The Linux Certification Exam: The Best, And The Rest
Linux is an open source computer operating system which has slowly been gaining a following as an alternative to Microsoft's Windows over the past fifteen years. As the Linux community of users, which now numbers an estimated twenty-nine million, has grown, so has the demand for those qualified to manage and administer Linux networks in the workplace. So too has the need for a Linux certification exam which will truly establish the real world Linux management skills of those pass it. There is currently a variety of Linux vendors and IT organizations which offer a Linux certification exam. The difficulty for employers needing IT assistance from those trained in Linux is that there is no standardized certification. Because Linux is open source, and a collaborative effort constantly being upgraded by thousands of individuals, no single entity has the right to proclaim itself the official Linux certification authority. Many organizations have rushed in to fill the gap left by the lack of an official Linux certification exam, but the best-known among them are Novell, Red hat, Inc., and Software Architecture Implementation and Realization, or SAIR. While many of the smaller Linux certification exam programs, and SAIR offer only multiple-choice tests which require only that the candidates for certification memorize vast amounts of technical material, the Novell Practicum and Red Hat Linux certification exam each requires hands on problem solving which simulates what a Linux professional can expect will be required in an actual employment situation. Red Hat offers a separate Linux certification exam for each of its certification levels, and they require hands-on system installation, administration and trouble shooting appropriate to each level. Because all Linux operations can be approached in different ways, the Red hat Linux certification exam leaves it up to the candidates to choose the most effective approach. The Red Hat Linux certification exam is scored on results, not techniques. There is a Red hat Linux certification exam for each of four distinct certifications. The basic certification level is that of Red Hat Certified Technician followed by Red Hat Certified Engineer; Red Hat Certified Architect: and Red Hat Certified Security Specialist. The Novell Practicum Linux certification exam also requires virtual machine solving of real world IT scenarios and is offered at two levels, the Certified Linux Professional and the Certified Linux Engineer. Both the Red Hat and Novell Linux certification exams last for several hours, and are almost impossible to pass without having hands-on Linux experience. They are designed to ensure that employers who hire Red Hat or Novell certified Linux IT professionals will get people who are not merely theoreticians, but who can put Linux to work in whatever ways their businesses demand. The difficulty of a Linux certification exam depends on the entity offering it, but anyone who qualifies for Linux certification based on classroom or study guide knowledge will not last long in a job environment without being able to translate what they know into real-world IT solutions. As more and more businesses adopt Linux, the differences between the Red Hat and Novell standards for Linux certification and those of other exam providers will become more and more obvious to employers. |
