While Microsoft still dominates on the desktop, Linux has a huge user base in business as a server operating system. Almost every major website in the world runs on Linux: Google, Facebook, YouTube, Wikipedia, to name just a few. Therefore, it is not surprising that there is a growing demand for professionals with Linux skills, who can earn up to 30% more in salary than their counterparts who support Microsoft.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is the most popular Linux distribution among medium and large enterprises, and Red Hat has developed its own training courses and certifications to ensure professional standards are high.
There are three levels of certification provided by RedHat: RHCT (Red Hat Certified Technician), RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer), and RHCA (Red Hat Certified Architect).
RHCT is the entry-level certification, suitable for a junior-level system administrator dealing with Linux systems. Topics covered include package management, network configuration, file system management, and basic system troubleshooting.
RHCE is a highly respected qualification, showing a good level of understanding of using and troubleshooting Red Hat Enterprise. Topics covered include advanced package management, system services, kernel configuration, network configuration, advanced account management, web services, mail services, virtualization, NFS, and troubleshooting.
RHCA is a very difficult qualification to obtain, currently in the hands of less than 1000 people worldwide. To earn the RHCA score, a total of six exams must be passed: the RCHE exam; RedHat Enterprise Security: Network Services, RedHat Enterprise Deployment, Virtualization and Systems Management; RedHat Directory Services and Authentication; RedHat Enterprise Clustering and Storage Management; and RedHat Enterprise Systems’ performance optimization and monitoring expertise. Those who earn the RHCA qualification can expect to be in high demand and earn a hefty salary.
For those unfamiliar with Linux, RHCT is a good starting goal to aim for. The RHCT certification provides a good “foot in the door” for prospective employees looking to impress an employer and land their first Linux systems administration job.
For those looking to run a full network, the RHCE certification should be sought. The RHCE course provides a good level of knowledge, enough to be able to face most of the challenges that daily administration can pose. The RHCE exam demonstrates a high level of knowledge and is a highly respected qualification.
The RHCA certification should only be earned by those hoping to forge a career as a professional Linux consultant and / or troubleshooter. Together, the exams that make up the certification represent more than 30 hours of testing time, not to mention the required preparation time. As such, the RHCA certification is only for the most dedicated and studious individuals.