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LPIC, RHCE, CLP or Linux +

Hi all,
I begin to think to get certified in linux field. I'm a certified Comptia Security+ and I want to progress in my career. I'm a user of linux since 2001 and I've installed, configured and do some basic server with Red hat 7, red hat 9, Slackware (my favorite), Suse 9.3, 10.1, Debian and Ubuntu.

Now I'm looking for a cert. but I don't know which one I should go for.
I've bought a LPIC book and by now,I'm half of the book, it's seem pretty easy.
What about RHCE cert, CLP for Novell product or Linux+ by Comptia. Anyone have suggestion? what is the more general and the most recognized.

Thank you for your help !

Why not just do as many certs as you can. LPI and Linux+ are very good because they are vendor neutral. RHCE is also a good choice but is obviously very vendor specific, so it would be a bonus to have an RHCE and maybe LPI or Linux+. I am not really sure how the Novell certs compare to the rest.

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I've bought a LPIC book and by now,I'm half of the book, it's seem pretty easy.

The LPI Level 1 exams are not too difficult, although I wouldn't go as far as to say they were easy. If you've got a lot of hands on experience then you will probably have covered most of the subject, but you do need to know some of the command options that you may not use much on a day to day basis. There are also likely to be areas you perhaps don't use.

The LPI Level 2 exams are considerably harder.

This is good in many respects as if they were too easy they would not get the same respect that they have.

The negative thing about the RedHat / Novell exams is that they are distribution specific, so if you are looking at working for a company that doesn't use that particular distribution then saying you have a certificate that covers Linux in general would be useful.

I'm not sure how much employers would be specific about the particular certification. Being able to pass a particular certification shows an ability to learn, so even if your certification is for a different distro you should be able to apply the knowledge to other distros.

Thanks,
I'll look for LPI 1 then for Linux+.

Linux+ is a lifetime cert. LPI requires recertification periodically (or since late 2004 they do anyway.) Its a very reasonable ten year cycle, as opposed to the way too short three for MS' new MCITP that is, but still something to factor into your analysis.

Seems like keeping their high-end networking and security certs current is a second job to some people. So starting out I decided I'd avoid the recertification merry-go-round like the plague. That route's probably best for people with corporate credit cards who actually get paid to attend seminars and classes. Not those paying for everything "out-of-pocket" like myself. ;)

Anyway, LPI isn't that bad about it though.

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Linux+ is a lifetime cert. LPI requires recertification periodically

LPI do set the status to inactive after 10 years, but an industry qualification that is 10 years old is certainly starting to show it's age. Linux 10 years ago was a very different thing to what it is today.
You can still say that you qualified over 10 years ago, but that the status is inactive (so no need to remove it from your CV). If you have qualified as LPI and then 10 years later are looking for another job, you should have amounted a large amount of experience which will be far more relevant than a 10 year old certificate.

Having certificates expire after 3 years (or less) is certainly discouraging, but when it's 10 years I don't think it's such a big issue.

LPI State:

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LPI strongly encourages certificants to re-certify minimally within a ten-year period. Ten years from the date the first exam of the level was passed, a certificant's designation status (LPIC-1, LPIC-2) will change from ACTIVE to INACTIVE in the LPI database, unless the certificate holder re-certifies. The addition of the designation status of ACTIVE or INACTIVE into the LPI database will begin on September 1, 2004. Certification designations (LPIC-1, LPIC-2, etc.) earned before that date will NOT be subject to these recertification stipulations. All certification designations earned before September 1, 2004 will be considered 'lifetime' designations and will be maintained as having an ACTIVE status in the database, regardless of recertification activities.

RHCE is the ultimate choice, no doubt about it...

Iam doing my Linux+ on Friday and I will post my experience at that time, but talking now that I have finished my preparations and Iam ready for the exam I must say that Linux+ seems harder than I thought it would be. Imean I am a hardcore student I scored a 1000 in my CCNA and I graduated with honours from my Uni, if you wana study the Linux+ you surely need to put in some effort. But honestly it was rewarding, even if I "God Forbid" fail the exam in two days I can still proudly say that I have advanced alot thanks to the course as an Linux Admin. The details covered by the book and the study material made me plunge much deeper into the details of the Linux OS than I would have if I would have depended only on my hands on experience.

Linux+ /RHEL preparation

What book or self-study course would you guys recommend for preparing for Linux+ (for a fairly new Linux user) and for RHEL?

I am currently learning LinuxCBT Classic edition which I'm sure will be a great start, but I'm sure I need a lot more training to prepare for certification.

Thanks
Nat

Oh BTW, LPI changed the recertification requirement to five years, effective immediately and RETROACTIVELY! So many of you LPIC peeps may have been decertified recently and not even know it!