How To Become A Linux Admin


How To Stop DDoS Attacks On A Netgear Router?

How To Become A Linux Admin

Since you’re reading this page, I’m sure you’ll agree with me that Linux system administrator is one of the most lucrative jobs in the world. According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual pay for a Linux System Administrator in the United States is $99,759. Breaking it down, this means a Linux system admin can earn up to an average of $47.96 an hour.

Currently, most organizations worldwide are looking for Linux administrators to perform various job functions, such as planning & implementing system needs and security measures of the company. As a job seeker, if you’re looking to take advantage of this present trend and become one of the most successful system administrators, there are many ways to do that.

For you to become a Linux system administrator, you need first to install Linux on your PC. After that, enroll for courses, starting from the “Introduction to Linux.” After getting the necessary skills, apply and get certified as a Linux professional, and you’re good to start applying for entry-level jobs.

I’ll share everything you need to know about becoming a successful Linux system administrator in this post.

What Exactly Is Linux System Administration?

Before going ahead to sharing with you what you need to become a system administrator, here’s a quick question; what exactly does Linux system administration include?

Linux, mostly written in C programming language, is an operating system developed by Linus Torvalds. One of the open-source OS advantages is that it allows programmers to design their custom operating systems through its kernels.

Like Windows, Linux is one of the major strengths in computing technology. That’s so because there are many devices out there, including smartphones and personal computers, which are powered by Linux.

That said, a Linux system administrator is any person that manages the operations of a computer system. Well, there’s more to it than just that. For you to work as a Linux admin, you must be able to plan, implement, and monitor the system needs as well as the security measures of the company you’re working for.

Furthermore, a Linux system administrator must manage the system, customers, and user’s identity. That’s not all; you must also get familiar and be able to handle hardware-related job functions, such as storage, backup, and recovery. 

Of course, the job of a Linux system administrator isn’t limited to the ones listed above. Here are some other roles that a system admin can take on in a company:

  • Install, configure, and update software systems
  • Scripting and light programming
  • Monitoring network efficiency
  • Debugging, especially when server issues come up 
  • Maintenance of all internet requests, including DNS, RADIUS, Apache, and MySQL

What You Need to Become a Linux System Administrator

To become a Linux system administrator, there are lots of things that you need to consider. However, none of them would matter if you don’t have Linux installed or understand how the operating system works. So start by downloading and installing Linux on your personal computer.

Step 1: Take the right courses

As earlier mentioned, the installation of Linux on your personal computer is the very first step to kick-starting a career as a system administrator. But what happens after having the OS installed on your PC?

Here’s where the need to take on courses on the internet comes into the scene. If you don’t know, there are tons of courses on various e-learning platforms that can help build your career as an admin.

For instance, Lynda.com offers a course titled “Become a Linux System Administrator”. By enrolling in the course, you’ll get to learn how to install Linux on your PC. However, that’s not all; you’ll also learn and understand the skills and tasks necessary to install and manage CentOS.

Furthermore, if you’re completely new to Linux, you can take LFS101x on edx.org. LFS101x is a free course that focuses on the introduction to Linux. By enrolling in the course, you’ll be able to develop a good working knowledge of Linux using a command line and graphical interface.

Even if you’re already familiar with the basics of Linux, there are many courses out there that you can take to becoming a better Linux admin. For instance, on linuxfoundation.org, LFS201 will introduce you to the most complicated tasks in Linux. Of course, this is where you can start building your career and becoming the professional that most organizations crave.

By enrolling in LFS201, you’ll be able to learn how to administer, configure and upgrade Linux systems, especially those running the three major Linux distribution families; Red Hat, SUSE, and Debian/Ubuntu. That’s not all; the course will also introduce you to all the tools and concepts you need to efficiently create and maintain a production Linux infrastructure. What more do you need to become a professional Linux system administrator?

Step 2: Practice

One thing is to enroll in different courses to build a career as a Linux system administrator; another thing is to be able to perform what is expected of you. To become successful as a system admin, you need to practice and practice until you become better.

What is the essence of installing Linux on your personal computer if not to practice and execute different projects? So, as you enroll in various courses and ensure to practice and assess yourself from time to time.

Step 3: Get yourself certified

According to most job descriptions for Linux system admin, you need to get certified to be able to apply for the role. For instance, according to TalentLyft, one of the requirements for the job is to have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Information Systems.

However, if you can’t get a bachelor’s degree in the courses listed above, there are tons of other related courses that you can enroll in to get certified.

For instance, after completing the LFS201 course, you’ll have gotten familiar with the complex part of Linux. That time, all you need to do is to apply and obtain the necessary certifications for an entry-level job as a Linux system administrator.

Step 4: Join relevant groups

Lastly, to become a Linux system admin, another thing you can do is to join any Linux User Group close to you.  By doing that, you’ll be able to connect with industry experts, who you can learn from to become better. That’s not all; you can also search online for Linux forums and discussion groups.

Recent Posts