I’ve put together a program to make entry-level Linux system administrators because we need more to maintain the IT fabric of modern civilization.

The program is self-paced, using online resources.  This is not training I deliver personally, rather I will guide you to quality training resources, in the correct sequence, and work with you to debug any stops. There is no fee to me for this program. The training takes 2-3 months full-time and costs about USD 1,000 for the online training courses and books. You’ll need a practice computer you can install Linux on.

Pre-requisites: Aspirants need to know how to use a computer for basic tasks (e.g., Web, email, word processing).

Part I - Linux Essentials

Read “Linux Essentials” [2015]

342 pages

$25.80

Do the “Introduction to Linux” (LFS101x) [2014]

Online course

40-60 hours Free

Part II - The Linux Command Line

Read “The Linux Command Line” [2013]

537 pages

Free

Part III - Linux System Administration

Do the “Essentials of System Administration” (LFS201)

Online course 40-50 hours $499 (includes certification exam)

Do Cricket Liu’s DNS course from the Linux Sysadmin Basics

Video training from oreilly.com

Free with a 10 day Safari trial

 Part IV - Certification (optional) 

- Linux Professional Institute Linux Server Professional (LPIC-1)  $42.49 at Pearson VUE

- Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS) included with LFS201

 Part V - Introduction to Computer Science (can be done after starting work) 

Introduction to Computer Science (CS50x) online training from edX.org 100 - 200 hours

Free

Professional Library

In addition, I recommend the following professional library (you can build it up as you start earning in your new profession):

UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook 4th Edition [2010] $50.28

The Practice of System and Network Administration, 2nd Edition [2007] $46.87

The Practice of Cloud System Administration [2014] $46.23

Principles of Network and System Administration 2nd Edition [2004] $61.10

Time Management for System Administrators [2005] $24.95

Total: $229.43

Summary of All Costs

Total cost: $1029.72

Time investment needed: 2-4 months full-time or 6-12 months part-time

Code of Ethics

As a professional system administrator, study and commit yourself to our Code of Ethics.

Tips for Success

Mike Weilgart completed the program and adds:

And a crucial ingredient to success (and I’m being entirely serious): Spend plenty of time during your training reading up on what you’re studying on the Unix & Linux Stack Exchange.

Elective - Learn How to Make a Web Site

Exercise: Setup a personal site, e.g., like Mark Burgess has

There is an excellent WordPress tutorial at http://websitesetup.org/

To learn the underlying technology, HTML/CSS, I recommend http://websitesetup.org/html-beginners-guide/

Also, you can write in Markdown and use pandoc to convert to HTML. Try it!

Elective - Learn How to Use strace to Spy on Your Programs

http://jvns.ca/strace-zine-unfolded.pdf

Elective - Postgres Database Administration

“The Accidental DBA” (or, Administering PostgreSQL When It’s Not Your Job) to those just getting into Postgres database server administration. Josh Berkus, from the PostgreSQL Core Team, presented it in 2015 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoQRGl_P2aQ (2.5 hour video)) and the original (2012) slides by Christophe Pettus at http://thebuild.com/blog/2012/06/04/postgresql-when-its-not-your-job-at-djangocon-europe/