Author: Ben

Preface

Linux initiates always encounter a considerable question, “What is the advantage of learning Linux and earning Linux certification?” Well, the answer is pretty easy for a senior Linux instructor with ten-year experience in IT industry. Nevertheless, these rookies should be guided by their predecessors to see the inside secret.

Linux learning direction

In terms of the analysis of IT industry organization, taking Taiwan top 10 enterprise TMSC for instance, IT organization can be divided into:

1. Operating System
   Learning Linux technique for IT studying initiation is a very smart choice because Linux skeleton per se inherits UNIX so that it is very easy to learn Windows with Linux fundamentals because of overlap between these two OS skeletons. Thus, you will own all OS techniques in depth.
2. Embedded System
   If you can deeply realize Linux kernel as well as basic programming discipline, you have possessed the ability of Embedded System research and development.
3. Networking management
   With solid fundamentals of network and system application, you can apply Linux techniques in network administration and security in depth so that you have the specialty of both networking management and system administration.
4. Programming
   If you have interests on programming and basic knowledge of database management, you can focus on software engineering and programming development. Besides, owing solid Linux specialty can make system analyzer, system designer and system development expert of software project easily finish their mission. Additionally, Linux originally has ‘Open Source Code’ spirit and GNU regulation so that it also makes system developer simply obtain unlimited properties that are developed by previous talents with hard efforts. These are only a part of advantages of learning Linux. Therefore, choosing Linux is equivalent to be superior beyond other candidates in the beginning.

Linux in future career

Linux experts also have another considerable question, “How do we reexamine future development of IT industry so as to efficiently evaluate appropriate future career plan?” We have to objectively answer this question via the analysis of IT organization and different work groups under each field. According to my consecutive observation on the trend of IT industry and the rapid change of industry demand in these years, in this section we would like to share the opinion of many IT industry forerunners.

IT industry comprises five major groups: Network, System, Application, Database and Security. Each group has three kinds of specialist: Engineering, Design and Business. At the following, we will use IT Career Plan Road Map, which is composed of five major fields horizontally and three major specialists vertically as the following figure shows, to analyze the arrangement of future career plan in IT industry:

1. Engineering: system configuration, administration and maintenance; programming
   (1)Network- network engineer
   (2)System- system engineer
   (3)Application- system developer, mainly on programmer
   (4)Database- DBA (Database Administration)
   (5)Security- security engineer, mainly on network security
2. Design: system design, analysis and development
   (1)Network- network architect
   (2)System- platform architect, system consultant
   (3)Application- system analyst, application consultant
   (4)Database- data ware housing consultant
   (5)Security- security consultant, mainly on information security technique
3. Business: IT application in Business
   (1)Network- product manager
   (2)System- project manager
   (3)Application- program manager, business consultant, e.g. ERP consultant
   (4)Database- data mining consultant
   (5)Security- security auditor, mainly on information security

Accordingly, you may have realized the process from an IT initiate to an IT professional. You have to follow this regulative procedure step by step without shortcut. Chinese ancestor says, “To reach a high position, one must start from a low position; to go far, one must start from near”. Thus, to be an IT expert, we have to start from a basic engineer with hard effort.

Suggestion for Linux initiate

For basic engineer cultivation toward Linux initiates, we suggest the following procedure based on IT Skills Learning Road Map Model:

1. System: start from Linux basic then Embedded Linux as advanced course
2. Network: start from Cisco basic series then Cisco Design series as advanced course
3. Programming: choose either Java or Perl then start from J2SE
4. Database: choose Oracle then start from Oracle DBA

Evaluate your own interest and requirement based on IT Career Plan Road Map and then arrange the best route of IT Skills Learning Road Map based on your employment requirement. Thus, everyone should have the same conclusion as mine: Linux is the most cost-effective choice in career beginning.

Accordingly, regarding the people who want to enter into IT industry or have served in IT industry for couple of years, GeeGo education provides various training course series for satisfying different requirements, e.g. research & development oriented Embedded Linux, Cisco network administration training series and programming courses such as Perl and Java. We recruit senior consultants in industry combining lab practice of original manufacturer device in not only assisting students to earn certification but cultivating Taiwan IT talents with comprehensive practical experience and independent troubleshooting capacity. Therefore, essential knowledge teaching and IT talent cultivation are two major purposes of our institute.