About XK0-004 Exam
With the CompTIA XK0-004 exam, one can easily gain expert-like competency in working with the world’s most famed operating system, which is Linux. This exam confirms the skills that a Linux system administrator necessitates to stay relevant and have an extraordinary industry presence.
Connected Certification Overview
CompTIA XK0-004 is associated with a job-focused certification called Linux+ that covers the crucial yet rudimentary Linux-linked skills. Using a core curriculum, this certificate incorporates the major distribution of Linux, advanced vendor knowledge, and setting up the foundation for using Linux in a given ecosystem. Those who have obtained this accreditation will be known as the doyen of Linux common line, maintenance, and configuring the workstations.
Target Audience and Basic Requirements
Investing time and efforts in the CompTIA XK0-004 test will be beneficial for you if the aimed job roles are network administration, system administrator, or technical support, specialist. The gained skills will make the day-to-day job of such professionals effortless.
Now, let’s talk about the prior requirements of this certification. On the conjectural front, earning preceding certificates like CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ is crucial. But, some prior experience is needed for sure. As per the vendor’s website, it is crucial to have 12 months of working background in the Linux domain.
Essential Exam Details to Know
XK0-004 exam is 90 minutes long and features a maximum of 90 questions. These questions will be based on performance-based, multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blanks, and multiple response formats. Candidates who secure anything above 720 out of 900 will be awarded the certification. The score remains valid for three years and earning 50 continual education points is important to enjoy the benefits afterward.
XK0-004 can be taken up in English, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish languages. It is globally presented and is administered by Pearson VUE. This body conducts the test in online and offline proctoring modes. The exam fee is $338 for every attempt and can only be paid in the form of an exam voucher.
Analysis of Exam Domains
The CompTIA XK0-004 assessment is a comprehensive one and covers the majority of real-world learning aspects of the Linux operating system. To help one learn everything needed in a step-by-step manner, the exam is divided into five domains and each of them is dedicated to a different set of topics and concepts. For your convenience, this is a quick analysis of XK0-004 content. Have a look at it and empower your understanding.
Domain #1. Hardware and System Configuration
The first exam section is dedicated to imparting tried and tested understanding of hardware and system configuration. In a structured form, this domain teaches about Linux boot process concepts, accomplishing the installation, setting up, and monitoring the kernel modules as per a given scenario, and verifying the multiple network connection parameters.
The learning doesn’t stop here and proceeds to the management of the storage as per the given Linux ecosystem. Candidates will also learn about ways to compare and contrast the cloud and virtualization and concepts and technologies. Generally, the applicants will become familiar with RAW devices, LVM, EXT Tools, JSON templates, relative & absolute paths, and so on.
Domain #2. Systems Operation and Maintenance
Know about Linux-based system operations & maintenance in detail in the second exam domain. It covers everything needed to perform the software installation, configuration, update, and removal in a particular ecosystem. Besides, it gives enough exposure to managing groups and users, the creation and modification of redirect files, the management of servers, and automating of jobs. The use and operation of Linux devices, along with Linux graphical user interfaces, are other essential learning objectives are involved in this domain as well.
Domain # 3. Security
The focus of the third exam section is on the security of Linux operating systems. By the end of going through it, the learners will be able to handle the need-based ownership or access control, know the appropriate methodologies to fabricate authentication methods, and understand the best and most relevant security measures to adopt for the Linux environment.
In a professional manner, this test covers the crucial aspects of logging services, implementation practices for Linux Firewalls, and the ways to restore, back up, and compress the databases and files. A wide range of tools and technologies is covered in this domain too, including IP Forwarding, IPset, Iptables, chaining the default ports, RADIUS, OTP, and many others.
Domain #4. Linux Troubleshooting and Diagnostics
After completing this module of the test content, one will be skilled enough to analyze system properties and remediate accordingly, analyze system processes to optimize performance, troubleshooting issues analyses, and analyze troubleshooting hardware issues. Moreover, the candidates will be able to gain an in-depth understanding of Firewall, Permission, CPU Monitoring, Storage Monitoring, and File creation concepts.
Domain #5.Automation and Scripting
The last exam domain teaches the candidates about deploying the basic BASH scripts in a given scenario. In addition to this, learners will be to find out the version control with the help of Git and orchestration processes and concepts.
Earning Capacity of CompTIA XK0-004
After achieving success in the CompTIA XK0-004 exam, professionals will be able to work in multiple job roles, and Linux system administrator is a pivotal one. Under this job position, candidates can easily make $100k annually, as per Zip Recruiter. On the other hand, if you decide to take up the road that leads to a Linux programmer job role then get ready to have an average salary of $92k annually.
Being a Linux consultant is also going to be a very interesting job in your career journey. In this role, one can make as much as $105k annually, according to ZipRecruiter as well. Still, the variety of jobs available is not limited to those mentioned above. As XK0-004 is globally recognized and acceptable, candidates have the whole world to explore after acing it.
Further Certification Opportunities
After CompTIA Linux+, CompTIA Cloud+ is a viable option. This is an expert-level certification placing its earner directly at the zeniths. This certificate aims at imparting tried and tested cloud technologies in diverse kinds of system operations. It will give an individual a much-needed professional push.
