Linux servers and study advice

[DarkStorm]

Good evening all Linux HaXorz

I need some advice please, i need some advice on what to go and study to be able to setup and admin these Linux server Boxes some companies use... those that basically control the internet, samba shares, basically the whole network and Internet and Network of a place.

It's a bit hard for me to exactly explain since i don't know all the terminlogy yet,
But some things i picked up, Squid, Apache, Webmin etc.

Some people suggested i go do MCITP, but that and basically every other thing out there is a MS Certified qualification , others again recommended N+

Im really very interested to learn about these things and make a career out of doing these things, i gotten so far as to install Linux on an old PC and play around with VM's and webmin a bit, but need some training and to educate myself since i know im on the right track but not sure where im heading.

Any help advice, study advice would greatly be appreciated, and will it be better to
to try and find someone that you can job shadow off, or to go and study something for 4 years or degree wise ?

I talked to a few IT peeps i know, but no one could really give me any push in the right direction since they are all mainstream MS followers

Thanks again for reading and thanks in advance.

 

[ponder]

Red Hat

 

[koffiejunkie]

Start by making sure you understand networking. If you don't have a firm grip on TCP/IP basics, you will struggle.

Make sure you know how and when to use the following utilities and understand their output: telnet, ping, route, netstat, iptables, dig. If you don't know these, you'll have difficult time testing your stuff in the RHCE exam.

Get a CentOS 6 installation going. Choose the server install - no X - and learn how to work in the command-line and not rely on gui tools that does stuff for you. Get comfortable with it.

Get this book and work through it. Make sure you're familiar with all the software and what's expected of you.

The RHCE class is a terrible place to learn about anything for the first time. It should be revision for the exam only.

Also, in the real world, there is no linux certification that weighs heavier than solid work experience[1]. Having RHCE on your CV will probably help it pop up in recruiters' keyword searches, but that's all.

[1] except maybe RHCA. To get RHCA you need to either have a reasonable idea what you're doing and be an excellent student, or you really need to know what you're doing.

 

[debonair]

Or you could do the Ubuntu Certification. If you don't like the Redhat side of things...

 

[Paul_S]

There is also the LPI certification.
From what I can see LPIC-3 requires in depth knowledge to pass.

 

[volstruis]

There is also the LPI certification.
From what I can see LPIC-3 requires in depth knowlege to pass.

Indeed.
If you have they money do RHCE else go the LPI route its a lot cheaper.

 

[mxc]

The Redhat route is cheap too if you don't want to pay for training. You can just buy the book and write the exam. The Ubuntu certification is no longer being developed it appears from the canonical web site. You can check out LPI South Africa for Linux training partners.

 

[volstruis]

Yup I tried to get info on Ubuntu Certification but the lady said it was discontinued.

 

[debonair]

Oh that sucks, Another thing you could do, is to install a slightly harder distribution and get things to work there. I got my hands dirty with Slackware. Ah nostalgia.. that was 10 years ago haha

 

[Tim the Techxpert]

All good advice on this thread. Experience setting it up and especially knowing the command line syntax will put you above the GUI only people.
Read the books install the different options and play around with it, break it fix it and then start again.
RedHat is well accepted and that may be the rout to go for certification.

Happy studying and Good Luck

 

[debonair]

You could also study for Oracle Certification exams 1Z0-402 and 1Z0-403