Linux+ or RHCE - which cert should I get first?

I suspect Linux+ would be easier and has the added benefit of being platform independent.

But what sort of weight does RHCE have? Should I take it second, or at all? I gather the test is really tough though. Is it?

Thanks y'all!

I passed the LPI Level 1 (two tests) in February.

http://www.lpi.org

This cert has been around for a while and has recognition. IBM is pushing this cert on their developerWorks site. And I've also read that Debian has surpassed RH's installed base; LPI will give you a grounding in Debian and other distros. The LPI Level 1 puts you a couple steps beyond Linux+ in competency, and then you can take Level 2 and Level 3 (senior enterprise level) if you want.

As for Linux+, I do have a CompTIA cert for A+ and would be concerned Linux+ would become just as worthless.

If your ultimate goal is to become distribution-specific, then by all means get RHCE and be done with it. But keep in mind that there does seem to be a movement away from RH, and it looks like it will be shut out of the desktop market by Debian (Knoppix, Xandros, Lindows).

One other thing: LPI will get you definite recognition with international clients/employers. RHCE has "American server farm" written all over it and you may see a more lukewarm response overseas, and Linux+ much more so.

I'll definitely check it out.

Especially for the international recognition part...

I will definitely avoid Linux+.

And it's awesome to see that people are moving away from RH. Especially since they've opted out of that new unified standard (I should know what it's called but I don't remember right now; only that SuSE was part of the unified standard's development...)

...or you mean the Linux Standards Base.

They're compliant with the latter, but they took a very long time.

LINUX PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTE AND UNITEDLINUX
JOIN FORCES TO CREATE NEW UNITEDLINUX PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
http://www.unitedlinux.com/en/press/pr012203a.html