So.. it seems like the next 6-12 months will be pretty uneventful for me, and I've lately been interested in Linux administration, and I think that might be a viable career target for me. I've been having some fun with my remote server, but I think I could use some more formal education as well.
Edit: just to clarify, yes, I'm going for a full 4 year formal education path... after these uneventful 6-12 months.
I'm looking for different viable certifications that a) cost under $1000 to complete and b) can be completed online (since I live in the middle of nowhere).
The Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator cert seems doable, not too extreme or expensive
You don't say what your current level of Linux is, but I assume you are not a beginner. As a free source of Linux admin information, may I suggest The Urban Penguin:
You mentioned comptia. Though its not an online test. If you do the Linux+ exam you are elegable for the LPIC-1 and SUSE CLA certifications at no extra cost.
Its worth mentioning that most certifications require renewing. If your just starting a 4 year degree you'll have to renew them before you finish or even twice before you finish. It might be a waste until nearer the end of your degree.
By that time you might know enough to just sit and take Linux+ in which case, just go fly to a city and do it. You'll probably be flying around for interviews anyway.
I'll just drop the certification nonsense and focus on learning for the sake of the pursuit of knowledge.
Is there any sensible reason for the 2 year renewal period, except the money grab by the certificate authorities? I mean, the tech isn't changing that fast.. Though maybe I will still have try to get one bigger certification like the LFCS that might help me get a job while studying.
I actually plan on going for RHCE certification in the near future as I am also interested in being a Linux Admin, for myself and possible future employment. Tis my goal. My I ask how you went about learning learning to use Linux ?
Here's a link to some info on Linux Certs that I myself used for research
I just installed Linux. Then I installed it on my server. That's about it, I've been troubleshooting and figuring out stuff quite a bit, especially with the server side. Next I think I'll have to set up bunch of VMs and start figuring out the networking side, maybe with a pfsense firewall included.
And, eh, not to sound like some salesman, but PM me if you're interested in a VPS.
By the way, do you already have the RHCSA? Or are you going to breeze through both that and the RHCE? Here's something I found for the RHCE while researching it:
Nope, I currently do not have the RHCSA. I'm still in the early learning process, but the RHCE is my goal. Good to have 'em, right ? And did you just dive right in and install Linux on both your systems? You didn't learn anything about it before ?
Pretty much. Though I did install it on desktop first, and then on the server after getting a bit more comfortable. I did have some previous experiences of installing it on my PC, but those were largely short lived experiments that often resulted in frustration and failure. Now I've avoided frustration by giving up hopes of any significant 3D performance :p
Oh alright. That's cool and all and I applaud you for your bravery, but you may wish to do some research on what it is the certification tests cover, so that your sure you know it all, or learn what you need to know.
And higher certs like the RHCE are done at centers and such, because you take the tests live on computers. Pretty cool I think.
That's why I was looking at the LFCS since it can be completed online with the instructors monitoring the exam with remote desktop and web cam feed. I haven't really checked, but I think the nearest test center might be around 500, at least 200 km away.
That seems like your best bet. Yet if that center provides RHCE or other Red Hat certification exams, you may find the trip highly worth it as people with those certs are really favorable: this being based off research I've done
