this is mainly for trickykid, but anyone is welcome to add some input.

i'm interested in finding out some more about getting a solaris cert. i noticed that you are getting yours at the moment, and wondered if you could give me a little more info about it. basically, what i'm looking to find out is how long does it take? how much does it cost? basically, everything that's involved. i've found info on it online... but wanted to get the opinion of someone who's actually in the program.

also, i'd love to install and learn solaris on my own. i know sun was distributing it for free recently. is that still happening? any idea where i might be able to find a copy of solaris for x86 arch? thanx a lot! :-)

well, lets see. it kind of depends on where your located at. it cost roughly $3200 for my course at a local community college in austin which is a certified sun education center. the course I am taking now is around or a little over 3 months. in which i prefer cause it gives you more time to breathe. i like the pace were going cause it gives us time to ask questions, mess with the machines, just basically more time to understand everything more clearly.
there is however week long boot camps that sun offers, which you could find most likely on their site. i have heard the week long boot camps for the sa118 and sa238 courses are rough. they are basically cramming you with knowledge that it is taking us the 3 months to do along with the sa288 course ( which is another week long camp on its own. )
personally i am finding the class great. luckily i have an instructor who knows what he is doing, been dealing with unix for 15 years. i am sure there might be some instructors who don't know as much, or just suck at teaching though.

overall, i would say take it if you have the cash to do so, i can say i am learning and most likely it is preparing me with no problem to pass the tests when that time comes.
i checked out Southern Methodist University that offers it in my area as well, they actually offer the class for around $5200 dollars, but actually included a shell scripting course that was extra but not part of the actual admin cert from sun. So cost most likely might range a bit depending on where your taking it from.

right now, sun isn't offering the intel platform any longer, and you can't download it off their site. if you really want it we can maybe arrange me sending you a copy as i get them free from my class ?

any other questions let me know..