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Which Linux Certification?
dirvish asks: "I am trying to break into the Linux Server Administration field so I have been doing quite a bit of studying lately. I figured while I am studying the subject I might as well work towards a related certification. I am leaning towards the Linux Professional Institute Certification. Other certifications I am considering are CompTIAs Linux+ and Red Hats RHCE. So which Linux certification is the best? I would say Red Hat is the most reputable of these three but I am concerned that their certification might be too Red-Hat-centric, and I don't want to be locked into one distro. Which one is the easiest/cheapest to obtain? Which is the mostly highly regarded in the industry? Are there others that I missed?"
Ok, I will freely admit to working for a University, and not the private sector. Are certifications really held in such high regard out there? I know here they mean squat (and rightfully so imho, all they show is that you could afford to take the certification test). Heck, some departments around here will automatically disregard your resume if you put MCSE on it :)
Finkployd
"The fact that you are asking this indicates that you don't understand the question. The question isn't what piece of paper you have. The questions are can you do the job your potential employer needs done, the way he wants it done, and at a profit?"
What does that have to do with getting a job? You must be an employer.
Wow you did a perfect job of not answering the question at hand, giving broadstroke opinions and then your proceeded to say that experience can't vouche for future performance? Well what the heck do you think does? anything? Drink some coffee and brighten up you downer.
In response to "Which one is the easiest/cheapest to obtain?", I would say Linux+. I have it and obtained it with minimal study, but much hands-on experience. Is it too easy, no, I am just saying that if you are a regular power user, you should be able to peruse the objectives and take the test. A note of caution: Linux+ is not and end, it is a beginning. After obtaining it, I went to RHCT (Red Hat Certified Technician) then RHCE (both significantly more challenging, but not impossible with a lot of hands-on experience).
In response to "Which is the mostly highly regarded in the industry?", it depends on your industry. Red Hat and LPI are both highly "recognized" along with Novell's Certified Linux Professional and Certified Linux Engineer (http://www.novell.com/training/certinfo/#cert/).
To sum, it depends is lame, agreed, but when I began down this path, I earned Linux+, obtained an entry level Linux SA position, then went to training (paid for by employer) and now sit in a mid to senior level SA position.
I believe the path I took was worth it, but the important thing is to take the plunge, do somethinhg and then move around.
I have passed both. The LPIC-1 requires a stronger and more thorough knowledge of Linux than the RHCE, let alone the LPIC-2.
Wait, so what you're basically saying, in the first part of your comment, is that any kid out of school that doesn't have professional linux admin skills is automatically in the "no" pile? This sucks! How the hell are college grads supposed to find a job if they all require previous professional experience? You seem to have a fairly good knowledge of the business, so what would a college grad with a CS/math degree do to get a job in linux admin, when none of the CS classes he took lead to administration? I've installed gentoo on a few boxes, repaired mandrake, used redhat 9 and SuSE, but nothing professionally. Are you saying I should start by joining in a non-profit organization and work my way up? But are non-profit orgs professional experience? And how do we make money in the meantime? I'm really curious as to the answer to those questions, because they're most likely the ones I'll be facing in 3 years.
---- I am certain of only one thing : I know nothing else.