Ready for the 101 Linux Exam?

Linux certification as with any other certification starts by exam preparation. If you have a solid foundation in Linux concepts, it is likely you will find it less challenging. Unlike other certifications, here you will not find questions that are intended to trick you or what we might call ambiguous questions. Exam 101 mainly tests your knowledge of facts in Linux. These include such things as commands, common options, important file locations, configuration syntax and other common procedures. Regardless of your level of Linux administration experience, your recollection of these details will largely influence your results. Exam 101 will require you be familiar with configuration of fundamental BIOS settings, modem and sound cards and non-IDE devices. You will also be required to known how to set the different PC expansion cards, configure communication devices as well as USB devices. It is basically knowledge of fundamental PC architecture that is required for all operating system installations and configurations.

Before getting a Linux certification, it is also required that you have a good knowledge of installation and packaging tools. This includes the ability to design Hard Disk layouts, install Boot Manager, make and install programs from Source and manage shared libraries. However, some of the skills that you learn here, like splitting the file system into multiple partitions will prove invaluable even when dealing with other systems that reside on single partitions. On the exam, you will be required to remember where Linux kernel needs to be placed, how to utilize multiple disks, how to size partitions to hold various directories used in Linux such as /var and /usr and why root file system and the swap space sizes are important in a Linux installation.

All Linux systems require some sort of a boot loader, whether it is a simple bootstrap code located on a removable medium or simply an application like GRUB or LILO. Before you earn your Linux certification, you will also be tested as regards these boot loaders. One of the things you will first want to learn is the syntax as well as the commonly used options. In a LILO package, it is important to learn the distinction between the map installer utility LILO and the boot loader that is launched by the system BIOS at boot time. You will also be required to be familiar with acquisition, configuration, compilation and installation of software from source. Get to know the functions of the configure script, gzip and tar. Earning a Linux certification will not be an easy ride, but it can be an exciting experience as you learn how the entire Linux system works.