Linux+ cert covering and worth acquiring LPIC-1

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Hello Mr. Daniel Lowrie,
I am going to take my Linux+ test next after I have completed my CySA+ which should be in a couple weeks. On some preliminary research of the CompTIA Linux+, it has been stated that Linux+ covers roughly 90% of the LPIC-1 certification. I assume that the 90% which is referenced is referring only to LPIC-1 exam (101-500), but it does not include LPIC-1 exam (102-500)? Is this information correct? This segue me to my final questions, if one passes the Linux+, and it does cover most of the LPIC-1 curriculum, it it worth just finishing up the studying for the remaining curriculum of LPIC-1, and one to acquire the LPIC-1 Linux Administrator certification?

Thanks!

Michael,

I'm the resident Linux+ and LPIC-1 Edutainer for ITProTV, so Daniel asked me to reply on this one. LPIC-1 and Linux+ used to be tied to the same exam, so they are almost identical. The current Linux+ covers about 90% of the objectives spread across the 101-500 and 102-500 exams. If you are just going to get one Linux certification, I normally recommend the CompTIA Linux+. It is a great certification and has good industry recognition.

However, if you are going to specialize in Linux, the LPIC-1 may be the better choice. The main reason is that completing the LPIC-1 better prepares you to move on to the LPIC-2. That being said, I know a number of people who did the Linux+ certification and then immediately jumped to the LPIC-2 skipping the LPIC-1 altogether.

Based on what you shared, I would recommend doing the CompTIA Linux+.

Best of luck!

Don Pezet

Thanks for the information Don, and I will most likely work on the CompTIA Linux+ next, but I am curious about what you said. Will LPI allow someone with the newer Linux+ cert just skip the LPIC-1 altogether and take the LPIC-2 exam?

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Thanks,
Mike Wittek

Don,
If I plan to make Cybersecurity and Linux the foundation of my career, is the LPIC1 and following LPI certs as valuable as Red Hat. I ask this because RedHat seems to have a lot more variation and more paths to pursue ( etcetera ) than LPI currently offers.

Like Micheal, I am pursuing CYSA. I have Linux+ but as you pointed out, where do you go from there related to getting more certified in Linux. In my current position and I think most of my current projected future, I will be exposed to RedHat significantly.

Best Regards,
Brian

@Michael-Wittek No, since LPI stopped collaborating with CompTIA on Linux+ you have to take LPIC1 before you can take LPIC2. You're also not eligible for LPI membership until you complete at least the LPIC1, although you are if you completed the old Linux+. Seems a real shame that they ended the collab!

@Brian-Woods-0, @Don-Pezet can give you a better answer I'm sure, but I'm currently a part time pentester, looking to land a full time role, so here's my two cents :)

I started out in IT as a whole 15 years ago - 10 years ago I'd see almost only Red Hat running in enterprise environments, today I'd say it's almost 50/50 rhel/ubuntu server (spent a good chunk of my career so far as a developer, so I may be a bit biased there) LPIC1 and Linux + are, in my view, excellent certifications which give you enough to get to work in cybersecurity whichever Linux family you work with primarily - IMO LPIC-2 (especially the second exam which focuses on services) is the most useful for pentesting and offensive security as being very comfortable with apache/squid/nginx gives you a real advantage.

I don't have any red hat certs, but might well look into it one day!