Linux: Do you need to know Linux as a DevOps Engineer? — Shaik Wahab

Introduction:

As a DevOps engineer, you will be working with Linux servers. That is as a minimum. Although some companies and their scope maybe different. Is Linux a pre-requisite for a DevOps Engineer position? Many companies are looking for DevOps candidates that have extensive Linux experience. If you are an aspiring DevOps engineer, do you have to know Linux inside out? Let’s find out!

What is Linux in a nutshell?

Linux is a free computer and open source software compiled under the free software development and distribution model. The essential part of Linux is the Linux kernel, a kernel operating system that was first released on October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds.

Linux was originally developed as a free operating systems for personal computers based on Intel x86. It has since been shipped to more computer platforms than any other operating system. It is a leading operating system for servers and other major hardware systems such as mainframe computers: more than 90% of today’s 500 fast computers use Linux variants.

Linux also works on embedded systems (devices where operating systems are usually built into firmware and heavily targeted in the system) such as mobile phones, tablet computers, network routers, televisions and video game consoles; the Android system widely used on mobile devices is built on the Linux kernel.

Should you learn Linux as a future DevOps Engineer?

The DevOps movement has been gaining momentum, and more and more organizations are embracing DevOps practices that enable them to release high-quality software faster, more efficiently, and more reliably.

Tens of thousands of organizations have adopted a DevOps culture and methodology. If you want to learn about DevOps and its culture, check out this blog here.

It is a common debate that if you want to become a DevOps engineer, should you learn Linux or not. So, in this article I would like to throw some light on this topic and discuss why Linux should be your first choice when it comes to learning DevOps.

Till date, every DevOps tool available in the market is built upon two core technologies- Linux and Docker. Therefore, it is necessary for a DevOps engineer to have a good understanding of these technologies. Plus, learning these technologies can help you understand other advanced tools such as Puppet, Chef, SaltStack etc.

Another reason why Linux or any other open source technology should be the first preference while choosing DevOps is that they are free of cost. You don’t have to pay anything to learn them. As compared to commercial products, they don’t have any hidden costs or license fees either. You just need an internet connection and you’re good to go!

Linux makes it easy for someone to explore new things and learn new skills at no cost. The best part is that it’s not limited to just DevOps but also helps in learning how computers work. It helps in developing problem-solving skills and enhances your knowledge about different programming languages such as PHP, Python and Ruby etc

Resources for learning Linux:

There are plenty of resources to learn Linux, but not all of them are created equal. Some are great, some are good and some are just plain useless.

There are also plenty of paid versus free options when it comes to learning Linux. There’s nothing wrong with either option as long as you know what you’re getting for your money. Although there will be more content on the paid courses, always try and find a free course first. Some online courses can cost up to $500, which is a lot of money in anyone’s language.

Below I’ve listed my top websites for learning Linux:

Pluralsight: Pluralsight offers both free and paid video tutorials for those who want to learn how to use Linux. The videos cover topics such as security, programming, system administration and much more.

Udemy: Udemy is an online learning platform where users can find both free and paid classes on how to use Linux.

Udacity — Udacity offers a variety of courses that teach users how to use Linux. The courses include the basics on using the terminal, working with files, using text editors and much more.

Conclusion:

So, if you’re going to be a DevOps engineer, then you obviously need some level of Linux proficiency. But the requirement to learn Linux may not end there: in addition to using it as your base operating system, many of the DevOps tools that you’ll use call for some level of Linux smarts. If you want to be a truly effective DevOps engineer-and if you want to get a good job-then make sure that at least some level of Linux is part of your foundation.

However, when looking for a job, don’t fall into the trap only listing “Linux” as one of your necessary skill sets; rather, make sure to list specific skills and tools that signal that you understand how Linux works and how to troubleshoot common issues with it. Good Luck!

Originally published at https://shaikwahab.com on January 10, 2022.