Linux Certification Practice Tests?

TeachesWithPenguins: "I teach Linux at a private college. We (the instructors) are in the process of selecting new textbooks for our basic Linux course, and have run into a controversy. Some instructors are holding out for the textbook which includes a CD full of practice exams for a Linux Plus certification. The rest of us want to use the book which includes the greatest number of practical exercises -- which the students could use at home or at school. This controversy could be ended if we could find free, downloadable, Linux certification practice exams on the internet. Years ago, when I started getting certifications, free practice tests where readily available on the internet. So far, I have been unable to find anything of the sort for any Linux certification. Do such things still exist -- for Linux?"

hmm

[StandardDeviant]

From what I can tell, the problem is two-fold:

1. There isn't a clear standard certification. RHCE? LPI? Linux+? Weren't there at least two more? This kind of confusion hurts employer buy-in.
2. The linux (and to a certain extent Unix) community is not very "cert" oriented. There are, in my mind, myriad reasons for this. Essentially, in this arena, certifications are not how skills are shown.

So, basically with no clear standard and weak community buy-in, it's no wonder that it's harder to find material than it is for the MCS*/CCN* cert tests. My advice would be to focus on practical tasks and hands-on lab work, becuase this will prepare them for any cert worth having.

Cert issues - United Linux plea

[bildstorm]

I started digging around to find out about different certifications and I was a little annoyed.

From what I understand, the Red Hat exam is the most comprehensive out there. However, I'm not a big Red Hat fan. So I'm stuck between getting certification that screams Red Hat, or getting something that an employer may not care about, or if they do and I get hired, may still put me under the guy with the RHCE.

Living in the D.C. area I will say that certifications definitely count here, and I'd love for the guys at United Linux [unitedlinux.com] to come up with some great certifications.

Re:hmm

[.@.]

It's only confusion if you think all the exams are similar. They're not.

the RHCE is Red-Hat-centric.

LPI was designed to be comprehensive and distribution-neutral.

Linux+ is positioned as more junior than the other two exams.

They're each different, and each was designed with different goals. Take the one that meets yours. There can't be a "standard" yet, because each of the certs you list exists as the only member of its class. Once there's competition within the classes, a standard can emerge. Until then, they're each unique examples of different types of certs.

Ha

[inerte]

Linux is not about certificates. It's about learning.

Teach your students how to solve any problem, and they will decide if they want a Linux career.

Re:Ha

[larien]

Yup, but people like bits of paper which say "this person knows about subject X". Even if they say "this person knows how to cram and may not have any practical experience", the latter mainly coming from the MCSEs.

Re:Ha

[[e-mail]]

> the latter mainly coming from the MCSEs.

You know of course, MCSE stands for:
Must Call Someone Experienced

Re:Ha

[Slynkie]

Sure, but I've never known any University that promoted certification exams. If they're taking a college course on Linux, chances are they're getting a piece of paper (their degree) that says a little bit more than some certification.

Re:Ha

[larien]

I've known one; I used to work at one [rgu.ac.uk] where they ran a course which gave an MS certification (MCSD, I think) for programming.

There was also part of the HND course which gave them the ECDL [ecdl.co.uk] (European computer driving license), but to be honest, that was a waste of space.

Re:If you can

[leviramsey]

post to slashdot "Lunix r0x0rz" you are certified.

Certifiable? yes. Certified? Not so sure about that.

yes, no, maybe so

[fredopalus]

Sure. It's called tldp.org [tldp.org]

Something more relevant...

[.@.]

I'd recommend studying instead for an exam that focuses on systems administration ability rather than memorization of command switches. Look at programs like the SAGE Certification program [sagecert.org], which are designed to test a candidate's ability to run systems, rather than their ability to pass tests.

Re:Clarification from "The" ananymous coward

[mslinux]

What the fuck are all the for? Don't you know how to close a fucking tag?

IBM provides online tutorials

[jbolden]

IBM has online tutorials for the LPI exams.

I think this link [ibm.com] should work for a while. If later it doesn't go to developerworks [ibm.com] linux -> Education and then key word search for LPI and you'll find lots. Also IBM offers a free self assement [ibm.com] for the LPI exams.

Finally, just to throw in my (probably unwanted $.02) you are a school you should be educating not teaching a trade. Specific certifications are a trade not an education.

easy solution

[gregbaker]

Use the good book and put the one with the tests on reserve in your library. Does that do it?

Different approach

[ehiris]

If you want your tests to be usefull establish what a system should and then in form of a lab with a Linux (I prefer SuSE but have your students choose whichever) installation CD and VMWare loaded on the lab system, have them do the magic thing ... Load Linux, and configure it so it runs to serve a purpose.