[kwlug-disc] Linux certs and employability

[unsolicited]

Get a 2nd computer. Run Linux. Make it your main computer. None of the 
dual-booting nonsense. (Doesn't mean running a vm or wine on it doesn't 
have its place. PIMs come to mind.) Become VERY comfortable with the 
command line.

I too would like to hear from people like John and Cedric. What's being 
used out there? Moreover, what's the larger segment of jobs - user 
support, or infrastructure support? Which do you (the 'employee') want 
to focus on?

Not to start a flamewar (1), but my sense from this list is that linux 
on the desktop still isn't.

Not to start a flamewar (2), but running at home vs in an enterprise, 
are vastly different beasties, particularly if your home desktop isn't 
the work desktop. (Home trouble tickets?)

multi-premise management, RAID, disk arrays, blades, server farms, 
routing, firewalls, nic bonding, user maintenance (LDAP), server uptime, 
web (CMS?) & e-mail admin, backups, bootp, are all hard to live at home.

I expect, largely, the principles are the same, regardless of the OS. Be 
comfortable at the keyboard, understand the principles underlying I.T. 
environments. If you understand the above at a Windows level, you're 
well on the way to doing so at a Linux level. Terminology and app 
specifics may change, but that's largely semantics.

Don't mean to be a damper, but you rather have to live it than learn it. 
The OP's question is a good one - how to home prep oneself to get in the 
door to be able to live it?


On 13-07-29 06:31 PM, CrankyOldBugger wrote:
> I'm in the process of making the switch now.  I'm a Windows
> MCSE/MCSA/MCITP/MCwhoknowswhatelse, and I'm trying to learn Linux.
>
> I'm doing the CompTIA Linux+ route, because passing that cert will also get
> you your LPIC and Novell certs in one shot.  They're all Junior level certs
> but I think it's a good starting point.
>
> I agree that you should run Linux on your main desktop as part of the
> learning experience, but I also agree that it's hard to stay there when you
> know you could do something much more quickly in Windows.  I'm guilty of
> booting to Windows fairly regularly, I have to discipline myself more.
>
> On 29 July 2013 15:44, Digimer <lists at alteeve.ca> wrote:
>
>> On 29/07/13 15:23, Paul Nijjar wrote:
>>
>>> We got a request over the website feedback form from somebody who is
>>> interested in getting into Linux administration. Here is part of the
>>> email:
>>>
>>> ======
>>> I am a Windows Admin but I always liked Linux and I really believe
>>> that it is  time for me to do something about this.
>>> Now, i would like you to tell me what courses I should take to become
>>> a Linux Admin.
>>> I use Linux on daily bases at home, I am pretty comfortable with it
>>> but I would like to do more than using it at home. You know what I
>>> mean.
>>> ======
>>>
>>> I will write back to this person, but I am not sure what advice would
>>> be helpful.
>>>
>>> Are there standard, good-quality certs that get people in the door?
>>> People used to recommend the Red Hat certs. Is that still the case? Do
>>> the LPI certs mean anything?
>>>
>>> Those who are in position to hire: what sorts of things are you
>>> looking for in sysadmins? What path would help get this person from
>>> where they are now (Windows admin, personal Linux experience) to a
>>> place where you would consider hiring them as a Linux admin?
>>>
>>> - Paul
>>>
>>
>> I made the switch from Windows sysadmin to Linux sysadmin about ten years
>> ago. The number one advice I give people is "switch your daily use
>> laptop/desktop to Linux". Nothing teaches you faster than using something
>> day in and day out.
>>
>> I had a couple false-starts when I tried dual-booting Windows/Linux
>> because inevitably, I'd run into a learning curve annoyance and I'd just
>> switch back to what I knew because I just wanted to get something done.
>> Only after I went 100% Linux did the learning curve feel shallower than an
>> OS install and I was finally able to get over those humps.
>>
>> As for how specifically to do this; That's a broader question. I don't
>> have number, but I would guess that RHEL (and it's clones like CentOS) are
>> the most common server distros out there, from a big-business perspective.
>> Red Hat offers numerous certification options that are highly regarded in
>> big business.
>>
>> I would not worry about jumping into certification on day 1 though. I
>> would suggest installing and using Fedora (RHEL's "upstream") distro and
>> just take time to play and get used to it. RHEL 7 will introduce a *LOT* of
>> changes over previous RHEL releases, and it will be based on a Fedora 18/19
>> hybrid, so it's a great place to start.
>>
>> After s/he's past the initial learning curve, then I would suggest looking
>> at certification options. By that time, s/he will have a much better idea
>> of what parts of Linux they find interesting. There are many, many
>> different ways to be an admin and certifications are generally not super
>> cheap. :)
>>
>> My $0.02