[lpi-discuss] Server vs. Wrokstation (was Some Objective Feedback

[Ian Shields]

I've been thinking a bit about this server vs. workstation emphasis. Right 
there on http://www.lpi.org/en/lpic.html we say:

# Overview of Tasks: To pass Level 1 someone should be able to

    * Work at the Linux command line
    * Perform easy maintenance tasks: help out users, add users to a 
larger system, backup & restore, shutdown & reboot
    * Install and configure a workstation (including X) and connect it to 
a LAN, or a stand-alone PC via modem to the Internet.

# Overview of Tasks: To pass Level 2 someone should be able to

    * Administer a small to medium-sized site
    * Plan, implement, maintain, keep consistent, secure, and troubleshoot 
a small mixed (MS, Linux) network, including a:
          o LAN server (samba)
          o Internet Gateway (firewall, proxy, mail, news)
          o Internet Server (webserver, FTP server)
    * Supervise assistants
    * Advise management on automation and purchases

It seems to me that we really need to resolve this in order to have a 
meaningful discussion about what topic should be in which level or which 
exam. So I took a look at the topics in the 101 and 102 exam objectives, 
and it seems to me that we could make a good case for keeping the above 
emphasis. I would suggest that, with the exception of Topic 113 which has 
more of a server emphasis, that all of the remaining topics for exams 101 
and 102 are reasonable topics for a workstation admin type. We can 
probably argue small details, but let's just look at the bigger picture 
for a moment.

If I then look at the 201 and 202 exam objectives, these appear to be much 
more server related or more in-depth than the 101 and 102 objectives. So 
I'd vote to keep the distinction, and maybe emphasize it rather than 
trying to push more server emphasis into LPIC-1.

I think if we can reach agreement on this, then picking the rest of the 
objectives apart and putting them in the right places would be easier. I 
guess my feeling is that the overviews on http://www.lpi.org/en/lpic.html 
are appropriate and that we should use those as a basis for further 
discussion.

What say ye all?

Ian Shields Ph.D.
Linux  Technologist, ISV & Developer Relations
IBM Corp
Research Triangle Park, NC
ishields at us.ibm.com

Mark Miller wrote:
> This is excellent feedback. I encourage you and others to expand upon it
> and all of the other objectives as much as possible. It's FUN! Get your
> friends to come tear LPI objectives apart!
> 
> That sounds sarcastic but I am serious. I want the objectives torn apart
> from as many different viewpoints as possible. I certainly don't have
> all the answers and I want the final objectives to be as bulletproof as
> we can make them. For that I need help, lots of it.
> 
> Your comment that we don't explicitly state "server side" is new to me.
> I'll have to look at that. We may have been relying on an implicit
> server bent to the System Administrator certs and only mentioned
> "workstations" for any exceptions to that. Better to be clear and
> consistent.
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