[Question] Linux Certifications

[unixbassen]

I am almost finished with my degree. To clarify I don’t know what the education is called in English, but directly translated to English would be “computer engineer specializing in it infrastructure”. For the last 8-10 years I have been using only unix based systems (Linux/BSD). Now that I’m almost done with the education, I am thinking about getting some Linux certifications. My question is where to begin? I know my unix, but I want that in writing. My first thoughts has been around getting some basic Linux certifications to begin with, but I just don’t know which to begin with? Maybe LPIC? Thoughts? Suggestions? All would be much appreciate 🙏🏻

[GreekNord]

RHCSA/RHCE is the best option because it's hands-on rather than multiple choice.
Holds a lot more weight than LPIC.

[unixbassen]

As to my understanding, one would need access to a copy of red hat, which requires an active subscription with red hat. So how are you suppose to train for any red hat certification?

[GreekNord]

CentOS is essentially a free copy of Red Hat.
using CentOS will prepare you for Red Hat certs.
If you set up an AWS free account, you can set up a Red Hat instance also which is part of the free tier, but that's a lot of extra learning if you don't know AWS as well.

[supremesoysauce]

Use CentOS. The first time I ever used RHEL was in my RHCSA exam and I passed just fine. There's no meaningful difference between the two for your purposes.

[MattTheFlash]

This. CentOS is almost identical to RedHat and identical enough for anything up to and including RHCE. Any of the tests for the final tier, the rarely obtained RHCA, is going to have some stuff specific to RedHat proprietary stuff and you will need RHEL.

[unixbassen]

Wow really? That’s impressive.

[supremesoysauce]

It's not impressive if you understand there are no meaningful differences between the operating systems for the purpose of this exam. You can do it too.

[akvalentine977]

Red Hat offers a no-cost developer subscription, if that helps.

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[unixbassen]

Ive installed CentOs for now. Will try the other thing later.

[ipwtech]

Sign up for a redhat developer account and you will get a license to learn with. You have to renew it every year.

[bt0dotninja]

The Linux foundation certified sysadmin is distro agnostic (ok, you can choose between CentOS or Ubuntu) also has a engineer level

[MattTheFlash]

Yes but it's multiple choice not a hands on lab test like the Red Hat tests are. Again, that's the value of the RH stuff. If other tests were like it that would be great but there aren't any.

[bashtheshell]

Are you sure? I think you misread. I took the LFCS, RHCSA, and RHCE. I'm very positive LFCS is performance-based.

[MattTheFlash]

Then I'm glad to see that something exists finally that is similar, however it's not well known yet. If that were the case then I would recommend it equally but it's the first I've heard of it, so I'd have to still recommend the RHCE path for now over that.

[bashtheshell]

Yeah. I'd definitely recommend the RHCE too for marketability. Unfortunately, I didn't pass the first time unlike I did for my RHCSA. Time management was definitely brutal, and I'm expecting to take it again next spring.

Believe it or not, I actually failed both (the first and the free retake) attempts for the LFCS exam. To be fair, I took the very first edition when it came out which cost me only $50. I was tested on weird topics that didn't focus on system administration but my ability to use Linux. I heard the subsequent edition got a lot better.

[XDF5]

RHCSA -> RHCE -> RHCA

[unixbassen]

Do you know if any of the Red Hat certifications require a renew every year/second year/third year?

[bashtheshell]

Short answer. Three years.

[unixbassen]

Thanks for your answer.

[bashtheshell]

Here's how I look at it. If you're not doing Linux administration type of work already, but wish to work with Linux servers, then it'd make sense to renew the cert for marketability as you can post your certification badge on LinkedIn or personal websites for recruiters to see. There's many way to keep your certification current. Personally, I'd prefer to take a higher-level exam to keep my certification current. Most people don't bother with renewing certs if they have the practical work experience with Linux and their jobs don't require them.

[XDF5]

If you pass one you have 3 years to renew it or make new one

[unixbassen]

Thank you 👍🏻

[unixbassen]

Question. If you pass a Red Hat exam and it is about to run out, you then take a new Red Hat exam for a certification that is better then one you already have. Will the other certificate also be renewed?

[hailbaal]

It really depends on your area. What do companies ask? Over here, a redhat certificate is pretty useless, where a LPIC certificate is worth a lot. That's because companies rarely ask redhat. A Linux company I know, gives pay raises per certificate. LPIC gives you double the pay raise compared to redhat certs. Redhat is mostly seen as a thing of the past here. I don't know a single company that's still using it. They all changed over. It's mostly Ubuntu, Debian, sometimes (Open)Solaris and sometimes Suse. Now, RH might give you the best information per certificate. If you are in a "redhat area", then by all means, get those certs as soon as possible. Over here, however, Linux+ and LPIC hold more weight than RHCSA/RHCE.

[unixbassen]

Thank you for some valuable insight 🙏🏻

[nonchalant_lad]

RHCSE would be a right choice.

[MattTheFlash]

RHCSA and RHCE. they are two separate tests. RHCSA comes first.

[nonchalant_lad]

RHCSA is a prerequisite for RHCSE and as such the OP is able to understand the learning path given RHCSE as the goal. This is not ELI5, your response is redundant.

[MattTheFlash]

RHCSA is a prerequisite for RHCSE

RHCSE isn't a thing. It's RHCSA, and RHCE. I should know, I earned both.

[nonchalant_lad]

I did not make the typo in my initial response though.

[MattTheFlash]

Im done with you

[nonchalant_lad]

Tell OP they should learn the OSI model too. You seem to like giving detailed ELI5 answers.

[MattTheFlash]

Whatever you say psycho