LPI Certification Guide

LPIC-1

This is the lowest LPIC level that measures your ability and knowledge in Linux command lines, as well as your skills at maintaining Linux environments. This includes your skills at giving support to users of Linux, adding users to a larger system, rebooting, shutting down, making backups and restoring Linux systems.

Exams :

You will need to pass two examinations to get your LPIC-1 certification: Exam 101 and 102.
For Exam 101, you will be tested on the following skills:

• System architecture
  
• GNU commands
  
• Unix commands
  
• Installation and Linux package management
  
• Filesystem hierarchies and standards
  

Meanwhile basic skills tested in Exam 102 include:

• Desktops and user interfaces
  
• Linux administration
  
• Scripting, shells & data management
  
• Important system services
  
• Security
  
• Networking basics
  

Both exams include topics that are common to all Linux distributions and are vendor independent.
Pre-requisites :
There are no pre-requisites for the LPIC-1 certification besides knowing basics tasks for running Linux.

LPIC-2

If LPIC-1 is an entry-level certification, then consider LPIC-2 an advanced level certification for the Linux operating system.
The LPIC-2 will be validating your skills in administering a small and medium-sized site.It will certify that you have the skills to plan, maintain, implement, troubleshoot and secure a small Linux or mixed network that includes an Internet gateway, server and LAN server.

Pre-requisites :

In order to pursue the LPIC-2 certification, you’d first need to be LPIC-1 certified. You should also know how to manage a small site and maintain a mixed network.

Exams :

The LPIC-2 certification also requires you to pass two exams: 201 and 202.
Exam topics include in Exam 201 will cover:

• Advanced administration for storage device
  
• Configuring networks
  
• Domain name server (DNS)
  
• Filesystem & devices
  
• Linux kernel
  
• System maintenance
  
• System startup
  

While in Exam 202, the skills tested include:

• E-mail services
  
• File sharing
  
• Network client management
  
• System security
  
• Troubleshooting and
  
• Web services
  

LPIC-3

The LPIC-3 Certification is a senior level Linux certification, mainly for enterprise-level IT professionals who use Linux.
Currently, there is only the Core designation available. The LPIC-3 core will ensure that you:

• Have years of experience in maintaining and installing Linux on a variety of computers for a variety of purposes.
  
• Have professional experience and training as an enterprise level professional in Linux.
• Have enterprise and advanced Linux skills level, including administration, management, installation, security, maintenance and troubleshooting.
• Have knowledge of open-source tools to help in capacity planning and resource problems troubleshooting.
  
• Have experience in utilizing LDAP to bring together Unix and Windows services, including email, Active Directory, PAM and Samba.
  
• Have experienced using Samba and LDAP in planning, architecting, designing, building and implementing full environments.
  
• Know how to write Bash or Perl scripts and other system programming languages.
  

Pre-requisites :

To be able to pursue an LPIC-3 Core certification, you would need to have a LPIC-2 certification.

Exams :

To get a LPIC-3 certification, you need to pass the Exam 301: Core exam.
To pass the Core exam, you will need to brush up on these skills:

• Capacity planning
  
• Concepts, architecture & design
  
• Configuration
  
• Installation and development
  
• Integration & migration, and
  
• Usage
  

On top of the Core exam, however, there are already specialization exams available, but these will not earn you a separate designation other than Core:

Exam 302: Mixed environment
Exam 303: Security
Exam 304: Virtualization and high availability
In order to take these exams, you will need to first pass Exam 301: Core.

Exam 302: Mixed environment

Measures the skills outlined in Exam 301, as well as the necessary skills in integrating Samba with Windows for file and print services. You should also be able to design, plan, implement and build a multi-user environment with Samba.
On top of the skills you need to pass the Core exam, you’ll need to know:

• User & group management
  
• How to work with Active Directory, NetBIOS and CIFS.
  
• Security & performance.
  

Exam 303: Security

To pass this exam, you need to know how to implement and design customized solutions to complex automation problems, including on enterprise sites and public-facing websites. You should also be able to work well with subordinates and higher management, as well as maintain a budget.

Be sure to know access control, application security, cryptography, network and operations security.
To pass Exam 304: Virtualization and high availability, you need to show skills in

• Cluster management
  
• Cluster storage
  
• Load balancing and
  
• Virtualization