RTA Update Network Projects and Certifications

The mid point of the year has officially passed and it is the third quarter. I have accomplished many things so far this year. The last half of the year is going to be just as busy as the first half was.  As stated in previous posts, I have officially become a network engineer, moved to a new state, and worked on several projects.

Most noticeably the Network Rack project I have worked on was the biggest IT Project I have worked on in my home network. The rack has been working great since it was installed. All of the equipment is running optimally and the network performance has improved.

I modified the rack. I added a fan to push cold air from the front of the rack while the hot air is exhausting out the back of the rack.  This simple modification helps with the cooling of my equipment. The PFSense Router was constantly running around 70° C at the cpu. After I opened the door and put a 8 inch fan in front of the equipment and turned it on, the router is running between 20°  and 50° C depending on the ambient temperature of the room.

This is a great improvement and I am going to figure out the best way to modify the front door of the rack and put a 200 to 240 MM Fan. I believe this will be a good improvement and reduce the risk of someone tripping over the fan or open door.

My Next project on my home network is to redesign it completely. The wiring and documentation for the wiring is completed. It should be fairly easy to fully lay out the network and design it from the ground up using best practices. I figure I will segment the network into different VLANS based on function. This should allow for me to implement better security controls and to help troubleshoot in the future. I will also make it my goal to ensure there is through documentation of the network as it is handy for troubleshooting purposes and management.

Other than that project, I have been working on my CCNA Security certification. Over the past 8 weeks, I have learned a great deal about security and how to implement Site to Site VPN’s, Remote VPN’s, Firewalls, and ASA’s. I am on track to achieving the goal of getting the certification by the end of the third quarter.  My goal at this time is to schedule the exam around the first week of September.

Once I complete this certification, my next goal is to start working towards my CCDA certification. I believe this certification will help expand my knowledge on network architecture and design. This is helpful when working on engineering projects. This will also help when working on Proof of Concept networks, General network Design, and other design related tasks.

These certifications are key to my success. I am on a quest for knowledge and self improvement. By studying and understanding these material I can grow as an individual. I have seen this first hand and this is valuable. For example, I have received my CCNP Route and Switch Certification this year. I have put that knowledge to good use.  I found that  the CCNA Security is helping me reinforce much of the security related discussed in other certification tracks. Thus improving my understanding of those technologies have grown and strengthened.

I am looking forward to what the rest of this year brings. It has been a wild and crazy ride and it seems to keep going faster. Now it is time for me to get going and continue to prepare for my short term goals.