Hi,

Is there a free linux troubleshooting skills test on the internet with a open license (like Creative Commons or GPL)?

If not, What 10-20 questions would you ask someone to see if he/she knows her/his way around linux support before hiring him/her?

Thanks a lot

http://aplawrence.com/Tests/Linux/index.html

Not sure about the license, but it's free...

It says on the site "Copyright 2002,2003,2004 A.P. Lawrence", looks like it's under a closed license. I want to use the test on my site, thats why I need a test with a open license...

Copyright doesn't necessarily mean closed license. Virtually everything under the GPL is still copyrighted to someone. In fact, the site says you can purchase the complete test for intallation on your own system. It says the purchased version is the same as the free version and the cost really just helps support that site. So I would venture to say that it wouldn't be very expensive and would be perfectly acceptable to use as a testing tool on your site.

If nothing else, you might just contact the author and see what he says about it... Good luck!

That test might be useful. I tried a few questions myself. Some were easy, some less so, and some were way out there (like "who cares?!")

Those "who care's" questions remind me of a test I had to take to transfer Paramedic certification from one state to another. I had to take a test - perfectly reasonable. One of the first questions I ran into was "What is the minimum legal ground clearance for an ambulance?" Now how would I know that, or more importantly - WHY would I need to know that? (unless I was planning on building one from scratch!) Seemed like an incredibly useless question, except maybe to intimidate test-takers into thinking they were stupid. If I ever needed to know that tidbit of info, I'd just run "man ambulance | grep 'ground clearance'"

If someone made me take a test on all the keystrokes in vi I'd probably fail miserably. But I can still use that editor in my sleep, :wq

Been there, done that and got a T-shirt!
When it comes time to die, I hope there's no test or I just may have to go on living.

That test has 863 questions, all I need is 10-20 pretty basic questions...

What are the top 10 questions to ask someone to see if he/she knows her/his way around linux support?

First question would have to be:

"How would you go about finding a solution to a problem you don't currently know how to solve?"

If the answer to this is unsatisfactory, the next nine questions are irrelavent.

And the only satisfactory answer would be "linuxquestions.org", I guess?

Good idea,
How about:

1. How would you go about adding a scsi disk to an existing system? What commands would you use to make the disk useable by the system?

2. What is involved in hooking up a Linux system to a SAN?

3. The DBA's are trying to copy a database to a NFS mounted drive but it's going extremely slow. How would you go about finding the problem?

4. How do you change a ext3 preexisting filesystem to a ext2 filesytem ...or can you?

5. Explain volume groups and how they pertain to the system mount points.

6. Your building a new system to house a database application. What mount points would you create and what size would each be?

7. How do you recompile the kernel. Give examples of why and when you would recompile the kernel.

8. You've just installed a new Linux system. How do you lock down the system from intruders?


How are those for starters?

First google, then linuxquestions.org !

1. How would you go about adding a scsi disk to an existing system? What commands would you use to make the disk useable by the system?

A. We don't need any stinkin scsi disks, use ide drives.

2. What is involved in hooking up a Linux system to a SAN?

A. I guess you mean LAN! Just plug in the cable.

3. The DBA's are trying to copy a database to a NFS mounted drive but it's going extremely slow. How would you go about finding the problem?

A. Call the network admin and tell him to get right on it.

4. How do you change a ext3 preexisting filesystem to a ext2 filesytem ...or can you?

A. No need, ext3 is good enough.

5. Explain volume groups and how they pertain to the system mount points.

A. You mean people with large bones? This could get ugly real quick.

6. Your building a new system to house a database application. What mount points would you create and what size would each be?

A. Just / is good for me and I use the whole disk.

7. How do you recompile the kernel. Give examples of why and when you would recompile the kernel.

A. You don't recompile the kernel unless you are some kind of Linux freak.

8. You've just installed a new Linux system. How do you lock down the system from intruders?

A. Lock the door and take the key.

9. and 10. are missing but, I did so well that the job is mine for sure already.