At what stage in training do I need to run virtual OS'?

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HI all,

Before I get started I'm trying to piece together everything I need...books, resources, dvd's etc..I've heard that as I learn about networking and OS' and servers and all other installing OS' and troubleshooting I'm going to need to run virtual machines/virtual operating systems during my training.

Will I need this doing A+? or n N+? or when starting the Microsoft MCITP???

I'll need to buy the OS too won't I!!!! Single user licences won't be that much I dont think - £150 tops for a small business copy of a server 2003/2008?

please help on this issue

thanks

 

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For the A+ you'll probably need: XP, Vista* and a computer you don't mind taking to bits.
For the N+ I didn't need anything other than my minimalist home network
For MCDST/MCITP: whichever OS and office suite is relevant (I've managed to struggle through without the office suite, my copy went tits just before I finished the 271 and my install disk is buried somewhere in storage)

I'd take it one step at a time mate. The road you're starting on may not seem very long and it's not a horribly steep climb but, once you get to the top, guess what? More bleeding hills (I'm pretty sure I can see some mountains in the distance too).





*I'm assuming the new A+ concentrates on these 2 OSs

 

It can't hurt to start as soon as you can.

I setup a virtual network halfway through my A+ studies since I had the free trial copies of XP that came with my MS press books for the MCDST and I downloaded a free trial of win2k3 from Microsoft.

 

so your saying - that the A+ - xp/vista and an old pc to take to pieces.....

N+ - ive not got a home network or want one - so i just create a virtual network or something?

the for the MCTIP whichever is revelant - probly windows 7 - because server 2008 will work on it - i can run that virtually right???

thanks

 

you will find that a lot of the subject matter on the Network+ is theory based, or simply hardware based, so you do not need to build anything. If you can look at different types of cables, pieces of hardware, etc using sites such as Google images or Wikipedia then you should know have to get through this exam.

 

What he said ^

I found the virtual network really helped in the MCDST and only a little in the N+.

With the N+ it was better to actually know what the cables look like like and the connectors. You can download pictures of BNC connections, vampir clips and cat cables of all descriptions from the net.

With the A+ an old pc that you can take to pieces and rebuild and do installs on will help, you can get these from recycling centers sometimes for free or a small fee or pawn shops, you don't need nothing super duper.

 

Honestly, you don't need a virtual PC for the A+ or N+ (unless you don't have XP/Vista installed). It is helpful however since it allows you to upgrade/reinstall the operating system.
I used one for the Vista exam and that's it.