Fwd: [BSDcert] junior, senior system administrator (?)

[Bret Lambert]

Steven Rue wrote:
> different levels/types of certification exist for
> other platforms also - M$ (mcp, mcsa, mcse, messaging,
> security), and solaris (systems, networks,
> security)...
> i'm not really suggesting anything specific here, just
> stating what others have done.  if the bds cert track
> is similarly broken down, these would be things to
> consider.
> w/ respect to this thread, where might sendmail or
> other standard apps fit into the track?

This is a convoluted subject. One person's standard is another person's 
bugaboo. Frankly, I don't think that app-specific knowledge should be 
required, unless it's a) integral to the functioning of a network/system 
and b) ubiquitous (OpenSSH and tcpdump come to mind as fitting both). 
Even if a tool meets the above requirements, what if the tool accepts 
different arguments on each BSD?

This also brings up a point about how to balance between testing for 
knowledge of HOW to use a tool, and knowledge of what you're using the 
tool FOR? Perhaps the creation of a dummy MTA/packet filter/foo daemon 
that has a neutral syntax provided at test time? Of course, this sort of 
assumes that a general BSD knowledge is being tested, and isn't very 
platform-specific.

- Bert