RHCE: Red Hat Certified Engineer Study Guide - Directory UMM

Red Hat Certified Engineer 5
The source code for Linux is readily available and can be revised or
improved by anyone having the requisite technical skill. Moreover, Linux is
freely redistributable. You can make additional copies of Linux and give—
or sell—them to others, so long as you observe several simple copyright
restrictions. These qualities make Linux more attractive than Unix to many
and explain its popularity as a leading Internet operating system.
Chapter 5, “History of Linux,” describes the Linux operating system in more detail.
Red Hat and Red Hat Linux
Certification
Red Hat was founded in 1994 and provides the most popular distribution of
Linux in the U.S., Red Hat Linux. Its Linux distribution, like those of other
vendors, includes the Linux operating system, utilities to install and maintain
it, and useful applications. Red Hat Linux has won many awards, including
being named Infoworld’s Product of the Year three times. In addition to its
Linux distribution, Red Hat provides Linux services, including support, consulting,
and training.
The high demand for skilled technical workers has prompted many organizations
to sponsor certification programs. Technical workers who seek to be certified sit
for an exam, and if they perform sufficiently well, they’re awarded a certificate
that attests to their competency. Among the most popular technical certification
programs are the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and Cisco Certified
Internetwork Expert (CCIE) programs.
Three main groups may benefit from technical certification programs:
� Employees may benefit from the enhanced career opportunities
that certification affords, because—other things being equal—a
prospective employer may prefer a candidate who’s certified over
one who’s not.
� Employers may benefit because they have access to an objective indicator
of candidates’ skills and can, therefore, make better hiring decisions.