RHCSA or Linux+

xirtlook · August 2011

I recently finished a RedHat Sys Admin course at my local college, and intended on attempting the certification for the RHCSA but procrastination got the best of me.

My instructor was going to offer the Linux Shell Scripting this fall and the RHCE (engineering) in the spring, however he passed away recently, rest in peace.

That being said, I'm not sure if I'll ever finish for my RHCE in the near future.
so should I study for my RHCSA or just shoot for Linux+ ?

does Linux+ hold any value in the industry?
Hell does RHCSA even hold any value?

I know govt/dod is nuts for redhat admins.. so I would assume so?

If anyone has taken either or both... did it seem difficult?

No rush on response.. I have other certifications I have to get for work, and pursuing a career in networking (cisco)... but for my own personal achievement, linux is m preference.

thanks in advance *nix friends.

UnixGuy · August 2011

Welcome to the forums, and sorry for your instructor.

Linux+ is a good certification to start with, but since you already took RHCSA trainig, then I'd say go for RHCSA. From my experience, RHCSA holds more value than Linux+ because it is lab-based.

It's not easy, you need to be comfortable with all the topics in the Red Hat training material, so you need a lot of hands-on practice until you feel confident enough to do everything

My recommendation is, do both RHCSA and Linux+. Get more experience then shoot for RHCE later on.

Good luck

lordy · August 2011

Linux+ is much simpler than RHCSA. RHCSA is a lab-based exam that will test your skill to set things up as required from scratch while L+ is a plain multiple-choice test.

From my point of few RHCSA has a higher value than L+.

If you have a lot of hands-on experience you can go for RHCSA directly, otherwise I would suggest that you get your feet wet with L+ and then move forward from there.

varelg · August 2011

One of the first things Night shade mentions in his book is progression from Lpic to rhcsa. I don't think this is by accident. You may have learned in your rhcsa classes the howtos of administration, but if you don't know the why's you will need to understand the system first.
Go for lpic-1 or linux + first if you don't have as many hours of linux admin as you would like to have and then tackle rhcsa. I agree that rhcsa is more recognized in the industry, but you need an established base from where you start.

kerx · August 2011

To validate what varelg stated from the book he mentioned. I really recommend the LPIC series certifications to anyone who would like to work with the Linux OS professionally. There is just too much information to try to sum up into a single certification track to consider you a Linux professional. Also, a great thing with the LPIC track is that it will give you familiarity with diff. package managers on the different Linux variants, and it will give you the core as well. I would recommend doing the LPIC 101, 102, 201, 202, then shooting for your RHSA/RHCE. I believe the LPIC and RHSA/RHCE certifications hold more value in the industry than the CompTIA certifications. Also, I believe Linux+ is somehow related with the LPIC organization. They may have just crammed some of the 101 and 102 stuff in there, so I'm sure after your 101 and 102 you could easily pass your Linux+ without a sweat.

xirtlook · August 2011

thanks for the words of wisdom guys, and your condolences.

I feel like I owe it to myself and my instructor to get linux/redhat certified.

shouldn't let such potential go to waste.

I have another friend/classmate that is actually stalking these threads... he too is studying for his certification.

hi jonah! lol

I'll be sure to look into these more when I have the free time. Thanks again guys.

ironlung · August 2011

I believe we had the same instructor, one of the best in my opinion. I Learned so much from him. Linux+ does not seem to hold much weight unlike the redhat certs, valuable certs to have.

Bl8ckr0uter · August 2011

Do you have any professional experience with Linux? I am just curious.

I think RH is the way to go, but it is pretty expensive

. LPIC might be a good proxy to get you in and let an employer pay for the test (and flying you down there)

Oh and the new linux+ is basically the same as the LPIC-1 so if you do the new Linux+, you will get the LPIC-1 and the Novell Certified Linux Admin.

xirtlook · August 2011

ironlung wrote: »

I believe we had the same instructor, one of the best in my opinion. I Learned so much from him. Linux+ does not seem to hold much weight unlike the redhat certs, valuable certs to have.

Bob Ayella?

Bl8ckr0uter wrote: »

Do you have any professional experience with Linux? I am just curious.

I think RH is the way to go, but it is pretty expensive . LPIC might be a good proxy to get you in and let an employer pay for the test (and flying you down there)

Oh and the new linux+ is basically the same as the LPIC-1 so if you do the new Linux+, you will get the LPIC-1 and the Novell Certified Linux Admin.

No Professional Experience. Just all School/Play.
Although I might get to do more with linux here at work.
So we'll see how that pans out.

----

I think I might pick up a good linux+ book, read through it, got for the cert... just to get it out of the way. I still want to go for RHCE... but it'll have to hold off until Summer 2012 or later.
I'll think about grabbing linux+ this winter. Jan 2012.

Bl8ckr0uter · August 2011

xirtlook wrote: »

No Professional Experience. Just all School/Play.
Although I might get to do more with linux here at work.
So we'll see how that pans out.

----

I think I might pick up a good linux+ book, read through it, got for the cert... just to get it out of the way. I still want to go for RHCE... but it'll have to hold off until Summer 2012 or later.
I'll think about grabbing linux+ this winter. Jan 2012.

Good luck. L+ is on my to do list and depending on how things go with Cisco FW Specialist, I may pick it up late this year or early next year.

joneno · August 2011

xirtlook wrote: »

Bob Ayella?

No Professional Experience. Just all School/Play.
Although I might get to do more with linux here at work.
So we'll see how that pans out.

----

I think I might pick up a good linux+ book, read through it, got for the cert... just to get it out of the way. I still want to go for RHCE... but it'll have to hold off until Summer 2012 or later.
I'll think about grabbing linux+ this winter. Jan 2012.

C'mon Marvin go for the RHCSA, it is not as difficult as people say it is. With all the labs and studying we did for that class, you should be fine. Plus it is you....super smart geek. lol !!!

varelg · August 2011

Bl8ckr0uter wrote: »

Do you have any professional experience with Linux? I am just curious.

I think RH is the way to go, but it is pretty expensive .

Actually, when you sum the cost of 101 and 102 and compare it to the cost of RHCSA, RH isn't THAT much more expensive. Of course, comparing the cost of the tests only. RH however recommends attending their classes, which cost "a bit" more...

UnixGuy · August 2011

I really agree with that. You will get more value out of your money for the RH certifications, and Red Hat training is really worth it.

varelg wrote: »

Actually, when you sum the cost of 101 and 102 and compare it to the cost of RHCSA, RH isn't THAT much more expensive. Of course, comparing the cost of the tests only. RH however recommends attending their classes, which cost "a bit" more...

Bl8ckr0uter · August 2011

I thought you could only take the exam in Texas but it looks like you can take it a bunch of places:

https://www.redhat.com/apps/training/?course=EX200&M3_offer_code=&success_pack=&location=Columbus%2C+OH&begin_date=All+Dates&saba_search%3Asearch_cb=Search&asp_charset=ISO-8859-1

ironlung · August 2011

Yes, Mr. Ayella.

RHCSA or Linux+

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