Certifications like CompTIA Linux + LX0-103 exam has really gained a lot of importance in this technological era. In the past ten years, the IT industry has been growing rapidly and is expected to keep growing in the future. Careers in IT are among the most popular choices for people looking to switch careers or learn new skills. This is because, in today’s technology-driven world, having a certification is often more valuable than just having a degree. Many companies, whether they are in IT or not, want highly skilled and certified professionals to work for them because it helps improve the quality of their work.
CompTIA Linux+ Powered by LPI – LX0-103 is retired and is replaced by CompTIA Linux+ (XK0-004) Exam!
Earning certifications not only makes you a more attractive job candidate but also demonstrates your dedication and commitment to your career and organization. So, if you’re considering taking the CompTIA Linux+ LX0-103 exam to advance your career or land your dream job, this article is here to provide you with all the information you need. You might have questions like, “What is the CompTIA Linux+ LX0-103 exam?” or “How can I prepare for it? What resources are available?” We have the answers for you, so let’s get started.
What is CompTIA Linux + LX0-103 exam?
CompTIA Linux+ is a certification that shows you have the skills needed to work with Linux systems, especially if you’re starting your career as a system administrator. Linux is used in various technologies like cars, smartphones, servers, and even supercomputers. Many companies use Linux for things like cloud computing, cybersecurity, mobile apps, and web services.
To get this certification, you only need to pass one exam, but it’s not part of the LPI 2-for-1 deal anymore. CompTIA Linux+ is a certification that focuses on the skills that employers are looking for in job candidates who work with Linux systems.
Unlike other certifications, the new exam includes performance-based and multiple-choice questions to identify the employees who can do the job. Also, The exam covers tasks associated with all major distributions of Linux, setting the foundation for advanced vendor/distro-specific knowledge. CompTIA Linux+ covers common tasks in major distributions of Linux, including the Linux command line, basic maintenance, installing and configuring workstations, and networking.
Let us now move to exam overview for all the necessary and basic details that you must know.
Exam overview
Linux + LX0-103 exam consists of 90 questions which must be answered in a duration of 90 minutes. The cost of taking the exam is $329 but the prices may vary from place to place. In addition, Linux + LX0-103 exam is available in English language and will soon be available in Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish. Subsequently, You have to schedule your exam on Pearson VUE. There are no prerequisites but experience of using CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ and 12 months of Linux admin is recommended.
This is the table for your ease:
| Name of the exam | Linux + LX0-103 exam |
| Exam code | XK0-004 |
| Price of the exam | $329 |
| No. of questions | 90 |
| Type of questions | Performance-based, Multiple Choice (Single Response), Multiple Response and Fill-in-the-Blank |
| Time allowed | 90 minutes |
| Languages available | English (at launch), Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish (coming soon) |
| Registration platform | Pearson VUE |
| Passing score | 720 (on a scale of 100 to 900) |
| Recommended experience | CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and 12 months of Linux admin experience |
Now that we’re done with the exam details, we should move on to the syllabus for the exam. Collecting proper information about the exam and syllabus forms the first step towards preparing the exam.
Syllabus details
Linux + LX0-103 exam will have this as major testing basis. Let us look at them in detail.
System Architecture 14%
Firstly, Determine and configure hardware settings.
- Enable and disable integrated peripherals
- Configure systems with or without external peripherals such as keyboards
- Differentiate between the various types of mass storage devices
- Know the differences between coldplug and hotplug devices
- Determine hardware resources for devices
- Tools and utilities to list various hardware information (e.g., Isusb, lspci)
- tools and utilities to manipulate USB devices
- Conceptual understanding of sysfs, udev, dbus
Secondly, Boot the system.
- Provide common commands to the boot loader and options to the kernel at boot time
- Demonstrate knowledge of the boot sequence from BIOS to boot completion
- Understanding of SysVinit and systemd
- Awareness of Upstart
- Check boot events in the log file
Thirdly, Change runlevels/boot targets and shutdown or reboot system.
- Set the default runlevel or boot target
- Change between runlevels/boot targets including single user mode
- Shutdown and reboot from the command line
- Alert users before switching runlevels/ boot targets or other major system events
Linux Installation and Package Management 18%
Firstly, Design hard disk layout.
- Allocate filesystems and swap space to separate partitions or disks
- Tailor the design to the intended use of the system
- Ensure the /boot partition conforms to the hardware architecture requirements for booting
- Knowledge of basic features of LVM
Secondly, Install a boot manager.
- Providing alternative boot locations and backup boot options
- Install and configure a boot loader such as GRUB Legacy
- Perform basic configuration changes for GRUB 2
- Interact with the boot loader
Thirdly, Manage shared libraries.
- Identify shared libraries
- Identify the typical locations of system libraries
- Load shared libraries
Subsequently, Use Debian package management.
- Install, upgrade and uninstall Debian binary packages
- Find packages containing specific files or libraries that may or may not be installed
- Obtain package information such as version, content, dependencies, package integrity and installation status (whether or not the package is installed)
Furthermore, Use RPM and YUM package management.
- Install, re-install, upgrade and remove packages using RPM and YUM
- Obtain information on RPM packages such as version, status, dependencies, integrity and signatures
- Determine what files a package provides, as well as find which package a specific file comes from
GNU and Unix Commands 43%
Firstly, Work on the command line.
- Using single shell commands and one line command sequences to perform basic tasks on the command line
- Use and modify the shell environment including defining, referencing and exporting environment variables
- also, Use and edit command history
- Invoke commands inside and outside the defined path
In addition, Process text streams using filters.
- Send text files and output streams through text utility filters to modify the output using standard UNIX commands found in the GNU textutils package
Subsequently, Perform basic file management.
- Copy, move and remove files and directories individually
- Copy multiple files and directories recursively
- Remove files and directories recursively
- Use simple and advanced wildcard specifications in commands
- Use find to locate and act on files based on type, size or time
- Usage of tar, cpio and dd
Furthermore, Use streams, pipes and redirects.
- Redirecting standard input, standard output and standard error
- Pipe the output of one command to the input of another command
- Use the output of one command as arguments to another command
- Send output to both stdout and a file
Subsequently, Create, monitor and kill processes.
- Run jobs in the foreground and background
- Signal a program to continue running after logout
- Monitor active processes
- Select and sort processes for display
- Send signals to processes
Also, Modify process execution priorities.
- Know the default priority of a job that is created
- Run a program with higher or lower priority than the default
- Change the priority of a running process
In addition, Search text files using regular expressions.
- Create simple regular expressions containing several notational elements
- Use regular expression tools to perform searches through a filesystem or file content
Subsequently, Perform basic file editing operations using vi.
- Navigate a document using vi
- Use basic vi modes
- Insert, edit, delete, copy and find text
Devices, Linux Filesystems and Filesystem Hierarchy Standard 25%
Firstly, Create partitions and filesystems.
- Manage MBR partition tables
- Use various mkfs commands to create various filesystems such as: ext2/ext3/ext4, XFS, VFAT
- Awareness of ReiserFS and Btrfs
- Basic knowledge of gdisk and parted with GPT
Secondly, Maintain the integrity of filesystems.
- Verify the integrity of filesystems
- Monitor free space and inodes
- Repair simple filesystem problems
Thirdly, Control mounting and unmounting of filesystems.
- Manually mount and unmount filesystems
- Configure filesystem mounting on bootup
- Configure user mountable removeable filesystems
Subsequently, Manage disk quotas.
- Set up a disk quota for a filesystem
- Edit, check and generate user quota reports
In addition, Manage file permissions and ownership.
- Manage access permissions on regular and special files as well as directories
- Use access modes such as suid, sgid and the sticky bit to maintain security
- Know how to change the file creation mask
- Use the group field to grant file access to group members
Furthermore, Create and change hard and symbolic links.
- Create links
- Identify hard and/or soft links
- Copying versus linking files
- Use links to support system administration tasks
Finally, Find system files and place files in the correct location.
- Understand the correct locations of files under the FHS
- Find files and commands on a Linux system
- Know the location and propose of important file and directories as defined in the FHS
Now, we are ready to move to the next important part – preparatory resources for the Linux + LX0-103 exam.
Preparatory resources for Linux + LX0-103 exam
There are many resources available to help you prepare for the exam, and passing it on your first try is possible with the right resources and effort. When selecting your resources, it’s important to choose what works best for you. You can opt for in-person classes, online courses, practice exams, test series, documents, online forums, books, and more. Let’s take a look at a few resources that can assist you in successfully passing the Linux+ LX0-103 exam.
Online classes and instructor led training courses
Online classes and instructor-led courses are highly interactive methods for exam preparation. There are reputable websites that offer excellent instructors and content to help you prepare effectively. These classes are similar to traditional classroom teaching but offer the convenience of attending from anywhere.
Practice workshops
Secondly, merely cramming the portions is not enough. You must try the practical parts in the workshops or with the relevant software. This will give you a real-life insight to how things actually work. Also, for the theoretical portions, you should know the practical application to handle the tricky questions.Therefore, try to gain as much practical insights as you can to gain proper understanding of the concepts.
Books and e-books
Subsequently, books form the most important part of the preparation. You can refer to the e-books or the paper backs as prescribed by the CompTIA. Else, you can choose the books that is comfortable to your reading habits and which you understand well. Some of the books you can refer to are:
firstly, Red Hat Linux Administration: A Beginners’ Guide
secondly, Essential Linux Administration: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
thirdly, Linux: Easy Linux for Beginners
subsequently, Beginning the Linux Command Line by Sander Van Vugt
finally, Beginning Red Hat Linux 9 by Bhattacharya
Practice papers and test series
Practice is a key factor in your exam success. Take as many practice tests and test series as possible. These tests will assess your preparation level, pinpoint areas where you need improvement, and help you identify your weaknesses. Many trustworthy educational websites offer excellent practice materials to help you excel. Try a free practice test now!
So, these were some of the resources, which we think you should surely include in your set of resources which you are going to use for preparation. Let us now wind up by looking at what our experts have to say for you.
Experts’ corner
Do not panic on the day of exam.Also, Make sure to revise before you sit for the exam and do not pick up a new topic as that can lead to confusion. You can definitely pass through the exam with the hard work combined with right set of resources.
All the best.
