Do I need 2003 before becoming a 2008 expert?

[Majestic]

Hi,

As much as I've worked on servers it has not been a lot and most of my medium size businesses I service are either on workgroups or on domains but have other companies to handle the servers. I mainly perform the desktop maintenance and everything that has to do with the hardware and software itself on the desktops.

I have an opportunity to go to a course for Windows Server 2008 and Exchange 2008. That said, I'm certainly no server expert. I am wondering here if I should learn 2003 first then go for a 2008 course.

I've installed 2003 in the past, but only personally. I would say I only know it on an intermediate to amateur level. I don't have confidence in my abilities on servers yet. My last MCSE certification was on NT 4.0 back in 98 - 99.

Basically my question is this: Can I learn 2008 without learning 2003 first will I be missing some information so that when I go to companies with 2003 I won't know what to do? I have no idea how different it is.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated,

Majestic

 

[ProTech Support]

If it is a beginners course, then I am sure you will be fine....you don't need to know XP to learn Vista, you know?

Just keep in mind I am sure you will still have clients running 2003, I know most of mine do...so after you take the 2008 try to play around with 2003 for a bit to get yourself adjusted for both.

 

[Majestic]

If it is a beginners course, then I am sure you will be fine....you don't need to know XP to learn Vista, you know?

Just keep in mind I am sure you will still have clients running 2003, I know most of mine do...so after you take the 2008 try to play around with 2003 for a bit to get yourself adjusted for both.

Hmmm I suppose you have a point. But I thought server 2008 was very different from 2003 (Tools and so forth).

It's actually a government sponsored intensive course to get fully certified in Server 2008 and Exchange 2008. I believe it's a full MCSE. 4 days a week. monday - wednesday 6 - 10 pm and saturday 9 am - 5 pm. It's the real deal.

Majestic

 

[ProTech Support]

Yea, I would not pass that one up....going to help you big time!

 

[LunchBox]

Looking at 2008 verses 2003 is like looking at windows XP and Vista.

I would probably learn the one that would help me with most clients first. If you can I would learn both at the same time. Server 2008 is very different from 2003. Even exchange is different. The last company I worked for only one client has 2008 everyone else had 2003 and a couple had 2000. If you start with 2008 first and master it what will you do if you keep getting calls from clients needed help with their server and they all have 2003.

It always to to be a jack of all trades (with that comes being a master of none).

 

[starfireone]

Better to learn both. 2003 server OS will be just like XP OS. They will both be used by companys and people for a long long time. Company's as well as people in general just don't up and upgrade as often as Microsoft wants us to believe they do.

 

[Majestic]

Well I've decided to learn 2003 via CBTs and 2008 on the course but for the next session which is in September. The April one I missed the boat on..

I feel like I should have dedicated time to this years ago. The industry moves so fast and right now these skills would definitely have helped my business grow. The more I learn the more I realize as much as I know, I know nothing..

Thanks all for the advice!

Majestic