My work is transitioning to 100% Ubuntu servers. Should I focus on Linux training?

RedGaiter · August 2014

Hi Everybody,

I recently, within the last 2 weeks, started studying for 70-410 because I felt it would be good to achieve the MCSA Server 2012 certification. That being said, I currently work in the IT helpdesk of a company that primarily develops iOS applications. So, everybody is running an OS X machine / tablet. Currently, our servers are a mix of OS X and Ubuntu, both physical and virtual. In october, we are transitioning to have mostly Ubuntu servers, with one Server 2012 machine acting as a replacement for Dropbox.

Should I continue down the MCSA/E path, or should I pursue LPIC-1, RHCSA, and RHCE?

From what I've learned on the job so far, I do enjoy working in the UNIX/Linux terminal, but I also feel very much at home if I'm on a Windows machine.

10Linefigure · August 2014

You can look here: https://insights.ubuntu.com/2013/10/30/hit-the-ground-running-with-ubuntu-openstack-training/ and it may be advantageous to put Ubuntu on a home computer to play around with. And grab a book on Linux such as Linux+ or you can go into RHCSA. You may want to avoid directly studying/testing for LPIC as there are not many resources and Linux+ gives you LPIC automatically. RHCSA will probably give you the best ROI if you can dedicate to it.

Good luck!

5ekurity · August 2014

As a traditional Microsoft guy pulling double duty in the Linux world now, I'd recommend looking into Linux Academy to get yourself more familiar with the different distributions and follow along with the instructor. You can spin up servers on the fly and SSH into them; if you break something, just delete and rebuild the server in a minute.

Heero · August 2014

Linux is a very valuable skill to have. I think you should definitely start learning linux.

NinjaBoy · August 2014

My work is transitioning to 100% Ubuntu servers. Should I focus on Linux training?

Yes... Your work is going to be supporting and administering Linux servers, focus on that. Simple.

UnixGuy · August 2014

Study for Linux+ and LPIC-1. Install Ubuntu and start using it. Gain experience on the job, then shoot for RHCSA...this is a good chance for you to start your career with Linux

DoubleNNs · August 2014

If you plan on staying at this job, study Linux.

You could always study up on Windows Server afterwards. But it'd be more advantageous to get familiar w/ Linux now since that's what'll be needed on the job.

xenodamus · August 2014

Another vote for Linux Academy here. I'm also a Windows guy working through their course and the learning environment is great. The instant server build is the best part in my opinion. I'm a sysadmin, so sure...I know how to install an OS on a VM. But I don't want to waste my time staging systems....I want to learn Linux. Linux Academy allows me to do just that.

All of that to say...yes, if I were you I would use this as an opportunity to gain some Linux knowledge/experience. Personally, I feel that learning Linux is making me a better Windows admin as well.

bridgestone · November 2014

Dude, as a guy who works in Windows and cannot get any Linux exposure, you don't know how lucky you are. It is very hard to get Linux jobs without prior professional Linux experience.

You're sitting on gold. Take advantage of that.

My work is transitioning to 100% Ubuntu servers. Should I focus on Linux training?

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