Hey everyone! I'm diving into the world of Linux and want to set up my own lab while pursuing some certifications. I've heard that the RHCSA is the primary certification for Linux System Administration, but I'm curious about how other certifications stack up in terms of industry recognition. Given that RHCSA is quite pricey and I'm mainly doing this out of personal interest (my current job mostly uses Microsoft tech, so I'm unlikely to get support for this), I'm looking for more affordable and reliable ways to gain the skills needed for RHCSA. Are there any other certifications that are respected and potentially cheaper, or any resources that can help me learn without necessarily going through an expensive certification?
4 Answers
You might want to check out O'Reilly Media. They offer a 10-day free trial and then subscriptions for about $50 a month, which includes access to various tech courses and books. They even do live crash courses, and there's an RHCSA one coming up in March! Also, if you prefer free resources, look for Het_Tanis on YouTube and Twitch. He streams often and recently completed a Linux System Administration course with all the videos available for free. Super helpful!
In my 30+ years in IT, I’ve rarely needed Red Hat-specific knowledge. Most environments I've worked in use other distributions like Ubuntu. I suggest you build a home lab using Ubuntu, as it's free and will teach you Linux basics effectively. Plus, consider upskilling in trending areas like DevOps, containerization, and automation tools, as those are becoming essential in the field.
Honestly, you might skip the certification for now and just focus on learning. O'Reilly is a great option for affordable subscriptions. From my experience, the RHCSA is the only entry-level Linux cert that holds significant value. So if you're interested, studying for it could be worthwhile without stressing over the exam right away.
If you don't necessarily need the certification, just focus on the material. I studied for the LFCS (Linux Foundation Certified SysAdmin), which is cheaper than RHCSA and still well-regarded. You should definitely consider your learning goals—if it's mainly personal interest, there's a ton of free resources and labs available for you to practice without the pressure of exams.
That's exactly my situation! I'm really looking to learn without the rush of certification. Thanks for the suggestion!