[Linux-aus] And now for something completely different

[Bret Busby]

On Tue, 4 Feb 2003, Les Bell wrote:

> Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 17:37:32 +1100
> From: Les Bell <lesbell at lesbell.com.au>
> To: David Lloyd <lloy0076 at adam.com.au>
> Cc: Bret Busby <bret at busby.net>, linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au,
>      linux-aus-admin at lists.linux.org.au
> Subject: Re: [Linux-aus] And now for something completely different
> 
> 
> I'm the author of several Linux user and admin courses, instructor for IBM
> Learning Services Linux courses, Caldera Master Instructor, RHCE and
> contributor to LPI, so this is something I'd be very keen to support. If
> Linux Australia wants this to happen, I'll happily put my shoulder to the
> wheel. I can certainly raise it with IBM (no guarantees there, though - I'm
> a contractor with little organisational clout), but if all else fails, I'll
> volunteer my own time and materials. And I'll see what I can do about
> setting up some free certification testing, as well.
> 
> Bret. w.r.t. RHCT not being available in W.A., I'd be surprised. The RHCT
> exam is run at the same time, in the same room, as RHCE - it's essentially
> a subset of the tasks to be completed in the RHCE exam, so I should have
> thought that if RHCE was available, RHCT should be, too. Have you checked
> with Red Hat directly?
> 
> Best,
> 
> 

Firstly, regarding the RHCT; I believe that I contacted Red Hat when the 
RHCT was first announced, with such a query (I am not certain, but I 
believe that I did). Previous visits to the Red Hat site, and to the 
website of an organisation in WA that offers RH certification in Perth, 
had indicated no plans to offer the RHCT certification in Perth.

However, I believe that that has now been addressed, by Jodie from RH; 
the course and exam are offered in Perth.

Secondly, with what you have said about what you do, above, there has 
previously been discussion of the need for generic 
(distribution-independent) certification in Perth. Perhaps, that is 
something that could be considered.

The free certification testing, is certainly something of great 
interest, and would, I believe, be of great interest to students 
(post-secondary), apart from employed (and self-employed) people, as a 
means of bettering their qualifications. That is something that I 
believe in well worth considering. Funding for it, by someone like IBM, 
would probably be of immense value to them, in terms of goodwill, etc.

With your references to IBM, with IBM's size and revenue, and its status 
regarding Linux, if IBM were to fund the development (and possibly 
provision) of generic Linux certification, I believe that it would do 
well for IBM as a company, for IBM's standing in the Linux community, 
and, for the Linux community.

That is not to say that we should have a proliferation of companies 
offering different generic Linux certification courses ("ours is the 
best...") competing with each other (the market is, I believe, not big 
enough).

But, accredited, formal, generic Linux certification, would be good for 
everyone associated with Linux, and, good for customers of Linux 
professionals, and, availablity in at least each state capital, would 
enhance this.

The references to generic Linux certification, do not reflect on Red Hat 
certification; like MS certification, it definitely has its place, and, 
is of great value to those involved. My understanding is that Red Hat 
certification is, like MS certification, specalised regarding the 
company specific software, and the value of the certification, includes 
the specialisation for those certifications.

-- 
Bret Busby
Armadale
West Australia
..............

"So once you do know what the question actually is,
 you'll know what the answer means."
- Deep Thought,
  Chapter 28 of 
  "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
  A Trilogy In Four Parts",
  written by Douglas Adams, 
  published by Pan Books, 1992 
....................................................