[kwlug-disc] Linux certs and employability

[CrankyOldBugger]

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
>
> --
> Digimer
> Papers and Projects: https://alteeve.ca/w/
> What if the cure for cancer is trapped in the mind of a person without
> access to education?
>
>
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