[nycbug-talk] the case for a BSD Certification

[G. Rosamond]

On Dec 17, 2004, at 10:41 AM, Okan Demirmen wrote:

> On Mon 2004.12.06 at 09:46 -0500, G. Rosamond wrote:
>> This Register.com article leads me to some interesting conclusions:
>>
>> http://www.theregister.com/2004/12/06/linux_economic_realities/
>>
>> There have been a number of Linux-related certs, most importantly the
>> RedHat one.
>>
>> But we're fortunate that a single BSD cert is more easily created, as
>> we don't have huge multinationals backing one project versus another.
>> If a BSD cert was created, it could be done in the interests of the
>> technology in general, without spawning competition from other
>> entities.  One of the benefits of not having competing corporate
>> entities or distros in the mix.
>>
>> We would obviously want to be as inclusive as possible, particularly 
>> in
>> the beginning, for all the projects. . . from Free, Net, Open and
>> DragonFly.
>>
>> I am thinking about starting up a mailman list for the topic.  Dru,
>> Ike, myself and many others have been involved in discussions on this
>> matter haphazardly. . . it may be time to jump start the project in
>> January.
>>
>> We should probably implement an accompanying Wiki for it, as it is a
>> cumulative-type project.  Next stage is to pull in others outside of
>> NYC*BUG, particularly critical individuals at each project and at
>> Yahoo, Pair, etc.
>>
>> Thoughts?  We should probably have a volunteer to oversee the tech end
>> of things for the wiki, list, documentation.
>
> George, et all,
>
> I think this is a good idea. I realize that it will take a long
> long time before any BSD cert is taken seriously by employers,
> however it has to start sometime/somewhere.

That's exactly the point.  A cert would approach the issue of the lack 
of commercial support for the BSDs.

>
> In a world where *BSD is used in the majority of network appliances,
> giving those organizations some more HR tools would be smart.
> Speaking of which, I am now seeing those companies, who shall remain
> nameless for now, feel as if they have come in, defending their
> *BSD choice. Not that anyone should care (we don't), for they are
> sold as "black boxes" with management interfaces.  As far as full
> BSD systems (Open, Net, Free, Dragon), it would be interesting what
> consulting firms could/would do with *BSD certs. (Yes, we live in
> an ugly corporate world.)
>

Majority of network appliances?  Woah.  I can name a lot (Borderware 
fw, CheckPoint Nokia, some Snap servers), but majority?  That would be 
significant.

> Getting off point, my point is that slipping *BSD certs into the
> industry may be one factor in reassuring the industry that *BSD is
> still here, strong and ever evolving.
>
> What can we do to help?
>

Well, I setup two new lists on our mailman last night, one for LABUG 
(Los Angeles' Pete) and one for CDBUG (Albany area for Jonathan F). . . 
I think it's time for a BSDCert list.

A number of us have spoken about it for a while, and Dru seems at the 
helm.  Since she's also an instructor with years of experience, I think 
she has the best of sense of the big picture.

We have one contact from NetBSD, plus a good number of others.

We'll start with a list, with a wiki, as there's lots of data 
accumulation and organization to take care of.

We need to look at backers for the cert, starting with each of the BSD 
projects, then moving onto entities like BSD Mall/DN, etc.  Maybe some 
educational institutes.

We need to work out a curriculum, covering both general Unix stuff then 
BSD specifics.  There should probably be sections of each of the BSDs, 
plus specials sections on OpenSSH, pkgsrc, pf, ports, etc.

I'll setup a list later, but I think it would be a good idea to get the 
wiki up somewhere first. .. with passwd protection for editing rights.

g