TheLogFiles# Show Log

IN TODAYS EMAIL:

• 3,000 For WHAT!!!: Nvidia’s $3,000 computer

• Top 5 Points for Mapping Out Your IT Career Path

• The 5AM Club….. Or Not…: Does waking up at 5AM, make you more productive

• Big Brother: Cisco vs Juniper

THE GROUP CHAT:

3,000 For WHAT!!!

Nvidia’s $3,000 computer

Interesting news in my group chat this week has been Nvidia’s $3,000 computer.

I woke up the other morning, to a notification that stated Nvidia announces their mini computer. Being that I'm in the market for a new pc, I instantly clicked on it to see the details. The first thing I was looking for was the price of this pc so I could weigh my options.

The pc is called Project Digits and its going to cost around $3,000. When I see $3,000 for a pc I automatically think to myself, hmmm those are apple prices lol. So now I'm comparing this pc to apple's mac mini. Then I find out that this pc has a different use case.

Project Digits is a personal AI supercomputer for researchers and students. This pc runs the entire Nvidia AI stack. This pc runs Linux which is an open source Operating System. You have different flavors of Linux that's used today. The beauty of Linux is that one, if you know and understand Linux. You my friend are valuable. Two you can download almost any version or flavor of Linux for free.

Now I have a decision to make, spend over $2000 on a mac mini or wait on Digits.

To read the full article click here 

ADVICE AND TIPS:

Mapping Out Your IT Career Path

Top 5 Points to Get You Going

I have been an IT professional for over 10 years now. For me it all started with me earning the CCNA certification. I know everybody's journey is different, but there are some things that we all can do to map out our IT career.

1. Explore the different paths in IT and choose one

• Information Technology is a large field, with many avenues. Most people start off as a generalist then specialize in a certain technology. When exploring these paths, focus on the one that interests you the most and aligns with your long-term goals.

2. Learn the Fundamentals and Get Certified

• Before going down any path there are a couple of things we need to take care of first. The first thing is making sure you have the foundational skills. Knowing the basics of your computer other than using it to surf the web.

• After learning some fundamentals then we can start to pursue some entry level certifications. I put some of the main ones below.

  • CompTIA A+: Mainly covers pc hardware, building pc's and knowing the many parts inside a pc. This cert is good to get in the door at any entry level role and some desktops roles.

  • CompTIA NET+ : Covers the fundamentals of networking

  • Cisco CCNA : Associate level networking cert. Its more advanced than the Net+, and holds more value. This certification is very versatile—it can help you get an entry-level role like helpdesk or a networking role like network admin.

  • CompTIA SEC+: The best certification for starting a career in anything security. This is a good starting point for anyone. From there you can decide if you want to go for cybersecurity or network security.

3. Gain Hands-On Experience

• Work on personal projects, internships, or lab environments to apply your skills and build a portfolio. The main thing here is you want to be comfortable on anything you may end up managing in the field.

4. Network and Seek Mentorship

• Join IT communities, attend meetups, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn to gain insights and opportunities. It's always good to have like minded individuals that's doing the same thing as you. This helps and keeps you motivated, having someone in the journey with you.

5. Plan for Continuous Growth

• Stay updated with industry trends, set clear goals, and invest in ongoing learning to adapt and specialize in your field. After reaching your goal and getting in IT, don't stop there make more goals and continue to move up the ladder.

If your studying for any of these certifications, I put a link below to the study guides. They are affiliate links so if you use them it does support the newsletter.

Cisco CCNA

Todd Lammle CCNA Certification Study Guide and Practice Test Kit:https://amzn.to/46olA6p 

Todd Lammle CCNA Certification Study Guide: https://amzn.to/47IdpmD 

Wendell Odom CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide Volume 1 https://amzn.to/46dQD6r 

Wendell Odom CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide Volume 2: https://amzn.to/3LsNPJp

Network+

Network+ All in One: https://amzn.to/3uBYZq3 

Todd Lammle Network+: https://amzn.to/414pn7O

Security+

Certification Kit: https://amzn.to/46CvKAr 

Security+ All In One: https://amzn.to/3QYXcml

A+: https://amzn.to/3BZRcX3

What Certifications if any are you preparing for?

WHAT’S ON MY DESK

The 5AM Club….. Or Not…

Does waking up at 5AM, make you more productive

On my desk this week is the struggle of trying to wake up at 5AM. Well, maybe not 5AM. I've been waking up a little after 5 AM and getting to work by 5:30 AM, according to my planner.

When I say getting to work, I'm referring to tackling some of my top goals for that day. For me this has been Studying for the CCNP Encore for an hour. While I'm studying, I've been breaking in my walking pad I ordered from amazon.

Monday, I started out strong. I woke up, made me some coffee and was studying and walking by 5:30AM. I was able to knock out those task and move on with my day.

Tuesday was different. I woke up at same time and knocked out my goals for the morning. On the way to work, I noticed something happening. I was falling asleep, I felt like I had worked a 12 hour shift and it was only 9AM.

Upon looking back, I think I found my issue. I've never been one to get to bed early, early for me is 11pm. On Monday night I didn't get to bed until 12 or so, then turned around and woke up at 5AM. My body was trying to give me a hint. The hint was, if I intend on doing this I need to get to bed early.

Never less, I consider this week a win. So far as today, I have studied for 3 hours and walked for over 10K steps 3 days this week.

I intend to aim for 4 days next week with 4 to 5 hours of studying for the week.

By the way, I test for the CCNP Jan 22nd.

Wish me Luck!!!

Are you a morning person?

BIG BROTHER

Cisco vs Juniper

In my latest podcast episode, I discuss two networking giants Cisco and Juniper.

• Here are some of the things I covered in this episode

• What makes Juniper Networks unique in the networking space.

• A breakdown of Juniper's certification tracks and how they compare to Cisco's.

• The pros and cons of pursuing Juniper certifications, including their value for specific roles like ISPs or companies using Juniper equipment.

• Salary insights and practical advice for networking professionals.

What are your thoughts on the two?

See you next week

-Mike