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A Novell Linux Specialist?
richardeholder asks: "Our Novell partners differentiate themselves in the marketplace by promoting their areas of expertise or specializations; this allows their
customers to know what their skill sets are and what they can reasonably expect these partners to provide for them.
As we embrace Linux, we would like to extend the title of 'Linux specialist' to partners who merit it. Before we move forward on this initiative, we would like to ask the Linux community for guidance on what should constitute a Linux specialist. Should we require certifications such as LPI and the RHCE/RHCT, or are there other more valuable ways of demonstrating Linux competency?"
An individual or company can be considered a linux specialist if they demonstrate the ability to:
-Properly secure a firewall
-Compile and install a kernel
-Configure the third button on thier mouse
-Print to a Panasonic KXP-8410 printer in color
-Make coffee that is restricted under OSHA guidelines
-Recognize a minimum 8 of 10 random network cards by thier chipset number only
-Understand the usefullness of the SysRq button
-Install linux on any appliance that does not come with a keyboard or mouse
-Setup a cron job to order pizza online
-Pay a license fee to SCO
-Assemble a beowolf cluster which includes more than one type of gaming console
-Install a really cool kde/gnome/enlightenment theme
-Run desktops at no less than 1600x1200 resolution, native
-Name all boxen after sci-fi characters/objects
-Any cats owned must be named after cabling specifications
-Adequate space must be reserved in all hardware racks for pizza boxes
-Every system must glow at night. Server rooms should be scary
That should just about cover it. Congratulations! You may now call yourself a linux specialist!
Karma: SELECT `karma` FROM `users` WHERE `userid`=138474;
Ask them to spell Microsoft.
If they use a dollar symbol somwhere in the spelling - then the're a Linux expert.
If they spell it Micro-Soft - then ther're really old school DOS expert.
If they spell it MICROS~1 -then there a Windows expert.
Moneyed corporations, non-working 'poor' and criminal prisoners are turning productive citizens into tax-slaves.
Our Novell partners differentiate themselves in the marketplace by promoting their areas of expertise or specializations; this allows their customers to know what their skill sets are and what they can reasonably expect these partners to provide for them. As we embrace Linux, we would like to extend the title of 'Linux specialist' to partners who merit it. Before we move forward on this initiative, we would like to ask the Linux community for guidance on what should constitute a Linux specialist. Should we require certifications such as LPI and the RHCE/RHCT, or are there other more valuable ways of demonstrating Linux competency?
These words are the words of a suit! But that's all right, all are welcome on slashdot. Well except the RIAA and microsoft, but that's besides the point.
Basically, you need to come up with your own certification. All certifications are pretty meaningless to the non-suits, but I think your partners would have a better understanding of "skill sets" if you defined your own set of Novell Linux Specialist credentials, and then either came up with your own tests and so forth or use these credentials to certify other certifications.
Fat? Check.
GNU/Linux? Check.
Steals music online? Check.
Smells? Check.
Patents are evil? Check.
Fat? Check.
Lack of social skills? Check.
Smells? Check.
Congratulations, you are a Linux expert.
Only one small part of it.
In the business climate, you should only be considered a "Linux specialist" if you have designed, deployed, maintained, or extended production Linux platforms in real life.
Additionally, there should be some track record, say over two years, of professional or technical services delivery either in Linux or another Operating Platform, UNIX, not Windows or Novell.
Finally and most importantly, should be able to provide at least two business references resulting from completed or ongoing projects.
All this would be Real [TM] as opposed to say, the Microsoft "Partner" thing where you need 2 MCPs on staff, a fee, and, uh, that's all.
To my mind, the successful business reference is the best certification anyone can have.
Network security - ALL protocols (esp. TCP/IP)
Network Architecture
Platform Integration - including (yuk!) Windows
I don't want to be a TROLL, but it's working out that way. I need people who can put together a NETWORK - NOT be a vendor specific cooky cutter LAN. The more you know about everything (networking) the more it helps to justify hiring you.
I know, it's a CATCH 22 deal these days -(I used to be a coder - and I got sick of it.) There's a lot of us ex-techies who are now PHBs because we couldn't take ( or didn't want to deal with) the current climate in the IT industry and we know TRUE skills when we see them.
I don't even know if this is even on topic based on the article...
WTF?There is no spoon or sig.
The CLE is for Novell's products that run on Linux, not for Linux itself. And the question was what criteria should Novell use to signify their partners as "Linux specialists". That criteria could include certifications, or it may not.
The meme police, They live inside of my head
Its sad that novell dumped their Unix division just when I joined them, and then :)
they are embracing Linux few years after I dumped them
That apart, I think if Novell is really serious about Linux and Linux specialists, please
do not follow RHCE or any other certification. You should identify what aspects
of linux concerns you most. Then identify the contributions made by the concerned
parties to this field. Also, IMHO, it is much more sensible to identify specialists with
their contributions to the open source community. Redhat certification is very
commercialised, and is for people entering Linux to prove their worth to the world.
What you are looking at is to identify real specialists, many of who may not even bother
to prove themselves to anybody, and their works speak for them.
Identify broad areas such as:
Linux Kernel (Accomplished in kernel development)
Linux Device (Someone who is a wizard in getting any device working on Linux)
Linux Installation (Someone who can troubleshoot all kinds of installation problems,
who knows, redhat, debian, gentoo and what not on the back of their palm)
Linux Application (Someone who specialises in applications, KDE/Gnome, etc.)
Linux Ultimate (Accomplished in all the areas)
Now come up with different titles such as Specialist, Master, Guru etc. These titles identify the
extent of their skills. A Linux Kernel Guru might indicate kernel developer whereas Linux Kernel Specialist
might refer to someone who is good at managing patches, troubleshooting the kernel, installing modules etc.
Of course, people who have not contributed to open source should be able to prove themself by either
working with Novell on some projects, or by taking some certification exams. I think it is necessary to differentiate the two categories.
Infact if Novell starts a centralised Linux forum to attract newbies and experts to discuss (like linuxquestions.org) it will be easy to identify the gurus by their contributions and newbie testimonials.
Hope this helps.
DO NOT PANIC