You can prepare to become a Linux administrator by learning to accomplish the following tasks: the installation of various distributions of the Linux operating system, Internet connectivity and troubleshooting; the set-up of users, groups and security; and the installation, removal and updating of software packages. To become a Linux administrator, you should also know how to automate system maintenance tasks such as backups, know how to manage file systems, have a familiarity with writing at least basic shell scripts and a familiarity with rebuilding the Linux kernel. You should be able to monitor and control processes. It is also a very good idea to earn at least one internationally respected certification in Unix or Linux engineering and administration in order to give credibility to your application and résumé when applying for jobs. Certifications are also highly esteemed when working as an independent contractor.
There is more than one way to prepare to become a Linux administrator. You can attend a school in your area or an online school that offers courses in the administration of Linux. Another option is to train yourself. Whether you choose to train yourself or to be trained by someone else, there are very important things you are advised to keep in mind. Book knowledge that allows for the passing of even the most intense exam on paper might not be a true reflection of real-world knowledge gained only through hands-on experience. This is why some certifying agencies require that applicants not only pass a proctored written test but also a practical exam.
If you choose to follow the training programs offered by certifying agencies, it generally is a good idea to take their practice tests if possible, in order to measure your skill. This helps to guard against unpleasant surprises, discouragement and a waste of money, because examinations are fee-based. One of the most important decisions to make when training yourself to become a Linux administrator is whether you will study a specific distribution or acquire a general knowledge that can be applied to the administration of any Linux system. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. If you decide to specialize, it is a good idea to concentrate on a distribution that is widely used for production environments in order to increase your chances of finding employment in the field.
Another very important aspect of training to become a Linux administrator is ample hands-on experience. You can obtain distributions of Linux that will run on almost any platform to set up a Linux environment in your home, and most of them are available for no charge. Even server editions can be obtained without paying a fee, and they are extremely valuable when training. The fact that Linux tends to require much fewer resources than other operating systems allows you to obtain older, used computers for the set-up of a training laboratory or practice network for your mock work environment. Be sure to document the things you learn from any mistakes made, because they will serve you later in the real world.
Although it might seem unrelated to preparation to become a Linux administrator, it is a good idea to acquire basic but solid programming skills in programming languages frequently used to develop Linux applications and tools such as C, C++ and python. You might think that you are ready to become a Linux administrator after you have mastered administration using tools within a graphical user interface (GUI). This, however, simply is not true, because despite the many GUI tools that have been developed, there are many tasks that cannot be performed efficiently or at all unless working on the command line.
