Linux certification info

[bushda]

Guys,
Here's the info I was discussing in IRC tonight:

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/lpi/?S_TACT=105AGX03&S_CMP=LP

This is the free training materials for the Linux Professional Institute (LPI for short) certifications. I'm taking the LPI-101 test tomorrow morning, and hope to take the LPI-102 to complete my LPIC-1 certification within a few weeks.

The one thing you won't find there is the necessary materials for the LPI-199 test for Ubuntu Certified Professional. I bought a book on that off of eBay for $28. I'll have my UCP by the first of October if I can help it.

If anyone has any questions, please hit me up.

- Dave (aka myrtlebeachbums)

[recluse2]

now, that sounds like something I would be interested in. I don't know how successful I will be but I will definitely check it out further, and yes xarquid, I did fall asleep!

[bushda]

now, that sounds like something I would be interested in. I don't know how successful I will be but I will definitely check it out further, and yes xarquid, I did fall asleep!

I should mention that for those that have the skills, the place where I work is always looking for unix/linux admins and security analysts. Knowledge of Unix/Linux, TCP/IP, and such is a lot of what they look for. They've got offices in Atlanta, Chicago, and Myrtle Beach. Pay's decent too. If anyone's interested, private message me and I can tell you more.

[bushda]

First off - I passed the LPI 101 exam today. I am far from happy with my score, but I'm also someone with high testing expectations after 4.0'ing my Masters in Network Security. The important thing is it doesn't matter what score I passed it with as long as I passed, which I did.

Here's the break down of sections they test on:
- Devices, Linux Filesystems, Filesystem Heirarchy Standards
- Hardware and Architecture
- Linux Installation and Package Management
- The X Windows System
- GNU and Unix Commands

I can't stress it enough that you need to read over and and know the LPI 101 study materials on the IBM developer web or from some similar LPI study guide. I've been using Linux for nine years, and I learned some things reading those materials over.

I can't divulge any specific questions as part of the NDA they make you agree to, but I will tell you that the Hardware and Architecture was, to me, the hardest part. There were some odd questions that threw me off. One asked about how to look up the specific settings for what I would consider to be a legacy port. I honestly had no clue. I still don't, but I'll find out just to satisfy my curiosity.

I'll be taking the LPI-102 next, but unlike the LPI-101 I won't be rushing it. I'll pass it if it kills me though. :)

[Tom Tiger]

Congrats :-)

I'm also LPI 1 certified (101 and 102)

And I also passed the LPI 199 exam (you might want that one too) which is the Ubuntu Certified professional.

If you have the chance and you work with Linux, get certified :-)

[bushda]

Congrats :-)

I'm also LPI 1 certified (101 and 102)

And I also passed the LPI 199 exam (you might want that one too) which is the Ubuntu Certified professional.

If you have the chance and you work with Linux, get certified :-)

First off - congratulations on getting certified!

I've got the LPI 101 down, and am currently reading up in preparation for the LPI 102.

I've got a book to study for the LPI-199 test. Frankly my attraction to the LPI certifications was the fact that I could take the LPI-199 to become a UCP.

What was your impression of the LPI-199 exam?

[xarquid]

Congrats :-)

I'm also LPI 1 certified (101 and 102)

And I also passed the LPI 199 exam (you might want that one too) which is the Ubuntu Certified professional.

If you have the chance and you work with Linux, get certified :-)

Is there a general Linux test that is not just "Ubuntu" -- the command structures are entirely different from Debian based systems to let's say Red Hat based systems. I know, from experience, most enterprises and organizations will favor RedHat (Fedora/CentOS or even plain ole RedHat) over Debian-based OSes. The commands are quite different and so is the layout of the land, so to speak.

Does the test certification really state "Ubuntu Certification"?

Thanks,

- C

[EvilMarshmallow]

There's a hierarchy to it...

You have to take the LPI101 and LPI102 to qualify to take the Ubuntu Certified Professional.

The LPI exams are general linux. The UCP exam is Ubuntu only.

http://www.lpi.org/index.php/eng/certification/ubuntu_certified_professional

[bushda]

Is there a general Linux test that is not just "Ubuntu" -- the command structures are entirely different from Debian based systems to let's say Red Hat based systems. I know, from experience, most enterprises and organizations will favor RedHat (Fedora/CentOS or even plain ole RedHat) over Debian-based OSes. The commands are quite different and so is the layout of the land, so to speak.

Does the test certification really state "Ubuntu Certification"?

Thanks,

- C

You can take the LPI-101 and LPI-102 to be LPI Level 1 certified. The LPI certification is distro agnostic. You can also proceed to LPI level's 2 and 3 without taking the LPI-199 to become an Ubuntu Certified Professional.

I will tell you that having taken the LPI-101 exam, you do need to know both rpm and apt/dpkg commands. Knowing just one will leave you short on answering some exam questions.

[goowealth]

You can take the LPI-101 and LPI-102 to be LPI Level 1 certified. The LPI certification is distro agnostic. You can also proceed to LPI level's 2 and 3 without taking the LPI-199 to become an Ubuntu Certified Professional.

I will tell you that having taken the LPI-101 exam, you do need to know both rpm and apt/dpkg commands. Knowing just one will leave you short on answering some exam questions.


According to what i read,
there are quite a few books from amazon for LPIC 1,
1 book for LPIC 1&2,
and none for LPIC-3(not even IBM LPI exam prep covers 302).

So, How easy or difficult is it to be certified as LPIC 1,2&3 ?

would like to hear from some positive experiences ...

:)

[bushda]

According to what i read,
there are quite a few books from amazon for LPIC 1,
1 book for LPIC 1&2,
and none for LPIC-3(not even IBM LPI exam prep covers 302).

So, How easy or difficult is it to be certified as LPIC 1,2&3 ?

would like to hear from some positive experiences ...

:)

I'm using the stuff from IBM for my LPIC 1 studying, and I bought a book to study for LPI-199 because I couldn't find anything free for that test prep.

I've only taken and passed LPI-101 so far, and I found the test somewhat difficult because of some of the ancient technologies I was asked about. For example, what command would you use to find out the port settings for a serial port? Don't know, and probably haven't cared since 1999 when I first got broadband.

LPI-102 seems to be slightly easier, but only because I'm more familiar with the material there.

I can fill you in on LPIC-2 when I get there later this year.

I may be totally wrong here, but I think the majority of people stop at LPIC-2. While I'm interested in persuing LPIC-3, I don't know if I'll get there. I have heard that it is fairly difficult. That one will wait until I take the CISSP, and if work's still paying for it the RHCE.

[knattlhuber]

Just wanted to add two links with sample exams for LPI 1 that I found to be quite close to the real thing:

http://www.penguintutor.com/cgi-bin/quiz/index.pl
http://www.linux-praxis.de/lpisim/lpi.html

The second website requires (free) registration and doesn't offer you a review of your answers nor shows you the correct answers, so that's a bit of drawback.

[iwc5893]

Thanks for all of the info in this thread. Once I get more comfortable in Linux, I'll be doing this also.

[bushda]

I've been so busy I forgot to post that I passed the LPI 101 and 102 to achieve my LPI level 1 certification about a month ago. LPI-199 for my Ubuntu Certified Professional is still on the board for me, but I don't know when as my work has me in Atlanta until probably the second week of December.

I will say that these tests were no cake walk. I've done a lot of certification tests over the years, and I would rank these as being the most challenging I've taken yet. You do have to know your stuff to take these.

Make sure you know the study materials inside and out before attempting to take these or you will be throwing money away.

[appropriator]

IT Exam Practice is a portal for online exams (including LPI exams) that is built and maintained by a network of volunteers. It exists to serve the IT community and help people worldwide freely test their IT skills. IT Exams are built up in a truly collaborative fashion where anyone may propose new content/questions and teams of qualified exam administrators and moderators approve or reject it on the basis of merit - http://www.itexampractice.org

[omegadoom]

Thank you for all the info here I am looking into going in for some of these, they will look good on the wall next to my other stuff.

[meastwood]

I've got my LPI 101, 102 and 201s - messed up 202 big time!! anyway am looking to do 199 before having another crack at 202 the problem is just finding any info on the ubuntu exam. Example questions won't be available till aug 09 - all I've got to work off are the exam objectives which are vague.

e.g.
what do they mean by 'Drive Manager'?
how well do you need to know udev - write rules et al?
displayconfig-gtk though still installed has been replaced by 'screen resolution'

the big problem is how 'low level' one needs to go into these topics and what about the ones not mentioned
eg.
pcmcia config
apm

Have been doing IT off and on for 30+ years, have certifications with LIP, IBM and Novell but am really at a loss as to what I need to know for this one.

And indications would be appreciated.

[Smika]

The 1 of may there will be new Curriculum & Exam Objectives.

http://www.ubuntu.com/training/certificationcourses/ucp/exam

Is it possible to still use the

Ubuntu Certified Professional Study Guide (Exam LPI 199)
McGraw-Hill | 2008 | 547 blz. | Michael Jang
?

Or can I better wait for a new book?

Thanks a lot,

Smika

[DivineTemplar]

Thanks for posting this up. I was wondering about possible Linux based Certifications and this has pointed me in the right direction. Good luck on your UCP!

[appropriator]

Here is one web site launched last year that is community-built and features (free as in freedom/beer) LPI training/mock exams: http://www.itexampractice.org/

The idea behind it is that anyone can contribute to the exams by submitting new questions. The better questions are then approved via a voting process...

[meastwood]

I managed to get my LPIC2, still toying with the idea of 199 for Ubuntu but have yet to make up my mind - cost and lack of information on what level of technical knowledge is required.

I'm in the process of building a web site with all my LPIC 1 & 2 study stuff on it - there's a heck of a lot - though objectives have just changed. Still, I think. it is good reference stuff however it is taking a while to put it all together.

What I want to do is get into security - for LPIC3 you need to take the base exam (LDAP) along with the security one for certification - I'm not interested in LDAP!! nor do I see why I need to take an exam in it when it is not where I want to specialise!!

Anyone know of any respected security related certifications - self study etc.?

[disabledaccount01]

Message removed by author.

[meastwood]

thanks - will look into it

[karthick87]

Will they charge for writing exams?

[knattlhuber]

Will they charge for writing exams?

You betcha! ;)
Can't remember the exact fee for the LPI 1, something in the $200 range. Should be on their website (www.lpi.org).