by Allan Hoffman

With IT managers embracing Linux, certification in the open-source operating system is increasingly viewed as a sign of professionalism among techies with Linux know-how.

Linux certification is not yet viewed as a must-have, but it is clearly gaining acceptance as IT departments deploy Linux and seek techies with bona fide credentials.

Linux professionals can choose from a number of different credentials offered by Linux vendors and not-for-profit organisations. Techies considering certification will need to weigh a number of factors, including the flavour of Linux deployed at work, their desire to seek out (or avoid) certifications tied to a specific vendor and the cost of certification and training.

Credentials Controversy

But take note: Certification is a somewhat touchy issue in the open-source community. Open-source advocates voice concern about embracing certifications, a trend viewed by some as more of a product marketing ploy than a genuine effort to create credentials of value to IT professionals.

Even among certification advocates, opinions vary from criticism of vendor certifications to a wholesale embrace of certification as a sign of the maturity of Linux.

"Do you get your driver's license from Ford?" says Evan Leibovitch, president of the Linux Professional Institute (LPI), a not-for-profit group that serves Linux and open-source software users, vendors and developers. "Why should people tolerate this in IT, but they don't tolerate it in other fields?"

"We're not in this to sell training or software," says Leibovitch. "It's been important for us to stress that certification is not the be-all and end-all of the hiring process."

At the same time, Linux certification is clearly becoming more popular. Three Linux certifications were among the 10 listed in a December 2004 CertCities.com roundup of "hot" certifications.

Corporate Acceptance

But others praise the Linux certifications from Novell and Red Hat, saying they will be crucial in bringing additional respect to the Linux world, especially within major companies. And all tend to agree that Linux certification is here to stay -- like it or not.

"While not as important as Cisco -- I doubt anyone hires someone to work on their Cisco equipment unless they have some kind of Cisco certification -- I think it's becoming as important as a Microsoft certification or, in the past, Novell's," says Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, who writes frequently about Linux as editor of eWEEK.com's Linux & Open Source Center. "That's because Linux is rapidly entering companies' server rooms, and IT directors want some kind of assurance that the staffers they're hiring know more about Linux than simply that they run Lindows [now known as Linspire] at home and read Slashdot religiously."

Major Linux Certifications

LPIC-1 and LPIC-2: The LPI program currently offers two certifications, with a third, for senior-level personnel, under development:

• LPIC-1: Designed for junior-level administrators, the LPIC-1 targets IT professionals who maintain, install and configure Linux systems.
• LPIC-2: The LPIC-2 certification is for IT pros who administer small- to medium-sized sites and plan and implement mixed networks.

Linux+: The Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), a global trade organization for the IT industry, offers Linux+, a vendor-neutral certification developed with the aim of certifying knowledge in basic installation, operation, security and troubleshooting for Linux.

CLP and CLE: Novell is supporting its Linux products with two certifications:

• Certified Linux Professional (CLP): This credential is geared toward would-be Linux administrators, certifying skills in installing Linux servers, managing users and groups and troubleshooting networks.
• Certified Linux Engineer (CLE): This is a more advanced certification than the CLP, focusing on heterogeneous networks and providing business solutions with Linux.

RHCE, RHCT and RHCA: Linux vendor Red Hat offers three certifications:

• Red Hat Certified Technician (RHCT): The credential is geared toward IT workers capable of installing and configuring Linux systems as well as working with a corporate network.
• Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE): The RHCE, generally a senior administrator, should be able to configure network services and security.
• Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA): The credential builds on RHCE skills, with an emphasis on systems management, storage management, performance tuning, and advanced network services and security.

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