N00b Win2k3 IT admin needs guidance!

ScottFern · March 1st, 2007

Hello, this is my first post here on OSNN and I would like to say this is a really great place for Windows help and support! (Thats the reason I joined!)

Anyway, I am working my first IT job as a system administrator at a travel agency with roughly 70 Dell XP workstations. I have zero certs right now and I am looking to improve my IT knowledge everyday. I am becoming ever aware of things like Active Directory, Enhanced Security, Group Policy, WSUS and others.

I have several questions I would really love to get answered but for now I would greatly appreciate any advice you could give me.

Last week I ordered CompTIA A+ and Network+ books and they should be on their way right now. Next, I would like a great Windows 2k3 system administrator book to help get me more familiar with Windows Networking. Any and all suggestions welcome!

**madmatt** · March 2nd, 2007

Microsoft Press: Active Directory Windows Server 2003
Microsoft Press: Windows Group Policy Guide

**LordOfLA** · March 2nd, 2007

A+ and network+ are useless to IT staff you should know all the stuff in them before you get an It job.

I personally think the MS certs are worth less then the paper they are printed on, never mind the money and time invested in them.

Best position to be is in a live system where you have to do everything possible not to break stuff, that way you take more care and pay more attention while learning lots of things very quickly.

**kcnychief** · March 2nd, 2007

Originally Posted by madmatt

Microsoft Press: Active Directory Windows Server 2003
Microsoft Press: Windows Group Policy Guide

I have both of those books and can also recommend them.

**Electronic Punk** · March 2nd, 2007

Just blag it.
Read alot of the Sybex books about 3 years ago, but learning more from playing around with live systems these days.

**kcnychief** · March 2nd, 2007

Could always setup Virtual Environments if you don't have the coconuts to play with live systems either

ScottFern · March 2nd, 2007

Thanks for the tips guys. I am going to definitely take a closer look at both of those books!

Also, I do know most of what it takes to pass the A+ exam. I have been around computers for a long time, just not business network environments. Network+ is something I still definitely need to study along with MCSA books.

I do acknowledge my situation is a rather odd one but I assure you I am the local admin of my company's travel agency.

**X-Istence** · March 2nd, 2007

I play with live systems. Osnn.net is one of the fruits of that playing :P

**fitz** · March 2nd, 2007

Originally Posted by X-Istence

I play with live systems. Osnn.net is one of the fruits of that playing :P

is that why we had that DB crash a while back and I lost all those rep points?

**VenomXt** · March 2nd, 2007

Originally Posted by fitz

is that why we had that DB crash a while back and I lost all those rep points?

We don’t speak of the OSNN Cataclysm!!!

**LordOfLA** · March 3rd, 2007

Originally Posted by fitz

is that why we had that DB crash a while back and I lost all those rep points?

No that was EP and it crashed while backing up to several remote servers

March 1st, 2007	Top \| #1
ScottFern IT guy Joined: March 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 48 Reputation: 20 Power: 61	N00b Win2k3 IT admin needs guidance! Hello, this is my first post here on OSNN and I would like to say this is a really great place for Windows help and support! (Thats the reason I joined!) Anyway, I am working my first IT job as a system administrator at a travel agency with roughly 70 Dell XP workstations. I have zero certs right now and I am looking to improve my IT knowledge everyday. I am becoming ever aware of things like Active Directory, Enhanced Security, Group Policy, WSUS and others. I have several questions I would really love to get answered but for now I would greatly appreciate any advice you could give me. Last week I ordered CompTIA A+ and Network+ books and they should be on their way right now. Next, I would like a great Windows 2k3 system administrator book to help get me more familiar with Windows Networking. Any and all suggestions welcome!

March 2nd, 2007	Top \| #2
madmatt Bow Down to the King Joined: April 2002 Location: New York Posts: 13,312 Reputation: 4090 Power: 293	Re: N00b Win2k3 IT admin needs guidance! Microsoft Press: Active Directory Windows Server 2003 Microsoft Press: Windows Group Policy Guide

March 2nd, 2007	Top \| #3
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,015 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 209	Re: N00b Win2k3 IT admin needs guidance! A+ and network+ are useless to IT staff you should know all the stuff in them before you get an It job. I personally think the MS certs are worth less then the paper they are printed on, never mind the money and time invested in them. Best position to be is in a live system where you have to do everything possible not to break stuff, that way you take more care and pay more attention while learning lots of things very quickly. If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

March 2nd, 2007	Top \| #4
kcnychief █▄█ ▀█▄ █ Joined: April 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 16,949 Reputation: 4941 Power: 302	Re: N00b Win2k3 IT admin needs guidance! Originally Posted by madmatt Microsoft Press: Active Directory Windows Server 2003 Microsoft Press: Windows Group Policy Guide I have both of those books and can also recommend them. XBOX Live Gamertag: kcnychief

March 2nd, 2007	Top \| #5
Electronic Punk The Last High Joined: December 2001 Location: London Posts: 18,506 Blog Entries: 51 Reputation: 3652 Power: 346	Re: N00b Win2k3 IT admin needs guidance! Just blag it. Read alot of the Sybex books about 3 years ago, but learning more from playing around with live systems these days.

Latest News Posts

Latest Forum Posts

Latest Member Blogs

March 2nd, 2007	Top \| #6
kcnychief █▄█ ▀█▄ █ Joined: April 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 16,949 Reputation: 4941 Power: 302	Re: N00b Win2k3 IT admin needs guidance! Could always setup Virtual Environments if you don't have the coconuts to play with live systems either XBOX Live Gamertag: kcnychief

March 2nd, 2007	Top \| #7
ScottFern IT guy Joined: March 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 48 Reputation: 20 Power: 61	Re: N00b Win2k3 IT admin needs guidance! Thanks for the tips guys. I am going to definitely take a closer look at both of those books! Also, I do know most of what it takes to pass the A+ exam. I have been around computers for a long time, just not business network environments. Network+ is something I still definitely need to study along with MCSA books. I do acknowledge my situation is a rather odd one but I assure you I am the local admin of my company's travel agency.

March 2nd, 2007	Top \| #8
X-Istence * Joined: December 2001 Location: USA Posts: 6,490 Reputation: 2808 Power: 217	Re: N00b Win2k3 IT admin needs guidance! I play with live systems. Osnn.net is one of the fruits of that playing :P My blog!

March 2nd, 2007	Top \| #9
fitz *XPista7eopardix Joined: April 2004 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 4,014 Reputation: 2947 Power: 164**	Re: N00b Win2k3 IT admin needs guidance! Originally Posted by X-Istence I play with live systems. Osnn.net is one of the fruits of that playing :P is that why we had that DB crash a while back and I lost all those rep points? Hee-hee! Evil makes my buttocks tingle.

March 2nd, 2007	Top \| #10
VenomXt Blame me for the RAZR's Joined: March 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,442 Reputation: 1240 Power: 143	Re: N00b Win2k3 IT admin needs guidance! Originally Posted by fitz is that why we had that DB crash a while back and I lost all those rep points? We don’t speak of the OSNN Cataclysm!!! www.venomxt.com

March 3rd, 2007	Top \| #11
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,015 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 209	Re: N00b Win2k3 IT admin needs guidance! Originally Posted by fitz is that why we had that DB crash a while back and I lost all those rep points? No that was EP and it crashed while backing up to several remote servers If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Need Perl vs VBS guidance	LeeJend	Windows Desktop Systems	0	March 25th, 2007 2:03am
Need some guidance for SATA.	pluto	General Hardware	2	June 30th, 2006 1:01pm
Microsoft Security Guidance Kit CD v1.0	tdinc	Windows Desktop Systems	1	May 12th, 2004 9:01pm
Give me guidance	iamtaylormade	Windows Desktop Systems	3	August 13th, 2003 8:51pm
Technical Guidance needed!	Flatbeat_Eddy	General Hardware	41	October 6th, 2002 4:21am