MCP, Linux+ or Cisco CCNA?

Ive been offered to do any of the above for free.
Any suggestions?

They're all good certs. I have the CCNA and MCP. I would say that is depends an what type of work you want to do. Personally, my CCNA has been a bigger benefit and I learned a lot more about how networks actually function from studying for it. The MCP is good, but the market is overrun by people who have Microsoft certs and don't know how to tie their shoelaces. I'm considering the Linux+ too, but I dont know how well respected it is or hard the test is. Good Luck on whichever one you choose!
-NeuTron

what would really help is telling us what you would like to do.
MCP - manage windows 2000 servers and clients in a corporate LAN
Linux+ - manage linux servers such as web, mail, dns, ftp
CCNA - learn how to effective configure a network and use cisco routers

Honestly I would have to say go for the CCNA. I earned the CCNA less than a year ago. I believe it is extremely valuable to have, just because now I know more about networks, and how they are set up with Cisco routers, switches and bridges. Some people only know how a computer works and they never even think of how information is passed from one system to another. I am also going for a BA degree in Computer Networking, so I guess my push toward CCNA will be higher. Just like wassup said though it'll depend on your interest overall. Besides if you're getting a class for free, then it's not much of a loss whichever way you look at it anyway. I hope this will help you in a decision, but take what you think you will get the most out of for yourself. If Linux+ is more interesting to you take it....that way you'll get the most out of the course than with a course you are not willing to devote all your attention.

I can only give you a student perspective on the CCNA, which I am doing at present, as it is a component part of our Communications Technology degree. I am assuming it will be work or gov funded, and you will be enrolled as a student with the Cisco Networking Academy Program , which is done on-lline, and your practical labs at a local college.I find it enjoyable, spending one full day a week on it, plus on-line at home. I find it quite demanding in the physical sense, as I don't like totally on-line studying , too easy to get distracted, surfing etc, and gets boring after a while. I would recommend getting the companion guide also, as it follows the course, and is easy to refer to, and is a break from the screen

I would say CCNA. You would get more out of the training involved. MCP is just passing one Microsoft test and that isn't saying much. CCNA has some good general networking stuff too. Take the CCNA and study for the Windows 2k or XP test on your own. I can't speak for linux plus, I have not taken that.

I have to pitch my 2c in and say that the CCNA is a much more valuable course than any MCP (or MSCE) style course.

I have done half of both the MSCE and CCNA above over the years and I've gone back to complete the CCNA as it is so much more useful in my line of work. (Infrastructure Support in case your interested).

BTW I'm not a MS basher but I don't really think that the MCP is worth much against a good CCNA.... (different fields though...)

Cheers,
R.

Go for the most expensive one, then do the others after. I think the CCNA is probably one of the cheaper ones. My CCNA only cost around 80 CDN because Cisco gave me a 50% voucher for passing the Network Academy. Do whichever of the three you enjoy to do more.

I'd pick CCNA, but thats just me! MCP's seem to be a dime a dozen. Unfortunately CCNA's seem to be heading that way also.

I would have to say the CCNA would be the best course of action. It will give you a good networking base, and it looks better on a resume than an MCP. Like NeuTron said, most people who have MCP's can barely tie their shoes *lol*. One course of the MSCE is hardly enough to call you a qualified tech.

CCNA could get in as a WAN engineer if you could get that coupled with MSCE or the Linux+, but you might have to pay for those, but trust me, in the professional world, its quite worth it when you're talking about the dollars and cents.

Well i think its conclusive!
Cheers for your thoughts everyone...

Its been forever since ive posted but i figured what the hell why not give the lil fella some advice...

I am currently inrolled in the CCNA classes, the new version of the course v3.0 is NOT a peice of cake, its a tough class, they raised the bar quite a bit, but it also teaches you A LOT more then you really need to know, now some might say thats a good thing. They really go in depth into the different layers of the OSI and TCP/IP model, they study the actual hardware and physics of how it all works, and they also go in depth more into how to run a more reliable network.... i reccomend this class over a microsoft class ANY day! MS you can learn on your own, alot of the things tought in this class is more difficult to study by yourself.

As far as Linux certs go, there arent too many of them out, and not too many are looking for them either.... linux is the type of thing that its either you know your ****, or you just dont qualify, i think picking up a good linux manual and reading that would be equally as good as getting your cert, start up your own server w. a shitty PII box and watch how things work and how they break.

good luck to ya

Thanks for coming out of retirement to post Dome, im flattered :p

I know my stuff when it comes to Linux, i have a small network set up at home which i mess about with, but i just thought a cert would be good for the resume...

The MCP and CCNA are online courses, so theres gonna be no classes, as far as i know.
So would you still recommend the CCNA?

sorry for the late reply, dont check this site too often,

yes i definately reccomend CCNA, its a good class and covors almost everything you need to know as far as networking goes, once you got CCNA you can basically adapt yourself to any type of router/switch, and since in CCNA1 they teach you the basics of networking the operating system your working with isnt going to make much of a difference.

Like i said i am in the middle of the CCNA track, but i have to warn you, it WILL be hard online, you dont have any of those expensive routers to do the labs with, and the labs help ALOT, you actually get to see how everything works and what kind of stupid mistakes you sometimes make.

But didnt you say it was free? then i would go for it anyway even though its online, your going to learn alot.

cheers-

Dome/Liran