:
Security Engineer

Job Description
Fry, Inc. is seeking a highly qualified and experienced Security Engineer with strong verbal and written communication skills. This individual should be a leader and a team player.

As a Security Engineer you are required to do the following:
* Define and enforce security policies, processes, and procedures that provide for secure and compliant internal systems and externally facing, high-volume eCommerce web sites
* Keep current with new developments in security industry including alerts, bugs, vulnerabilities, and viruses; evaluate and report on their potential technical and/or business impact to the company and our clients
* Recommend, design/plan, and lead complex security projects and implementations
* Lead corporate and client-sponsored security audits; work with external auditors and internal organizations to define control objectives and controls; report on compliance findings and status to management
* Ensure on-going compliance controls are implemented and followed in order to meet PCI, SAS 70, and SOX control objectives.
* Lead security incident response investigations; assist legal and corporate security-related investigations; review network and server logs for suspicious activity during investigations; provide third level support for security issues and incident response
* Performance periodic network and application scans to proactively identify potential vulnerabilities; work with the appropriate stakeholders to remediate issues
* Recommend and implement processes for remote and local router, switch, load balancer, firewall, IDS, DDOS, and server security policies; perform operational audits to ensure processes are followed
* Recommend and implement processes for patching, configuration management, updating IDS signatures, performing vulnerability assessments, and security monitoring tools; perform operational audits to ensure processes are followed
* Recommend and implement processes for controlling employee access to information systems and facilities; perform operational audits to ensure processes are followed
* Be a security advocate for Fry; educate administrators, users, and developers of security risks and best practices; provide security guidance during the change management review process

Required Skills:
* Expert understanding of TCP/IP and the OSI reference model
* Expert understanding of cryptography standards, algorithms, and technologies
* Must have experience with Cisco routers, switches, load balancers, firewalls, and IDS
* Must have experience with patch, configuration management, IDS, DOS, vulnerability assessment, and security monitoring software
* Strong working knowledge and experience of Internet security, software, and best practices
* Strong working knowledge and experience with LAN and WAN switching and routing
* Strong working knowledge and experience with client and site-to-site VPN configurations
* Strong working knowledge and experience with FTP, SMTP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, SSL, SSH, SCP/SFTP, SNMP, Ipsec, ISAKMP, and GRE
* Strong working knowledge and experience with network and server (Windows, Linux) security hardening
* Ability to understand requirements and develop solutions, communicating effectively with clients, vendors, and management
* Strong organizational, documentation, project management, and communications skills
* 5+ years of extensive, *hands on* experience in security engineering
* 2+ years of active involvement in one or more of the following compliance audits * PCI, SAS 70, or SOX
* Candidate must have a bachelor's degree in computer science or related field

Desirable Skills:
* Certification in GIAC, SSCP/CISSP, and/or CCNA preferred
* Expert understanding of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act and Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard requirements
* Experience working on externally facing client web sites
* Experience working in a hosting environment under SAS 70, PCI, and/or SOX controls

Fry offers competitive pay/benefits, including medical, dental, vision, 401k, and a fun, casual environment with flexible scheduling options.

Please note: Candidates must be US permanent residents or green card holders only. We are not sponsoring visa candidates at this time.

3rd Party Recruiting/Sales calls or emails will not be accepted.

Job Location
Westmont, IL, US.

Position Type
Full-Time/Permanent Placement

Fry, Inc.
Web: http://www.fry.com

Source: Dice.com

Saturday, June 12, 2010

CIOs Anticipate More IT Hiring in Third Quarter - June 8th, 2010

Hi Joanne,
Found this article when going through my linked-in mail. Gives some good statistics for third quarter and a breakdown of jobs in demand.
Dan

CIOs Anticipate More IT Hiring in Third Quarter
Survey Marks Third Straight Quarter of Increased Plans to Add Staff
MENLO PARK, Calif., June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Information technology (IT) recruitment activity is expected to gain momentum in the third quarter, according to the latest Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report. Ten percent of chief information officers (CIOs) plan to expand their IT departments and 4 percent foresee personnel cutbacks, for a net 6 percent increase in hiring. Additionally, eighty-one percent of CIOs said they are confident in their companies' growth prospects in the third quarter.

The IT Hiring Index and Skills Report is based on telephone interviews with more than 1,400 CIOs from companies across the United States with 100 or more employees. It was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of IT professionals on a project and full-time basis.

Key Findings

The net 6 percent increase is up four points from the third quarter a year ago.
The Middle Atlantic(1) and West South Central(2) regions anticipate the most active IT hiring.
Eighty-one percent of CIOs are confident in their companies' growth prospects in the third quarter.
Networking skills remain in high demand among employers.


"Many technology executives are feeling optimistic enough about business conditions to add personnel," said Dave Willmer, executive director of Robert Half Technology. "Companies that cut staff levels or implemented hiring freezes during the downturn are realizing they need employees now to help upgrade IT systems and prepare their firms for potential growth."

In another recent survey by Robert Half Technology, 64 percent of CIOs polled said that understaffing in their company's IT department interferes at least somewhat with their ability to implement innovative or emerging technologies.

Confidence in Business Growth and IT Investment

When asked to rate how confident they are in their organizations' growth prospects in the third quarter, 81 percent of technology executives said they are very or somewhat confident. This is up two points from the second quarter. Forty percent of CIOs said they are optimistic about their firms' likelihood of investing in IT projects in the next three months.

Recruitment and Retention

As hiring activity increases, so do worries among CIOs about retaining key players on their teams. Thirty-four percent of technology executives said they are concerned about losing top IT performers to other job opportunities in the next year, up from 31 percent last quarter. Forty-three percent also reported that it is challenging to find skilled IT professionals today.

Skills in Demand

The functional area that was cited as most challenging to fill was skilled networking, cited by 19 percent of executives, followed by applications development and security, at 12 percent each. Software development, database management and help desk/technical support each earned 9 percent of the response.

When asked which technical skill set is most in demand within their IT departments, CIOs ranked network administration first (58 percent). Desktop support came in second with 55 percent of executives citing this skill as in demand, followed by Windows administration (Server 2000/2003/2008) at 51 percent. (Note: CIOs were allowed multiple responses.)

Regional Outlook

The Middle Atlantic and West South Central states are expected to lead the country in hiring activity in the third quarter. Eleven percent of CIOs in the Middle Atlantic region plan to add IT staff and 2 percent forecast personnel reductions, for a net 9 percent increase. Technology executives in the region report notable demand for IT professionals with desktop support skills. Eighty-seven percent are confident in their companies' growth prospects in the next three months, which is six points above the national average.

In the West South Central states, 12 percent of CIOs expect to expand their IT departments and 3 percent foresee staff cutbacks, for a net 9 percent increase. Forty-five percent of technology executives in this region said they feel positive about investments in IT projects in the third quarter, compared to the national average of 40 percent.

Industries Hiring

Business services is one of two sectors with the most optimistic hiring plans for the third quarter. Nineteen percent of CIOs in this industry expect to add IT staff and 3 percent project personnel reductions, for a net 16 percent increase in hiring. Technology executives noted a particular need for help desk/technical support professionals.

CIOs in the construction sector also forecast a net 16 percent increase in hiring. Sixteen percent of executives plan to expand their IT departments and none foresee staff cutbacks. Construction firms are actively recruiting software developers, including individuals with solid database skills.

Other industries with hiring expectations above the national average include the wholesale sector. Fifteen percent of CIOs expect to add staff and 3 percent anticipate personnel reductions, for a net increase of 12 percent. Retail and healthcare followed with nets of 8 percent each.

About the Survey

The quarterly IT Hiring Index and Skills Report was developed by Robert Half Technology and conducted by an independent research firm. First published in 1995, the study is based on more than 1,400 telephone interviews with CIOs from a random sample of U.S. companies with 100 or more employees. In order for the study to be statistically representative and ensure that companies from all segments were represented, the sample was stratified by geographic region, industry and number of employees. The results were then weighted to reflect the proper number of employees within each region. The margin of error for this study is +/-2.6 percent at the 95 percent level of confidence.

Source: http://rht.mediaroom.com/Q32010HiringIndex

Friday, June 11, 2010

Network Support - Chicago, IL

Job Description:

Work on problems of diverse scope where analysis of situations or data requires an evaluation of identifiable factors.
Be a single point of contact for dedicated customers seeking technical assistance.
Proactively monitor customers connections utilizing sophisticated network monitoring tools.
Provides initial fault isolation, proactive maintenance, status of data circuits, and monitoring of customer network equipment.
Ensure problems are satisfactorily resolved in a timely manner with focus on providing a high level of support for all customers.
Once trouble ticket has been created keep customer informed of status of ticket and estimated time to repair.
Use sophisticated tools to track all incoming and outgoing calls and tickets.
Own calls from beginning to end.
Candidates Must Be Willing To Work Any And All Shifts, Including 3rd Shift, Weekends, Holidays

Contact Details:
Ushma Desai
973-598-3964

Job Requirements

Qualifications Required:

4 years of high school, vocational school, or equivalent
A minimum CCNA and desired one of the following: MCSE, NNCSS
Good Customer service skills
Excellent Written and Verbal Communication Skills
Experience in call center environment.
Technical Skills:
Cisco Routers, Switches, configuring protocols on the Cisco Switches
ISDN, Frame Relay, T1, T3, DS3, ATM, OC-3 (Sonet), and xDSL.
TCP/IP, ICMP, UDP, SNMP, SMTP, BGP, and OSPF, IPX.
Familiar with network monitoring tools and ticketing systems
Unix, Windows 95/98/ME/2000/NT/XP, Linux, Novell and Solaris.
LAN and WAN Internetworking Devices
Nortel Networks Router Management
VPN/RAS, VoIP Gateways, Unified Messaging, Carrier Circuits, Analog and Digital.
Clear, concise English is a must.

Collabera
Contact Details:
Ushma Desai
973-598-3964
[Click Here to Email Your Resumé]

Source: CareerBuilders.com

Technical Support - Arlington Heights, IL

Platinum Vendor for 4 Major TELECOM Companies. Local to Job Location is big PLUS. Candidate should be able to provide SSN on request. Resume along with Rate please.

Knowledge of Cisco Routers, Cisco Catalyst Switches, Cisco Local Director, Ascend Max Series Routers.
* Configuring Protocols on Cisco Routers.
* Working experience with network topologies such as: ISDN, Frame Relay, T1, T3, DS3, ATM, OC-3 (Sonet), and xDSL.
* Experience with different protocols such as: TCP/IP, ICMP, UDP, SNMP, SMTP, BGP, and OSPF, IPX.
* Familiar with network monitoring tools and ticketing systems such as Remedy, WFA tools, Netcool, Naviscore, EBTA, HP Openview and CiscoWorks.
* Knowledge of Operating Systems including Unix, Windows 95/98/ME/2000/NT/XP, Linux, Novell and Solaris.
* Understanding of LAN and WAN Internetworking Devices: Functions of Internetworking, Linking Devices (Repeaters, Bridges, Routers, and Gateways. Configuring, Routing IP Addresses, Subnetting and knowledge of Frame Relay and ATM Switches.
* Knowledge of Nortel Networks Router Management plus configuration skills of Nortel equipment.
* Knowledge of VPN/RAS, VoIP Gateways, Unified Messaging, Carrier Circuits, Analog and Digital.
* Knowledge of Internet services such as: DNS, Radius, SIMS, LDAP, NIS, DNEWS, etc.

NOC IS 7/24/365 AND CANDIDATES MUST BE WILLING TO WORK ANY AND ALL SHIFTS, INCLUDING 3RD, WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS

Source: Dice.com

Data Center Engineer - Chicago, IL

Skills:
Rack & Stack Cooling Fiber Optic Cables CAT 5 5e 6 Cables Fluke NetTool Cable Testing Troubleshoot Hardware replacement A+ REQUIRED

Date:
6-10-2010

Description:
BridgePoint Technologies is currently seeking a motivated Data Center Engineer for its direct Financial Services Client with two cutting edge data centers. Locations include a Downtown Chicago loop and a large data center site in Aurora. The successful Data Center Engineer will have a strong background in troubleshooting and replacement of hardware & cabling. This position primarily calls for *Rack and Stack* type responsibilities, with no hardware administration skills necessary. This position is open only to candidates that are interested in contract for hire and will be working on many large data center efforts. **PLEASE NOTE** **PLEASE NOTE** **PLEASE NOTE** **PLEASE NOTE** **PLEASE NOTE**

This position requires an A+ Certification. If you do not have an A+ Certification, please do not apply. If you are planning on the A+ Certification with the next few days or weeks please apply and let us know this in your submission or you will be rejected. The reason the A+ certification is required is because our client requires all of its Data Center Engineers to be an HP Certified Technician. HP requires an A+ Certification as a prerequisite to its Certification.

Also please understand this is not an administration position. CCNA, CCNP, CCVP or any combination thereof is not required. You can still apply if you have completed the above certifications, but they do not replace the need for the A+ Certification even though these certifications could be considered a higher level.

**PLEASE NOTE** **PLEASE NOTE** **PLEASE NOTE** **PLEASE NOTE** **PLEASE NOTE**

* The selected Data Center Engineer will work as part of a team in a 260,000 Square Feet size high availability and mission critical data center environment.

* The ideal candidate will have about 1 * 3 years of hands on experience working within a production Data Center environment.

* Data Center Engineers must have knowledge of how to maintain a data center, including but not limited to documentation management, power, cooling, racking/stacking and installing of equipment such as servers, switches and routers.

* The ideal candidate will know what a Crack Unit is, a chiller or how cooling systems work, and what the procedures are when one fails.

* The ideal candidate will understand what the procedure is when the power fails and be able to describe in detail what happens, for example the Power transfers to a UPS Backup.

* Data Center Engineers will have a strong understanding of structured cabling systems such as Intermediate Distribution Frame (IDF) and Main Distribution Frame (MDF)'s and required fiber connectivity.

* Candidate should have a command on maintenance procedures and a fundamental understanding of a raised floor environment, cooling, power, best practices, and troubleshooting of cable plant issues.

* Must have working experience with Category 5, 5e, 6, and Fiber Optic cables. Must understand the cable length restrictions of each. Must also understand the difference between a single and multi node fiber Optic cable.

* Should have experience or know how to use cable test equipment such as a Fluke CableIQ, LinkRunner or NetTool, to test cable integrity, lengthy and attenuation.

* Some travel between Chicago and Aurora data centers will be required from time to time as mission critical projects require additional resources. Client is aware of preferred location preferences but some travel will still be required from time to time.

* Must be available for weekend and evening work when applicable due to project deadlines, problems, and production hours of operation.

* Must be able to lift equipment of 75 lbs or less into enclosures and have a valid driver*s license and reliable transportation.

Brad Thomas
BridgePoint Technologies, LLC
1111 West 22nd Street
Suite 245
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Phone: (630) 368-2981
Fax: (630) 368-2983
Web: http://www.mybridgepoint.com

Source: Dice.com

Field Engineer - Aurora, IL

Superior Staff Resources is currently recruiting Field Engineers who will be based out of our corporate office in Aurora, IL.
Key Responsibilities:

Position involves all phases of implementing telephony systems (including VOIP technology) with end user customers
Responsibilities include designing, programming, training and troubleshooting
The position interfaces with customers on a daily basis and requires a friendly, professional interpersonal approach.
Some overtime work is required
Local and national travel required

Talent and Resources, Aligned. www.superiorjobs.com. EOE M/F/D/V
Required Requirements:

Minimum of 2 years of current implementation and networking experience

Preferred Skills

Technical skills include LAN/WAN, VoIP, transmission concepts and T1
Experience with the Avaya product line preferred
CCNA experience preferred
PBX experience a plus
Excellent computer skills, project management skills, coordination of implementation teams, telephony programming
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Personable with great customer service skills
Great problem solving skills
Strong work ethic

Benefit package available

Source: Dice.com

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Five Things to Pass Along to New Networkers

Dan Dunhac writes:

Joanne,
Saw this article thought it was a good one for people new to the industry or who are trying to get in.

Five Things to Pass Along to New Networkers
by JimmyRay

http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/five-things-pass-along-new-networkers

Thank you, Dan!!

Sunday, May 30, 2010

IT Teaching Position - Romeoville, IL

Job Snapshot Location: 1400 W. Normantown Road
Romeoville, IL 60446

Computer Hardware
Computer SoftwareManages Others: NoJob Type: Information Technology
EducationEducation: 4 Year DegreeExperience: Not SpecifiedPost Date: 5/28/2010Contact Information Ref ID: RoJo, IT Instructor

Description
Rasmussen College is currently seeking a full time IT Instructor with emphasis on Information Systems Management to join our Romeoville/Joliet, IL Campus.

We are a fast growing company and work in a highly energized and entrepreneurial environment. Our competitive salary and benefits package includes health, dental, vision and life insurance, paid vacation/holidays, short and long term disability policies, and 401K. We also offer generous tuition scholarships for employees and immediate family looking to pursue their undergraduate and/or graduate degrees.

Position Responsibilities:

Ability to teach a variety of classes in the IT field.
Council students about careers in the IT field.
Proven knowledge of new trends and developments to incorporate into teaching.
Teach 20 courses per year, averaging five per quarter.
Create course materials, incorporating a variety of teaching methods in courses.
Keep syllabi current and in compliance with College requirements, submit syllabi to the Academic Dean.
Assess student learning, refer students for tutoring when necessary, submit grades on a timely manner.
Creatively use the library and technology within courses.
Demonstrate capacity to teach and facilitate all levels of student capacity and performance, including instructional needs of developmental, average, and advanced students.
Demonstrate competency in preparation and follow-up in all daily teaching assignments.
Utilize wherever possible, methods which combine to make writing, communication, critical thinking, and general education concepts relevant across the curriculum.
Demonstrate sound knowledge, development, and implementation of tests, examinations, and other forms of learning measurement appropriate to the course or field.
Explore, create, and update course and instructional materials on a regular basis
Demonstrate awareness of relationships between courses and programs
Participate in advisory boards
Provide academic advising for students
Participate with System Committees
Join in community and professional organizations
Participate and join in Community Service
Participate in Rasmussen College Professional Development
Attend Courses and/or workshops related to teaching methods
Participate in licensing and accreditation process.
Attend College functions.
Collaborate with faculty at both the campus and the system level.
At the direction of the Dean of Instructional Programs, participate in a system committee or facilitate the advisory board activities.
Whenever necessary, be aware of and respond to concerns raised by students, peers, administration, and the community.
Participate in the strategic planning process

Requirements
Qualifications Required:

Certified in MCSA, CCNA, A+ and Network + or equivalent experience.
Knowledge in PC Hardware/Software, Networking, Windows 2003 Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, Networking Security Fundamentals, Linux Administration, and Cisco routing and networking fundamentals.
Bachelor’s degree
Some teaching or training experience is preferable, but not required.
Experience advising or counseling students.
Community connections to expose students to.

Source: CareerBuilder.com

Cisco Network Analyst - Chicago, IL

Job Description

Consultant will be deploying data networks to branch locations. MUST have physical installation experience. Will be driving company cars to branch locations.

Skills -
1. LAN/WAN Background
2. Must have physical installation experience (not remote)
3. CCNA or CCNP

These analyst will be deploying networks that already are secure and have templates. They will have to do some configurations.

Job Requirements
1. LAN/WAN Background
2. Must have physical installation experience (not remote)
3. CCNA or CCNP

-MUST HAVE VALID DRIVERS LICENSE AND CLEAN DRIVING RECORD.


Benefits
At Apex Systems, we realize that our most valuable assets are our contract employees. Therefore, we make the extra effort to ensure that all of their personal needs are quickly attended to, and in recognition of them, we have made provisions for the following benefits:
401(k) retirement plan
Health, Dental and Vision insurance
Long and Short-Term disability
Life insurance
Direct Deposit
Referral program
Apex Systems, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Apex Systems, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religions, sex, national origin, age, disability or any other characteristic protected by application state or federal civil rights law.

Source: CareerBuilders.com

CIsco Support Specdialist - Firewalls and Security, OakBrook Terrace, IL

Job Description:

The Cisco Support Specialist will provide network support methodology for delivering outstanding technology service and will then apply this knowledge by responding to client networking issues and requests. TheCisco Support Specialist will develop consulting skills through an internal training program and professional certifications. We prefer to promote from within our ranks and provide an outstanding career growth environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide Level I and II support for network security, firewalls and IP Routing,
Support Cisco ASA/PIX firewalls and security to solve client problems, often under time pressure
You will assist in security audits, intrusion detection, network design and implementation of firewalls and security devices.

Job Requirements

Skills and Qualifications:

Knowledge and experience with Firewall technologies, including the Cisco PIX / ASA and Internet connectivity
Any exposure to routing and switching (MPLS, RIP, EIGRP, OSPF, BGP and TCP/IP)
VPN technologies, including Cisco VPN Concentrators
Familiar with OSI troubleshooting, including T1/T3, and Ethernet
Cisco Wireless implementation a plus
Detailed knowledge of firewalls, information security and remote connectivity
Any security certifications a plus including (CCNP/CCIP/CCSP or CCNA with Cisco Firewall experience.
BS or equivalent experience in Infrormation Technology.
Knowledge or experience of Cisco partners and system intergrator.
Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
Ability to adapt work habits to a specified methodology

Source: CareerBuilders.com