⭐️ Linux Essentials Certified

🌐 Why this Cert?

I have been using Linux for a hot minute. During that time, I thought I would just ‘pick up’ the necessary concepts. To tell you the truth, that was not the case. Drinking from the firehose of YouTube tutorials, I was fed bad information focusing on the wrong things.

🧐 Surface Level

If you have ever scratched the surface of Linux, you would know there is a ton of surface-level content focusing on Desktop Environments and the Hacker Aesthetic. It wasn’t until recently that I decided to pursue formal training in the underlying structure, and boy, am I glad I did.

📜 Legacy

First off, I find it fascinating that Linux has become an integral component of web infrastructure, using code that stretches back to MIT and Berkeley in the 60s. Furthermore, like a mathematical proof, the Kernel has been stress-tested and pondered by great minds, leading to a robust system with well-known conventions.

💡 Investment

For these reasons, I decided it was worth investing time into the study and use of Linux, as those skills would likely be useful in the distant future. Furthermore, there will be legacy systems built today that will need attention years from now.

I really liked the Linux Professional Institute’s pitch for the Essentials Certification. It is platform agnostic and provides a solid foundation for those looking to pursue the LPIC-1 Professional Designation.

🔙 Taking a Step Back

I had originally intended to take the LPIC-1 exam. However, while studying for it, I realized that I was missing the fundamentals needed to truly grasp and absorb the LPIC-1 information. I am very careful when it comes to absorption and understanding; I try to avoid cramming.

🔄 Change of Plan

With this in mind, it made sense to take a step back and focus on the essentials. I purchased Jason Dion’s course on Udemy, as well as the additional practice exams as a bundle deal. I watched the content and completed all of the practice exams (hastily).

📅 Booking the Exam

In order to give myself a deadline, I pre-purchased an exam voucher. I purchased an ‘In-Person’ voucher with Pearson VUE, a testing facility franchise, more on that later. I have done online certifications before; this will mark my first in-person, proctored exam through Pearson. The voucher was purchased through the Linux Professional Institute Portal for $140.00 CAD total. At the time, I was unaware that courses often give a discount code, so I likely missed out on 10 percent off.

📚 Course and Materials

I purchased a course by Jason Dion on Udemy. If you are not familiar with Udemy, they sell and deliver online video courses. They have this practice of wildly swinging pricing based on several variables. So this course is listed for over 100 dollars, when in reality, I got it for roughly 20 bucks.

To supplement the course, I used Anki smart flashcard software. A fantastic free software that really boosted learning efficiency. It works by slowly feeding unfamiliar cards based on one’s learning progress statistics.

🧐 I was Very Thorough

I watched 100% of Jason’s course, completing all of the quizzes and practice tests. Don’t let Udemy technical courses fool you; all of the fluff and filler is removed, and you are left with dense, high-bandwidth content that requires full focus and comprehension.

I supplemented the course and practice tests with a bit of hands-on practice in a virtual machine, as well as doing flashcards on my phone periodically.

📆 The Day of the Exam

The Pearson Professional Centre location I chose for the exam was the Toronto College of Technology on Sheppard.

The name made me think of a grand facility, when in reality it was a squat 3-story building with a mundane appearance. When I walked in, it was evident that this building is following the Pearson VUE standard of hardcore security. There were more cameras than in a modern bank and a careful procedure to everything. I was taken aback and reminded of the first Mission Impossible scene with the computer room.

😕 Confidence was Low

I was not feeling confident, in all honesty. The test-taking environment was not very comfortable in comparison to my home desk; the bright lighting and soundscape are a bit off-putting, but luckily I was given some earplugs prior to sitting down – nice touch, Pearson.

🧗‍♂️ Harder

Due to the confidentiality agreement prior to the test, I am not going to divulge details or what kind of questions were on there. I will just say that it was more difficult than I expected, to the point where I wondered whether I would pass. In fact, I was surprised to pass with flying colours.

🏆 Proud

I am the proud owner of the Linux Essentials Certification. Don’t let the name fool you; it is more involved than I had originally estimated, and I am glad that I made sure my fundamentals were solid prior to the LPIC. I am also proud of this Cert because there was a concerted effort made to truly learn and not cram.

🚂 Back on the LPIC Study Train

Now that I have completed this cert, getting back to the LPIC seems much more comfortable. I actually completed a couple of labs the evening after completing the exam.

📜 The Certification

Well… Here is the verification link, in all its glory.

Linux Professional Institute - Linux Essentials Certification Verification Link