On Wed, 2006-06-21 at 16:40 -0700, Evan Blomquist wrote:
> Agreed, but I don't know what accepting jobs has to do with certification.

Then why did you make this statement on this list?

  "If you can pass level 2 and you still don't have a job,
   your problem is probably more of a personality disorder
   than a skill deficit."

Now if you were answering what someone else said, just remember I never
discussed jobs.

The only time I've mentioned anything is that I have professional
expectations of what I believe enterprise Linux administrators should
know, but never have I made it about their employment or credentials.
I've always made it about what I believe the program should be testing
and representing.

> All I ask is that LPI continually re-visit their objectives and not be 
> afraid to change lanes if their stated course no longer meets their 
> mission.  I see the number of candidates who have passed levels 1 and 2 
> and can draw a simple chart in my head to determine the potential for a 
> level 3.  It becomes apparent that spending huge (and precious) 
> voluntary resources on an exam that will be of interest to only a 
> handful of people doesn't make much sense, or at least warrant such a 
> high priority right now.  It's Just my opinion.

I think the JTA and initial objective writing will show what is and
isn't practiced in industry.

At the same time, I'm full warning everyone that I've regularly been in
the 10% minority on various issues and recommendations when it comes to
enterprise Linux.  But it doesn't mean I'm any less correct.  I don't
discredit anyone else's experience, but when it comes to LPIC-3, I
believe we're talking enterprise Linux -- and that's more than just
setting up basic, standalone or departmental services.

All I ask is everyone recognize where I'm coming from.  I really want to
ensure we have more enterprise Linux expertise out there than what I've
regularly been running into with peer Linux sysadmins and other
consultants on matters that require them to "think outside the
box" (i.e., outside a single service).  If this ends up not being the
consensus, I will respect the wishes of the group, but I'm sure I'm
already in the minority on it.

> Why? Because you've contributed the most to the list  I was just 
> (hopefully) adding a little comic relief. Since we've never met, I have 
> to envision the stereotypical BOFH, jacked up on Red Bull and Twinkies, 
> all hell-bent to set the world straight on just about any matter.  It's 
> nothing personal, just some fun with your _intense_ writing style.

Yes, in e-mail, I'm blunt, opinionated and abrasive.   But I do a lot of
consulting, training and writing for a living -- it doesn't match my
e-mail at all.  In fact, I avoid e-mail when I'm on a site (walking over
to their desk is much better) or even when working with a client
remotely (phone is still far better).

> Bryan (Mr. Smith if you prefer),

The name Bryan and the surname Smith are too common.
Just call me by my initials (yes, I have a lot of pride and ego ;-).

> I have come to truly respect your knowledge,

Blah!  We all have our areas and expertise.

E.g., I'm _not_ a web developer.  In fact, I avoid it for various
reasons (margins too thin).  So I wouldn't even think of telling someone
how to approach any Apache or other Internet services exam.  Written
some client/server stuff in C, Java (largely because it's the only way
to interface with PeopleSoft, etc...), but I'm not a webapp guru in the
least bit.

Now I've had a lot of experience integrating enterprise services across
multiple sites and subnets of some very, very, very large organizations.
And most of those concepts still apply even to 50-100 user organizations
with only 2-3 subnets and only 2-3 platforms.  Heck, there's a lot of
good stuff on filesystems and Linux server to server communication that
I believe is crucial to other things.

And I know a majority of people disagree with me.  That's fine.  I'm
used to it.  All I ask is that people don't think I think the "world is
wrong" because I know others, even if a minority, agree with me.

Even the main author of the book "Samba Unleashed" (2000) and I had a
"tussle" (putting it mildly) on this both before and, even more so,
after the book was published.  He fought me round and round on what not
to cover in his book, since he didn't cover it (so he didn't want it to
go in).  But when it came to multiple subnets and UNIX integration
(especially on SunOS/Solaris), he caved because he needed it just to be
written -- literally 100 pages of publication quality in no more than 4
days total.  He had brought me in on so many of his past consulting
projects (a number of them Samba) when things went wrong, he knew I was
the one to turn to (although I refused to help him after about 2002 --
long, long story).

All I try to do is continually educate people on "best practices" that
not only have I learned, but other people (often in the minority or
"outside the box") do too.  I share this knowledge freely, not because
I'm a "my way dammit" type of guy, but because I've seen the pitfalls of
not doing so again and again and again.  I do a lot of training and
knowledge transfer (especially documentation) in all my consulting
endeavors -- often documenting myself out of a job.

> and I have learned a lot from your posts. You obviously know 
> what you are doing

In what regard?  I don't think any of us really know what we are doing.
But people have experiences in their areas.  And we should share those.

> and I appreciate your effort to mak LPIC all that it can be.

I haven't done anything yet really.

> So when I make a comment about your head exploding, note that it is
> made in fraternal jest

I know.  I just wanted to let you know I don't get upset in the least
bit about anything.  I have a common expression that "I take a keyboard
to blah" which means I'm just jesting I want to use "aggregated osmosis"
to bring someone up to speed on something when they don't see the value
in knowing it.  ;->

> -- just picture me smashing an empty Budweiser (Molson for you
> Canadians) can into my empty head and passing out.

I don't drink, although people have suggested I should start as I might
be more mellow.  Actually, if you meet me in person, I'm pretty mellow.


-- 
Bryan J. Smith           Professional, technical annoyance
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]     http://thebs413.blogspot.com
----------------------------------------------------------
The existence of Linux has far more to do with the breakup
of AT&T's monopoly than anything Microsoft has ever done.


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