fidjouss

Hello
I am new to this forum and this is my first post and I hope I am posting in the right category.
I am from the Chicago area. I passed my CCNA last August and currently pursuing CCNP. I want to get into VOIP, but cant decide on either going CISCO or AVAYA. So, could you please tell us about your choices and experiences on which way to go.

Thanks all

Phone dude

Well, I am an Avaya Business Partner, so my opinion is biased.

Avaya has a strong product in the IP Office. For small to mid size companies, the features and price points are better than most.

If you are trying to start your own business, I believe Avaya is the way to go. From what I hear, Cisco, tells you what you will charge for the equipment. Customers are getting fed up with the mandatory upgrades and requirements from Cisco.

I will admit that Cisco on an enterprise scale is better than the IP Office, BUT then you can start getting into the Avaya Enterprise series and still be kickin Cisco butt.

Personally, if I had taken the time and energy to do my CCNA and the CCNP, I might go towards cisco. With Avaya, alot of that knowledge wont matter.

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martinyoung

Basically what you have is -

Avaya - voice moving into data

Cisco - data moving into voice

In the nearly 40 years I have been doing this, I have seen it easier for voice techs to move to data than for data techs to move to voice. It is a steeper learning curve for the data techs. This seems to be paralleled by the companies involved also. Avaya's integration into data networks has been smoother than Cisco's into voice networks.

Just my biased 2 cents (notice my avatar and signature).

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Marty
Retired Avaya DSIC tech

A-Train

My opinion is that it is a hard transition either way. I started as a voice guy and am now doing data work as well. If you started out in data and have all ready headed in the Cisco direction, then it may make the most sense to stick in that for voice experience. However it depends on what your goals are. If you are looking to be an engineer of voice and data services, you are best positioned to look towards both. If you are not employed in the field currently or employed by a company that does not give you much for training dollars then I would say to stick with Cisco. Cisco's certs are easier to get in general because you can easily obtain books and practice tests. Avaya's certs typically require training classes which are expensive if you don't have employer help with cost.

On the other side of the coin the Cisco voice certs are not easy. Their data certs overlap each other so you can get a group of certs with cross over tests. None of the Cisco voice certs have carry over tests. Also while their data certs reup every 3 years, their voice ones go every 2. With 5 tests to take to get a CCVP, you had best be good at studying to keep up with it.

As with everything, seriously look at your current career and where you can grow. With the CCNA/CCNP you can head one of 3 ways in the short term. You can move towards voice and become a convergence expert. You can move towards servers (Microsoft certs) and become a data center guru. You can also move to be a networking expert by working towards the CCIE. Many people will pursue multiple paths. Remember that your career has as much to do with the opportunities where you are employed and the contacts you have in the bigger market as it does with training and certs. In other words, if you have advancement opportunities or contacts in the Cisco world pursue that. If you see something opening up in Avaya telephony or have contacts in that arena then move in that direction. If you want to do voice, and have data knowledge it will benefit you no matter where you go. Remember that luck is where preparation meets opportunity. Good luck!

TDM

Assuming you pass the tests the first time, what kind of $$ investment could someone expect to get Avaya certifications?