Build real Linux skills and prepare for the Linux Professional Institute Linux Essentials Certificate — the recognised credential that proves your Linux knowledge to employers.
Linux is at the heart of innovations in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, supercomputing, and more. This 18-chapter, 70-hour course quickly builds foundational Linux knowledge through a “practice as you read” approach — each learner has hands-on access to a live Linux virtual machine embedded in the browser, alongside prescriptive step-by-step labs. The course covers Linux as an operating system, open source concepts and licensing, command line skills, file and directory management, archiving, text processing, scripting, hardware, networking, and system security. It prepares learners for the Linux Professional Institute Linux Essentials Professional Development Certificate (Exam 010-160), a credible third-party certificate and a stepping stone to the LPI LPIC-1 certification. Developed in collaboration with Network Development Group (NDG).
Curriculum Chapters
- 1. Introduction to Linux
- 2. Operating Systems
- 3. Working in Linux
- 4. Open Source Software and Licensing
- 5. Command Line Skills
- 6. Getting Help
- 7. Navigating the Filesystem
- 8. Managing Files and Directories
- 9. Archiving and Compression
- 10. Working With Text
- 11. Basic Scripting
- 12. Understanding Computer Hardware
- 13. Where Data is Stored
- 14. Network Configuration
- 15. System and User Security
- 16. Creating Users and Groups
- 17. Ownership and Permissions
- 18. Special Directories and Files
Skills You Will Learn
Explain Linux evolution and popular operating systems. Choose an appropriate operating system for a given scenario. Identify major open source applications and ICT skills for working in Linux. Explain open source software and licensing models including FOSS, communities, and licences. Use the Linux command line, including getting help, navigating the filesystem, and managing files and directories. Create, move, and delete files on the command line. Archive and compress files using command line tools. Search and extract data from text files. Turn repetitive commands into simple shell scripts. Understand computer hardware components, how data is stored, and how Linux interacts with hardware. Configure basic network settings. Apply system and user security principles. Create and manage users and groups. Manage file permissions and ownership settings. Understand and use special directories and files in Linux.
Technologies Used
Live Linux Virtual Machine (browser-based, no installation required)
Linux CLI (Bash shell)
Compatible browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari
Course Details
Course Type: Free self-paced
Time: 70 Hours
Modules: 18 chapters
Labs: 18 prescriptive hands-on labs
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisites
None. No prior Linux experience required. Completion of Linux Unhatched is recommended as an introduction.
Certification & Career
Career and Certification alignment: This course prepares learners for the Linux Professional Institute Linux Essentials Professional Development Certificate (Exam 010-160). The Linux Essentials certificate is also a stepping stone to the LPI LPIC-1 certification. Linux skills are highly relevant to careers in system administration, network engineering, software development, and cybersecurity. Recommended next course: Linux 1.
Achievements & Badges
Upon completion, earn a Cisco Networking Academy digital badge issued in collaboration with NDG. Share your verified achievement on LinkedIn, your CV, or professional profile.
What Cisco verifies: Cisco, in collaboration with NDG, verifies that the learner has knowledge of open vs closed source applications, basic hardware concepts, Linux OS components, command line usage, file management, creating and restoring backups, system security, user and group permissions, and simple scripting. The learner completed prescriptive labs using a real Linux OS on a virtual machine, interacting with the Linux operating system and building on their skills and knowledge as they progress through the course.
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