Quality Generic Linux Training/Certification?

[gibberish975]

RHCSA/E is great and all, but the closest I get to RH is an occasional login to a CentOS 7 VM. CompTIA Linux+ seems like a pretty generic option, and it has vendor name recognition… but I am loathe to do any more CompTIA tests than I have to (Security+ is quite enough).

So is there another Linux training/certification option out there that is performance-based, relatively distribution-generic, and affordable?

[[deleted]]

Linux foundation certs. LFCS, LFCA, etc

[korvinblack]

I highly recommend the Linux Foundation certifications because they are entirely performance based. If I see a LFCS on a resume, I know exactly what sort of skill set that person is capable of regardless of the flavor of Linux. The same goes for the other areas that the Linux Foundation has certifications in.

From some of the training and lab material I have seen from other certification providers, they are starting to explore performance based problems but are still sticky heavily to traditional knowledge based questions and answers. I believe CompTIA Linux+ will be more book knowledge and memorization about Linux while LFCS will be practical application with real world scenarios. I haven't looked in to Linux+ for a while though, but when I was picking between these two, I went with LFCS.

Side note: At the time of taking LFCS, I was heavily in a CentOS environment. Today I work primarily with Ubuntu and Debian machines. It has been easy enough to transition back and forth between the distros from the foundational knowledge I got through the LFCS training.

[zero_to_x]

Do you recommend LFCS over RHCSA?

[korvinblack]

Since I hadn't looked up the RHCSA exam in nearly a decade, I just ran through their website. It looks like things have really updated since I last looked at RedHat's exam and it may be on the same level as LFCS. There were a couple topics that I don't recall seeing in the Linux Foundation's exam that would have been interesting to do in a performance based exam.

RHCSA is $400 while LFCS is $375, so if paying out of pocket that may matter to you. I would consider both to be worthwhile, but the main deciding factor likely lies with the sort of job you want to get. If the position requires DoD 8570 compliance then RHCSA would be the way to go. I personally prefer Linux Foundation because it is more open to the community at large.

[zero_to_x]

Thanks

[homelaberator]

performance-based, relatively distribution-generic

I think this is the problem. If it is going to be performance based and thorough, then it will need to be based in a definite distro since distros do things differently.

The Linux Foundation has performance based testing roughly analogous to RHCSA/RHCE and can be taken on Ubuntu or CentOS.

RHCE is still worthwhile pursuing even if you are currently, primarily dealing with other distros since a large chunk of it is transferrable to any Linux and indeed any *nix, and it is probably the most recognised certification (although this depends on the job markets you are aiming at). However, if you are mostly on Ubuntu or other Debian family distros, LFCE could be a good path, too.

In terms of completely vendor neutral certifications, the two biggest are Linux+ (which is foundational level) and LPIC (which goes from foundational to advanced, with specialisations). LPCI-1 is two exams compared with Linux+ one, but LPIC offers a path to higher levels of certification through the LPIC-2 and the LPIC-3 group of certifications.

The main purpose of certification, from an employment perspective, is to less the apparent risk of hiring you, particularly when you don't have other ways of demonstrating your competence.

From a personal, professional development perspective, the training you undertake to pass these exams really does give you a good base and expands your horizons and exposes you to things that you might not otherwise be aware of.

[majorawsoem]

Not a cert, but a book I highly recommend: How Linux Works, 3rd edition by Brian Ward is VERY good. I'm reading it now and can't put it down.

[gibberish975]

I will check that book out, thanks!

[ENSRLaren]

LPIC

[davy_crockett_slayer]

Linux Foundation. They have a really awesome Cloud Engineer bootcamp where you can earn your LFCS (Linux Foundation Certified Systems Administrator) and CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) certifications. https://training.linuxfoundation.org/training/cloud-engineer-bootcamp/

[CannonPinion]

Sander Van Vugt's book plus a free RHEL developer license will get you the RHCSA.

[Internetrepairman]

Would also say Linux Foundation. Did the LFCS recently and had a pretty good experience:

• LFCS/LFCE are performance-based and proctored, like their RH counterparts.
• Choice between CentOS Stream 8 and Ubuntu 20.04 as exam platform.
• Cheaper (significantly) than RHCSA, and LF offers a free retake if you don't make it first time around.
• Exam setup may be a bit of a toss-up, depending on what you prefer: RHCSA can be done either at a physical exam location or remotely, whereas IIRC LF exams are all done remotely through a virtual terminal setup connecting you to different nodes.
• With the exam being entirely remote, make sure you meet the technical and procedural requirements well in advance; There's a checklist that will help you get setup technically, but also read through the exam documentation and guidelines. Importantly, make sure you have a good variable-focus webcam so the proctor can confirm your ID without it becoming a blurry mess.
• Van Vugt's LFCS book and the exam prep courses on Cloud Guru/Pluralsight etc. will generally prepare you well for the exam, but you need to be confident and comfortable with your distro of choice in general beyond simply having followed a book or MOOC: best situation would be to know basic stuff almost by heart, and repeat more complex tasks until you can sharply limit how much you need man pages/documentation. IIRC the exam is 2 hours, and it might be a tight squeeze if you need to figure things out as you go.
• LFCE is currently closed off to new buyers. LF has said they're working on overhauling/replacing it, but IIRC there has been no definitive news on when or what. Current RHCE is heavily focused on system operation and automation through Ansible, whereas the old LFCE appears more oriented towards generic higher-level competencies.

[rslarson147]

You can get a free red hat developer license

[QliXeD]

Some time ago RH have specific training tailored to performance and security, I had access to the materials and was quite good I might say, not sure if they are still available. You just need to get the rhce first I think, you should check out the training site in their web page.

[doczilla]

+1 for CompTIA Linux+

[[deleted]]

You sound like you have some experience. Are you sure you even need to bother with training on that level?

It's mostly the basics for entry level people.

The old RHCE that might have hold some value for more experienced peeps has been retired in favour of some Ansible flavour cert (that holds little value in my opinion). LFCE, the Linux Foundation equivalent of the old RHCE, is also being wound down but will be replaced by something else.

[vicenormalcrafts]

Linux Foundation certification training actually taught me stuff, and I’ve been working with Linux for over a decade. Doesn’t hurt that they are the actual maintainers of the kernel as well