Why Learn Linux? Benefits, Career Growth & Certifications in 2025

Greetings,

If you are reading these words, it is because you, most likely, have made several decisions. 

First of all, you, most likely, know something about the Free Software movement in Brazil, and its importance for your country's economy. You have probably realized that there is an availability of source code from projects like GNU and the Linux Kernel, through which you can adapt the operating system to better fit your needs or your employer's needs. 

Second, you may be using Linux on your home PC, or perhaps you are an administrator of a system like Solaris, AIX, HP/UX, or some other proprietary Unix system and therefore, you started using Linux at work. Or perhaps, you feel ready to work at a company that works with Linux systems full-time.

Third, you may have looked in a newspaper and noticed that some job postings are already requiring that the candidate have "LPI Certification", and you want to know the reason for such a requirement. After all, you already know how to maintain a Linux system! 

When I started in computing, thirty-five years ago, things were much, much simpler than they are today. A programmer only needed to know how to punch cards and how to write in FORTRAN (or COBOL) language. There was no Internet or viruses, only poor graphical interfaces, and main memory was measured in kilobytes, nothing in megabytes or gigabytes. In reality, there was not even an official title for the position we have today as "systems administrator", since each system was run by "operators" who were concerned with a specific machine, and not with the interactivity of multiple machines working together.  

Today, we have to worry about security, network traffic and routing tables, subnets, and other network topics. We have to control data and program migration from one system to another, and the interoperability of various networks and protocols. We have to be able to plan for growth, as well as solve problems. And from these needs that the tasks and the title of "Systems Administrator" originated.

In recognition of the phenomenal growth of the GNU/Linux operating system, the Linux Professional Institute, a non-profit organization based in Canada, established a series of qualifications that a Linux systems administrator should possess. They also created tests in order to verify if these assignments are mastered by the administrator in question.

Thus, if the administrator masters a predefined average of these requirements, then he, most likely, has the necessary knowledge to administer GNU/Linux systems. Maintaining the Free Software spirit, the institute published the test objectives on its website, so that different study methods can be developed.

This course is an example of a training method to help you achieve this level of knowledge. We also have very complete books, including book for Linux LPIC 1 certification.

GNU/Linux systems knowledge by itself does not develop a master in systems administration, but for the manager who is hiring, having someone who passed the LPI test gives them the assurance that they are hiring an administrator with additional performance measured through certification. 

Of course, the employer can also check the candidate's potential with their former employers or professors. And why not also check the employee's prior achievements as listed on their resume? But the fact that the candidate passed the LPI exams assures the employer that the candidate in question is certainly a GOOD GNU/Linux systems administrator. 

For those who wish to study and develop a career in Systems Administration, please, feel secure in using the objectives listed for each of the LPI exams and see them as a good study guide with the information you should know. Because they were developed for systems administrators and by systems administrators. Thus, even if you do not intend to take the LPI exams formally, know that this material will make you a better systems administrator. 

Finally, welcome to this book, as it is a relatively inexpensive guide to study and achieve your goal of becoming a certified GNU/Linux systems administrator. 

It will not be the end of your learning, but a GOOD beginning. 

Jon "maddog" Hall
Executive Director
Linux International

Jon Hall has worked in the computer industry since 1969, has used the Unix system since 1977, and Linux since 1994.

He has been a software engineer, systems administrator, product manager, marketing manager, and professional educator.

Jon is the Executive Director of Linux International since 1995, as a volunteer for the first four years. He has been employed by companies such as VA Linux Systems, Compaq Computer Corporation in the Digital UNIX Marketing group, and also at Bell Laboratories, among other companies.

Before this, he was the head of the computer science department at Hartford State Technical College, where his students affectionately nicknamed him "maddog". Jon has a master's degree in computer science from RPI in 1977 and a bachelor's degree in commerce and engineering from Drexel University in 1973.

Jon "Maddog" Hall is one of the most internationally recognized personalities in the Linux movement. His work as a Linux ambassador involves traveling the world to meetings with large corporations, institutions, and committees, to consolidate open standards for the industry, representing the interests of major projects on this platform.

He is also author of the books:

- Red Hat Linux 9 for Dummies
- Red Hat Linux 8 for Dummies
- Red Hat Linux 7.3 for Dummies
- Linux for Dummies, Second Edition
- Linux in a Box for Dummies
- Red Hat Linux Fedora for Dummies
- Red Hat Fedora Linux 2 For Dummies
- Red Hat Linux Fedora Desktop Kit for Dummies
- Beowulf Cluster Computing With Linux (Scientific and Engineering Computation)