After getting my CCNA back in March, I decided to go with my Linux tendenacies and study for a LPIC-1 certification. Two months and two exams later I finally have the cert.
I didn’t find it too difficult, but then I have been playing with Linux for over 18 years! Nonetheless I did still learn quite a few things so it was definitely worth while doing. For the first exam (101) I scored 770 out of 800, and for the second (102) I scored 780 out of 800.
A bonus of getting LPIC-1 certification is that you qualify for a Novell Certified Linux Administrator certification as well.
I’d now like to get a LPIC-2 cert as well, but first I’m going to study for MCITP: Server Administrator on Windows Server 2008, which requires three exams – 70-640, 70-642 and 70-646. This should keep me out of trouble for a few months!
Here’s a quick overview of the equipment that made up my Cisco CCNA lab, before I pack it away for a while.

Starting from the top:
- Cisco 2611 with a WIC-1T
- Cisco 2611 with a WIC-1T
- Cisco WS-C1924C-EN
- Cisco WS-C2950T-24
- Cisco WS-C2950T-24
- Cisco 2503 with Allied Telesyn 10BaseT transceiver
- Cisco 2503 with Allied Telesyn 10BaseT transceiver
I’ve also got a Cisco 1721 with a WIC-1ADSL sitting at the back of my desk, acting as my primary ADSL router. At some point I’ll increase its memory so I can install an IOS that supports IPv6, as my ISP (Entanet) does offer this.
Hopefully I can dig this equipment out in another 4-6 months and begin working on a CCNP. Before that, however, I’ve got some other certs I want to get, starting with a LPIC-1.

Finally after years of not getting around to the CCNA exam, I finally did it and passed with a score of 920! Not at all bad for my first ever cert, if I do say so myself…
Now I just need to decide what to study for next. I do want to get a CCNP at some point, but I’m in no rush, so I’m currently toying with the idea of LPIC, especially since I do have Linux tendencies!