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I stand by that statement.
I stand by the statement, and as I said in my post -- that for LINUX.
"there is no comparable certification path."
>Thus another Microsoftie tells us that
>unless it's M$, we are screwed.
That's not what I said at all. Please READ and COMPREHEND.
CCNA, SCSA are NOT LINUX.
>Funny, the CCNA is probably the hardest
>cert in the industry.
That's gotta be a joke -- right? I studied for that one and was just about to take it, when the contract finished and I didn't need it. I found it not much more difficult than Security+ and Network+ together -- certainly a lot LESS difficult than some of the big Microsoft 'scenario' questions.
>but the Linux+ and the Security+ seem to me
>to carry some weight.
I can't comment on Linux+, but if you look at the job boards and search for it -- you'll be hard pressed to find too many businesses looking for it.
Security+ -- also a joke. I've taught that certification course to hundreds of people and had big issues with it. That's a prime example of an exam where it is not only possible, but PROBABLE you have huge numbers of 'paper' graduates.
>I guess you aren't aware that Red Hat has
>certs as well.
No, I'm QUITE aware of them -- however, that represents only a tiny fraction of the entire Linux market. Herein leads to my statement at the top!
The Linux market is totally fractured. With over 400 'popular distributions' and an almost infinite number of different combinations of applications and versions -- there is NO WAY that a 'standard' Linux certification of any complexity could ever exist -- it would never hit any kind of viable target market.
In contrast, out-of-the-box, Microsoft servers give you everything you need to build the basic infrastructure -- from DHCP, DNS and Active Directory to Web and Application servers.
Creating a certification program becomes possible because you don't have to fracture the certification process.
Additionally, who would write and administer certification exams for all the thousands of different Linux applications?
Hell, for 99.9% of the products you can't get coherent, user-friendly documentation let alone expect the developers to write something as challenging as decent exam questions. Who would pay for all that?
>and I know how often you have to retake the
>MCSE so M$ can make some more money off
>you.
Do you really expect to take one exam on one product and not have to upgrade yourself for the rest of your life?
That would be nice, but in the real world -- particularly the world of technology -- things work a lot differently.
First, the exam prices for Microsoft exams are LESS than Cisco and many others.
My University courses cost just as much as any Microsoft course.
And, as a matter of fact, Microsoft ADJUSTS the price of exams to match the earning power of the region -- so for example, here in Russia, where salaries are 1/4 those of the USA -- the exams are also reduced in price -- previously $25, but more recently $50 each.
Unlike the wonderland world of FOSS, in the commercial world, someone has to PAY to develop courseware and exams.
Prometric and VUE testing centers are also commercial businesses -- so there is no free lunch.
Second, you don't have to retake anything if you don't want to -- UNLIKE CISSP, Cisco and other certification programs -- Microsoft certifications are linked to products and versions and don't have annual or tri-annual renewal requirements -- they are as useful as the product is.
Plenty of people still have an MCSE on NT-4 but didn't bother to upgrade if they didn't have to. Other people who need to upgrade can do so -- often with just a single exam as for the NT-4 to Windows 2000 upgrade or with just a few as for the Windows 2000 to Windows 2003 upgrade.
I got my MCSE in 1997, upgraded just 3 times in over 10 years -- that is NOT asking for very much from the student/test-taker.
YOU need to take responsibility for your own education. If you check the job boards and want the fancy job title but you don't meet the requirements -- YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES:
1. Forget about that fancy new job.
2. Educate yourself and qualify for it.
What could be more fair than that?
"there is no comparable certification path."
>Thus another Microsoftie tells us that
>unless it's M$, we are screwed.
That's not what I said at all. Please READ and COMPREHEND.
CCNA, SCSA are NOT LINUX.
>Funny, the CCNA is probably the hardest
>cert in the industry.
That's gotta be a joke -- right? I studied for that one and was just about to take it, when the contract finished and I didn't need it. I found it not much more difficult than Security+ and Network+ together -- certainly a lot LESS difficult than some of the big Microsoft 'scenario' questions.
>but the Linux+ and the Security+ seem to me
>to carry some weight.
I can't comment on Linux+, but if you look at the job boards and search for it -- you'll be hard pressed to find too many businesses looking for it.
Security+ -- also a joke. I've taught that certification course to hundreds of people and had big issues with it. That's a prime example of an exam where it is not only possible, but PROBABLE you have huge numbers of 'paper' graduates.
>I guess you aren't aware that Red Hat has
>certs as well.
No, I'm QUITE aware of them -- however, that represents only a tiny fraction of the entire Linux market. Herein leads to my statement at the top!
The Linux market is totally fractured. With over 400 'popular distributions' and an almost infinite number of different combinations of applications and versions -- there is NO WAY that a 'standard' Linux certification of any complexity could ever exist -- it would never hit any kind of viable target market.
In contrast, out-of-the-box, Microsoft servers give you everything you need to build the basic infrastructure -- from DHCP, DNS and Active Directory to Web and Application servers.
Creating a certification program becomes possible because you don't have to fracture the certification process.
Additionally, who would write and administer certification exams for all the thousands of different Linux applications?
Hell, for 99.9% of the products you can't get coherent, user-friendly documentation let alone expect the developers to write something as challenging as decent exam questions. Who would pay for all that?
>and I know how often you have to retake the
>MCSE so M$ can make some more money off
>you.
Do you really expect to take one exam on one product and not have to upgrade yourself for the rest of your life?
That would be nice, but in the real world -- particularly the world of technology -- things work a lot differently.
First, the exam prices for Microsoft exams are LESS than Cisco and many others.
My University courses cost just as much as any Microsoft course.
And, as a matter of fact, Microsoft ADJUSTS the price of exams to match the earning power of the region -- so for example, here in Russia, where salaries are 1/4 those of the USA -- the exams are also reduced in price -- previously $25, but more recently $50 each.
Unlike the wonderland world of FOSS, in the commercial world, someone has to PAY to develop courseware and exams.
Prometric and VUE testing centers are also commercial businesses -- so there is no free lunch.
Second, you don't have to retake anything if you don't want to -- UNLIKE CISSP, Cisco and other certification programs -- Microsoft certifications are linked to products and versions and don't have annual or tri-annual renewal requirements -- they are as useful as the product is.
Plenty of people still have an MCSE on NT-4 but didn't bother to upgrade if they didn't have to. Other people who need to upgrade can do so -- often with just a single exam as for the NT-4 to Windows 2000 upgrade or with just a few as for the Windows 2000 to Windows 2003 upgrade.
I got my MCSE in 1997, upgraded just 3 times in over 10 years -- that is NOT asking for very much from the student/test-taker.
YOU need to take responsibility for your own education. If you check the job boards and want the fancy job title but you don't meet the requirements -- YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES:
1. Forget about that fancy new job.
2. Educate yourself and qualify for it.
What could be more fair than that?
Posted by Marty R. Milette
5th Sep 2008
