Slashdot Mirror
First LPI Certification Exam
Linegod writes "
The Linux Professional Institute (LPI) today announced the immediate availability of the first exam in its Linux Certification Program. The exam, which covers Linux basics as part of the program's first level, is now available worldwide at testing centers affiliated with Virtual University Enterprises
" There's a lot of people currently competing to be "the standard", ranging from the different distros to people like this - what do you folks think?
As an MCSE, I'd like to take this opportunity to express my hope that the new linux certification process is as good as Microsoft's.
These are IMHO the most important MCSE tests.
70-215 Summoning He Who Shall Not Be Named 4.0
70-38 Demonic possesion essentials.
70-75 Implementing non-euclidean madness caused by manifestations of the dread Cthulhu 2000 in the enterprise.
70-134 Advanced programming with Yog Sothoth
Does the linux community have anything similar?
--Shoeboy the MCSE
You start off by saying "I think the certifications are bunk" and then proceed to explain that they indicate to other people that you have some skills and that your career has been bettered.
I don't think that anyone is claiming that a certification is anything but a piece of paper that indicates that you might have a clue. In my opinion, certifications certainly serve that purpose.
You also generalize; contrary to your claim, there are certainly certifications that prove that you have a top-notch skillset. For example, Cisco's CCIE certification is 100% deserving of the credit given to those who pass it (120k+ starting salaries and a lot of peer respect). Even the MCSD shows that you can at least do mildly adequate Windows programming (if there is such a thing).
Are there certifications that are less than what most people make them out to be? Sure. Are most certifications less valuable than what most people make them out to be? Unfortunately, yes. Are they "bunk" or worthless? Nope.
is not whether someone has a certification, but whether the certification is worth anything. Hopefully this organization's program actually contains the material and instruction necessary to turn people into useful Linux sysadmins, or something resembling one. If so, then I think they will get the imprimatur of the Linux community, which will mean that this certification will mean something. And since no one body controls Linux, a Linux certification might mean something, compared to more centrally-controlled certification programs *cough*MCSE*cough*.
--- Dirtside | "Spirituality" is the irrational belief in the supernatural
"Destroy science and religion. Science would re-emerge exactly the same; but not religion." - Penn Jillette, paraphrased
I worked pretty hard to achieve my MCSE. Bought some books, studied hard, played with NT (which is not nearly as horrible as some people here on /. are pretty quick to say), learned some great stuff, and most of all I had fun while doing it. I did not do it for any reason other than it was a good way to enter into the IT world above my current status as a help desk person. I had some of the skills i needed, but employers would nearly always choose the people who had certifications, because they "met" their qualifications and they would rather not hire someone who needs "on-the-job training" if they have someone who, certifiably, does not. By no means was obtaining my MCSE as difficult as undergrad Senior Seminar Philosophy class in college, but since there are not a whole lot of job opportunities for Philosophy BAs (who, incidentially were not smart enough to minor in comp sci or something useful like that) being able to gain entry into this wonderful profession via an access point like an MCSE is a pretty good way to go.
Please don't get me wrong. I am also an MCT, but you will never catch me teaching. I refuse to water down my own certification for some poor schmuck who will pay $10,000 for a "boot camp" that lasts an entire week so they can go forth and fsck everything up. I assure you I had a *long* discussion with my employer regarding that.
At any rate. I guess my point to all of this is that you shouldn't let the stand-out paper MCSEs who don't know anything dictate what you think of other MCSEs. Some of us are smart, nice, and even {gasp!} use Linux (if Bill only knew). while I am not going to argue that your average MCSE tends to be a little greener when it comes to IT (or networking or whatever you want to call it) there are some of us who might surprise you in the long run.
Just don't assume that someone obtains a certification that they don't know anything...it really is a close-minded way to look at things (even if your experiences tell you otherwise).
Just my thoughts. Flame away....
cdmz1
Do Not Taunt Happy Fun Ball
...they were right about you...
I am a sun certified system administrator, having taken the tests and passing and stuff. And let me say right off that I think the certifications are bunk. They have no relation to what you actually know.
But they give HR a nice little metric. Especially for people like me who do not have a college degree but lots of practical experience. And I think my career is the better for accomplishing the certification, no matter whether it means anything technically...
So do I think these certifications are a good thing? You betcha. But not because they're useful, but just because it gives us a credential that we may not otherwise be able to claim. Don't go expecting it to have any real world technical application. Just be glad there's some form of validation that HR can understand out there. And who cares who actually does the certification? Bets that HR won't... In fact, I know several MCSEs who wouldn't know a mouse when they see one... but they make more money than I do...
Just take it for what it is... something that will help you to increase your take-home pay.
If you can't figure out how to mail me, don't.
For linux tips: http://www.linuxtipsblog.com
I was one of the first persons (ID: LPI000001003) to take this test. I just wanted to share my experiences with you guys.
The testing center near my home is a local technical school. They were friendly and the exam area was comfortable. I arrived early and brushed through parts of the O'Reilly "Essential System Administration" I haven't read over in a while.
While I was waiting, a gentlemen approached me and asked if I was there to take a Linux exam. I smiled and indicated I was. He was attending the school there pursuing his MSCE and had some questions about Linux and the exam. He was curious how I was preparing especially and what subjects the exam covered. I explained I was a consultant and have been using Linux since 1994 and recommended a few good books on the subjects covered by the exam. I also explained what I know about the exam structure and requirements. I also indicated that I chaired the Melbourne Linux User Group (http://www.mlinux.org/) and that we have local meetings. He took my business card and said he would like to attend our install party this weekend.
I was motioned to the testing area by the librarian and she explained that mine was the second beta exam she ever gave and the first Linux exam. I told her to expect a few more in the coming weeks and she logged me into the exam system.
The test was challenging and I added comments for each of the questions, added why I selected the options I did or when I was guessing. The questions were appropriate for the target level you mentioned on the site. Good job LPI!
When the test was completed I was given a printout that featured the LPI logo and some explanation of the beta period scoring. I am disappointed that I won't know the results for a while, but am glad I was able to help by providing another example test for LPI to mull over. If you want to contact me and ask me anything about the test, please feel free.
Thanks to LPI for this effort at distribution neutral certification! I feel very strongly about supporting this and will be encouraging the members of our LUG to support it as well.
Tony Awtrey
My God! It's full of Voids!
You know, I've always hated certifications.. but I can see where employers like them.
.8x or so... I can't even remember. It was a mess. The concept of a 'distribution' wasn't even fully solidified. I've worked with Solaris, Irix, SCO Unix, Unixware (Both Novell and Sco) and the list goes on. And add NT/unix integration to the list. I feel *burnt* if someone expects me to fork out money to pay some company to tell me that I'm qualified to work on linux...
See, it's not that Mr. CIO thinks that an MCSE is *cool* or *really smart* or anything, it's just easy for him, if he has a MS based network, to say 'well, MS certifies professionals, so it makes sense that if MS certifies them, we'll get more bang for our buck.'
This, of course, isn't always the case....Quite the opposite sometimes, even.
The hacker kid who has *no* certifications may be a far better asset to the company... and the person with the MCSE may be so narrow-minded that you are stuck on the MS path forever. (I'm not picking on MS, the same thing applies to *any* other vendor.)
Now some certifications we may think of as more involved... certainly, if you are doing mostly network engineering, the guy with the CCIE is probably worth his weight in gold... but then again, the whole point of the CCIE was to provide a certification for an industry where there was none. Employers had *nothing* to judge a potential internetwork employee by. I must say, to this day, if someone has a CCIE, I can assume they know their stuff and are practiced... CCIE isn't one of those certifications you can study the book for for a week or two and then go pass... it was created for professionals who *already* had lots of experience. Now.. don't think I'm a cisco head... I don't mean to single them out, or to promote them, but it is a good example of what we need in the linux/unix world, and really, in the IT world in general.
To look at it a different way is that I feel that MCSE, dmCLA, LPI, CNE, A+ don't adequately certify what *I* am capable of as an IT employee.
There is no overriding certification, nothing in the industry that says 'professional, well-rounded, experienced IT person.... well, except your resume, that is!
Now.. what am I (personally), as someone who is part of the hiring process, as the architect of the companies entire network, when I see on a resume LPI certified. Hmm.. Linux qualifications are part of the process. Am I going to take this person seriously? Sure. LPI looks reasonably good. Am I going to reject someone else with experience because they don't have LPI? Heck no.. I wouldn't think of it. To put it differently, most certifications are a plus to the holder, but not a necessity.
And it does feel kind of threatening, doesnt' it? I've been using linux since
(is this like how my uncle feels burnt that now that there are SCUBA regulations, he can't go diving without going to classes and getting his ticket, even though he's been diving for 30 years?)
I'm rambling...
I guess to make a long story short, certifications never make you look bad, but they are no replacement for experience.
Or like the black-belt in most martial arts.. the unknowing see it as the goal to be obtained, but to those who obtain it, and to their teachers, it simply signifies the beginning.
Just like an engineering degree is your ENTRY POINT into professional engineering, and just like your PH.D is your entry point into a medical practice, so is a certification in some product simply an entry point into the IT world.
Or rather, do you tell the ninja master that he cannot teach you because he cannot provide credentials?
I'm not a network administrator, but I "manage" (in the business/personnel) sense, the network operations in our shop.
I sent our network admin through RHCE (and was there taking one of the lead-in courses) at Red Hat. While many of the comments in this batch seem to assume that all certification consists of is a written exam, that's not true of the RHCE. It has a high failure rate. Written responses are only a third of the score -- the rest is hands-on debugging and server configuration. I've taken all the classes up to the RHCE, but there's not a chance in hell I'd be able to pass the exam -- because I don't have the years of experience that it takes to succeed when you get off the paper and in front of the broken box.
Upshot: I'm one of the guys who hires geeks. Because I know what's involved, I'll give preference (and extra cash) for an RHCE -- as long as they keep the high standards up that RedHat's established so far.
Wouldn't it be great if the other certification vendors -- LinuxCare, whoever -- made Linux certification mean something more than the toilet paper MSCE?
"When I grow up, I'll be stable."
Here is a quick example: My friend just started working for a company that makes all their employees take the MSCE tests. How do they prepare for them, they all cram with study books to remember facts for a week before the tests, and they take a test a week every week until they pass them all (and supplying MS with much $) But what do they gain from this??? NO real or retainable knowledge! But the company gets more money if the employees are MSCE certified, and so the cycle continues.
In addition the test (as far as I can tell) is useless. I had my friend ask me some of the questions. One which struck me was a section where you had to match up the names of the network standards to the IEEE standard numbers. Now, while its great to know what IEEE 802.3 proper name is, but it won't help you at all when your netwoek goes down.