So, are you are looking to start an IT career as a Linux System Administrator? You need to consider the online linux training I am going to outline in this article. The purpose of this article is to discuss the important skills you need to become a successful Linux System Administrator and discuss the steps you need to be successful. We will also explore the recommended learning path to earn both the Linux Foundation Certified IT Associate (LFCA) and the Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFSA).
According to the Linux Foundation, over 90% of public cloud instances run on Linux. 82% of all smartphones run on Linux (Android). If you are going to be a successful computing/IT professional today, you must learn Linux. Unfortunately, Linux is not the easiest operating system to learn with a strong foundation first.
If you are looking for a basic understanding of the Linux command line, read this article.
eJutsu Foundation (Novice)
If you are brand new (novice) to the world of computing and information technology (IT), you need to learn the foundational skills needed to be successful.
In the image to the right, there are four levels or steps you need to do to learn the knowledge and skills needed to be a Linux System Administrator. Level 1 is labeled foundation. At that level, you need to learn the following:
- Hardware – you need to understand the computer and mobile devices the computing architecture of how they are built. You should consider an A+ class to learn the hardware and software foundational skills.
- Software – you need to have the knowledge and skills of Word processing, Spreadsheets, and Presentation software. All your communications will be done in those applications. You also need to understand how to install software and apps on a mobile device.
- Operating Systems – Since you will be learning Linux, it is a good idea to learn Microsoft Windows both from a user and also as a system administrator. You need to have an understanding of the command line specifically. I wrote an article on
- Coding – As a Linux system administrator, you will learn how to do shell scripting which is a key skill today. You can start with Python. If you want to read a basic introduction to Python and programming, read this article. Read this article for a basic tutorial on Python.
- Networking – You need to learn the foundations of networking at least from a network+ perspective. It is a critical skill to know how networks communicate so you can be an efficient system administrator.
- Cybersecurity – You need to have a strong foundation in cybersecurity since as a Linux system administrator you will be in charge of protecting your systems from attacks. Security+ is a good foundational certification to do first.
NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission should you choose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link. It’s okay – I love the Linux Foundation, and you will too!
The Linux Foundation is a non-profit vendor-neutral organization founded in 2000 that supports everything Linux. I prefer vendor-neutral organizations because you get to explore the different popular Linux distributions for different use cases.
Linux Foundation Certified IT Associate (LFCA) – Level 2 – Apprentice
According to the Linux Foundation, \”the LFCA is a pre-professional certification intended for those new to the industry or considering starting an IT career as an administrator or engineer. This certification is ideal for users interested in advancing to the professional level through a demonstrated understanding of critical concepts for modern IT systems including cloud computing.\” The image below shows the different domains and competencies for the LFCA.
The recommended learning path to the LFCA is as follows:
- Introduction to Linux (LFS101x)Training
- Introduction to DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering (LFS162x) Training
- Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure Technologies (LFS151x) Training
- A Beginner’s Guide to Open Source Software Development (LFD102)Training
- Open Source Licensing Basics for Software Developers (LFC191)Training
- Secure Software Development: Requirements, Design, and Reuse (LFD104x)Training
- Secure Software Development: Verification and More Specialized Topics (LFD106x)
- TrainingFundamentals of Open Source IT and Cloud Computing (LFS200)Training
- Linux Foundation Certified IT Associate (LFCA)Certification
Click here and scroll down to register for these classes and certifications.
Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS) – Level 3 – Journey
According to the Linux Foundation, the \”LFCS is ideal for candidates early in their Linux system administration or open source career. Candidates should have completed training in Linux system administration.\” The image below shows the domains and competencies for the LFCS. You can take one class to get to this certification once you pass the Level 2 certification.
The recommended learning path is as follows:
- LFCA courses & certification
- Essentials of Linux System Administration (LFS201) Training
- Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS) Certification
Click here and scroll down to register for the LFCS class and certification.
Linux Projects / Internship – Level 4
As you are learning to become a Linux System Administrator, you need to consider getting some competition and/or work experience with Linux. A lot of organizations today want their new hires to hit the ground running when they are hired. It is good to get some experience as you are learning Linux.
Conclusion
In this article, we explored the different levels and steps that are needed to be successful in becoming a Linux System Administrator. As a seasoned educator, I know what is best for novices trying to enter the workplace in computing and IT. Many novices want to skip steps to get to their goals and often fail or don\’t have the discipline. I stress to everyone I coach that you need a strong foundation to be able to be successful in Linux. If you do not have a degree, you may want to consider an Associate\’s degree first in IT before starting Level 2. If you already have a degree, then I recommend you take A+ and network+ training along with a class in Windows System Administration. These are really the basics to be able to rapidly transition into a Linux System Administrator.
If you have any questions or comments, please comment below and I will do my best to help. If you are in need of more in-depth coaching contact me at drm@techninjamasters.com and I can work with you.
