IT details

Orangeb · 19 Sep 2024 at 14:27

Dear All,
I have posted a couple of times on here, and found all your replies very helpful. I am trying to get into IT support, so maybe then I could work into networking, and hopefully security eventually.
I have been watching YouTube stuff about some of the intricate details of networking, right up from the very basics. The guy goes into tremendous details about things - like with switches - how they flood the network when trying to work out a MAC address, and they only broadcast under certain conditions etc etc. But when i watched some more from another guy called “Eli the computer guy” (he is an excellent teacher), he talked about switches, and briefly mentioned MAC addresses, .but not the tiny tiny details of how a switch will do XY and Z. So, I’m never sure how much details people need these days.

I am now starting to look at Routers, as they escape my knowledge.

radderfire · 19 Sep 2024 at 14:43

... and your question is?

ChrisD. · 19 Sep 2024 at 14:45

I would look at https://www.comptia.org/certifications/network as a starting point for network certification. It teaches the groundings, and is vendor agnostic.

With that said, most recruiters seem to have CCNA in their filters and if you don't have that you're not getting past them, which is really unfortunate.

Orangeb · 19 Sep 2024 at 15:18

radderfire said:
... and your question is?

I’m confused how is best to approach networking, and how much depth you might need for an IT support role (just to start). Like do I need to know every intricate detail a switch might do - flooding with a MAC address of all Fs, when it might or might not do this, or does knowing what switches do and how to physically wire them up, and a more basic knowledge ok? I don’t mind learning every small detail, but don’t wanna waste time doing something people don’t really bother with.

Zefan · 19 Sep 2024 at 15:25

ChrisD. said:
With that said, most recruiters seem to have CCNA in their filters and if you don't have that you're not getting past them, which is really unfortunate.

Yes this, except study A+ first, whether you get the certification or not. It is basic, basic, basic, yes but because it's a thousand miles wide it can fill some unknown unknown gaps in knowledge.

Where I previously advised to study CompTIA N+ as a great general overview to networking (without the requirement to remember Cisco-specific configuration commands), with the wide sweeping change to the scope of what CCNA encompasses in 2020, there is really no logical reason to go for CompTIA N+ nowadays. I did CompTIA N+ and got a lot out of it, but that was then and this is now.

:Edit: In answer to your question OP, there really sort of is no answer. What you should remember is that when studying something, courses and tests will cover more than are really required day-to-day in order to make sure you understand the why and how rather than just the what. For example, no network technician is going to bother meticulously remembering the exact structure of a frame or packet (well some might through exposure/involvement, but there really is no *need*), but when learning you will likely see this so that you have the knowledge that there is a header, a payload, a checksum, etc, and that you appreciate the concepts of what these things do. Another example is subnetting, outside of simple/quick things, no network engineer is going to be raw-dogging CIDR subnetting for a design in their head, however going through the actions of learning that will help you learn the things you really *do* need to know.

Caged · 19 Sep 2024 at 15:26

For entry level IT support you won't need to know anything beyond how to diagnose whether someone is actually connected to a network and can reach their gateway.

radderfire · 19 Sep 2024 at 15:34

How old are you?

How much experience do you have?

Do you have any relevant qualifications?

As others have said, work towards an industry recognised qualification. Look at job ads to see what's asked for.

You don't need to have extreme in depth knowledge. Technical subjects are way too broad and deep to know everything before you start. More important is to demonstrate enthusiasm, e.g. your own home project, and general intelligence and competence, e.g. your ability to take on information and to problem solve. Attitude is also important. Whether you know obscure technical details about routers won't get you a job, but your enthusiasm and attitude / demeanour will.

I hope that helps.

varkanoid · 19 Sep 2024 at 15:55

ChrisD. said:
I would look at https://www.comptia.org/certifications/network as a starting point for network certification. It teaches the groundings, and is vendor agnostic.

With that said, most recruiters seem to have CCNA in their filters and if you don't have that you're not getting past them, which is really unfortunate.

Yeah you are right it was same 10-15 years ago CCNA was the key back then. Basic IT Support you dont need anything other than a good understanding of computers, software like Office the basics. For networking when I worked for a Business ISP you didnt get anywhere near routers etc without Cisco CCNA qualification. So advice would be to get an IT Support type job to learn the basics, how to deal with customers/users etc then at the same time if your employer wont pay for it look into ways of getting Cisco CCNA qualified.

CooK1E · 21 Sep 2024 at 21:13

CompTIA or the equivalent college course now. Then consider some Microsoft support desk certs (they aren't that expensive). If you want to mess about with network then CCNA, but it was just too serious for me, so I dropped it in the end

Orangeb · 22 Sep 2024 at 15:09

radderfire said:
How old are you?

How much experience do you have?

Do you have any relevant qualifications?

As others have said, work towards an industry recognised qualification. Look at job ads to see what's asked for.

You don't need to have extreme in depth knowledge. Technical subjects are way too broad and deep to know everything before you start. More important is to demonstrate enthusiasm, e.g. your own home project, and general intelligence and competence, e.g. your ability to take on information and to problem solve. Attitude is also important. Whether you know obscure technical details about routers won't get you a job, but your enthusiasm and attitude / demeanour will.

I hope that helps.

I’m almost 43. I was training to be a counsellor, and had been doing so for a long time - as I have not worked for some time, due to a bipolar condition. But I lost patience with the whole way counselling has become, and had always been pretty good with computers - even when kind of 8/9 ish. So, this is what I wanna do, and I;’m trying everything to get into it.