LPIC Prep

Certifiable is a series dedicated to helping you get ready to take the LPIC 1 exams, both in mental state and how to study and experiment more effectively.

Which Distribution to Study With?

A great question, one that is asked by almost every single person who has or will take the LPI exams.  What with the amount of distributions that exist (in the 100′s), the differences between the methods that software is packaged and distributed, and the fact that you could encounter any of these or just a few in the work world, means that some thoughtful discussion is needed.

Keep Packaging in Mind

No, I’m not talking about how they box up and sell the distributions, but instead I mean how applications, support fixes, updates etc. are packaged, with the two main packaging methods being Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) and Debian Package Manager (DPKG).  Currently RPM is the clear winner based on the number of distributions and popularity, but the DPKG method is increasingly popular due to Ubuntu’s rise.

Bet on Win, Place and Show

Just like in horse racing, there are only 3 positions that really count, the winner, and 1st and 2nd runner up.  You are probably aware that currently the most popular paid or corporate distributions are Red Hat’s Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and Novell’s SUSE Linux Enterprise line, with Canonical’s Ubuntu Server bringing up a very distant third.   Most people will not buy a copy of any of these distributions in order to study for the exams, it’s not really cost-effective, or even necessary, since the exams are based on Linux, not the various distributions.

What Distribution Should I Learn With?

Just like you are asked to pick a major when signing up for university, you will need to pick at least one distribution to learn Linux with.  I’ve been asked many times, do I have to pick a distribution just to learn? Yes.  That’s the slight conundrum in the LPI exam arena, while LPI is vendor and distribution-neutral, you will have to pick at least one and begin using it to study with, so let’s talk about how to select that first distribution.

Stick With What You Know

What distribution do you ALREADY use?  That’s a great place to start.  If you’re using an RPM-based distribution, then pickup Debian or a free version of Ubuntu, and the same for those using Debian/Ubuntu, pickup a copy of openSUSE or Fedora.  The main reason you’ll need to know both systems is that the 101 Exam will test your package manager skills on BOTH the RPM and DPKG methods.

New Kid in Town

If you are not already using a Linux distro, start easy and go from there.  The tough part of trying to learn Linux can be getting a distro installed, problems that wouldn’t affect you once you have some knowledge under your belt can cripple and slow down a beginner from even getting a BASH prompt and trying a few commands.

The most easy way to make a choice, and not blow up your current machine, (a very common new LPI candidate issue) is to choose from the plethora of Live Linux Distributions.

Using a Live Distro, all you need to do is download the ISO image, burn it properly to the media and then just boot your CURRENT system up using a completely RAM-based and non-destructive version of Linux.

Note:  A Live Distro will NOT modify any part of your machine unless you specifically decide to do so, and some of them don’t make even that easy, realizing that you might want to run the distro on a terminal machine, or in an environment where you would not want the machine to be modified easily.

Choosing a Dance Partner

The Live Linux distribution arena is dazzlingly full.  You could try a Live distribution a day and still not be done in a year.  Rather than turn you loose in the distribution equivalent of Sam’s Club or Costco, I recommend that you initially experiment with my all-time favorites, and expand from there if you need or want to:

• Knoppix – The Grandmaster of Live Linux Distros, designed by Klaus Knopper, it comes in both CD (700 MB) and DVD (4.7 GB) editions. – Get a copy
• Damn Small Linux – Also known as DSL, this little gem is designed to fit an full-functioning Linux distro in as small as  50 MB, you can burn it to one of those tiny CD’s and carry it in your wallet or purse. – Get a copy
• Ubuntu – The CD version of Ubuntu Desktop starts off with being a bootable Live CD, and you can install to the hard disk from there, or just keep using it as a Live CD. – Get a copy

Turn Me Loose

For those who really want to look at all the Live distribution choices, here are some great places to start learning and downloading:

• Wikipedia’s List of Live CD’s – A comprehensive listing of all the major and many minor Live CD’s, not just Linux but a full spectrum of Operating System Live CD’s. – Go there.
• DistroWatch – Probably the most complete and fun listing of all the various Distribution choices available for Linux, they have a great collection of Live CD distribution choices, each with a small explanation and download links. – Go there.
• Debianhelp – A very nice collection of the Debian-based Live CD distributions, including explanations and links to download. – Go there.

Summary

Whether you choose to do a complete installation or use a Live CD to run Linux, you can get going on your Linux certification studies very quickly and with minimal fuss.  The whole goal is to start working your way through the LPI Objectives for the 101 exam, trying commands, reading man pages etc., not trying to make a Linux Distribution choice for life.

Enjoy,

RossB

Credits:

Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Lots of people want to know if they should learn either the GUI (Graphical User Interface) or the CLI (Command Line Interface for their certification and also for real life sysadmin work. The correct answer is “both” and we talk about why in this video

For more video fun, visit the LPICPrep Youtube Channel.

RossB

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A much asked question over the years, getting your certification is not easy but it helps you keep current by giving you goals to measure your progress, helps employers determine that you are qualified and gets you into the interview process, where you can really shine.

For more video fun, visit the LPICPrep Youtube Channel.

RossB

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Note: The Question Dissection Series is designed to present a sample LPIC Exam question taken from various sources for study, providing the right and wrong answers with explanations designed to show you how questions should be read and understood. Additionally there are Notes that point to sites, resources and other tools to help you study properly for the concepts contained in the question.

Question: Configuring GRUB for Booting

From objective 101.2 Boot the System

When using the GRUB boot loader, which of the answers describes the first extended partition on the first hard disk in a GRUB configuration?

❍ A. /dev/hda4
❍ B. /dev/dsk/c0d0s3
❍ C. (hd0,4)
❍ D. c:8000

Answer C is correct because GRUB uses a description of (hdx,y) where x is the disk and y is the partition.
Answer A is incorrect because it describes a device file, not a GRUB object.
Answer B is incorrect because it describes a Solaris Unix device.
Answer D is incorrect because it is the debug location for low-level formatting an MFM/RLL disk.

Notes: Remember that GRUB is different from LILO in that it features a mini-command-line interface that features tab-completion, and instead of referring to the disks and partitions by /dev/hda1 etc., you use (hdx,y) where the disk number is x and the partition is y.  A future article will deal with how to install, configure and troubleshoot GRUB.

Several resources can be helpful in learning more about this topic, the first of which would be Chapter 1 of the current version of my LPIC 1 Exam Cram 2 book (look for it in the sidebar ->), starting on Pg 19, the second would be the GRUB man pages ( man grub ).

Any comments, suggestions or questions are welcome.

RossB

Copyright 2000-2009 Ross Brunson

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Quick introductory video introducing myself and the LPICPrep Youtube Channel, many more coming.

For more video fun, visit the LPICPrep Youtube Channel.

RossB

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From the Article:

Earlier this week Forrester released a report titled: “Open Source Software Goes Mainstream”.  While the title may not be breaking news to readers of Open Sources, the data backing up the report is well worth the read.  The report is based on responses from over 1100 software development decision makers in North American and European enterprises and SMBs.  According to the survey, the top three planning goals for 2009 are:

Read More.

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From the article:

Many technology professionals believe IT certifications reached their peak during the height of the dot-com boom. But such a mindset may well prove shortsighted. The subsequent dot-com bomb led to an exodus of certified technicians from the industry. Then, as the dust settled, IT certifications were reworked. Accreditations were better mapped to real-world needs and expertise. Program flaws were eliminated. Training programs improved.

Now, in turbulent economic times, IT certifications will provide more relevance than ever before. With unprecedented bailouts, widespread cost and workforce reductions, and a slew of new platforms being released, IT accreditations will assume renewed importance in 2009. Here are 10 reasons why IT certifications will prove important in 2009.

Read the rest of the article.

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Note: The Question Dissection Series is designed to present a sample LPIC Exam question taken from various sources for study, providing the right and wrong answers with explanations designed to show you how questions should be read and understood. Additionally there are Notes that point to sites, resources and other tools to help you study properly for the concepts contained in the question.

Question: Making Boot Diskettes

From objective 103.3 Perform basic file management

You need to create a boot disk on a running Linux system. Which command is used to perform this function?

❍ A. rawrite.exe
❍ B. diskcopy
❍ C. makeboot.bat
❍ D. dd

Answer D is correct because the dd command can write disk images from the installation CD-ROM to a floppy.
Answers A, B, and C are incorrect because they run on a DOS/Windows system.

Notes: While making boot diskettes isn’t the most up to date topic, you will definitely find situations still today that require a boot floppy, either because the machine has weird hardware, no DVD drive, or all you need to do is boot and repair something quick.

Several resources can be helpful in learning more about this topic, the first of which would be Chapter 1 of the current version of my LPIC 1 Exam Cram 2 book (look for it in the sidebar ->), starting on Pg 13, the second would be the dd man pages ( man dd ).

Any comments, suggestions or questions are welcome.

RossB

Copyright 2000-2009 Ross Brunson

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Certifiable is a series dedicated to helping you get ready to take the LPIC 1 exams, both in mental state and how to study and experiment more effectively.

LPIC Exam Question Types – Continued…

In part 1 of this mini-series we covered how to take apart and answer the more common question types.  In this, part 2, we’ll cover some of the lesser-well-known question types, ones that the typical Microsoft or Cisco candidate won’t have any experience with, and that can be much more difficult to answer.

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

This question type has been nicknamed by attendees of my bootcamps as TFQs (those fine questions). Fill-in-the-blanks are the most difficult of the types because the possibility of guessing your way through one is about zero. There is just the question and a large, long text box to type your answer into. Typically, the exams contain 6–11 of these questions, by my estimation.

Rule: If it works on the command line, it should be correct. Don’t get tricky, though, and try to show off your skills—simpler is better. Always double-check exactly what the question wanted. Don’t type in a long command string for a question that asks just for the command name.

Sample Fill-in-the-Blank Question

What command with necessary switches shows you the information page and a complete listing of files for a downloaded RPM package file named pkg1.rpm? (Type in the answer below.)

_____________________________

Answer rpm –qpil pkg1.rpm is correct. When typing in answers, be sure you use that standard order of options, such as the q character coming first in queries, followed by the rest of the options. Long options, such as –nodeps, are typically entered right after the short options.

Note: There are multiple correct versions of these answers. For example a tar command that uses the – before options is correct, and one that has the same options without a – is correct, too.

LPI has a table in the exam software that contains all the right strings; your answer is matched against this table when you click Next.

Identify-the-Component Questions

Very few of these appear on the LPIC exams, but the odd one has been sighted by a few people, including the author. Essentially, you’re shown a graphic and asked to identify the component or to select the correct component from a list of graphics shown as answers. Don’t get excited about how Linux+-like this type of question is; very few of them appear on the LPIC exams.

Sample Identify-the-Component Question

What is the component in the exhibit?  (There will be a picture in the testing interface of a physical component such as a PCMCIA Card.)

❑ A. PCI card
❑ B. VLB card
❑ C. PCMCIA card
❑ D. Async I/O card

Answer C is correct. The card is obviously a PCMCIA card due to the size, style, and connector type on the left side. Answer A is incorrect because the exhibit shows a PCMCIA card. Answer B is incorrect because the exhibit shows a PCMCIA card.
Answer D is incorrect because the phrase Async I/O Card is too ambiguous and doesn’t mean anything.

Warning: Watch out for questions about SCSI connectors or cable ends; counting the pins is
the best option.

Additional Exam Tips

If you are not finished when 95% of the time has elapsed, use the last few minutes to guess your way through the remaining questions.

Tip: Remember that guessing is potentially more valuable than not answering because blank
answers are always wrong, but a guess can turn out to be right.

If you don’t have a clue about any of the remaining questions, pick answers at random or choose all As, Bs, and so on. The important thing is to submit an exam for scoring that has an answer for every question.

Danger, Will Robinson

Be extremely careful when changing previously answered questions! Many an attendee has missed the exam by 10 or 20 points, and when queried how many questions they weren’t sure about and changed, the typical answer is “one or two.” Don’t change answers unless you are certain you have found a better answer in a later question—go with your gut.

Good Luck, we’ll cover next how to go back and study more about what you might have missed, particularly if you’re like a lot of people and get to, umm, take the exam again in a few weeks…

Enjoy,

RossB

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Certifiable is a series dedicated to helping you get ready to take the LPIC 1 exams, both in mental state and how to study and experiment more effectively.

LPIC Exam Question Types

In this article, you will learn more about how the LPIC test questions look and how they can and should be answered. Several types will be unfamiliar to those used to Microsoft and Cisco exams; these are covered in detail along with the usual question types/suspects.

Overall, the LPIC exams are most similar to the Sun Solaris exams; they feature the same question types and similar styles of answers. LPIC questions are short, blunt, and easy to answer if you’ve done the action or item being tested. I have seen grown-ups nearly cry  in frustration, particularly if the requisite labs and studying haven’t been performed.

Multiple-choice Questions

Multiple-choice questions are single-answer, as opposed to a Choose Two or Choose All That Apply question. LPIs are much the same as any other vendor’s multiple-choice questions. The main difference consists of long command strings and a lot of options to parse through. There is only one answer, and this question type is the easiest to get through.

Tip: An important strategy for getting through multiple-choice questions is to read all the possible answers and discard any that are silly, obscure, or outright wrong. It’s possible to not know the answer and get the question right through the process of elimination.

This is a main reason the LPIC exams have so many of the other question types—they don’t want us to guess our way into a certification!  Guessing a Multiple-Choice is not very hard, you have at least a 1 in 4 chance, maybe as high as 50/50 if you read it right.

Sample Multiple-choice Question

Which of the following commands shows the full listing of normal files in the current directory?

❍ A. ls –l
❍ B. ls -1
❍ C. du .
❍ D. df -h

Answer A is correct because the ls command and stat are the only utilities to show a full set of inode information about a file.
Answer B is incorrect because the 1 option shows files in a single column and shows just the filenames.
Answer C is incorrect because the du command doesn’t show the full file information.
Answer D is incorrect because the df command shows only the free/used disk space.

Choose Two/Three Questions

These are a little tougher than the multiple-choice questions because there are usually five or six answers and the question has you choose two or three answers from the available choices. Not selecting enough of the answers marks this question in the review screen as incomplete. If the exam wants you to choose all the correct answers from the list, the question states, “Choose all that apply.”

Sample Choose Two/Three Question

Which steps must be performed before a newly installed hard drive is available for use by a normal user account? (Choose three.)

❑ A. mkfs
❑ B. mount
❑ C. scsi_info
❑ D. dd
❑ E. fdisk

Answers A, B, and E are correct. For a disk to be used by a standard or normal user, it must have at least one partition put on it (fdisk), have a file system of some type on that partition (mkfs), and be mounted by the root user or an entry in the /etc/fstab file that enables users to mount it without the root user’s help.
Answer C is incorrect because the scsi_info tool gathers information about SCSI devices but is not necessary to the process of a user gaining access to a disk.
Answer D is incorrect because the dd command transfers one file format to another but has no effect on users accessing disks.

Choose All That Apply Questions

More difficult than the previous types, these actually make you think through all the possible answers because any of them might be right. LPI is the only vendor to my knowledge that uses these questions with only a single answer in some cases. The best strategy is to read all the answers and mark the correct ones. Use your note paper to keep track if it’s confusing.

Sample Choose All That Apply Question

Which of the following commands creates a second file that is identical to the first? (Choose all that apply.)

❑ A. cp file1 file2
❑ B. cat file1 | file2
❑ C. cp < file1 > file2
❑ D. dd if=file1 of=file2
❑ E. cat file1 > file2

Answers A, D, and E are correct. Using the cp command to copy one file to the other is normal; the difference between answers B and E is the incorrect use of the | symbol to another file. It must be followed by a program, and the unusual usage of the dd command will work in this case.
Answer B is incorrect because files may not be redirected via a pipe symbol (|).
Answer C is incorrect because the use of the < and > characters produces a syntax error.

To Be Continued…

RossB

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