If the company Red Hat has its way, its Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) credential will eventually replace Microsoft’s MCSE certification as king of the network operating system hill.
Introduced in 1998, the RHCE was an important step in the transformation of Linux from techie toy to widely used business platform.
Based on Unix, Linux is an up and coming operating system for personal computers. It was originated in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. It is “open source” — which means it is free for the downloading, and can be tweaked at will.
Linux is the rallying cry of every techie who wants to strike a blow at Microsoft’s dominance of the PC operating system market.
Until about 6 years ago, Linux’s greatest weakness as a viable marketplace competitor to Windows was that nobody except techies could download and install it on their computers. A number of companies have since formed to package Linux into a more user-friendly format. Red Hat is one of the biggest of these.
Linux can be adapted to networking PCs as well. Since it is much cheaper than either Windows 2000 or Novell NetWare, that option is potentially extremely attractive to small businesses who want the advantages of linking their PCs but cannot afford the licensing fees charged by Microsoft and Novell.
However, this market has hung back from using Linux networking software for the simple reason that there was no pool of qualified experts they could hire or call upon when necessary. Businesses networked with Windows 2000/NT and NetWare have MCSE or CNE holders fighting each other for systems administration and engineering jobs.
Until Red Hat introduced the RHCE, businesses had no way of finding or validating equivalently qualified Linux experts. Since Linux was new, it was also true that relatively few such Linux experts even existed, though that’s changing as I write.
Red Hat says their RHCE certification is for people who already are or who are aiming to be Systems Administrators and Systems Engineers.
RHCE tests competency is these areas:
- Installing and configuring Linux.
- Understanding the limitations of hardware.
- Configuring basic networking and file systems.
- Configuring the X Windows System.
- Configuring basic security.
- Setting up common network (IC) services.
- Carrying out basic diagnostics and troubleshooting.
- Performing essential Red Hat systems administration.
Red Hat designed two RHCE tracks. If you are already an experienced systems administrator or engineer with Unix or Linux, you can take their Rapid Track. You take the four day course RH300 and pass the RH302 Certification Lab Exam.
Otherwise, you take the Standard track. That consists of taking (and passing the associated tests) of these courses, in order: RH033, RH133 and RH253. Each course lasts four days and builds on the knowledge and skills included in the prior course.
Once you pass course RH133, you have qualified for the new Red Hat Certified Technician (RHCT) intermediate-level certification. That alone could get you an entry-level job.
After you have successfully completed those three, you are ready to take Course RH300. You take the RH302 Certification Lab exam on the final day of that course. If you pass, you are an RHCE.
The final RH302 Exam consists of both traditional multiple choice questions and hands on problems with equipment. Red Hat does not want employers to ever perceive the RHCE as just another “paper” certification. They want to ensure that everybody who attains the RHCE has actual, practical hands on ability.
Of course, this is in the best interest in all RHCE certification holders, as well as Red Hat and their customers.
Their courses are now up to date, covering Red Hat Enterprise Linux (for large businesses) and Red Hat Linux 9. They are currently given in 33 cities.
If you plan to make a career in Linux networking with Linux, you should certainly work on getting RHCE certified. Even if you currently are specializing in Windows or planning to stick with your MCSE, you should consider the RHCE, if only as career insurance.
As soon as businesses know they can hire RHCEs as easily as MCSEs, Linux could take over a large segment of the small business market. It’s cheaper — and we’re in an economy where businesses large and small are desperately looking to slash expenses.
First appeared at RHCE for Not Yet Techies.
Rick Stooker is the author of Secrets of Changing to a Computer Career, Your Cut Through the Hype Manual for Finding and Qualifying for Your High Tech Job Change.”
