[GLLUG] some more thoughts on Linux certifications - they need your help

[ken kousky]

First, the question about the Sair cert - When I was CEO of Wave
Technologies, a NASDQ listed public company, we acquired the Sair Linux
company. This was 1999 or 2000. We shared much of the exam,  focus and
content with CompTIA and helped sponsor the Linux+ Certification. We
also worked with the Linux Professional Institute (LPI) where I served
on their advisory board for several years. The exams still live but the
market interest has waned. It's future is up to the community.

Our goal was to promote the professionalizaton of Linux. I know, lots of
people scream when I use this term. First of all it's not really a word
but the bigger issue is it implies that Linux, even with the likes of
IBM peddling it, still needs assistance in establishing itself as a
"professional" platform. 
This is not a technical knock, it's a marketing issue.

In 2000 Thompson acquired Wave and decided they did not want to support
these efforts to help professionalize the Linux market and closed the
Sair operations. Eventually, most of the intellectual property was
reassembled by some of the Linux support group out of Compaq. 

There is still a lot of work to be done to bring the Linux market to the
level of professionalism seen in the Microsoft channels. I believe this
is a vital process that needs to be addressed. 

I drafted a white paper while President of Netware Centers International
(Novell's sales and distribution company in the mid 80's). At the time
we only sold NetWare through small independent resellers. In order to
give them the professional credibility they needed with their clients,
we needed something to endorse them. We needed to document their
credibility. They needed to be bigger than "Ken's Computers and Bagels"
to establish comfort and confidence with the clients. Remember, we were
selling against the likes of Wang, DEC, Data General, Control Data, etc.
(please note, they're all gone now!) 

So, my long winded message from an old-timer. These certifications take
time, they need helping hands to influence scope and coverage but they
can server as vital tools to create a credible network of programmers,
developers and integrators and offer the market a seal of good
housekeeping. 

These certifications are really what you make them and there is a great
opportunity for some of the lugs to take active and supportive roles in
this process.

Good luck with it.

KWK

-----Original Message-----
From: linux-user-bounces at egr.msu.edu
[mailto:linux-user-bounces at egr.msu.edu] On Behalf Of Pedro Wald
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 9:07 PM
To: linux-user at egr.msu.edu
Subject: [GLLUG] Re: linux-user Digest, Vol 4, Issue 6

Hello,

I have the so called "SAIR GNU/Linux" certification. My first impression
is that it is harder 
and absolutely no focused in any distro in particular. At the same time
I have heard that 
the enterprise/group that concocted SAIR (pronounced zair) are
undergoing some financial 
problems. Altogether, my impression is that SAIR is more purist and
vague. 
I would like to know your assessment of such certification. 

Sincerely,
Pedro Wald

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>Today's Topics:
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>   1. Re: Linux certification (Michael Watters)
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>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Message: 1
>Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 10:29:26 -0500
>From: Michael Watters <wattersm at wattersm.net>
>Subject: Re: [GLLUG] Linux certification
>To: Jeff Lawton <jeff at idealso.com>
>Cc: GLLUG <linux-user at egr.msu.edu>
>Message-ID: <3F3664D6.9090205 at wattersm.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
>
>Jeff Lawton wrote:
>> I was wondering who out there actually is "Linux certified" and which
>> certification you chose and why.
>> 
>> Also, I have been looking at several of the different certifications.
We
>> could use the requirements of the certification as a subject/focus
for
>> the GLLUG meetings. 
>
>I've got the Linux+ but I wasn't really impressed with it.  Anybody
with 
>a little bit of experience can pass it.  It's mostly geared toward
lower 
>level system admins, with some basic shell and hardware knowledge.
>
>The RHCE looks interesting, as that is an actual hands on test and 
>Redhat is one of the most recognized distros out there.
>
>
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