Microsoft readies Linux on Azure certification

Microsoft today said it will train and certify administrators of the open source Linux operating system on its Azure cloud platform, in a joint effort with the Linux Foundation for the North American market.

The certification combines Linux system administration with Microsoft Azure implementation skills. It aims to ensure that engineers are able to design, build and maintain complex cloud-enabled Linux solutions on Microsoft Azure.

Linux Foundation executive director Jim Zemlin said the certification was a response to more demanding IT environments.

“A Microsoft-issued certification that includes the Linux Foundation Certified SysAdmin exam will most definitely allow professionals to stand apart from their peers and allow them the opportunity to work on the most interesting technologies of our time,” Zemlin said.

People who wish to obtain the Linux on Azure certification have to pass two exams. One is the Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions (Exam 70-533) and the other is the Linux Foundation's Certified System Administrator (LFCS) test.

The Microsoft exam costs US$150 and tests candidates' ability to implement websites, virtual machines, cloud services, storage, virtual networks and the Azure Active Directory sevice.

The LFCS exam costs US$499 and provides the essentials of Linux systems administration, with examinees being able to use CentOS 7, openSUSE 13.1 or Ubuntu 14.04.

It covers local system administration, shell scripting, using command line tool, managing file systems and installing software packages on the open source operating system.