Linux Foundation

Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS)


Credential: Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS)  GI Bill resource
Credentialing Agency: Linux Foundation

Renewal Period: 3 years

The Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS) certification is ideal for candidates early in their Linux system administration or open source career. The exam consists of performance-based items that simulate on-the-job tasks and scenarios faced by sysadmins in the real world. Obtaining certification allows individuals to validate their skills to prospective employers, which is particularly valuable if you have little on-the-job experience. There are no pre-requisites for this exam. Candidates must pass an online, proctored, performance-based exam that requires solving multiple issues from a command line running Linux.

More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.

Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

 

Eligibility Requirements (View Details)

  • Credential Prerequisite
  • Experience
  • Education
  • Training
  • Membership
  • Other
  • Fee

Note: This credential may have multiple options for becoming eligible. Listed are the minimum requirements based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.

Exam Requirements (View Details)

  • Exam
  • Written Exam
  • Oral Exam
  • Practical Exam
  • Performance Assessment

RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Renewal Period: 3 years

  • Continuing Education
  • Exam
  • Continuing Education OR Exam
  • Fee
  • Other

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

Linux Foundation

660 York Street
Suite 102
San Francisco, CA  94110

Phone: 415-723-9709

Contact Page

Other REQUIREMENTS

The Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS) credential has the following other requirements:

  • Candidates must be 13 years of age or older to be eligible for testing or certification. Candidates under the age of 13 years old are considered underage minors and are not eligible for testing or certification even with parental consent. The Linux Foundation reserves the right to impose additional restrictions to comply with local data protection laws.

Written Exam

  • Essential Commands (25%)
    • Log into local & remote graphical and text mode consoles
    • Search for files
    • Evaluate and compare the basic file system features and options
    • Compare and manipulate file content
    • Use input-output redirection (e.g. >, >>, |, 2>)
    • Analyze text using basic regular expressions
    • Archive, backup, compress, unpack, and uncompress files
    • Create, delete, copy, and move files and directories
    • Create and manage hard and soft links
    • List, set, and change standard file permissions
    • Read, and use system documentation
    • Manage access to the root account
  • Operation of Running Systems (20%)
    • Boot, reboot, and shut down a system safely
    • Boot or change system into different operating modes
    • Install, configure and troubleshoot bootloaders
    • Diagnose and manage processes
    • Locate and analyze system log files
    • Schedule tasks to run at a set date and time
    • Verify completion of scheduled jobs
    • Update software to provide required functionality and security
    • Verify the integrity and availability of resources
    • Verify the integrity and availability of key processes
    • Change kernel runtime parameters, persistent and non-persistent
    • Use scripting to automate system maintenance tasks
    • Manage the startup process and services (In Services Configuration)
    • List and identify SELinux/AppArmor file and process contexts
    • Manage Software
    • Identify the component of a Linux distribution that a file belongs to
  • User and Group Management (10%)
    • Create, delete, and modify local user accounts
    • Create, delete, and modify local groups and group memberships
    • Manage system-wide environment profiles
    • Manage template user environment
    • Configure user resource limits
    • Manage user privileges
    • Configure PAM
  • Networking (12%)
    • Configure networking and hostname resolution statically or dynamically
    • Configure network services to start automatically at boot
    • Implement packet filtering
    • Start, stop, and check the status of network services
    • Statically route IP traffic
    • Synchronize time using other network peers
  • Service Configuration (20%)
    • Configure a caching DNS server
    • Maintain a DNS zone
    • Configure email aliases
    • Configure SSH servers and clients
    • Restrict access to the HTTP proxy server
    • Configure an IMAP and IMAPS service
    • Query and modify the behavior of system services at various operating modes
    • Configure an HTTP server
    • Configure HTTP server log files
    • Configure a database server
    • Restrict access to a web page
    • Manage and configure containers
    • Manage and configure Virtual Machines
  • Storage Management (13%)
    • List, create, delete, and modify physical storage partitions
    • Manage and configure LVM storage
    • Create and configure encrypted storage
    • Configure systems to mount file systems at or during boot
    • Configure and manage swap space
    • Create and manage RAID devices
    • Configure systems to mount file systems on demand
    • Create, manage and diagnose advanced file system permissions
    • Setup user and group disk quotas for filesystems
    • Create and configure file systems

Exam Preparation Resources

There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS) examination:

RECERTIFICATION

Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS)

Renewal Period: 3 years

The Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS) credential has the following recertification information:

Recertification is required via one of the following options:
  • Certification holders have the option to retake and pass the same exam to keep their certification valid. The certification will become valid for 3 years starting on the date the exam is retaken and passed.
  • Certification holders may opt to achieve a higher-level certification. On the date that a candidate with an active LFCS certification achieves LFCE certification, the expiration of their LFCS certification will be extended for 3 years so that both their LFCE and LFCS certifications expire on the same date. The date on which their LFCS certification expiration is extended (i.e. renewed) becomes the renewal date.

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand

COOL Bucks

See your installation Education Service Officer for credential exam information and coordinating instructions.

COOL Summary

Click to go to the COOL Summary page for this MOC.

COOL Summary

Click to go to the COOL Summary page for this MOC.

Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the military occupation (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the military occupation (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

Promotion Points

This certification has been approved for promotion points.

Click for more information.

Star

Star credentials are MOS enhancing, as designated by the Proponent. MOS enhancing credentials are directly related to an MOS or ASI, are taught either partially or completely as part of a Program of Instruction (POI), and improves the MOS technical proficiency.

Skill Level

The Skill Level reflects the level, based on MOS training and/or experience, the Soldier should be the most prepared to successfully earn the credential. See the Table Legend for details about each level.

Proponent Funded

Indicates the credential may have funding through the MOS proponent. Some proponents offer credentialing opportunities in conjunction with military training and/or as part of MOS development beyond the training base.

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Navy Bucks

Credential voucher or reimbursement for credential exam, re-certification, or maintenance fee has been approved for payment through the Navy's Credential Program Office. To get a voucher request form, click 'Complete Voucher and Apply' at the top of any page.

CG Bucks

Coming Soon - Coast Guard policy regarding service member eligibility requirements to participate in the Voluntary Credentialing Program is under review with a projected release date of first quarter FY20.

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted E1 through E4

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E5 through E6

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E7 and Above

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted “A” School through E5

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E6 through E7

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E8 and Above

LaDR

This credential is recommended on the rating Learning and Development Roadmap (LaDR) for Sailors currently in the pay grade indicated on the icon, BUT MAY BE TAKEN BY SAILORS IN OTHER PAY GRADES.

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GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill. Click for external link to GI Bill licensing and certification information.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

Click here for more information.

ANSI

This credential has been accredited by ANSI. Click for external link to the ANSI web site.

Click here for more information.

ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC. Click for external link to the ICAC web site.

Click here for more information.

ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC. Click for external link to the ABSNC web site.

Click here for more information.

NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA. Click for external link to the NCCA web site.

Click here for more information.

IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS. Click for external link to the IAS web site.

Click here for more information.

Low

May be difficult to attain: minimum education requirement is a Bachelor's degree, and/or minimum experience is 10 or more years.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

Medium

Moderate ease of attainment: minimum education requirement = Associate's and/or prerequisite and/or minimum experience = more than 2 years and less than 10 years of experience.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

High

Highly attainable: mimum education requirement = HS or less and/or minimum experience = 2 years or less experience and no additional requirements.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

MOS is Military Occupational Specialty
ASI is Additional Skill Identifier
WOMOS is Warrant Officer Military Occupational Specialty

Army e-learning

State-of-the art Computer Based Training available for free to the Army Workforce. Click for more information.

Click here for more information.

NKO e-learning

Credential preparation courses are provided at no cost through Navy e-Learning. Click for external link to the Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) web site, then select the “Navy e-Learning” link within the “Learning” tab to proceed to Navy e-Learning.

Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job
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Updated: October 16, 2019
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