From Home Lab to Linux Certification: Rodiel’s Journey

Hi, I’m Rodiel Lezcano, and if you had told me a few years ago that I’d be diving deep into Linux, studying open-source technologies, and configuring firewalls in my home lab for fun, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.

I’ve spent over a decade working in IT, mostly on the enterprise side, helping organizations adopt mobility and cloud solutions. I’ve always enjoyed problem-solving and learning new technologies, but something about open source really pulled me in. It felt different. It felt empowering.

Like many, my journey into Linux didn’t start in a classroom — it started with curiosity. I wanted more control over my environment, so I began tinkering with Proxmox to build my own virtualized home lab. That quickly evolved into hosting Docker containers with Portainer, managing services behind Nginx Proxy Manager, and experimenting with Kubernetes using Rancher. At some point, I realized I was relying on Linux more and more — not just as a platform, but as a mindset.

But here’s the thing: even though I was doing all these projects, I felt like I was missing a structured foundation. That’s when I discovered the LPI Linux Essentials certification. It offered the perfect opportunity to solidify what I had been learning organically while filling in the gaps.

Studying Linux While Breaking Things (On Purpose)

Studying for the exam was both challenging and rewarding. Coming from a primarily Windows background, diving into the Linux command line was like learning a new language — one that didn’t always forgive typos. But I kept at it. I’d spend late nights navigating file permissions, writing shell scripts, and getting a better understanding of how Linux fits into the larger FOSS ecosystem.

Of course, not everything went smoothly. I broke a lot of things in my lab. I once accidentally locked myself out of a VM because I misconfigured SSH. Another time I crashed a running container setup with a single wrong command. But every mistake taught me something.

And more importantly, it built confidence!

Why Linux (and Open Source) Matter to Me

The more I worked with Linux, the more I came to appreciate the philosophy behind it: freedom, transparency, and community. I love that I can look under the hood, read the source code, and truly understand how things work. I love that solutions aren’t just found in manuals, but in forum threads, GitHub issues, nerdy YouTube videos, and conversations with strangers who are just as passionate about sharing their knowledge as I am about learning. It’s a space where curiosity is rewarded, collaboration is natural, and growth feels limitless.

Passing the Linux Essentials exam wasn’t just a checkbox for me — it was a personal milestone. It validated all the work I’d been doing on my own and gave me a strong foundation to build upon. It also sparked a new goal: to work more closely with cloud-native and open-source technologies in a professional setting.

What’s Next?

This certification is just the beginning. I’m currently preparing for LPIC-1 and developing content — including blog posts, videos, and mentorship resources — aimed at supporting those transitioning into tech. While these initiatives are still in the works, I look forward to sharing them publicly soon to help demonstrate that it’s never too late to explore new paths and reinvent your career.

If you’re reading this and wondering if Linux is “too hard” or “not for you,” I get it. I’ve been there. But I’ll offer this advice: Start small. Install a distro. Break things. Fix them. Ask questions. The Linux community is full of people who were beginners once — just like you.

For me, Linux isn’t just a tool. It has become a part of how I think about technology, learning, and collaboration. I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface of what’s possible!