Hello,

Can anybody help me out with a Linux certification? I am very much interested in Linux and would like to pursue a career in Linux and networking. I am confused as to which course to take?

I have 0 knowledge in Linux as of now and have been working with windows for the past 7 years. I am now in the final year of my engineering (Computer science) and I would like to know which would be better for me.

1. Install Linux and self learn with the help of a book. After a year or so after my course completes go for a certification.
2. Go go for red hat certification (RHCT)
3. Go for Linux+ certification.

Any suggestions?

Linux "certifications" aren't all that common, I don't think. Your computer science degree is the important thing. You should definitely install Linux and start learning about it. It will be more than a year before you're ready for a certification, quite likely. Linux is a serious thing.

CompTIA's certifications seem to be easy enough to get, and look good to have.

RHCT is a more respected, expensive, and difficult certification to get, but is more worthwhile. Good system administrators will sometimes have these.

In short, you absolutely need to do the first of those three things.

I got a feedback to try with gentoo when I start out because I will learn a lot. I am now going through the gentoo handbook to get things started.

I guess I would play around with linux until my course is over and then go for a certification.

I would start with LPIC 1 and 2 then move on to the RHCE...depending on what you want to do...

Most Linux certs are geared towards System Administration...usually CS degrees are for programming...in which case certs aren't really going to help you much.

What do you want to do? Programming? Systems Administration? ??

Speaking from a Systems Administration standpoint; my certs have helped me TREMENDOUSLY

I'd say system administration anytime

Hi,

The most important thing in my opinion is to get first hand experience, that is, install and learn Linux hands on. It will teach you a lot more than the basics. Furthermore, having a certificate is no proof at all of knowledge of Linux. I find that it shows two possibilities when someone has a certificate, either that he's a good student and has 'book knowledge' (which will not serve for long when administering a variety of systems) or that the person has learned Linux and got the certificate to get a specific job.

I think you better start out by installing by trial and error, coming to LinuxQuestions for answers, and repeating the whole thing with various distros. I've been a system administrator for several years now and believe me I'm still learning.

A great distro that I personally recently discovered is Slackware, I thought I knew things but when I got to Slackware (and LFS) I just got confronted with the fact that I still have a lot to learn.

Studying for a certification before having at least some knowledge is a waste of time and money in my personal opinion.

Best of luck.

Kind regards,

Eric

I agree

But you have to learn to play the "game"...but keep in mind that certs get you pass HR...but it's your skills that let you keep the job