Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS)

[jsheed_sa]

Ah well done mate, well done indeed! You moving on to the LFCE?

I highly highly highly doubt it...

I already hold Linux+, SUSE CLA, SUSE CLP, LPIC1, LPIC2, RHCSA, RHCE and LFCS.

I really don't need any more base level Linux certs. The only reason I did the LFCS was for the MCSA - Linux on Azure specialization.

My next big challenge is RHCA (Redhat Certified Architect) - but seeing as I need to do 5 exams in 3 years I feel I'm going to take a bit of a break first.

It also doesn't help that they all 5 need to remain valid at the same time e.g.:

Exam 1 = 3 years validitity

wait 6 months and do exam 2

Exam 2 = 3 years validity, exam 1 = 2.5 years validity

etc etc

So it's a very time consuming cert to get and to maintain....

 

[srothman]

Makes sense.

 

[jsheed_sa]

On a side note:

Once you pass the LFCS (assuming you've already passed the 70-533) you will need to notify Microsoft.

You can do so via this link:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/getsupport?oaspworkflow=start_1.0.0.0&wf=0&wfName=capsub&productkey=visualstudio&locale=en-us&ccsid=636062745883333361

I provided feedback to advise that I passed the LFCS. I notified them on Saturday and had my MCSA: Linux on Azure cert by Tuesday.

I just figured i'd share as this process wasn't as transparent as I would have liked.

 

[srothman]

Thanks man. Yeah I have all three other Azure exams already, literally only doing this for the Linux on Azure credential. Thanks for the info.

 

[srothman]

So got my exam on Friday evening. Had to reschedule the last one due to work commitments, so will see how this one goes. Not really sure what to expect, so taking it as a test run, but hey maybe I get lucky

 

[jsheed_sa]

So got my exam on Friday evening. Had to reschedule the last one due to work commitments, so will see how this one goes. Not really sure what to expect, so taking it as a test run, but hey maybe I get lucky

Good luck - hope your connectivity holds up!

1.) Make sure nobody is going to enter the room you're in.
2.) Make sure all paper / books / etc are off your desk and out of sight.
3.) Don't use nano - it's buggy in their terminal emulator.
4.) Keep 2 forms of ID - they didn't like my drivers license / ID so I used passport instead.
5.) If key combo's don't work as they should try adding a CTRL or a SHIFT (can't remember which) - the key bindings are messed up in their terminal emulator.

All the best!

 

[srothman]

Thanks for the tips, will make sure I have everything sorted. There's some of the stuff I'm not really confident about, but for the most part I'm comfortable with most of the test domains. Just battling to remember which config files sit, what commands, etc, hoping it pops to mind in the moment

 

[jsheed_sa]

Thanks for the tips, will make sure I have everything sorted. There's some of the stuff I'm not really confident about, but for the most part I'm comfortable with most of the test domains. Just battling to remember which config files sit, what commands, etc, hoping it pops to mind in the moment

Use the man / help pages and look for examples if you forget syntax etc:

man -k (search manual)
man topic
command --help

Then just look for examples and adapt as needed.

If you forget where items are located then use find or locate:

updatedb
locate itemyouarelookingfor

etc etc etc

 

[srothman]

Yeah I've become a huge fan of man pages

 

[SauRoNZA]

Use the man / help pages and look for examples if you forget syntax etc:

man -k (search manual)
man topic
command --help

Then just look for examples and adapt as needed.

If you forget where items are located then use find or locate:

updatedb
locate itemyouarelookingfor

etc etc etc

pinfo is also a good option and often easier to read and get around.

And for finding stuff often "which" leads you down the right path as well.

 

[srothman]

I've found "whereis" also very valuable in finding things, especially if you sort of know what needs to happen, just not sure where to do it.

 

[srothman]

So just got my e-mail, scored 59% Oh well, will re-register. A couple of take aways from this experience for me:

1. I love this exam format. I really think it's a way better measure of someone's ability vs. the conventional testing systems.
2. Unless you work with this on a regular, perhaps daily basis, it's very hard. Especially remember what to do when.
3. The study material I have, even the official material provided by LF is nowhere nearly detailed enough compared to the level of questions I got in the exam.

In any case, not wasting any time brushing up on the areas I identified as being lacking (which was pretty much all of them, but especially the **drum roll**...text manipulation (yes, you called it )

 

[jsheed_sa]

So just got my e-mail, scored 59% Oh well, will re-register. A couple of take aways from this experience for me:

1. I love this exam format. I really think it's a way better measure of someone's ability vs. the conventional testing systems.
2. Unless you work with this on a regular, perhaps daily basis, it's very hard. Especially remember what to do when.
3. The study material I have, even the official material provided by LF is nowhere nearly detailed enough compared to the level of questions I got in the exam.

In any case, not wasting any time brushing up on the areas I identified as being lacking (which was pretty much all of them, but especially the **drum roll**...text manipulation (yes, you called it )

Chin up - you've still got one more attempt

1.) This is executed in a worse manner than the RH exams. If you love this format you'll LOVE Redhat (I know I do).
2.) Experience counts - for sure, repetition helps though. Learn how to do it and do it quickly.
3.) Always look at external material - certdepot / lisenet / tecmint all of Linux based examples for things (if not for this course then for the RH courses which cover similar things etc).

Let us know how the next try goes. Best of luck!

 

[srothman]

Yeah I'm not too upset about it.

Like you said, I still have the second attempt, and I still have some time before that expires, so will be spending a lot more time with those areas I've identified as being a challenge.

I'm considering enrolling in the Linux Academy, for both this course as well as some of the other stuff they offer, and at $30-/month, it's not too bad, and the content looks pretty good too.

In any case, taking a week off from studying, and then back to it for round two

 

[jsheed_sa]

Yeah I'm not too upset about it.

Like you said, I still have the second attempt, and I still have some time before that expires, so will be spending a lot more time with those areas I've identified as being a challenge.

I'm considering enrolling in the Linux Academy, for both this course as well as some of the other stuff they offer, and at $30-/month, it's not too bad, and the content looks pretty good too.

In any case, taking a week off from studying, and then back to it for round two

You can get a free 7 day trial for Linux Academy. You can also get a month trial through the Visual Studio Dev Essentials pack if it helps.

 

[jsheed_sa]

Did you ever end up writing this in the end?

 

[srothman]

Hey. I did, thanks. Completely forgot to let you know and say thanks for the help

 

[jsheed_sa]

Hey. I did, thanks. Completely forgot to let you know and say thanks for the help

Congrats - i'm awaiting to tackle some of the Red Hat Architect specialisations, but for now it's all just money and time - both of which I lack right now

 

[SauRoNZA]

Congrats - i'm awaiting to tackle some of the Red Hat Architect specialisations, but for now it's all just money and time - both of which I lack right now

Jirre *** does it get any easier when it becomes specialist for being more focused on a single thing rather than trying to cover it all in one go?

After being drilled through the ears by the Engineering course this week I'm not sure I have the energy/stamina to take this *** further.

 

[jsheed_sa]

Jirre *** does it get any easier when it becomes specialist for being more focused on a single thing rather than trying to cover it all in one go?

After being drilled through the ears by the Engineering course this week I'm not sure I have the energy/stamina to take this *** further.

The pain is temporary It grows on you!

The specialisations vary - some are way easier than others.

As an example I think I could push out the Docker one's (2 of them) fairly easily, but if I looked at performance tuning and system hardening exams then I'd really struggle - as that's very in depth and a mountain of work to go through.

All in all everyone's mileage probably varies! I just know that i'm far happier on this side of the fence than I was on the m$oft side