Hello, all!

Tier 2 IT support professional that works in Windows and Mac environments who is interested in Linux for the purpose of getting a sys admin job.

I currently run Debian and Ubuntu on VMs on my PC desktop and Mac laptop. Just ordered a Chromebook today because I saw many YouTube vids on how to install Linux to work in an interchangeable fashion with the Chrome OS (keyboard shortcut allows you to go back and forth.

I just passed the LPI Essentials exam and try a YouTube tutorial every now and then.

Knowing how I work/get motivated I need a structured path to get to the next level on Linux or I am likely to stray.

It looks like there is a big gap in between the LPI Essentials and the next cert up. Linux+ just broke from LPI, but that also seems like a huge mountain to climb for me now.

Any suggestions on a bridge in knowledge from LPI Essentials to the more advanced Linux+ and LPI certs?

Thanks for your input!

if you mean this: https://www.lpi.org/our-certificatio...tials-overview you can find also: but I think you also need some [a few years of] practice.

Anyway, I think there is no "one single path", but you need to find your own way (which is mainly based on your current knowledge, your possibilities, [cap]abilities, family and other things).

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If you have a sound understanding of how to actually administer linux, the Linux+ is not difficult at all. It's mostly multiple choice questions with a few fill-in-the-blanks and match the answer questions. My friend was able to pass with only a basic familiarity. Past that, yes, they do get harder in earnest.

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Thanks for the replies. Even though the LPI Essentials says it is a stepping stone to LPIC-1 I find that it is like going from stage 1 to stage 5 in material covered and difficulty. Since 0% of the half dozen IT support jobs (including current) I have been at use(d) Linux I am dead in the water when it comes to real world experience and being able to find an irl mentor for Linux.
The *new* Linux+ is 90 questions in 90 minutes, and after viewing the exam objectives I see about %15 of it was covered in the Essentials exam material.
I wish there was something in between N00b level and Admin. I'm in a little oasis in the middle of a desert and it seems like the nearest civilization is five days walk.

If you have a beefy enough system, or a couple decent system, you can get all the experience you need simply by doing things. Set up a network via VM's and learn how the networking stack works. Play around with changing SELINUX settings on a VM. Set up firewalls. Set up shared folders between VM's, etc. Might not be experience that some companies care about (since it isn't real world experience), but it'll certainly get you comfortable with admin'ing linux and ready to take the test.

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Thanks for the suggestions, Timothy.

I hope that more introductory to mid level certifications are developed.

Many people get caught in the job requirements of entry level/jr positions requiring experience with systems/environments that can only truly be had when one already has the job.