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LFCA Study Plan

4-Week Study Schedule

This is a multiple-choice exam covering broad IT concepts. Focus on understanding concepts rather than deep technical details.

Week 1: Linux Fundamentals and System Administration

Day 1-2: Linux Basics

  • Linux history, kernel, distributions (Ubuntu, RHEL, Debian, Fedora)
  • Open source licensing (GPL, MIT, Apache, BSD)
  • Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (/, /etc, /home, /var, /tmp, /usr)
  • Review Notes: 01-linux-fundamentals.md

Day 3-4: Command Line and Text Editors

  • Basic commands: ls, cd, cp, mv, rm, mkdir, cat, echo, grep, find
  • I/O redirection and pipes (>, >>, |)
  • Text editors: nano basics, vi/vim basics (insert mode, command mode)
  • Package management: apt (Debian/Ubuntu), dnf/yum (RHEL)
  • Review Notes: 01-linux-fundamentals.md

Day 5-6: System Administration

  • User management: useradd, usermod, userdel, passwd, groups
  • File permissions: chmod (numeric and symbolic), chown
  • Process management: ps, top, kill, systemctl
  • System monitoring: df, du, free, uptime
  • Log management: /var/log, journalctl
  • Review Notes: 02-system-admin.md

Day 7: Week 1 Review

  • Practice questions on Linux fundamentals (target: 65%+)
  • Review command quick reference
  • Quiz yourself on filesystem hierarchy

Week 2: Cloud Computing and Containers

Day 8-9: Cloud Service Models

  • IaaS vs PaaS vs SaaS - characteristics and examples
  • Shared responsibility model for each service type
  • Cloud deployment models: public, private, hybrid, multi-cloud
  • Cloud provider overview: AWS, Azure, GCP
  • Review Notes: 03-cloud-computing.md

Day 10-11: Virtualization and Containers

  • Virtual machines vs containers - key differences
  • Hypervisors: Type 1 (bare-metal) vs Type 2 (hosted)
  • Docker basics: images, containers, Dockerfiles, registries
  • Kubernetes basics: pods, services, deployments
  • Serverless computing concepts (FaaS)
  • Review Notes: 03-cloud-computing.md

Day 12-13: Cloud Concepts

  • Elasticity and scalability
  • High availability and disaster recovery
  • Cloud storage types (object, block, file)
  • Cloud pricing models (on-demand, reserved, spot)
  • Review Notes: 03-cloud-computing.md

Day 14: Week 2 Review

  • Practice questions on cloud computing (target: 70%+)
  • Review service model comparison table
  • Review container vs VM comparison

Week 3: DevOps, Security, and Networking

Day 15-16: DevOps Fundamentals

  • CI/CD pipeline concepts and stages
  • Git version control: init, clone, add, commit, push, pull, branch, merge
  • Infrastructure as Code: Terraform, CloudFormation concepts
  • Configuration management: Ansible, Puppet, Chef concepts
  • Container orchestration: Kubernetes basics
  • Review Notes: 04-devops-fundamentals.md

Day 17-18: Security Fundamentals

  • CIA triad: confidentiality, integrity, availability
  • Authentication and authorization concepts
  • Encryption: symmetric, asymmetric, hashing
  • Firewall concepts and Linux firewall tools
  • Common threats: phishing, malware, DDoS, social engineering
  • Review Notes: 05-security-networking.md

Day 19-20: Networking Fundamentals

  • OSI model (7 layers) and TCP/IP model (4 layers)
  • TCP vs UDP characteristics
  • IP addressing: IPv4, IPv6, CIDR notation, private ranges
  • DNS: how it works, record types
  • HTTP/HTTPS: methods, status codes
  • Common port numbers
  • Review Notes: 05-security-networking.md

Day 21: Week 3 Review

  • Practice questions on DevOps, security, networking (target: 70%+)
  • Review OSI model layers
  • Review port numbers

Week 4: Review and Exam Preparation

Day 22-23: Full Practice Exams

  • Complete practice exam 1 (60 questions, 90 minutes)
  • Review all incorrect answers
  • Identify weak domains

Day 24-25: Weak Area Review

  • Re-study notes for weak domains
  • Additional practice questions on weak areas
  • Complete practice exam 2

Day 26-27: Final Review

  • Review fact sheet and key comparisons
  • Review all domain summaries
  • Light practice questions

Day 28: Exam Day Prep

  • Quick skim of fact sheet
  • Verify exam logistics
  • Get rest

Daily Study Routine (1.5-2 hours/day)

  1. 30 minutes: Read study notes
  2. 30 minutes: Review key concepts and tables
  3. 30 minutes: Practice questions
  4. 15 minutes: Review incorrect answers

Study Resources

Free

  • KodeKloud LFCA Course - Interactive labs and practice exams
  • Linux Foundation Training Bundle - Often bundled with exam voucher

Target Scores by Week

  • Week 1: 65%+ on Linux and system admin questions
  • Week 2: 70%+ on cloud computing questions
  • Week 3: 70%+ on all domain questions
  • Week 4: 75%+ consistently on full practice exams

Final Exam Checklist

  • All notes reviewed
  • Fact sheet key facts memorized
  • Practice exams completed with 75%+ scores
  • Weak areas addressed
  • Exam logistics confirmed