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