[ActiveDir] OT: Gauging AD experience

[Douglas M. Long]

I am trying to figure out how one gauges their AD experience. For example, I have designed, implemented and maintained an AD/Exchange environment of 5000 users with 1000 workstations from the ground up, alone. The environment is only 3 sites, with little complexity. I now work for a company maintaining a directory of about 150 users and 150 workstations. And the more local AD people I talk to, the more confident I am that I know quite a bit about AD compared to them (only talking about the people I have met…not generalizing the entire industry).   Although I am not a guru like some on this list, I would like to get myself to the place where I can say “yeah, I can design your 50,000 user / 15 site infrastructure.” Or is that even possible? Is a project of that size several directory experts working together?   I honestly believe that I could perform such a task, but knowing that I would make some mistakes that a VERY experienced person would not.   So, I guess my question is:   How do I get to where I want to be? Consult? Try to get a job with the biggest company I can?   There may be no real answer, but I thought it was worth asking because I have been thinking about it for a couple of months and don’t know where to start to move forward, and this is the only place I know that has people that I consider AD gurus (or gods even)