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One of the fundamental features of Linux is that it is Open
Source - basically no one person or company owns it. So there
are a plethora of different distributions of Linux around and
unsurprisingly when the time came to produce certifications there
were a range of distribution specific ones to choose from, in
addition to some independent ones.
Of the distribution specific examinations the most important
is probably the Red Hat Certified Engineer because Red Hat has
had more of an impact in Corporate sales of Linux and is supported
by some of the big hardware vendors like IBM and Dell.
Red Hat Certified Engineer
No doubt wanting to avoid the criticisms of "paper MCSEs"
and admiring the standing that the Cisco CCIE qualification has
Red Hat went the route of making candidates sit a lab exam with
a practical element.
The RHCE certificate requires passing the Certification Lab
Exam. The Certification Lab Exam is composed of three elements:
a multiple choice test (1 hour); a server install and network
services configuration lab (2 1/2 hours); and a diagnostics and
troubleshooting lab (2 1/2 hours). The two performance based
parts of the Lab Exam present realistic problems that require
planning, diagnosis, and development of complete solutions.
The exam is closed book.
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Information about the LPI Certification exam
The Linux Professional Institute was created to provide vendor
neutral certification of Linux System and Network Administrators
as opposed to distribution specific ones like the Red Hat Certified
Engineer program.
There are three levels of LPI Certification (LPIC):
All current LPI exams use computer-based tests administered
through VUE. Each exam costs $100 (US dollars) and the current
outline is for there to be two exams at each level.
LPIC Level 1
Exam 101- General Linux I GNU & Unix commands Devices,
Linux File Systems, Filesystem Hierarchy Standard Boot, Initialisation,
Shutdown, Run Levels Documentation Administrative Tasks
Exam 102 - General Linux II
Hardware & Architecture Linux Installation and Package Management
Kernel Text Editing, Processing, Printing Shells, Scripting,
Programming, Compiling X Networking Fundamentals Networking Services
Security
LPIC Level 2
Exam 201 Advanced administration (not Linux specific)track
& solve problems
write shell scripts with `sh` and `sed`
thorough understanding of (Inter)networking Exam 202 Linux
optimisation monitor processes, peruse loggings, boot sequence
decide if and when the Linux kernel should be upgraded, make
a custom kernel (apply patches, configure, compile and install)
resolve version problems of libraries & programs; install
bugfixes & upgrades
LPIC Level 3
To complete Level 3, candidates must complete any two of the
300-level
321: Windows Integration (working together with NT-server,
many Win'9x clients)
322: Internet Server (listservers, newsserver, FTP, HTTP,DNS,
ISP, NFS; maybe perl scripting)
323: Database Server
324: Security, Firewalls, Encryption
325: Kernel Internals & Device drivers (probably know
C).Creating distribution packages.
32x: Additional elective exams to be defined
For more information see The Linux
Professional Institute |