On Thursday 15 June 2006 06:47, Bryan J. Smith wrote: > On Thu, 2006-06-15 at 00:50 -0300, Fernando Lozano wrote: > > That's not the same thing. Most Samba admins have it just to serve > > Windows clients. We should target the real world were professionals > > live, not the ideal world of perfect technology. And would you setup > > Samba on an all-Linux network? > > Again, I think such things should be left to a _future_ desktop exam. > > Unless it goes in the Samba configuration files (like user/group > mappings, login scripts, Samba-specific LDAP schema, etc...), I would > argue _against_ it.
I've been watching this discussion develop. Whether we like it or not, Microsoft entered the networking game late. They currently own the jack-pot. If we want to use LPIC-3-Samba certification to help take some of that jack-pot value and move it to a Linux or open source world, then we must learn how their technology works - at least sufficiently to bridge two very different worlds. I taught the Microsoft certification courses and believe that they provide significant value to someone who wants to master the Windows admin role. Training alone can not impart experience - that can only come from the school of hard knocks and bumps. This is also the case with Linux. A certification program can establish no more than a certain knowledge level - if the examination process covers sufficient essential ground _and_ does not bias the outcome. If you want to master Samba in a Windows network administration world you must understand Windows networking before setting out on a Samba training or certification program. It does not make sense to deal with Samba if the candidate does not have any knowledge of MS Windows - it simply does not work. I taught Samba training classes for many years. About 1 out over every 5 delegates had adequate MS Windows networking knowledge or experience to get maximum value out of the training program. The delegates who had the best MS Windows certifications generally got the most out of Samba training - if they worked at it. Those who undertook Samba training without prior Windows networking knowledge generally complained that the course should be twice as long. > It's going to be rather easy to "throw the kitchen sink in" rather > quickly. We want to _avoid_ that. Correct. A Samba certification exam should validate that the candidate understands the essentials of Windows networking - not all of how to condifugre a windows desktop client. But it is necessary to for a Samba admin to know his/her way around the network configuration tools for the Microsoft Windows server and workstation products. Another essential is a knowledge of MS Windows (server and client) network diagnostic tools and procedures. If we fail to examine these then in effect we assume that it is OK to issue a drivers' license to a candidate who can make only left-handed turns. > And, as I asked before (and very much hinted last year too), I don't > think the initial set of enterprise Linux exams will be taken very > seriously if we only focus on Samba when it comes to network > filesystems. Not everyone is using Linux for only servers to Windows > systems. ;-> I recommend that this discussion should define very carefully what the certification means. Does LPIC-3-Samba mean that someone can just configure Samba and know their way around Samba configuration files and tools, or does it mean that they are "competent" to handle and solve the majority of real-world problems involving MS Windows servers and workstations in admixture with Samba? Additionally, does LPIC-3-Samba mean someone is competent to migrate a Windows network to a Samba-based network? What about Samba-based back to Windows NT4 or Active Directory? In other words, it is necessary to take a position on what the measurable value of certification must be before setting its bounds. Emotion has no place in certification. Either LPIC-3-Samba certification means someone has demonstrated sufficient understanding to be put in charge of the train _or_ they should not get behind the wheel! > -- Bryan > > P.S. Remember, even Microsoft has a _separate_ desktop certification in > the MSDST -- Desktop and Support Technician. The Microsoft desktop certification has little to do with network configuration. Windows networking is covered over a range of training courses and certification programs - each of which has its own examination. We may well need more than one certification exam. Sigh! Such is life. Cheers, John T. -- John H Terpstra Samba-Team Member Phone: +1 (650) 580-8668 Author: The Official Samba-3 HOWTO & Reference Guide, 2 Ed., ISBN: 0131882228 Samba-3 by Example, 2 Ed., ISBN: 0131882221X Hardening Linux, ISBN: 0072254971 _______________________________________________ lpi-examdev mailing list [email protected] http://list.lpi.org/mailman/listinfo/lpi-examdev
