Metauser

Network design

February 10, 2006 Posted by mitch | technology, thoughts | 0 Comments

I don't profess to be any kind of network design guru or anything, but I do consider myself very familiar with routing and protocol concepts. I am just wondering why is it that I feel like most people are inept when its their job to do such things? I read alot, and I understand what I read, to the point I could regurgitate what I've read, and even apply it to other situations I have encountered. Am I asking to much to expect other people to understand network concepts better than I do when its their chosen profession? I've never been in the position to actually design a network, and I'm wondering if budget really forces these (bad) dicisions... which I don't quite understand either... because if the said engineer knew how networks were supposed to be designed... I don't think they would accept much less... they might go buy cheaper (used?) hardware if it came down to money. I just don't see a network engineer building a network in an adhoc fashion soley becasue of lack of funds.

I could be completely wrong in these assumptions, as these are just thoughts I've been contemplating lately(and even over the last couple years)... I am taking a Cisco class at school, and I've just had network design on my mind. The class is supposed to be for the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Administrator, or is it Associate?), but I'm more inclined to want to study for a CCDA (Cisco Certified Design Associate?) as administering network hardware really isn't something I want to do, but knowing how critical the position is, I feel I really should know alot of what is going on in that area(atleast in a higher view). Especially since architecture is my overall carreer goal. I love designing, and not to be cocky, or self promoting, but I feel I really have a nack for seeing the bigger picture, forward thinking that allows me to think through a situation and picture all these logical concepts that pertain to network and systems design, making sure its scalible and practical for future maintanance. I guess the real key now is to get other people to see that I am capable of architecture and design of systems and networks... Yet I find some people get threatened by me if I start getting to close to their "baby" and challenging their decisions about it. I must say I loved how my old boss handled this... he saw (or atleast started to) my potential, that I do have a nack for it, and even asked for my opinion on how I would redesign a web based photo editing product they were marketing(it is based on PHP)... I explained what I would do, he understood and liked it... then it seemed he did some research on his own and liked it even more after he understoop PHP better.

Anyway, I was just making some observations and expressing some thoughts I've been having lately... I should have more to write by the weekend to...