Linux for Network Engineers: What you need to get started

Yes, these professionals frequently collaborate with different teams within a company. Regularly, they interact with infrastructure teams, cybersecurity staff, application teams, and sometimes executive management, depending on the project’s scope. This cross-team collaboration emphasizes the importance of communication and teamwork skills. A position in this field can open doors to roles such as senior Linux engineer, systems architect, or IT infrastructure manager. Acquiring specialized expertise in areas such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, or DevOps could make you a strong candidate for leadership roles in IT. Linux is a dynamic ecosystem with frequent releases and updates, so staying current with changing trends, new technologies, and updates is important.

Certifications to consider include Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE), CompTIA Linux+, and Linux Professional Institute Certification (LPIC).
One way to gain the necessary skills is to take a comprehensive course.
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do.

Many companies hire external consultants to provide expert advice on Linux systems. Professionals in these roles analyze current systems, suggest improvements, and oversee system updates. The job requires a deep understanding of Linux platforms and excellent communication skills to communicate effectively with stakeholders and clients. In this series of posts we will try to make a smooth introduction to Linux for network engineers that have zero to very little knowledge of Linux. The monetary investment will be of minimal cost to you since you will only need to spend $60 (at most) to buy a Raspberry Pi (this includes the board, power supply, SD card, enclosure). If you happen to have an old laptop collecting dust, you can install Linux on that and avoid buying any additional hardware.

What additional skills could help a Linux engineer excel?

It’s also a good example of the direction things are heading and the skillset that will be required to effectively work and troubleshoot Linux host networking. For instance, Docker is able to deliver container network isolation by leveraging network namespaces along with basic Linux interfaces and bridging. Network engineers looking to understand these open source projects should make sure they understand the Linux networking primitives that these tools leverage. Linux and coding are becoming very valuable skills for network engineers that want to expand their horizons in new areas such as SDN, network automation, and DevOps. Job growth for network engineering and administration in all technologies including Linux is expected to grow 4-5% in the next ten years. This article is part of an IT Career News series called Your Next Move.

Less commonly-earned degrees for linux engineers include a information technology degree or a computer engineering degree. The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we’ve found all of the skills you’ll need so even if you don’t have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 14.5% of linux engineers listed python on their resume, but soft skills such as analytical skills and communication skills are important as well. As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you’ve taken on a leadership role.

Shifting toward project management

Being a Linux engineer allows you to fully support and improve an organization while operating and troubleshooting multiple systems. Here are courses we recommend for linux engineers at the beginning of their career paths. The role of a linux engineer includes a wide range of responsibilities. These responsibilities can vary based on an individual’s specific job, company, or industry.

Resources for continuous learning include online classes, webinars, and tutorials specialized in Linux. Focus areas should include the command line, system administration, network configuration, and server management. Don’t forget to explore related fields like cybersecurity and cloud computing. Working knowledge of server hardware and software is key to managing the system infrastructure, which includes experience with RAID configurations, NIC bonding, and other server-level aspects.

ML & Data Science

Keep in mind that becoming a Network Engineer in a better company is not the final destination, you can reach on various higher positions such as – Network Manager, Chief Technology Officer, etc. The top networking companies across the globe are Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Juniper, Intel, IBM, Sophos, etc. Linux engineers who do attend college typically earn either a computer science degree or a electrical engineering degree.

The key here is to get hands-on experience that you can continue to build on. In addition to the native Linux features, there are other projects such as Open vSwitch (OVS)that seek to extend Linux networking functionality. While OVS isn’t native to Linux, it does have its own Linux kernel module and is used extensively with open source projects such as OpenStack. OVS is a prime example of how a Linux host can be extended to provide more than basic level of network attachment.

The development and automation of tasks via scripts may also be a part of daily duties. Keep in mind that the specifics may change depending on the company’s operations and the complexity of its IT infrastructure. linux network engineer You may want to explore climbing the ladder within your existing field, where positions such as senior engineer or project lead will increase your responsibility, experience, and exposure.

Different vendors offer varying degrees of access to the underlying Linux operating system with the trend being to give the user more and more access into system internals.
They’re typically more needed and involved within a tech company than other organizations.
This Configure IP Routing with Linux on Azure IT Pro Challenge lab helps learners to understand how to configure IP routing for Linux Virtual Machines (VMs) deployed to an Azure cloud.
Even though most linux engineers have a college degree, it’s possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Companies use Linux for several tasks, including running servers, developing apps, and managing networks.
Some states are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a linux engineer.
Courses on vulnerability management, threat intelligence, and SIEM solutions were key for my early roles.
Having the ability to access the native Linux operating system gives us great flexibility and opens the door to many new possibilities.