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My Work
Certifications
- Cisco CCNA, CCDA, CCNP (6 tests total): I used to also have the CCDP but I let it lapse.
Cisco certification tests are getting harder and harder to pass. I suppose
that's good; I'm just glad I got in early :)
You may notice that I don't have a CCIE: I haven't been willing to devote the
amount of time, money, and effort required to get a CCIE at this point!
- CISSP (1 long, scantron test): I really need to get cracking on the
continuing credits needed to keep this one!
- MCSE (6 tests): This was for NT version 4.0 which seems like it was 100 years ago. It was my first
certification so it holds a special place in my heart. I got it over 7 years ago so it makes me feel old.
- Symantec SCSP (15 tests all told): This is a ridiculous certification: first they required you to pass
12 exams (which I did), then they decided 2 years later that they were going to
change the requirements without any grandfathering. This time it was to be 2
Symantec tests in conjuction with a "respected industry certification" such as the
CISSP or GIAC. Obviously I elected for the CISSP (I wasn't going to write a paper
if I didn't have to!). Nevertheless, it was kind of cool that I was the second person
in Wisconsin to attain this certification; the first was my collegue who beat my by a few hours
(he took his last exam in the morning and I took mine in the afternoon). Of course, that could
be because no one really cared about that certification...
- Radware Linkproof (1 test): This was for Radware's Linkproof product which I really like.
- Cisco Wireless Specialist (2 tests): This one was for autonomous APs which they
don't even recommend anymore.
- Nortel Wireless (1 test): This certification was for the wireless controller that they
used to OEM from Airespace. When Airespace was bought by Cisco, Nortel decided
they were going to enter an agreement with a different partner (Trapeze) which is
a quite inferior product. I steered clear of it after that.
- HP Openview (1 test): I don't even know what version anymore. This is my favorite certification.
I earned it in July and it expired in November and I never did a single implementation
outside of a test lab. There was a waste of $125!
- I flirted with the idea of becomming an MCSE 2003, but when I couldn't make it to my
first scheduled test because a customer's network was blowing up at the same time, I took it as a sign.
I also flirted with becoming Checkpoint certified because I really liked the product. However,
at my last job the salespeople and sales support team did not like it, so that was that. I took
an exam to become certified on Nortel's OPTera 3500 line of SONET/DWDM gear, but I got a 74% and
I needed a 75% to pass. D'oh!
December 2006 - now
Network Engineer at CDW Berbee. My "division" is R&S
(Routing and Switching). Similar to my last job, but my focus is on
Cisco products now (routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, etc).
October 1998 - December 2006
I was a Network Engineer at Galaxy Data in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
We designed and installed computer data networks (and they still do).
We also sold the equipment that makes them work. I typically dealt
with switches, routers, firewalls, load-balancers, intrusion
detection systems, optical infrastructure, antivirus, and other stuff I can't
think of. In June of 2006, we were purchased by Meridian IT
Solutions.
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