How I Scored 100% on the Linux Essentials Exam
To celebrate the beginning of my journey as a Linux Professional Institute (LPI) Trainer, I wanted to reshape some video content of mine as an LPI article. So: Hello everybody, I’m Szymon Izydorek, the creator behind the BecomeDevops channel. In this post, I’m excited to share my personal story and offer advice on how I passed the Linux Essentials 010-160 exam… With a perfect 100% score!
Why Linux is Essential for Every DevOps Engineer
Linux isn’t just another tool in the DevOps toolbox; it’s the operating system that everything else runs on. That’s what makes it essential, not just in name but in practice.
As a DevOps engineer and content creator, my daily workflow has always included Linux. But the desire to validate that hands-on experience with a recognized certification brought me to the LPI Linux Essentials exam. And yes, I walked away with a perfect 100% score.
Here’s how I did it and what I learned along the way.
If you’re working with cloud infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, Docker, or automation scripts, you’re working with Linux, whether you realize it or not. I started my video by highlighting the reasons Linux is critical to any DevOps, cloud, or IT role:
- Linux dominates the server ecosystem
Thanks to its scalability, performance, and stability, it is a primary go-to choice for hosting applications across cloud providers, data centers, and on-premises environments. It powers the infrastructure behind major services like Wikipedia, Facebook, and Google, making it the most widely used OS in the server world (source). Familiarity with the Linux ecosystem is verified in the LPI Essentials exam as part of the objective “1.1 Linux Evolution and Popular Operating Systems” (weight: 2). - Open source nature
Linux’s open source foundation allows developers and IT administrators to modify the OS’s configuration depending on their particular use cases, and seamlessly integrates with other open source tools—such as Git, Docker, Ansible, and Kubernetes or CI/CD engines—that are the backbone of today’s IT. Understanding Linux’s open source foundation is also directly aligned with the LPI Linux Essentials exam as part of « 010, Topic 1: The Linux Community and a Career in Open Source. » - Powerful automation capabilities
The Linux command line is the backbone of automation. Shell scripting and built-in Linux tools allow engineers to automate repetitive tasks, manage systems at scale, and streamline software development. The Linux command line is also part of LPI Essential Linux Essentials Exam in “010, Topic 2: Finding Your Way on a Linux System” and “Topic 3: The Power of the Command Line.” - Containerization enabler
Linux underpins containerization technologies through its namespaces and cgroups. If you work with Docker engine or container orchestration technologies such as Kubernetes, you are already working with Linux.
In summary, Linux is needed by serious administrators because:
- It powers nearly all major cloud providers: AWS, GCP, and Azure.
- It supports essential open source tools such as Git, Docker, Ansible, and Kubernetes.
- It enables automation with shell scripting and command-line tools.
- It underpins containerization technologies through features such as namespaces and cgroups.
In other words: if you’re serious about modern infrastructure, Linux isn’t optional.
How did I prepare?
The preparation didn’t take me a long time. My strategy was simple yet effective: I spun up a virtual machine on AWS and diligently practiced the tasks from the Linux Essentials Learning Materials provided by LPI. Although I already had prior experience with Linux, the Learning Materials helped fill in my knowledge gaps and clarified several concepts. What is also important is a genuine interest and curiosity that pushes us to dive deeper and expand our horizons. This is why, after passing LPI Linux Essentials, I started to prepare for LPIC-1, but that story is for another day.
My Experience with the Linux Essentials Exam
The Linux Essentials 010-160 exam covers foundational knowledge of Linux systems and command-line use. Here are some quick facts about the exam:
- 40 questions
- 60-minute time limit
- No prerequisites
- Lifetime validity
- Minimum passing score: 500 out of 800
The exam content is broad but accessible. It’s designed to give beginners a complete introduction and to formalize what self-taught professionals already know. Topics covered included:
Basic Linux history and philosophy
Navigation and commands (like cd, ls, pwd)
File manipulation (cp, mv, rm)
Permissions and environment variables
Open source principles
Introduction to distributions (like Debian, Red Hat)
Common services (e.g., Nginx, MariaDB, Samba, NFS)
My Go-To Study Materials (All Free!)
I relied heavily on LPI’s official free study guide, which is readily available at learning.lpi.org. The PDF guide was incredibly helpful, offering:
- Theoretical context
- Practical command-line exercises
- Self-assessment questions with answers
- Real-world examples
Even if you’re not planning to take the exam immediately, I highly recommend this guide as a valuable resource for brushing up on your Linux fundamentals.
My Exam Day Experience
I chose to take the exam online from home, using Pearson VUE’s remote proctoring system. The setup was simple:
- I completed a pre-check two hours before the exam to test my webcam, mic, and system.
- There was no commuting, no stress, just a quiet room and a stable connection.
- The exam interface itself was clean and responsive.
The question format included multiple choice, multiple response, and short input. Everything reflected the material covered in the official study guide. My result? A perfect 100% in all categories!
Cost and Accessing the Exam
The exam price varies by country. Buy a voucher from LPI and then schedule the exam through Pearson VUE. All the steps are covered in my video, including tips on using your voucher and what to expect from the test day process.
My Final Advice for Aspiring Linux Professionals
If you’re considering the Linux Essentials certification, here’s what I recommend based on my experience:
- Use the official PDF. It’s structured, thorough, and free
- Revisit basic CLI tools and truly understand how they work
- Think beyond the test. Linux knowledge pays off every day in real-world DevOps tasks
- Try the exam from home if you haven’t before. The experience is flexible and smooth
I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my certification journey and show that learning Linux doesn’t have to be intimidating. With structure, curiosity, and the right resources, anyone can succeed. You can watch my full video here: How I Passed LPI Linux Essentials Certification (Step by Step)
