Time for Murphy's law...

[Stalemate]

...She even wants me to take a course in C programming when she comes back. Nervous….yes. Looking forward to the chance to learn it….yes.

Sysadmin taking programming classes?

Unless you personally intend on going that route professionally, I'd recommend you don't. Wearing many hats today is a fact of life in IT, but adding programming to your chores - huh - tasks (http://forums.windrivers.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif) runs the risk of lowering your attention and involvement in your current projects.

Of course, that all depends what they need you to do and what you're aiming for professionally. Programming looks good on a résumé, but bears little weight to system administration tasks. If it was Java...

I'm looking forward to SMS 2003, WLAN and misc. security classes, even going as far as SQL, but programming won't make my short list any time soon, even though it was my strongest field back in school.

[Sunshine]

The only reason I can think of taking a programming class is to take over working on some MASSIVE macros we use. Right now we use someone else, although he's employed by our company too, but in a different department. I would think she wants to keep our macros in our area. Plus, there are some ancient macros that she may want revamped.

A counterpart of mine, in the US, has suggested taking Exchange 2000 or 2003 courses, and a look at AD classes. Everything I know now is self taught/hands on experience, but I don't know how good these classes would do me as the US has strict policies in place that only they control. I'm at a loss what to suggest to my boss.

[Stalemate]

The only reason I can think of taking a programming class is to take over working on some MASSIVE macros we use. Right now we use someone else, although he's employed by our company too, but in a different department. I would think she wants to keep our macros in our area. Plus, there are some ancient macros that she may want revamped.

A counterpart of mine, in the US, has suggested taking Exchange 2000 or 2003 courses, and a look at AD classes. Everything I know now is self taught/hands on experience, but I don't know how good these classes would do me as the US has strict policies in place that only they control. I'm at a loss what to suggest to my boss.

AD classes would probably be a good thing to have first, as Exchange ties into that.

Anything from Microsoft in that field is golden: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/training/

You can even track down classes in your area from there.


Those macros you mention, they're not your average Office macros, are they?

[PuterGeekGirl]

I'm looking forward to SMS 2003, WLAN and misc. security classes, even going as far as SQL, but programming won't make my short list any time soon, even though it was my strongest field back in school.

I'm taking SMS2003 in April!!! I took the sms 2.0 classes, but hey, I figure it can't hurt...and its a way out of work for a week.....

[Sunshine]

Those macros you mention, they're not your average Office macros, are they?

Nope. They do automatic file conversions, e-mails, reports, copying, deleting, etc. Everything except make the coffee for break time. (and this is just one of the massive macros - there are others)

I'll mention AD classes to my boss when she returns. I'll see if I can get in a couple of courses...one in programming, and one in AD. I'll look at Exchange a little later...maybe next year.

[Stalemate]

I'm taking SMS2003 in April!!! I took the sms 2.0 classes, but hey, I figure it can't hurt...and its a way out of work for a week.....

I received the SMS 2003 Admin Companion book last week (just came out - the only SMS 2003 book out there right now) and I can tell you right now that there are enough improvements and changes to justify attending those classes again.

I also took the 2.0 classes 2-3 years ago, and I'm at the top of the list when the 2003 version courses open up mid-March / April.


Sunshine: I think you'll like getting that AD training. It will probably just confirm your acquired experience, but it's always nice to have when the strangeness starts.

[Sunshine]

Thanks for the advice....it's very much appreciated!

[cisco2]

Boss gone for a week? Hallelujah! Now I can get some work done.

[Stalemate]

Thanks for the advice....it's very much appreciated!

I figured that, since the IT field is in the state it's in, anyone is better off planning training while keeping in mind the distinct possibility that a career in systems administration doesn't necessarily imply working for the same company during that whole time.

My current sysadmin position followed a short stint as freelance consultant. Before that I was client support coordinator / network analyst, after having been "hunted" away from a position as netadmin, my first "real" IT job.

All this within the last 4 years...

One of the things that really helped was that I was able to choose training according to needs I could see were either current or had the best chance of making me more... "marketable".

[PuterGeekGirl]

I received the SMS 2003 Admin Companion book last week (just came out - the only SMS 2003 book out there right now) and I can tell you right now that there are enough improvements and changes to justify attending those classes again.

I also took the 2.0 classes 2-3 years ago, and I'm at the top of the list when the 2003 version courses open up mid-March / April.


Sunshine: I think you'll like getting that AD training. It will probably just confirm your acquired experience, but it's always nice to have when the strangeness starts.

Yep, I got that book on order...s/b here any day now!!!

All I know is SMS is soley my baby here.....no one else has clue one...so I can dazzle em with my brialliance...**cough...cough**....

[Commander Klarg]

All I know is SMS is soley my baby here.....no one else has clue one...so I can dazzle em with my brialliance...**cough...cough**....

Failing that, you can always baffle them with bull$h!t.