Linux Certification Training

Linux Certification Training - Linux certification training can be the best investment in your future and possibly one of the wisest decisions of your IT career.

In the world of computing UNIX has been around for over three decades now and is responsible for some of the core technologies such as the TCP/IP and DNS protocols that make today’s communication over the networks and the Internet possible.

Linux certification training comes in a few forms, for entry level the best places to start are:

CompTIA Linux +
LPIC Level 1

There are more advanced and specialised certifications as well but they are beyond the scope of entry level computer job requirements.

Linux Certification Training - Advantages of Linux knowledge and skills

At this time the vast majority of organisations use Microsoft Windows operating systems such as Windows 2000 and XP on their client/user computers.

Although there are numerous flavours of Linux client operating systems available to use; this powerful, robust, secure and highly flexible operating system is mainly to be found on network and Internet servers.

So how can learning it help you get your foot in the door with an entry level computer job I hear you ask!

Linux Certification Training will develop skills and knowledge of computer operating systems and networks that will help you troubleshoot problems on pretty much any system you encounter regardless of the software that’s running on it.

By studying for Microsoft certification you will cover some in depth computing and learn what the *kernel is and what happens during the boot process, but learning how to install and configure Linux will teach you how to take a *kernel to bits (so to speak) and put it back together again or recompile it.

Your knowledge of what a *kernel is and does will be vastly superior if you’ve actually recompiled one rather than just having been made aware of what it is and it’s function.

*The kernel is the central control module of an operating system, it is like the ‘brain’ that controls access to hardware and software resources. Not to be confused with the processor or CPU which is a hardware component, the kernel is the software high commander of your operating system. In UNIX you can customise it to fit the needs of your network and/or applications.

Linux Certification Training - Open Source

UNIX is open source. - What is open source?

Source code is a program before it gets compiled. Simply put, if you write a whole program in a text editor such as notepad the program will have a *.txt extension until you are ready to compile it in to its finished product using a compiler. When the program source code has been compiled it will run as an application with typically a *.exe extension.

Programmers do not usually release their source code with an application; it’s normally a tightly guarded secret. UNIX based distributions however make the source code available when you download the Operating system.

This empowers system administrators with programming skills to completely customise their operating systems to best fit their clients/employers business needs.

With that in mind it’s safe to say that with UNIX the possibilities are literally endless.

On that note let’s have a look at the entry level linux certification training that will start you on the road to becoming a highly revered and very well paid ‘guru’!

Linux Certification Training - CompTIA Linux+ Exam XK1-001

This exam is not an entry level computing exam for a complete beginner. It is designed for network administrators with at least 6 months hands on UNIX experience.

Don’t be put off by the above statement, its well worth studying for although if you don’t have any technical background you will need to do at least A+ first and acquire some detailed knowledge of networking - in particular TCP/IP.

For a total beginner I would recommend doing A+ and Network+, more information can be found about these exams in the CompTIA section of the site.

XK1-001 focuses heavily on hardware as it is essential to understand which platforms are supported. UNIX uses a disk partitioning scheme that requires knowledge of different elements of operating systems such as the swap file or virtual memory as it is known in Windows.

Being a CompTIA exam, XK1-001 is not specific to one distribution. There are many commands and tasks that are common to all flavours which are tested on this exam.

By completing this linux certification training you will develop the ability to perform a plethora of administrative tasks from the command line which is not something that can be said for a great many Windows administrators.

You will understand the overall make up of the OS, how to install it and how to configure it and customise it right down to the kernel itself.

There is a vast amount to learn with UNIX, it’s not designed to be instantly understandable and useable like the nice friendly point-and-click ‘wizard oriented’ operating systems.

Linux is intended for computing enthusiasts with intricate knowledge of hardware, operating systems and networks down to the very source code that makes it all happen.

XK1-001 is a starting point for becoming certified with Linux and a good study program to structure your learning around.

If you’re a dab hand at installing, configuring and customising Linux you may want to look at a more advanced ‘entry level’ qualification developed by the Linux Professional Institute:

Linux Certification Training - LPIC 1

Although LPIC level 1 is referred to as entry level with no prerequisites, this certification is more detailed, advanced and covers more ground than CompTIA Linux+.

The certification is made up of two exams- 101 and 102. These two exams make up the level 1 of 3 LPIC levels.

It is assumed that candidates for level 1 are more than a little familiar with working at the Linux command line not to mention the nuts and bolts of computer hardware, operating systems and networks.

By ‘entry level’ the LPI are referring to network administrators with at least 12 months hands on experience of Linux in a commercial environment.

If you have some background knowledge of UNIX/Linux this could well be a great place to start building on that, if not it is still an OK place to start if you have an understanding of hardware, operating systems and networks- although you’d be best off acquiring some fundamentals.

There are other Linux certifications such as SAIR and RHCT that are a little more advanced and in the case of RHCT distribution specific. The most popular Linux certifications are LPIC and CompTIA Linux+.

Neither of these exams are intended for those of you with little or no computing background, so if you just starting out you will want to look at CompTIA A+.

Developing Linux skills and knowledge early on is a very wise investment that will pay off very generously whichever path you decide to take. Linux certification training is a very good way to structure your learning even if you decide not to take any exams.

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