Start down the networking road for newbie

[carnagesa]

Hello everyone!

I'd love some advice for a student that completed high school last year who's eager to dive into the world of networking. What courses or resources would you recommend to help them get started on the right track? Any tips for a beginner in this field?
I know there is a lot of "self taught" options but I would like to pay for him to do a few courses to have something tangible after completion. Also if he does move on from my business that he has something to show other than on the job experience.

Thanks in advance for your insights


@admins @moderators - please feel free to move if not in the correct location for post

 

[skylix001]

Comptia N+.....
Comptia Security+.....
tHen see if you or he can get an position as a junior at a network installation company to get a ground level experiance. Then decide on cisco or another bigger network company.

 

[carnagesa]

Thanks you for your input @skylix001
What would be a recommendation for company/site for the certification? Is there a difference?
CompTIA direct (website) or there other preferred places for SA?

 

[shifttymike]

Kinda off-topic, but worth mentioning I think. I did CCNA through uni, and I was always a little annoyed that the "Networking" module it fell under was so Cisco-specific. Until I started my first job at a place that only had Dell equipment and realised that most of what I'd learned was transferrable to Dell networking kit as well. Not exactly the same, but close enough that I wasn't fumbling around.
Huawei on the other hand... 🤡

 

[Oops!!!]

Kinda off-topic, but worth mentioning I think. I did CCNA through uni, and I was always a little annoyed that the "Networking" module it fell under was so Cisco-specific. Until I started my first job at a place that only had Dell equipment and realised that most of what I'd learned was transferrable to Dell networking kit as well. Not exactly the same, but close enough that I wasn't fumbling around.
Huawei on the other hand... 🤡

The original 640-802 CCNA ICND1 portion was basically a less in-depth N+ but if you could pass the routing and switching exam you should already be familiar with most of the N+ stuff.

Dell and HP kit both used clones of the Cisco CLI, just with some slight variation in interface names, command line level modes. Just enough to annoy you to not want to work on them ever again!

 

[∀Z‾soʇɐuɐɥ┴]

Wees net versigtig, as jy begin as a draadtrekker is jy ver altyd n draadtrekker.

 

[shifttymike]

Dell and HP kit both used clones of the Cisco CLI, just with some slight variation in interface names, command line level modes. Just enough to annoy enough to not want to work on them!

You sound like someone who hasn't worked on Huawei 😂
Point is, the knowledge turned out to be much more widely applicable than I originally thought and I wish someone had told me that.

 

[Oops!!!]

You sound like someone who hasn't worked on Huawei 😂

on my desk at the moment

 

[carnagesa]

Thanks for all your guys' input.

What would be a recommendation for company/site for the certification? Is there a difference?
CompTIA direct (website) or there other preferred places for SA?

Thanks

 

[ash515]

Coming from experience, being in the networking world currently.

I would HIGHLY suggest looking at cloud and cybersecurity over traditional networking.

I would start with Comptia N+ as a baseline it will give you a very good foundation of how networks work.

Then look at going for the Comptia Security + after that.

You can purchase exam vouchers and write through Pearson VUE who have exam centers around SA.

My tip would be try save up and get the exam voucher with a re-write option.

Can find very good courses on Udemy that will go over each topic step by step, I would suggest this one:

https://www.udemy.com/course/comptia-network-cert-n10-007-the-total-course/

Also there are plenty practice tests available on the internet.

I would also highly suggest investing in a Mikrotik router, this device has all the functionality to learn the basics and more advanced topics.

You do not need a expensive one, one like this will do the job:

Mikrotik hEX lite Wired Router - White RB750R2

Mikrotik hEX lite Wired Router - White RB750R2 and other Mikrotik products available at FirstShop South-Africa. Price, availability and reviews for Mikrotik hEX lite

www.firstshop.co.za

Give the following some thought:

Cloud services, such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon AWS.

Cypersecurity such as Comptia CySA+

Also anything coding related, ie python, JSON, C+ will carry you much further in this market.

My 2c.

 

[skylix001]

Thanks for all your guys' input.

What would be a recommendation for company/site for the certification? Is there a difference?
CompTIA direct (website) or there other preferred places for SA?

Thanks

You can try self study (Most people do), then go to Boston city campus or CTU and write exams with them - did mine many years back so not sure if they still allow outside people to pay and write. also remember that some certifications expire after a few years.

Yes you can have 15+ years of experience and companies will not hire you because they cant offer you to clients without a certificate to back up your knowledge.

If you have time and he has access Network chuck on YouTube has a great course on Juniper networking. think it was free beginning of the year but you could get a free exam voucher or at least a discount.

 

[carnagesa]

Thank you for everyone's input and opinions, greatly appreciated.

 

[WazzyD]

I did A+, then Network+ then CCNA....I knew next to nothing beforehand. I did them on my own, bought the book, studied, then booked the exam through Pearson View, that was the most efficient, cheapest, easiest way for me.

 

[souljazk]

If you can, grab a small laptop older i5/7 or a newer i3/i5. Ideally quadcore with 8 threads. Drop 16GB RAM and start playing with PRoxmox & Docker. Setup a few VM's, add some container services (EG Uptime Kuma, Wazuh, etc). Then setup a container with Kali / Parrot or Black Arch and use nMAP to do a CVE scan on your devices (this will show you possible security shortcomings).

Add Cloudflare to this stack aswell, which is free and allows you to do LOTS of cool security stuff.

Yes you will get in over your head, but if you persevere and Google etc, you'll figure your way out.

Networking / scripting (use chatgpt) / DevOps are things I'd focus on. Also look at pentesting / security. The fastest network is useless if its insecure.

I'd look at it this way for the coming 3-5years anyway - Networking = foundation ; Security = layer 1 ; DevOp's = layer 2.