Linux VS Microsoft Certification (2013)

[Rocket-Boy]

Well, I have about two to three years experience with a dated MCSE 2003 certification. I've been using various Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, OpenSUSE, Debian and BackTrack) for roughly a year and a half now. Personally, I believe with MCSE, the entry level jobs are too basic and boring. I would much rather prefer deploying, managing and maintaining the back-end - in many (if not all cases) Linux is ran at the back-end, not the desktop. So it seems like a logical move - but then again, we have the experience issue... Note that I enjoy Linux a lot, and would be interested in learning more, but I don't have an issue with Windows either.

That is different, if you have some linux experience then dont be scared to get into it. I was talking from a perspective of someone new to IT wanting to study and get going. Linux is always said to be cheap on the licensing side but expensive on the expertise side...

 

[w1z4rd]

I would start off with Microsoft to get cheap work experience then once I have the experience, upgrade to the Linux certification (its just better).

 

[w1z4rd]

That is different, if you have some linux experience then dont be scared to get into it. I was talking from a perspective of someone new to IT wanting to study and get going. Linux is always said to be cheap on the licensing side but expensive on the expertise side...

Perhaps cause Windows guy does PC`s (which you dont need to be very smart for) and the Linux guy will work with servers. Server admins always cost more then pc techies.

WIth Linux you are either admin or dev. Both are high paying IT roles.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

Perhaps cause Windows guy does PC`s (which you dont need to be very smart for) and the Linux guy will work with servers. Server admins always cost more then pc techies.

Agreed, its why I mentioned a linux person really needs to know what they are doing. They will generally have better networking and server skills that most microsoft server people. I know this from experience, I have the MCITP etc but I am first and foremost a linux admin. Dealing with some "high level" MS people the other skills they dont have become apparent.

 

[InvisibleJim]

Anyone that knows linux knows it doesnt work like that. Im not trying to be funny but in windows you can click on things and look around until you find the option you are looking for. Linux servers very seldom have a frontend and require you to know the commands etc. Yes you would learn some of that from the certification but Im not quite sure it would be enough to let anyone near any of my servers!

I understand what you say about working from the command line and I'm not suggesting that you just let anyone who's read Linux for Dummies loose on your servers without adult supervision. Sometimes only an experienced expert will do but often employers miss out by focussing on what a candidate can't do rather than what they have to offer.

Making a career move from Windows to Linux, a certification or building linux from scratch etc might not give the full knowledge required but it does show enthusiasm, initiative and a proactive attempt to attain the required level of knowledge (or at least get closer to it.)

 

[Hidden Attribute]

On a related note: which Linux certification would you recommend and why?

 

[Rocket-Boy]

RHCP, its the most recognised. Also the clients that run RHEL are paying for it so will be most likely to pay you a proper salary

 

[TheGuy]

Perhaps cause Windows guy does PC`s (which you dont need to be very smart for) and the Linux guy will work with servers. Server admins always cost more then pc techies.

WIth Linux you are either admin or dev. Both are high paying IT roles.

Last time I checked Microsoft also produces servers.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

Last time I checked Microsoft also produces servers.

(which you dont have to be very smart for)
I mean no offence to anyone that is really knowledgeable in windows server, but the majority of MCSE people are absolutely clueless.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

+1


some really great ideas being thrown around here,

I personally really want to continue what I am doing with M$ but also being knowledgeable in Linux shouldn't hurt at all

Loaded the other day Linux mint on my Home pc, was really impressed with its capability's,
(Wine absolutely rocks!!!!).
I think its the most usable and easy to understand distro Ive seen yet,
(I understand why 4th most used o/s in the world now)

just want to find out what are the entry level certifications with Linux?
Ive heard of Linux +, is this worthwhile to consider?
what server/desktop distros are being sought after right now? red hat- Ubuntu- fedora?

really want to jump in to Linux as I definitely believe its the future, so much potential available to it.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

+1


some really great ideas being thrown around here,

I personally really want to continue what I am doing with M$ but also being knowledgeable in Linux shouldn't hurt at all

Loaded the other day Linux mint on my Home pc, was really impressed with its capability's,
(Wine absolutely rocks!!!!).
I think its the most usable and easy to understand distro Ive seen yet,
(I understand why 4th most used o/s in the world now)

just want to find out what are the entry level certifications with Linux?
Ive heard of Linux +, is this worthwhile to consider?
what server/desktop distros are being sought after right now? red hat- Ubuntu- fedora?

really want to jump in to Linux as I definitely believe its the future, so much potential available to it.

Linux+ is the most entry level, I used to lecture it and there is some useful stuff to learn in it. Unfortunately the syllabus is quite loose in it so its all dependant on how good the setup the institute has used is.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

Linux+ is the most entry level, I used to lecture it and there is some useful stuff to learn in it. Unfortunately the syllabus is quite loose in it so its all dependant on how good the setup the institute has used is.

thanks for the info,

what would be the best way to go about training on that?
is it a case of get the book, sit and read it for 4 weeks and then write the exam?
or is there a college/university I can go to like boston? or another institute that is fairly competent with Linux in JHB...

or even better if there is a series of videos I can download that cover the basics of Linux + preferably with a companion book,

that's how I did my A+ and N+ and I found that is the easiest way for me to learn well enough for the test...

 

[InvisibleJim]

I was looking at this website (haven't used them so can't recommend)

http://www.linuxcertification.co.za/

might be of interest. They have some free training material on the site as well.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

I was looking at this website (haven't used them so can't recommend)

http://www.linuxcertification.co.za/

might be of interest. They have some free training material on the site as well.

left them a message to contact me back, haven't heard anything from them before, not sure if its a "fly-by -night"
any of the major ones offer this course certification?

I checked Boston, UNISA, and a few others, nobody offers this anywhere...

where did you guys go to get trained on this?

 

[kingrob]

(which you dont have to be very smart for)
I mean no offence to anyone that is really knowledgeable in windows server, but the majority of MCSE people are absolutely clueless.

I agree with you as far as Windows NT MCSE and to a lesser extent Windows 2000 MCSE.

However, on some technical exam forums, members are saying that the volume of work to get through in order to get certified for Windows Server 2008 and 2012, challenges the difficulty level of CCNA.

Also, most companies uses Windows Server with AD for domain administration.

*Pastel Evolution does not run on Linux, which makes Linux unusable for most financial companies.

 

[TheGuy]

(which you dont have to be very smart for)
I mean no offence to anyone that is really knowledgeable in windows server, but the majority of MCSE people are absolutely clueless.

How is that a bad thing?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Personally I think pretty much anyone can manage a Microsoft environment 80% of the way by pointing and clicking and just messing around.

You can operating Windows systems without needing a manual and only need to Google when it gets really hairy.


On the other hand...you cannot even begin to use a Linux server without a manual or documentation. So in light of that I would consider a Linux certification a lot more beneficial to a candidate as they would be able to pick up the Microsoft side of my environment a lot more easily.

If I brought in a Microsoft guy, he wouldn't be able to get the hang of the Linux side of my environment without considerable training.


And considering most environments are Mixed (or pure Windows) I would imagine you stand a better chance of getting a job in a mixed environment with a Linux certification rather than a Microsoft one.

If you are gunning for a pure Microsoft position, then the OP's question is irrelevant.


I only run Windows servers for services that require it like the aforementioned Pastel Evolution and some other special in house stuff. Everything else is done on Linux.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I agree with you as far as Windows NT MCSE and to a lesser extent Windows 2000 MCSE.

However, on some technical exam forums, members are saying that the volume of work to get through in order to get certified for Windows Server 2008 and 2012, challenges the difficulty level of CCNA.

Also, most companies uses Windows Server with AD for domain administration.

*Pastel Evolution does not run on Linux, which makes Linux unusable for most financial companies.

Look there is no discrediting the fact that there is a vast amount of information available for a vast amount of services on the various operating systems.

Difficulty of the certification does not directly equate to difficulty of the job performed at the end of the day. Half the time you learn a crap load more than you ever end up actually using.

 

[kingrob]

Look there is no discrediting the fact that there is a vast amount of information available for a vast amount of services on the various operating systems.

Difficulty of the certification does not directly equate to difficulty of the job performed at the end of the day. Half the time you learn a crap load more than you ever end up actually using.

You can never learn too much!

Windows becomes tricky if you move into an enterprise environment, or using forests with multiple domains.

Then you need to know more than just messing around with a mouse.

 

[ponder]

Then you need to know more than just messing around with a mouse.

Most people only know point & click, take the gui away and they are fscked. I still reckon I would rather hire a unix/linux person in a mixed environment as the MS part is easy to them, put a MS monkey in front of a linux/unix box and they are fooked.