Lpic-1/2

From what I have gathered, it seems the average study time for the LPIC-1 is about a few months. Has anyone done the LPIC-2 certification? If so, how long did it take you to study for it? What I am wondering if doing the LPIC-1 and LPIC-2 this year is going to be feasable. I have a part time job which will require me to support linux and in the next few days I may have a full time job that requires it as well.
People complete the MCSA/SE in one years time often and I think the LPIC-2 is like an MCSE (in terms of material covered and such). Is this a good assumption?
Edit: I don't have my LPIC-1 yet so I could be thinking way over my head but I did compare the LPIC-1 and LPIC-2 objectives. I think the LPIC-2 objectives are pretty sexy and look like exciting to study.
People complete the MCSA/SE in one years time often and I think the LPIC-2 is like an MCSE (in terms of material covered and such). Is this a good assumption?
Edit: I don't have my LPIC-1 yet so I could be thinking way over my head but I did compare the LPIC-1 and LPIC-2 objectives. I think the LPIC-2 objectives are pretty sexy and look like exciting to study.
Comments
Purchased:
LPIC-1/2 CBTs
Advanced Linux OTJ training CBTs
Linux Admin: A beginners guide
linux+ 2009
Sed and Awk
Things I want to purchase for the LPIC-1:
LPIC-1 Oreilly
Practial Guide to Linux Commands
Possibly Exam Cram
I think this, along with IBM developer works and man pages will be enough to at least get me through the LPIC-1. Any thoughts? I can comeback to this thread and update it as I go along.
There were a couple of other books I was thinking about as well :
Hardening Linux Apache Security DNS and Bind
LPIC-1 / The LPIC Program / Certification / Home - LPI -
/exam_101_detailed_objectives
Exam 102: Detailed Objectives / LPIC-1 / The LPIC Program / Certification / Home - LPI -
I have read the following for the LPIC-1 exams:
Amazon.com: LPIC-1: Linux Professional Institute Certification…
Amazon.com: LPIC-1 In Depth (9781598639674): Michael Jang: Books
Amazon.com: LPI Linux Certification in a Nutshell (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)) (9780596005283): Steven Pritchard, Bruno Gomes Pessanha, Nicolai Langfeldt, James Stanger, Jeff Dean: Books
I have to say that the Nutshell book has been the best reference so far in studying and making notes however it is dated so the chapters in the book don't cover the correct exam objectives for the updated exam so you do have to jump around. The other two books were good "fill ins" once I had a detailed outline from the Nutshell book.
All in all I think that you should have any trouble with the LPIC-1 exams. I don't think however that you can compare the LPIC-2 to the MCSE. The LPIC-2 is very generalized in the exam (it doesn't focus on a distro). The MCSE is clearly more geared towards Microsoft's specific platform. I would say though that the knowledge of one with an LPIC-1 & 2 would be a "linux admin" like the MCSE gives you the knowledge of a "microsoft admin".
Side Note: I'm working on my RHCE at the moment but studied most of the LIPC series material so if you need help with anything let me know, I'd be glad to give you hand.
SE Notebook
While the LPIC-2 objectives do seem "sexy", consider what NightShade03 said about the exam: it isn't distro/vendor- specific. Hence- no prep literature, so you are on your own researching and compiling study material. Yes, there are very good titles that are written on individual objectives but nothing in terms of directly addressing the whole set of those objectives.
Objectives! See which of those seem most exotic to you, do some quick research and work out few simplistic scenarios in your lab. Later, when you feel more confident you could start consulting man pages pertaining that particular subject and see what can you make out of it. Also spend as much time as you can on linux forums not only asking questions or answer other people's questions but read the answers to questions that intrigued you. Ideally, you would try to recreate the problem in your lab but often it seems like an overkill.
As far as LPIC-1, you could wait until july to get Brunson's book (the ExamCram series) whose release has already been postponed couple of times.
Lastly, exam simulations are going to be very important for you after you wrap up your prep and before you sit those exams. Unfortunately, almost all sims offered both free and sold aren't updated to the new objectives. Try penguintutors.com and see how do you like their exam simulation, so far I think they're the only free web simulation that updated their questions in accordance with the new objectives. Although it is clearly stated that you shouldn't take your scores at this site as a measure of your readiness, I scored highly for 102 on this site and it carried over on the real exam.
Hope this helps and good luck!
</end rant>
SE Notebook
V:
I don't think it is to likely that I will get the level 1 and 2 done by the end of the year. I do want to get the LPIC-1 done by the end of the summer. I just quickly looked at the LPIC-2 and it looked so awesome. I want to build my knowledge to that level so it may take me a while but I don't want to idle. I will pick up the exam cram when it comes out.
NS:
I saw a link you posted for a LPIC-2 exams. Good stuff. When do you plan to do you RHCE?
ASAP! I was suppose to have taken it already, but I just switch jobs recently and they offered to pay for the Redhat course (which I will always take extra study time/material). Honestly I just keep pushing it back because of the cost. At $800 a try I only want to take this exam once and pass on the first round. Realistically I'm thinking mid July.
SE Notebook
If you do the RHCE will you do the LPIC exams as well?
SE Notebook
LPIC-1 6 months - 1yr
LPIC-2 2-3yrs
RHCE 2-3yrs
I've been using linux for about two years. I can honestly say that nothing makes you learn like being forced. My current job hired me two months ago, no one knows anything about linux, and they want to move all their servers over. I'm having to figure out their current layout while migrating everything, and training them on linux. It sounds crazy but being forced to learn how to implement things, hands on, will make sooo much difference when exam time comes.
Example: Read this entry,
Security Nut: PXE + Kickstart, Automating CentOS/RedHat Installs
Reading it and following the steps isn't hard. However the first time I did this it took me two weeks with researching, testing, and validation. Now I can do it in my sleep but the point is that all the hands on of going through the process makes it easier (which I'm sure you could have guessed).
SE Notebook
Documentation:
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
Also you can use this as a "**** sheet" until you know how to configure many of the services on your own:
rhce [Mike Conigliaro's Wiki]
Howtoforge.com will also get you through some simple setups if you'd like however don't become dependent on following guides (maybe start implementing something and then try to configure the rest on your own without reading the guide). Hope you get the job it sounds like a good role. Always here if you need anything.
SE Notebook
The Linux+ is basically the LPIC-1 now since the changeover of the test. I really just wanted the Linux+ cert since I think it is more well known (not respected) but honestly I might just chase the real deal.
If you pass the new Linux+, you can become LPIC-1, and Novell CLA. Basically 3 for 1.
CompTIA Linux+
LPI and NOVELL partnership / Certification / Home - LPI -
If you want to build your confidence level for the job you described knwminus, then by all means bite immediately into the networking services while glancing casually at the LPIC-1 objectives, especially 101 (if you are expected to support linux desktops as well). Linux networking services is where lin just shines.
Not just because I am preparing for a Novell cert but from what I've seen SUSE has gone the furthest in integration within win+lin mixed environments.