need advice about lpi essentials or linux +
Posted by derp_in_ur_face@reddit | linuxadmin | View on Reddit | 8 comments
im going to wgu and they offer lpi essentials but im wondering if its worth going for linux+ because im getting a cyber security bachelors degree. any thoughts?
SurfRedLin@reddit
Both are just entry certs. That said, lpi is a Linux foundation with the goal to give people skills that are relevant in the field and are evaluated by people who work with Linux every day.
Comptia is a certification company. They don't want to make you a good Linux guy. They want to make money. So they invented their Linux cert. To cover that sector.
If u are in Europe based then go for lpi certs. If u are in us, do the redhat certs!
That's for the general stuff.
Now for the certs itself.
Linux + is on par with the lpic-1 certification from lpi. These are beginner certs for Linux. Linux essentials is a cert to get an Linux overview about the Linux ecosystem. So you will not learn business relevant stuff for your work with essential but what is open source and Linux.
So I would skip the essentials. In Europe lpic certs are known and accepted in the Industry. In the US redhat is the way to go.
Lpic-1 is mostly the beginner cert that many people hold and is kinda the baseline to prove Linux knowledge. You even need it if u want to do azure cloud tech by Microsoft. So its very wide and not that hard. Just basic stuff.
If u want to stand out get the lpic-2 cert. This will give u the title Linux engineer and is quite in depth. You will learn to debug Linux systems and iscsi stuff and many more cool things you actually need in your work if u want to work as an admin and not just entry it level.
For specialized stuff go with lpic-3 into high availability, Security vor ozher areas.
I hold lpic-1 and lpic-2 and my job offers got way better with lpic2.
At the moment I'm in the process of getting a position to manage a Linux cluster with 3 petabyte of storage. If you have more questions. Just ask ;)
derp_in_ur_face@reddit (OP)
So with my degree they give free vouchers for a+, network+, security+, pentest+, and cysa+. Is it still not worth doing Linux+ and just doing the lpic. Because CompTIA will recognize other certs so you can maintain CompTIA certs
SurfRedLin@reddit
I don't belive in this cert renewal stuff. Either you work with that knowledge and you are up to date because u work with that knowledge or you do not work with it and then there is no point in just learning for the cert renewal and then forget 90 percent of it. I never renew certs. No employer or potential employer ever asked my why my certs are not "valid" anymore. They are just a way to clear HR.
In Europe lpic is more known than Linux+. I believe that the lpic certs teach you valuable things that I need daily. Linux+ is just lpic-1 but lpic-2 knowledge is really what will get u ahead. If there is nothing like lpic-2 in the comptia universe than don't do it. In my work day I need the skills that lpic-2 taught me much more than lpic-1 skill's.
Do network+ and security+ to get basic knowledge in network stuff ( you will! Need it). If u plan to work in with windows primarily then do security+ because its basicly how to secure windows and a bit of network security. But Linux security is not taught. But HR does not know this so still get it. It sounds cool.
I personally would focus on getting a Linux specialist. Way more pay and less headache as windows debugging. And windows does Everyone. Stand out. if u like Linux and use it as a daily driver at home, than go this route.
The51stAgent@reddit
the only jobs that care about renewal status are DOD/gov because they require that certain certs be up to date.I generally agree with you though.
derp_in_ur_face@reddit (OP)
I'm def getting all CompTIA offered at wgu. However I just wanna stand out and see what gets me a good career
SurfRedLin@reddit
Do you like Linux? Do you love the open source culture? There is no point in going for Linux if u hate the terminal and want to click on everything. So if u use Linux at home. Game on it. Experiment with it. Then go the Linux route! You will not be disappointed. The pay is good as there are way more windows admins and self taught guys out there as there are good Linux admins.
There are many routes to go: - it security ( everything major runs on Linux) - storage and infrastructure ( VMware and cluster) - high availability - devops - car industry - database stuff - web infrastructure ( mailserver and the like) - hosting openstack etc - kubernetes
All of this is not done by windows. If you go beyond your normal terminal server in your company basically everything is Linux.
However you have to start somewhere and start small so go for your normal company admin first. And learn all the time.
N0RZ0PH0BIC@reddit
Firstly , thank you for your detailed feedback and sorry to kick in . I currently hold rhcsa , which is the entry level -mandatory cert if you are a sysadmin who uses rhel os mostly . After getting the cert , the obvious next step would be the engineer which at the moment is only ansible .... a lot of the still used and important topics have been carved out from redhat enginner path , and automation seems to be the only focus ( i get that it is important ) but still are the other topics that are no longer found in the curiculum . I was looking in the LPI certs ,which seem tot keep these topics still in the spotlight .. what modern material , be it books ,courses (sources)you suggest to prepare for the LPIC2,3 of today ?
SurfRedLin@reddit
Hi, no worries ask as much as u like.
There are two problems. First to get lpic2 you would need lpic1 but with your knowledge this should be achieveable in 3-6 weeks of prep I think.
The next problem is that most learning materials for lpic2 are a bit dated and not updated regularly. This is a problem because the exam is updated and you get modern relevant questions! And you are a bit taken aback because you did not train for it.
To remedy this I did buy a 5 day intensive online training with a live instructor. This helped tremendously!
But there is another problem: the teaching materials that the instructors use are outdated as well. But they know this and try to work around this as best as they can. But still they are required to teach you certain things etc. Lpi will update their lpic2 materials for teachers and for students this year I belive. So I was one of the unlucky ones to just fall into the gap where the new materials where not ready to be taught but still in the exam questions. But as the instructors are aware they will point out the new areas and you have to look and research on your own.
Also some things do not change or change very little so you can just use a modern Linux manpage to get the changes.
To summarize I would say for lpic2:
Stuff that does not change and you can learn from a book: 20-30% Stuff that a good instructor will teach you: 40% Stuff that you have to learn for your own: 20% Stuff that you did not look into and you have to wing it on exam day: 10-20%
You have to reach 75% to 80% in the exam to pass. Its not an easy one!
But it is worth it I belive at least for me it was. I need lpic2 knowledge nearly daily and while in some areas it is not as deep or not as new as it should be it serves me well as a foundation to look into the right direction and find solutions more quickly and not get side tracked in wrong directions.
Also I find it really really helps with HR because not many people seem to bother with lpic2 and just get lpic1 and the rest is work experience. Which is kinda true but as I said it helps with HR.
All in all I would do it again and I maybe go for lpic3 if they have a cluster thing. Did not check it out yet.
Lpic3 Differs from the other exams as there are 4 exams and each has their own deep track line it security or high availability and it will focus only on one of these topics for the course so it's very in depth.